Thankfully Overcome

 God is the master at reminding us of foundational values through events and seasons.  Just as October challenged us to stand in the authority Jesus has given over the powers of darkness, November is designed to bring us back to acknowledging God's eternal goodness, not just in what we now have, but also in His awesome future for us to dwell in His presence and glory forever.  What God has planned certainly is beyond description and our finite understanding, but nevertheless, true and worthy of rejoicing in His revealed plan and letting it motivate our godly choices.    

Scripture reveals that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him.  Surely HIs joy was seeing you and I receive what He was doing to pay for our sins and become children of God to be with Him forever.  Likewise, in Revelation 2 and 3, God sent messages to the various churches with awesome encouragements of "joy" set before those who overcome. 

God is a rewarder of those who seek Him and obey Him.  If God does not overlook having a reward for giving a glass of water to a little one, how much more will not miss rewarding choices to obey our Spirit-led promptings and to put down the screaming lusts of the flesh (Romans 8:13).  He promises life and peace to those who obey the Spirit.  

Therefore, in this season of thankfulness, hear the word from Jesus in John 16:33, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  And the accompanying truth from 1 John 5:4-5, which states that all those who are born again overcome the world through our faith. 

We rejoice together in thankfulness for all the goodness we taste now (Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good); and also for the amazing future goodness God has for those who love Him (Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9)

The Lord has enabled His children to overcome through His death and resurrection; furthermore, He has given us sufficient reason and anointing to be thankful in every situation.  As He overcame, we now thankfully overcome by His power working in us.  

Heart of God

Honor and blessings to all mothers as we celebrate Mother's Day! 

God's plans are awesome.  There is a good reason He compares and contrasts a mother's love (in Isaiah 49) in describing His love toward us.  Through motherhood (and fatherhood) He allows us to share His feelings toward His children and the joy of seeing them make wise choices.  It is stated in 2 John that he rejoices greatly to find his children walking in the truth.  We have the honor to share the heart of God.

 On one hand, mothers, you are to be highly commended for being a mother and all you do to ensure the well-being and growth of your children.  Everyone knows the daily routine of feeding, washing, clothing, providing for their every need is often a full-time and often thankless job.  It is a laying down your life in all the "little things" that fill your day, that result in the "big things" of your children knowing they are loved and valuable.  Having this foundation allows each one to be secure and to grow into the person God meant each one to be. Clearly, Mother's Day gives the opportunity for children to rise up and bless their mothers with a special thank you of appreciation.  This is good and right, but nothing compares to the final "Well done, good and faithful servant" that awaits you.  

 However, on the other hand, what do we have and what can we do unless it is a gift from the Lord?  When it is all said and done, all we can ever do is thank God that He allowed us to have the desire and strength to do what He gives us.  It always reminds me of the parable in Luke 17, where Jesus concludes, "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' "  We will be amazed forever how God used our "simply doing what needs to be done" to accomplish His eternal purpose.  In this sense, Mother's Day is a day to thank God for the privilege and strength to serve Him in this favored position.  "Thank you, Lord, for letting me be used to touch forever the lives You have given me."

The greatest in God's kingdom is servant of all. Sharing God's heart and acting accordingly brings us into oneness with the Lord forever.  

Are You Rich?

A dear saint of God who had spent most of her life blessing others through prayer, giving, ministering in nursing homes, distributing bread and food to those in need just went home to be with the Lord.  During her life she purposed to bless every single person she met. 

The night before her funeral God showed me in Proverbs that, in spite of her appearance of having very little material possessions, she was very rich.  The world looks through fallen-nature eyes and thinks that the rich people are those with billions of dollars, fancy cars and houses, and lives of ease and comfort.  But in reality, Jesus made it clear that true riches are only what we give away.  You are only as rich as what you have given to Him and to others.  Matthew 6:20 encourages us to lay up treasures in heaven that can never be lost.  In God's sight and for all eternity, she is rich.

Most of us in the Western world think that we are barely making it, working to provide money to pay bills and meet expenses, with little left over to spend for luxuries or even to bless others.  However, the question is "what is rich?"  Are we hungry or do we have food enough to eat?  Do we have clothes to wear and a roof over our heads?  Do we have some of the comforts of life: heat, lights, and electricity?  What about clean water, cooking appliances, beds and furniture, flooring and carpet, or a car or two for transportation? What about entertainment items such as televisions, computers, music devices, smart phones and high-speed Internet, eating out or an occasional movie?  We get addicted to having the latest "things" and even start feeling sorry for ourselves if we can't buy the latest item immediately.  Often we live with completely twisted and distorted concepts of our needs and the provision we have.  In fact, we are rich and have received much.

Lets start with two simple truths.  Every thing that we have is given.  1 Corinthians 4:7 asks "what do you have that you did not receive?"  God does "give us all things richly to enjoy" according to 1 Timothy 6:17, so He does not resent us having good things.  He does, however, want us to at least be like the tenth leper and return to give thanks.  Thanks giving is more than words, it is an attitude of appreciation that is so overwhelming that only serving the One who gave it makes sense. 

Secondly, God gives us resources so we can be like Him.  God is a giver.  He so loved the world that He gave His only Son.  He loves a cheerful giver.  Isaiah 55 says He gives bread to the eater and seed to the sower.  So there is always enough to meet our needs and always enough to bless someone else.  We are called to bless (1 Peter 4:7) that we may receive the blessing.  Do you see the sowing and reaping principle: Give and it will be given, forgive and you will be forgiven, bless and you will be blessed.  This life is just an internship for the position God has destined for us for eternity.  We are allowed to sow seeds that bear eternal fruit, that can make a difference for eternity in someone's life.  But most of all, using our God-given resources provides an opportunity to become a giver like Him.

So, are you rich, in the things that matter?  Do you recognize where everything you have came from?  Are you seeking to use your resources to return blessings to God and to meet the needs of others?  May the Lord give you a heart of thanksgiving so you can enjoy being rich, now and forever!