Weariness

30 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Do you find yourself exhausted being a Christian? Doing good works and making sure to keep up with the status quo? If that is the case you may be to focused on practicing a religion, rather than embracing a relationship. Jesus says that a relationship with Him will bring rest to your soul. When you get caught up in life and the daily grind starts to wear you down, remember, you always have Jesus to fall back on….but what would be even better than that, is to go to Jesus in the first place. Take solace in knowing that He is always there no matter what. Rest in Him; embrace His love and grace and worry no more.

Birth Pangs

29 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays lesson is a crucial one, especially the way the world is going these days. While no one knows when Christ is coming back, it is interesting to see how many of the prophesies from the bible are slowly starting to coming true.

This is direct text from todays lesson, so as not to misrepresent anything...

When will Christ return? This question has been pondered much through the generations. The imminence of His coming provides the backdrop for everything the Christian does. Christ has not revealed exactly when He will come, but He has told us signs to watch for. The time of His coming is unclear; the fact of His coming is certain.

Jesus said that certain events would signal the nearness of His coming: There will be wars and rumors of wars; there will be famines and earthquakes; Christians will suffer persecution for the sake of Christ; false prophets will come and teach heresy, leading many astray; lawlessness will abound as people do what is right in their own eyes; the authorities will be unable to control crime. Because of lawlessness, people will become cynical and fearful, and their love for others will grow old.

Jesus said that the signs of the end times will be like birth pangs. The pain of childbirth increase in frequency, and it increases in intensity. Jesus said that the presence of war or famine or false teachers does not mean that His coming is upon us. These things, He said, are merely the beginning. He said that the frequency of wars, earthquakes, and crime will increase until finally Christ's return brings everything to a finish. The intensity of wars and famines and other human crisis will also escalate.

Our day has seen everything Jesus spoke of reach unprecedented proportions. If there were ever a time Christians should be alert to Jesus' coming, it is today.

The Gift Of Encouragement

28 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Nothing makes a rough day seem better than a little bit of encouragement from a friend or loved one. In the same way we encourage people through worldly drama, we should encourage people spiritually. One of the best ways to build friendships and grow disciples is through relationship and encouragement. Be kind to those around you, build a bond of trust and loyalty. A little bit of encouragement can go a long way.

God Is With You

27 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

The title says it all…God is with you! The question is, are you with God? God will never leave you, abandon you or forsake you, can you say the same things about yourself towards Him?

We are to embrace Jesus, to be like Jesus and above all share Jesus' love and power with others! When you live like Jesus, others should see that; it should be obvious. Once you embrace the power of God, you can't go back to living your old life. Old habits will start to fade, habitual sins will start to wear on you, and idols that once took God's place will start to crumble!

When people see your examples and start to realize what Jesus is all about, they will start transforming as well. They will want to spend more time with you and others like you, they will feel comfortable and steady in their relationship with you and with a renewed confidence in Christ, they too will spread the good word to others. Our job here on earth is to be like Jesus to others, to go out and MAKE disciples; Jesus will take care of the rest.

So go on! Live your life for God loud and proud! Be that Jesus Freak that Satan warned everyone about!

Taking Responsibility

26 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

No one is responsible for your actions except you. When you sin, though you may be TEMPTED by others, you are the one that is acting on that temptation; you have the control, use it.

Playing the blame game goes back to the beginning of time. Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, but ultimately there was no blame to pass, because they were both at fault for not taking control of their temptations. The same goes for you and me today… There are so many temptations and snares in our lives that we could easily fall into and then dig our way out of while burying other people in the process. Rather than throwing your companions under the bus and blaming them, just take your concerns straight to Jesus. Ask for help and forgiveness, and He will provide.

Quenching The Spirit

25 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message starts off as follows, "…We can not prevent God from accomplishing His work in the world around us, but we can quench His spirit in our lives…"

Powerful words… We have no control over God and what He does. He is almighty and all powerful; what He says, goes…However, we do have control over how much of Him we let into our lives. With that kind of "power" or control, it's so easy to misuse it. There are times when we feel invincible, unbeatable, and so independent that there is no reason for God. Guess what? There is NEVER a reason to not have God. Toby Mac (the musician) said in an interview once, "…I realized then that God was not longer a PART of my life, that He WAS my life…" If we all lived like that, if we had the confidence in Jesus Christ that Toby has, what an amazing world we would live in.

