I Will Lift Mine Eyes

This Monday I want to look at Psalm 121:1-3 that provides us an assurance that we can cling to through even the worst storms in life.

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer your foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber." - Psalm 121:1-3

Too many times we have a distorted view of God. We think that He is a God who expects us to do the things we need to do and carry out all the responsibilities that are before us on our own. But that is not the case. The Lord is a God who cares for us more than we can imagine and that is why He gave us His Son, Jesus to die and rise again for our sins. He is not a God who expects us to live this life on our own. He is here for us to give us strength, to lead us in the way we should go, and to hold us up when we can seem to go on any longer. Lift up your eyes and look to the One who is your help and your strength. He will never never let you down when you truly put your trust in Him.

Holding God's Hand

" For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need."- Hebrews 4:15-16

I remember when one of my nephews was just learning the basics of walking, but he couldn't walk on his own yet. Whenever he would try, he would take a few quick steps and then fall straight down. One of the only ways he could walk was if he would hold on to someones hand. Whoever was holding his hand would hold him up whenever he would lose his balance or begin to fall.

So many times we as Christians try to do things on our own and in our own strength. We are spiritually just like a young toddler who can't quite walk on his own. Even though this truth is clear in the Scriptures, many Christians don't seem to grasp the concept. We can't resist temptation in our own strength. The only way we can stand and walk is if we call upon our great High Priest, Jesus Christ. He has been through the same temptations that we experience every day. He knows how we feel and He offers us His special grace to go through our trials and resist our temptations. We must trust the Lord that he will keep His promise and then rely on His strength. The Lord will always be faithful to us ( Lamentations 3:23b ). We just need to do what we can do during temptations and trials and trust the Lord for the rest.

Mike

The Priviledge of Prayer

Not too long ago I was watching a sports special on television. It was featuring a fairly famous basketball player and they were allowing people to talk to him through skype. While one kid was talking this basketball player a question, the thought came to my mind about how much of a huge occasion it would be to be able to talk to a basketball star like this person. However, the Lord just seemed to speak to me about how if I think that talking to a mere human just like I am is special, how much more special is it to talk to the very God Who holds the universe in His hands. There is no person on earth who is more special, great, powerful, or famous than He is. It such a priviledge to talk to Him! However, if this is true, why do we not appreciate it as we should? I am terribly guilty of this, yet I pray that I will not take for granted the priviledge of prayer. We  are all unworthy to have any fellowship with this great and holy God, but He has given us the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, so that by His shed blood and ressurection, we can be justified and reconciled to Him. Let's ask God to help us truly appriciate this priviledge that is ours.

Letting the God of Peace Do the Job

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the evrlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" - Hebrews 13:20-21

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." - Philippians 2:13

 I just have something quick but important to say about these passages. As time has gone on, God has been teaching me the importance of these verses. They tell us that it is God who is the One who produces in us the desire (will and right motives) and power to be what He would have us to be and consequently do what He would want us to do. Our job is to submit to His rule in our lives and to daily exchange our will for His. As we do this and read God's word, pray, and go to church, God begins to work in our hearts and produce what He would have in us. So join me in seeking to let go and let God work our hearts and lives.

His Heart for the Lost

 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,'All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever i have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway[s], even unto the end of the world. Amen" - Matthew 28:18-20

This passage from God's Word is known as the Great Commission. Every believer in Christ who has been taught the basics of the Bible has heard of and read this passage. The trouble is that we have heard it so many times that we forget about the urgency of its message. Jesus has commanded us to go and make disciples (that is what the word teach means in this passage). Why? Because there are billions of people in the world who are dying and going to hell. They need to hear of the living Savior, Jesus Christ who died and rose again for their sins. The Lord has convicted me about how I have not had the heart that He has toward the lost. I need to have the love of Christ toward the lost. When we all let God produce that love in our hearts we will truly be a more effective witness for Christ.
Here is some song lyrics that my brother Jesse wrote having to do with this same topic:


Emergence



I see you there again layin' in the low light,

You're sayin its okay, I've got bigger better plans tonight,

But if you can, just take a look around

You see a world thats shaken up, dragged around, and beaten down,

So...shake the dust off, we're scraping all that rust off,

Tonight we're breakin' out to show this world what we're all about.



Chorus:

Ohhh oh Emer-emergence now we're surfacin'

Emer-emergence, Lord for you we're shinin',

Emer-emergence yeah we're through with hidin',

We'll never know the difference we make,

Until we start living our faith,

So father won't you give us your grace.

(Ohhh ohh so Father won't you give us your grace!)





You're sayin that you're strong, but I feel the pressure rising,

The grip of fear thats captivated you from realizing,

Our God, our Shield has given everything

For us to live out loud and show the people what His love's about..

So shake the dust off, we're scrapin' all that rust off,

Tonight we're breakin' out to show this world what we're all about!



Chorus:

Emer-emergence now we're surfacin'

Emer-emergence, Lord for you we're shinin', Emer-emergence yeah we're through with hidin'

We'll never know the difference we make,

Until we start living our faith,

So father won't you give us your grace.

(Ohhh ohh so Father won't you give us your grace!)







Ohh, though this world tries to break you,

I will never forsake you,

I will...never leave you.

Oh! though this world tries to break you,

I will never forsake you,

I will never leave you!



Chorus:

Emer-emergence now we're surfacin' (Ohhh, though this world tries to break you...)

Emer-emergence, Lord for you we're shinin' (I will never forsake you...)

Emer-emergence yeah we're through with hidin'(I will never leave you...)

We'll never know the difference we make,

Until we start living our faith,

So father won't you give us your grace.

(Ohhh ohh so Father won't you give us your grace!)