Time is money!

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…”
(Luke 16:10)

“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
(John 3:12)

It seems the Lord was showing me that these verses can refer to how we manage and steward and understand TIME. He gives us TIME in this temporal world and watches to see how we will use it. And if we do well (according to His idea of “well”), then He is ready to entrust us with heavenly, eternal things!

Sometimes, when we experience God’s tangible Presence, Eternity invades our temporal reality and TIME seems to disappear, as it is overwhelmed and displaced by His eternal, infinite Glory. And as we experience Him like this, everything in our lives begins to be transformed. But if we want to experience this infusion, we need to approach and esteem temporal TIME rightly — by spending a lot of it on Him, being willing to lavish Him with one of the few types of CURRENCY that really impresses Him — our TIME.

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The clarity of obedience…

“Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:23-24)

DISOBEDIENCE greatly increases confusion. But OBEDIENCE brings clarity — and takes our lives out of the abstract and the hypothetical — and brings it into the REAL – and we begin to see who we really are — the free, Christ-like ones we were meant to be.

“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)

Busy or Productive?

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last…” (John 15:16)

From Heaven’s point of view, there’s a big difference between being busy and being productive. It’s good occasionally to take an inventory of how we’re spending our time, energy, and resources, so that we can avoid being overwhelmed by the trivial and mere distractions — and so that our lives will be truly, eternally fruitful.

Everyday opportunities…

Are your eyes open for everyday opportunities to bless and help people?
Sometimes, all you have to do is slow down and look around…

Everything we need!

A “secret” about spiritual warfare…

There is a lot of talk about spiritual warfare these days (ie – warfare against demons and the kingdom of darkness).  And a lot of suggestions about how to wage spiritual war and what weapons to use.  I had a dream awhile back in which I am given a rifle that had two bullets in it — and in the dream, I am told that with these bullets I can hold off a lot of enemies.  The two bullets were humility and obedience.

Yes, things like targeted intercession and fasting can be very helpful in fighting against forces of darkness and extending the Kingdom of God — but we must never lose sight of how important and effective such “simple” (and profound) things as Godly character and obedience are.

Jesus, when He was referring to the devil, said “the ruler of the world is coming, and He has nothing in Me.” (John 14:30)  What He was saying is that there was no area of compromise in His heart or life that the enemy could use against Him.  And when we walk in humility and obedience to the Holy Spirit, our hearts are like strong towers that the enemy cannot penetrate.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:6-9)

Be ready.

Want His wine?

Want God to take the ORDINARY WATER of your life
and transform it into GLORIOUS WINE?
“Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5)

GRACE to win!!!

“God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Cor 10:13)

This is really good news! We have GRACE (Godly empowerment) to win every time temptation comes to us. GRACE to not give in to unforgiveness, GRACE to not look at porn, GRACE to not get drunk or do illicit drugs, GRACE to not have sex outside of a godly marriage covenant, GRACE to not give in to greed or materialism or racism…GRACE to not settle for anything less than God’s best for us!

The key is to not be unbelieving or fatalistic, but to believe that the Beautiful One who created us out of nothing and redeemed us with His own blood is more than able to empower us to pass every test, just as He promised!

A game you cannot win.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord ,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

So…you’re smoking weed and partying like the world on Saturday — and raising “holy hands” and zealously shouting the name of Jesus on Sunday (or at house church). But holiness is not a club you join, it is a life you live.

Playing this double-lifestyle game is dangerous to a person’s eternal health. If we really want to change, He is waiting for us with open arms. But if we continue to play games with the Living God, we will one day learn that this is a game we cannot win.