Don't put Jesus on the back burner, don't make Him an afterthought. There are so many idols in our lives that we "Think" we can't live without, so why don't we give Jesus the same amount of attention and praise that we do to worldly concerns?

I Will Rejoice!

24 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message is a super simple one to write on, but not always an easy one to act upon. Rejoicing in God, no matter whats happening in your life!! It's easy to rejoice in God's glory when things are going ducky for you, but what about when life comes crumbling down on top of you? When you THINK God has it in for you, or just doesn't care about you?? The last paragraph in this message today says it all, so, without further delay…listen, learn and embrace…

"…Do things seem to be falling apart around you? You can still praise God. YOUR PRAISE FOR HIM DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE SUCCESS OF YOUR ENDEAVORS BUT ON GOD'S NATURE AND HIS LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS TO YOU!!! Ask God to help you look past worldly concerns to understand the reasons you have to praise Him…"

Crouching At Your Door

22 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Sin is everywhere, we must be cautious how we live our lives and do our best to avoid it. Lust, temptation, jealousy, rage, violence and many others acts creep into our lives and brutalize our relationships with each other and with Jesus. Even with a strong foundation and belief in God, we are still susceptible to sin and will never get away from it, but fortunately our loving Fathers forgives and forgets all the acts we commit. As forgiving as He is though, you should make your best effort to avoid things that cause you to sin. The bible says if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off, if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out…Now, I am not promoting self mutilation, and if you go chopping limbs off, don't blame me…thats on you… (or, off you…in this case) but, the underlying concept is, if there are things in your life that you KNOW will tempt you, avoid them! Bad movies, the internet, certain "friends" and the likes.

Everyone has their downfalls, no one is perfect, but it's our job here on earth to spread the glory of God and we can't be doing that if our lives are constantly in the devils hands.

Standing With Others

22 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

God makes it abundantly clear that man should not be alone. We are to stand together with other believers to keep each other accountable and to have fellowship with one another, sharing the word of God.
With your fellow christians at your side, it is much easier (not impossible) to avoid sin and satan's deception. Keep each other accountable for the action you take, and you will soon take them less and less. God is always going to be with you in spirit, but it is so helpful to have a friend or friends there in person to talk to, ask questions, seek guidance from and keep company.

Go out there and find your "go to" guy/gal(s) it will make a world of difference in your life, your relationship with Jesus and with others.

When God Blesses Others

21 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Yesterday we talked about the blessings WE receive from God, today we are going to talk about others being blessed and how we are to react.

Lets start off by stating the obvious. Jealousy/envy/covetousness is a terrible sin, so bad that God brings it up twice in the 10 commandments. So, when God blesses others, how do you react? If it is with a jealous heart, take heed of your reactions and go to Jesus for help. As christians (as humans for that matter) we should be grateful and happy for one another. We should support our fellow man and encourage them in their blessings, as they encourage us in ours.

God doesn't play favorites; He loves us all equally. If you feel like God doesn't care about you, because He didn't bless you in the same way He blessed another, look into your heart and see where your focus lies. Is it set on  "gimme gimme" mode or is it on "Thank you for an completely undeserved blessing" mode. Remember, God doesn't HAVE to bless you, love you, or take care of you… He CHOOSES too. You being alive, is a blessing in and of itself. If you are alive to read this right now, you are being blessed. Don't compare blessings with others, don't play the pity card saying "God plays favorites, He doesn't care about me," thats just childish. Embrace God's love, encourage others through their blessings and yours will come when the time is right.

