MONDAY MORNING!

". . . where two or three ..."

"For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them." -- Matthew 18:20

One of my favorite scriptures that is committed to memory. It is about you, as an individual, and a couple of other people. Just think -- you and one or two others coming together in the name of Jesus and He is there with you. So, why not take advantage of that -- its scriptural.  You are over at some friends for lunch or dinner -- take time to gather in His name and see what happens. You are out in the grocery store and run into someone -- take time to gather in His name and see what happens. You are in your office setting with others -- why not take time, if and should the opportunity arises, to gather in His name and see what happens.

I once had an employee come to me concerned about some things happening with her husband. He was struggling with pressures at work and had taken off in his truck and she did not know where he was. I was careful -- I asked if we could step outside (in broad open daylight) and let me pray with her concerning his situation. We did. I prayed in the name of Jesus knowing He was with us. Within an hour she had heard from her husband and all was well with him.

Coming together in His name is powerful. Coming together in His name brings results. Coming together in His name causing things to move and shake. So, I encourage you to everyday find someone to come together with in His name.  It may be your spouse.  It may be a friend or another believer you have just met. It may be your mom or dad. And remember it does not matter where the coming together takes place -- just know He is there with you.

Bottom Line: May we daily take the time and the opportunity to come together with someone in His name. May we know the power of coming together in His name. And, may we always have a testimony of what happens when we come together in His name. Amen? Amen. 

MONDAY MORNING!

I do not pretend ...

"If He snatches away, who can stop Him? Who can say to Him, 'What are you doing?'" -- Job 9:12 

I do not pretend to understand the ways of the Lord.  Well --- to be perfectly honest --- maybe sometimes I try. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us we don't: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

His way of doing things are different than mine. My way of thinking is different than His. Yet, we are encouraged to continue on a path or road of Christ-likeness. Christ was always obedient to Father. He listened and He obeyed. He did what Father showed Him to do. Just look at John 5:19 and John 8:28.

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himslef; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." -- John 5:19

  ". . . I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught Me." -- John 8:28

With those scriptures in mind -- in John 9 we are told of how Jesus heals a man born blind. He spat on the ground, made some mud and then put it on the man's eyes and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. I see no where in that ninth chapter of John where Jesus asked, "Father, what are you doing?" He simply obeyed.

So, how do we see and hear and know what the Father is doing and asking us to do? Through faith in His Son who asked His Father to send the Holy Spirit who would then guide us into all things.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" -- John 14:26

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you. ... But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. -- John 16: 7 & 13

Yes, He speaks, He shows, He directs. The question is: Are we looking, listening and being obedient? Or, are we just thinking or saying, "What are You doing?"

Bottom Line: May we not pretend to always know His ways. May we see, may we hear, and may we obey as the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, the Spirit of truth guides and directs. Amen? Amen. 

MONDAY MORNING!
 
"This is the way ..."

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." -- Isaiah 30:21
 

We are all on a journey here on earth. We are physically walking --- on the earth, in our homes, in our work places, in schools, and out in the public. But, we are also walking a spiritual journey with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  I believe that it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we will be directed in our physical journey and our spiritual journey with Him.  Every new day brings about the opportunity to hear from Him. We just have to listen for Him.  We need to learn to discern His voice above all the other voices clamoring for our attention.

"The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice. -- John 10:3-5

We need to know His voice in the midst of our everyday life circumstances. And, as a "gentle whisper" as Elijah did -- ". . . Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" -- I Kings 19: 11-13

 

Bottom Line:  Whose voice are you choosing to listen to and to follow? May we always have ears to hear His voice behind us saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Amen? Amen.

 
 

MONDAY MORNING!

"Where Are You Standing?"

"I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." -- Psalm 40:1-2

Later in this psalm, David, talks about troubles without number surrounding him and his sins overtaking him. Yet, he calls on the LORD to come save him.  He was in a "tight fix" or as some would say -- "between a rock and a hard place" or "stuck with no way out". But, he also knew where he needed to be and that was on a rock -- a solid rock and if you will --- I am thinking -- "The Rock". In the midst of his situation or circumstance he waited for the LORD to come and help place him there -- "on a rock."

So, I ask you -- Where are your feet standing? Are you in a "tight fix"?  Are you "between a rock and a hard place?" Do you feel "stuck with no way out?" --- Then who are you calling on and praying to?

This is what David prayed ---

"Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me." Ps. 40:13

Bottom Line: May we know that whatever we may be facing, whatever we may be going through, whatever may be our situation --- as we call out and patiently wait --- there is always One who will come quickly when we call, pull us out and set our feet on The Solid Rock. Amen? Amen.