When one moves several times in their life time, one has a decision to make.  What do I keep and what do I goes away?  I have moved several times and at each move, that question is asked.  Some objects can create great agony over whether they go or stay.  Other objects, no problem, trash.  

 

The same is true in our lives.  With every time of worship, every visit to the Lord’s Table, there is a time of spiritual inventory.  What stays and what must go.  It is not easy.  It can be difficult.  Every emotion, every thought, every heart issue, must be examined.  Regret, hurt, pain, disappointment, desires, all must be held in the light of the Lord’s life.  Do they stay or do they go? 

 

Beloved, no one must come before you and your relationship with Jesus.  If anyone, anything, idea, emotion, theology, philosophy, tradition, comes between you and the LORD, it must go.  That is what Jesus did in the temple.  He looked at what was going on and got rid of that which interfered with worshiping the FATHER.

 

So, look everything over in your life today.  Ask, does this bring me closer to God or does it drive a wedge between me and God.  Be honest.  Be prayerful.  Be seeking.  The LORD JESUS will always show you.  Just listen.  Think about it.

It is coming that time of the year again, where everyone does spring cleaning.  Maybe everyone.  Going through the house, cleaning out stuff accumulated during the winter months.  Maybe it is just an opening of the house, letting it air and just doing a deep cleaning.  What ever you may do, it is spring and cleaning happens.

 

Jesus went to Jerusalem for HIS last week of life.  HIS first act was the cleaning of the temple. It had become a place of buying and selling.  Animals.   Moneychangers.  Thieves.  Instead of being a HOLY PLACE, it had become a supermarket.  It was not a special place of worship.  This angered Jesus.  So, he went through the temple driving all of the dealers, vendors, and merchants out.  Returning the temple to what it was suppose to be in the first place, a place of worship.

 

For those who follow Jesus, we need to remember that we are now GOD’S temple (2Cor. 6:16).  GOD resides in us.  Since HE resides in us, we must maintain a clean temple.  To keep the temple clean we must daily present ourselves to CHRIST (Romans 12:1).  By doing this we can worship HIM in spirit and in truth.

 

What in your life must go?  What must be cleaned out so that your relationship with JESUS can grow.  Maybe it is hate, bitterness, self doubt, anger, depression, anxiety, lack of trust…………you get the idea.  Whatever is in the way of your relationship with CHRIST needs to be cleaned out.  Think about it.

It is the weekend.  For many this is the time of rest, relaxation, fun, and family.  Of course if there is a honey do list…..that is a different devotion.  Everyone is working for the weekend the old song goes.  Everyone does work for those days off when one can rest and have fun.

 

Ever wonder when did Jesus have fun?  I always wondered when did HE have fun?

 

One of the times, I would say was when HE was with the children.  Just take a moment, when you are with your children or grandchildren there is times of fun, laughter, games, energy.  There is a peace also.  A feeling of being complete.  Jesus is recorded at least three times being around children.  One time HE told his disciples to let the children come to HIM.  Little kids are full of laughter, life and joy.  I am sure that HE enjoyed every moment of just being with the innocents. 

 

Beloved we are all children in God’s sight.  HE loves to be with us and us in HIM.  Life is real with HIM. 

 

The challenge for this weekend, sit with the LORD.  Laugh with HIM.  Listen to HIM.   Let HIM give you strength, peace.  Let your guard down and be a child for a short time in the presences of the one who made you.  See what happens.

AMC had a series on at one time called The Walking Dead.  Never watched it.  Saw clips.  From the clips and friends that watched it, the show had a lot of people that we dead but just walking around.  They were destroying everyone and everything in their path.  They were dead people walking.

 

That is what most people are today.  They are dead inside walking through life.  No purpose.  No meaning.  No direction.  Just existing from one day to the next.  Hopeless.  Helpless.  Lost.