Overtaken By Blessings

20 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

God's blessings are such a wonderful gift to receive, and you may not even notice them. God doesn't always bless you in you an extravagant, magnificent, awe inspiring way…Sometimes, it's in little ways, but it's often those little blessings that warm our hearts. For instance, a friend randomly stopping by when you are stressed, just to say hi and see how you are doing. A little 1st grader leaving a door tag on your front door with a hand drawn picture and a note that says "Thank you, we love our school" (personal experience, made my heart melt a little) The point I am driving at is, while the BIG blessings are…just that…a blessing- like getting money to pay your bills just in the nick of time; we also need to take heart in and pay attention to the little things God is doing in our lives behind the scenes, they are just as important.

Think about your daily life… now subtract all the huge, blatant, obvious blessings…What are you left with? Just an average, boring, useless day? Or are there little Jesus bombs dropping all around you that have become overshadowed by the big picture? Cherish these moments, just as God cherishes you.

Thanksgiving (not the holiday)

19 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Thanksgiving! What a wonderful feeling to have. What causes thanksgiving in your life? What are you thankful for? While many people, myself included, are thankful for a job, food, shelter, and transportation, the root of that is Jesus. Jesus is what we should really be thankful for. God says in the gospels that He even takes care of the sparrow, making sure it is prosperous and we are even more important than the birds of the sky. What He means is, you WILL be taken care of. We have no reason to worry.

I will be really open with you right now…I don't understand poverty, I don't understand the homeless population and the hunger, the trials and disasters… That's not for me to understand. I do know however, that God has everything under control and has a plan for everyone and everything, from the birds to the impoverished, to the uber-wealthy. Everyone has something to be thankful for, and many people in sad situations tend to turn their thanks to God, simply for life. Consider your life and what you are really thankful for. Did Jesus bless you with it, or did you get it on your own?

Sitting At Jesus' Feet

18 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Serving God is one of the greatest things you can do on this earth. It is extremely important and well as a task asked of you by God Himself. The reason I did not say it's the MOST important thing you can do is because, sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to what He has to say is equally as important. While God loves the time you spend serving Him and spreading His name on earth, there are times when you need to just relax and listen to Jesus. Spend time in worship with Him, fellowship with others. Reading, prayer, and fasting are all ways you can do this.

We are not called to sit at the Lords feet continuously, otherwise our service would cease, and on the other hand, we are not called to serve Him continuously, otherwise, we may lose sight of why we are doing what we're doing. Keep an even keel about these two tasks. When you become so entranced in your service, whether it be, leading, discipling, praying over others or any kind of service, that you forget to spend time with Jesus, you have become too busy. Slow down, take a rest and make time for the One whom you set out to serve.

Don't lose sight of why you are here, and doing what your doing.

The Day Of The Lord

17 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

When we think of, The day of the Lord, often times we think about the second coming, which, is totally correct…however, the day of the Lord can also be referring to anytime the Lord speaks to you, helps you or guides you in an unsuspecting manner. Watch for these signs as they are unpredictable and extremely important, just as the Lords second coming is.

When you feel the Lords presence, take heed of what He is telling you and respond with a servants heart. Always expect to hear from Him so when He does call on you, you will be prepared.

Judge Not

16 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Who are we to judge what others do? What gives us the right to decide what is fair and whats unfair? The only being that has any right whatsoever to judge, is Jesus Christ. We may THINK that we are helping or that we are using discernment, but the majority of the time you and I are judging, plain and simple. Make sure you don't get the two mixed up; be careful what your mind thinks and your mouth says. Remember what James said, "…my dear brothers and sisters, take note of this; Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…" How can you call anyone a hypocrite and keep a clear conscience? Are you not a hypocrite as well? Did you not commit the same wrongs as he or she? Take heart in knowing that no one is perfect. We all make mistakes and though we should strive not to, we all judge now and then. Do your best, through the power of Christ to keep your judgmental heart on lockdown and let your love, acceptance and understanding of others shine through, it will make a world of difference.

Christian Anger

15 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Anger is a destructive tool used by satan to corrupt a christian heart. When we let our anger overtake us, it goes deeper than just a scowl. Anger controls us, it makes us do things that normally we wouldn't consider doing. We lash out at others, we curse, disobey and essentially deny God.

