Standard Equipment?

Let us not become conceited. . . . evnying one another.
                                            Galatians 5:26 

An intriguing 3-page automobile ad in the Wall Street Journal reminded me how the secular world capitalizes on our tendency to envy. Page 1 show a 1960 Mark II Jaguar. The caption teafs: "Just as this was the envy of the automotive world. . . " Then on pages 2 and 3 is a picture of a brand-new Jaguar, and the caption continues, "Once again envy will be standard equipment."
    Now, I know it's not a sin to want a Jaguar. But if I become discontented and resentful toward my neighbor because he owns one and I don't, I have a serious envy problem.
     In Galatians 5: 19-32, Paul ranked envy with the sins of adultery, murder, and drunkenness. This mzh surprise us until we consider the destructive power of this si
ful attitude. Envy drove Joseph's brother to sell him into Egypt (Acts7:9). Envy fueled paul's opponent in Thessalonica to start a riot to thwart the gospel (17:5). Envy motivated the chief priest to hand over Jesus to be crucified ( Mark 15:10). Even when it doesn't lead to such cruel actions, envy takes the place of love and hurtd relationships (1Corinthians13:4).
     We need the Lord to help us recognize envy and remove it from our hearts. We don't want it to become standard equipment in our lives 

SET AGAINST SICKNESS

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospelti every creature, And these sign shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongue; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall revover.
                                                                         MARK 16:17,18

Let's stop and analyze something here: Just which of the sick did Jesus say we were to lay hands on?
Jesus just said "the sick"---period.
Then, if God were the author of sickness---if God did put sickness and disease on people--- if it were the will of God for some to be sick--- this statement would be confusing. Because in it, Jesus authorized us to lay hands on All sick.
If God weren't in the healing business, Jesus would have had to say something like, "Lay your hands on those that it is the will of God to heal, and they shall recover. And those it isn't--- they won't recover."
But no! God set the Church against sickness period!
God is in the healing business. God is not in the sickness business. God is in delivering business. Godbis not in the bondage business. I refuse to allow the enemy to try to get me to accept sickness or bondage as being  from God. Satan is the author of sickness God has set me against sickness!

You must Go To Church

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.
                                                                         Hebrew 10: 24-25

In a letter to the editor of a British newspaper, a man complained that  he saw no sense in going to  church every Sunday. "I have been attending service quite regularly for the past 30 years." he wrote, "and during that time I  have listened to no less than 3,000 sermons. But to my constemstion, I discover I cannot remember a singleb one of them. I wonder if a minister's time might be more profitably spent on something else."
    That letter sparked many responses. One, however, was the clincher: "I have been married for 30 years. During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals mostly of my wife's cooking . Suddenly I have discoverd that I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. And yet, I received nourishment from every one of them. I have the distinct impression that without them I would have starved to death long ago."
    The Bible assumes the importance of going to church, and the only admonition to do so appears in the context of the danger of forsaking the practice (Hebrews 10:25). We need help to keep our faith and hope from wavering (v23). and to love and do good works (v24). Just as physical food keeps us alive and strong, so also the spiritual nourishment of teaching and fellowship are necesssary for our survival.

    

WATCH HOW I DO IT

Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
                                      Matthew 11:29-30

Some people will do everything they can to complicate the life of faith. They'll try to strangle you with rules and trip you up with regulations. And they'll appoint themselves as watch dogs of your faith if you let them.
Steer clear of those people if you don't, they'll strip the beauty and freedom out if your heart as quickly as I pour it in. The best way to learn to travel the faith journey is to walk with Me. The surest way to figure out how it works is to work with Me.
 There is a freedom that you'll learn to put on every day-a freedom tailor-made for you. There's a dance of grace so joyful it makes you feel like you're flying. 
    If you find that Christianity exhausts you, draining you of your energy, then you are practicing religion rather than enjoying a relationship. Jesus said that a relationship with Him would bring rest to your soul. Your walk with the Lord will not make you weary; it will invigovate you, restore your strength, and energize your life.
    Hard work or lack of sleep can make you tired. Thus fatigue can usually be remedied by a good rest. But there is a deeper fatigue that goes beyond  physical tiredness. There is an emotional exhaustion that comes from experiencing heavy burdens and draining crises. There is a tiredness deep within your soul that comes from carrying the weight if the needs of others. You can go on a vacation, but your soul will not be restored. This condition can only be rectified by finding rest in Christ. Are you weary? Go to Jesus and let Him give you His rest. His rest will restore your soul as nothing else can. Watch and follow Me.

ON MY SIDE

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear
Psalm 118:6

After Olympic gymnast Gabby Doughlas captured two gold medals in the2012 London Games, she made this proclamation: "God will never fail you. He's always on your side."
    Sometimes this kind of  statement by an athlete can misunderstood. It can be taken to mean that if i'm competing against you in a sports contest and i have God's help, there is no way i can lose. But if we turn to Psalm 118:5-6 we get the true picture of what this line. The psalm wrote, "I called in the Lord in distress. the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side: I will not fear."
     Another version translates  verse 6 as "the LORD is with me" (NIV). It's the idea that when trouble comes into our lives, God, who is full of mercy and love (which "endured forever" v.4) will always be attentive to us and provide the protection we need.
     We can learn from this heroic Olympic champion. When  the economy falters and our finances can't keep up. "God will never fail you." when a relationship we cherished falls apart; indeed no matter what our situation, as Christ followers we know where to find help. "The Lord is on my side

"We get to tell them"

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Isaiah 9:2 (KJV) 

  I read classic devotion book it was like this I was driving through the mountain of western Maryland on a cold December night. As I topped a ridge near Rocky Gap State Park, a brilliant sea light caught my attention. What in the world is that? I wondered as the exit road flashed past. It so aroused my curiosity that 5 miles down the interstate I turned around and dove back to see what it was a local community's celebrate in lights during the Christmas season. At noon, I wouldn't have notice anything. But at night, the dazzling display couldn't be ignored.
  Strange, isn't it, that we complain about the moral and spiritual darkness of our world, yet it is the perfect setting for the radiance of the Lord Jesus Christ. At Christmas, we often read these prophetic words: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light had shined 

(Isaiah 9:2).
  Jesus said to Himself: I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), and to His disciple, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14). In a dark world, people don't see a great light without wondering, why it's there and what it means. we get to tell them. His said yes and Amen!
  Finally, brethen, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any vitue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8). We get to tell them! 

NAMES OF GOD

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."
                                                                 1Chronicle 16:8, 10-11

When God invites us to call on His names,  we. should never be at loss as to which name to use. I call the Lord my Shepherd and Friend during those times when God's tenderness melts my heart and I cry to think how rich and full His love is.
     Then there are times when I'm battling pride or wasting hours in daydteals. That's when God's word slices through my sinfulness. It stings. His hand seems heavy. That's when I call the Lord my Refiner, my Purifier.
      There ate times when  I feel helpless and frightenef, when no one,  not even my friend, seems to understand. I hide under the shelter of His wings. I snuggle safely in the cleft if the Rock. These are times when I call God my Tower, my High Fortress,
     When it comes to God, one name just isn't enough. And because Scripture is full of different names for Him, we can always know
exactly how to related to our Lord, whether we fall to our knees in awesome respect, or climb up in His lap to be held in His Arms.
     "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverb 18:10).