 

When Jesus came to this earth, his very existence screamed that there is life.  Real life.  Life worth living.  “I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE.” he told his disciples.  “In HIM is life.” John writes in the beginning of his gospel.  Life is not just knowing about Jesus, it is living IN HIM.  This to many sounds difficult, but it is not.  Take two lovers, Beloved.  They seek to know every detail about each other.  They want to please the other mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.  They hang on every word spoken by the other.  Each touch, each smile, each caress is engraved into their soul, just to remember what pleased the other.  Desire to please, build, encourage grows with each day. 

 

 

Now this intensity between lovers, is the same in our relationship with Christ.  To know HIM is to have life.  Hanging on each word, brings a breathe of fresh vision about one’s existence.  HIS touch drives one to stretch further toward an impossibility.  HIS example compels us to envision the endless possibilities of what can happen in our lives.  Just like being in love.  For that is what it is with HIM.

 

Today, open your heart.  Let JESUS bring life into you.  Do not be a dead man walking, live a life that will give you purpose, meaning, and love.  Live life in JESUS.

According to the widely used, although somewhat hard-to-find-credit-for figures, a heart is worth around $1 million in the US. Livers come in second, worth about $557,000 and kidneys cost about $262,000 each. Not to speak about human skin ($10/inch), stomach ($500), and eyeballs ($1,500 each).  When I read these statics, I was amazed.  I am worth a lot.  But then I noticed one major fact, for me to be worth that much, I have to die.  Not a good option.

 

Yet, there are times we feel that way.  We fell like there is no use or purpose to our lives.  The fear of living another day is just to much.  People give us papers that scream of our uselessness, worthlessness.  Pages full of hurt, anger, bitterness.  Telephone calls of raging words full of pain.  Rumors we hear of how………………………..     You understand by now.

 

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him and without him was not anything made that was made.  Jesus has been here the whole of earth’s existence.  Not only is HE here, HE created all.  Every DNA strain, every molecule, every atom, every…………..again you understand.  Everything HE created.  HE created you.  Your complicated body, HE created one cell at a time.  Your soul, HE form carefully, slowly, with love. HE has not left you, HE has stayed with you, even when YOU did not know HE was there.  When you went through pain, HE was with you.  HE felt your pain.

 

Now you may ask, where was HE during my rough times, during the pain?  HE was right there.  Maybe the question we need to ask is this simple one: did I ask HIM to put me in HIM?  He has never left us.  HE has never forsaken us.  We just forget to ask to be in HIM.

 

You are worth so much, that HE will take your pain, your rejection, your disappointments, your fears.  HE will never judge you for them, but take them and create someone beautiful, right Beloved.  HE will stay with you until the very last breathe.  Why?  Because HE LOVES YOU and LOVE is a decision.  To HIM you are worthy of HIS LOVE.  Today, no matter what always be reminded you are worth the LOVE of the SON OF GOD, the LORD of the universe.  Smile.  Thought for the day.

Reba McEntire sang a song entitled “Is there life out there?”   It is a song about a wife wondering if there is life outside of her current situation.  She is not wanting to leave it, she is just wondering is there more?  That song is so true today.  People are wondering is there more to life than just this.  What will make this life more meaningful, deeper, richer, fulfilling?  Is it drugs, alcohol, sex, adrenaline rush, relationships, or exercise? 

 

Our children, our grandchildren, our society, even our church members are asking is there more to life than just this?  The answer is yes there is.  Now you are thinking, he is going to say Jesus.  You are right.  Well, lets go on preacher.  No, lets not.  We have undervalued the name of Jesus.  It is now a catch name, cliche, or scapegoat word when we are in trouble.  But it is the most powerful name in the universe.  Even demons cringe when HIS name is mentioned, but not humans.  The universe stops at the mention of HIS name, but humans use it in cussing.

 

At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.  Is there life out there?  Yes.  It is found in Jesus.  For the next few devotions, we are going to look at this Jesus.  This man who is God.  This God/Man who created life.  Who gave life to all.  Who lived life fully.  So if we want to know, is there life?  Who go to the one who created it.  Let’s see what HE says in the next few days.

 

Ready Beloved.  Let look.  Think about it.   John 1:1 – 5.

Music is one medium that everyone can relate.  Whether it is rock and roll, jazz, country and western, bluegrass, classical, or rap, music can bring people together.  It can unite people, if just for a brief moment.  Music is so powerful that it will stop parades, change lives, or destroy nations.

 

Music is very simple.  There is a melodic line (instruments) and words.  The words are written out of experience.  That experience could be written out the loss of a loved one, love, the loss of love, celebration, broken heart, anger, or praise.  The composing of the melodic line is based upon the words.  Combining the two can bring an explosive experience.  Songs like Amazing Grace, Go Rest High upon That Mountain, Red Solo Cup, Kingdom Man, It is Well with My Soul, The Star Spangled Banner, and countless others have changed lives, inspired revival, healed hearts, or just provided entertainment and laughter.

 

David wrote hundreds of songs.  They all had on main object, God.  Everything was centered on God.  Every word, every note, was all about God.  Music was a powerful tool that he used to teach the nation of Israel about God, life, and following God.  Everything flowed out of David’s heart.  That is where music originates.

 

If you were to write a song, which is what you are doing now, what would it be?  What would be the words?  We are all writing a song are we not Beloved? 

Just a thought.  Pray about your song.

 

 

Seven years ago today, my father passed away.  It was a Sunday morning.  Every Sunday morning I would call him at 7 am and we would talk.  We would talk about our sermons, our churches, and the plan for the day.  Every Sunday morning. 

 

Last Sunday, I picked up the phone and called my father.  It was the old house number.  In the midst of dialing, I remembered that he would not answer.  Instead of getting down, I remember a picture of him making faces at their 25th Wedding Anniversary.  I laughed.  It did not take away the loss, but it brought back good memories. 

 

We are told often in the Scriptures to remember.  Remember the teachings of Jesus.  Remember the sacrifice of Jesus.  Remember, love one another.  Countless times we are told to remember the life and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.  In this case we are to remember causing us to act.  Remembrance with response.

 

It is like this, I was given a hug some weeks back.  It was a great hug by the way.  I could have just stood there and done nothing, or I could return the hug.  I returned the hug.  It is that way with memories.  We can stand there and just think about it or we can do something positive in response of it. 

 

Think about it.  Respond to it.  Live it.  I need a hug.

Who’s bright idea was it to do a time shift today?  Please step forward and claim responsibility.   Come on.  Who ever did this needs to step forward.  I want to know the time and how am I going to recover one hour sleep.  It is really important to get that hour of sleep.  Step forward please.

 

The one consistent of life is change.  It just can not be helped.  The weather, “wait five minutes it will change.”  The government, “we are here to help, but we will change prices.”  People, “we are going to do, oh no let’s do that instead.”  Change.  Like who’s bright idea was it again to change the time?  No one has stepped forward yet.

 

Yet there is one constant in life; Jesus.  He never changes.  He is not swayed by emotions, new fads, popularity, or shiny objects.  He never has changed.  For one following Him that is peace, security, and hope.  I know that He will always be there during difficult times, good times, grieving times.  Constant.

 

While time changed today, remember that Jesus does not change.  Right Beloved.  Right everyone?  He never changes.

 

Think about it.

Have you ever been reminded of your failures?  That person that comes along and states all your faults, gloats over them, rubs them in, reopens wounds.  We all have those people that do that, I have mine.  It is painful when they attack.  Yes it is a premeditated attack. 

 

Pain sets in.  Guilt.  Regret.  Until, Jesus whispers in your ear you are worth my life.  Then everything stops.  Jesus went to the cross to obey the Father’s plan and to give us the opportunity to have clear conscious.  A clear conscious means no more regrets, guilt, or pain.  It is gone.  

 

So when Satan comes after you about your past, just remind him of his future and of the cross which gives you and I  a clear conscious. 

 

Words for thought.  Have a great weekend.  One other item, remember to give thanks for the people God places in your life.  Such people are Beloved and special.