 The bible constantly says to put away your anger. It's not always easy to control yourself when you are angry, most people just let it ride out until its out of their system…but if you can, in your moments of weakness, go to God. Pray for help, understanding and guidance, a "cure" as it were, for your anger. You don't have to let it control you. Just like I stated in a post a few days ago, anger is just another concern that you can give up to God and He will take care of it.

God Is Faithful

14 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

When God says He will do something, He will do it…Plain and simple…

When God speaks to you and tells you He is going to bless you in this way, or guide you in that way…you can take those words to the bank. God is faithful, He is true to the fullest extent; a truthfulness that you will never find from any human being.

If you begin to doubt that God is taking care of you, examine your heart. Where are you in your relationship with Him? Whats causing your distrust? Is it because you are taking matters into your own hands? Are you taking God out of the picture, trying to master things on your own, failing and then blaming God for it?? We have no reason to stress or worry about anything in life if we just surrender it to Jesus. He WILL provide. 

Think of all the things in life that stress you to the nines… Money, childcare, jobs, relationships…and so many more…If you were just strong enough…or technically speaking "weak" enough to drop all of those problems on God, and trust in Him, you would have no reason to worry…What a wonderful life that would be, and it is certainly attainable.

So, again I say…God is faithful in everything He says. Give Him a chance to show you how much He loves you. Live a stress free life, live a life full of God's grace.

Not Sorrowing For Others

13 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Losing a loved one is never easy, but as christians it is comforting to know that other believers will spend an eternity in heaven and we will soon see them again. We all have grief, we all feel the pain of loss, but, where are the world grieves with no hope, our grief is accompanied by hope.

When Jesus gave up His life on the cross, He died for our sins, He saved us from our evil ways. When He was resurrected, He conquered death and changed the way believers view death. It's no longer something to be afraid of. It's going to happen, and on the surface it's going to be hard to handle…but you have to look deeper than surface level on some things… Just know that your fellow christians are in a much better place (as cliche as that sounds) and they are spending an eternity at the right hand of Almighty God.

A Part Of Something Bigger

12 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Why are we here? What are we doing on earth? Better question…what are YOU doing here on earth. Are you making a name for yourself. Are you gaining wealth and prestige? Are you making sure you are well taken care of? How about this… are you watching after others? Are you spreading God's word and saving non believers from an eternity of darkness?

We were not put on this earth to watch our own backs, to make sure everything is ok in our little worlds. It's God's job and pleasure to watch over us and make sure everything in our lives goes accordingly. The bible says that, God watches over the birds of the sky, making sure they are taken care of, and we are even more important than the birds. Our job is to make sure everyone knows that! Yes, God could miraculously turn everyone into believers and save everyone all at once, but that is not how He wants to work this world. He has a plan, and as part of His plan, we are to serve and obey His will.

There's more to this world than just earthly possessions and relationships (remembering that in the right context NEITHER of those are bad things), ask God to guide you and show you where He wants to be, and becoming a part of something bigger.

Losing Your Life

11 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

How important is God in your life? Where does He fit into your list?

One of God's commands is to give up your life to Him. Matthew 16:25 (and other similar verses in the gospels) say "…for whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it…" So what does that mean?

If you want your life to be full of glitz and glam, new toys, money, fame or what have you…it may be grand for awhile, but eventually things are going to start to crumble…You see it on Access Hollywood all the time. Celebrities lives come crashing down… Life isn't about stuff. Life is about relation with God, spreading His name and glory, helping others, humility, etc. So, if you "lose" your life of greed for these spiritual gifts you most certainly will find a better life in Jesus.

So, in summary…

Save your life- keep your earthy possessions in first place, put God on the back burner…= impending doom.

Lose your life- still be able to enjoy earthly possessions BUT put God first in all things…= lifetime AND afterlife of true happiness.

Press On

10 Oct 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Are you letting your past dictate your future? If you are a christian, you have no reason to do so. God has completely paid for and forgotten all the failures, mess ups and sins of your past and He is willing to move on to the future, so should you!

Henry Blackaby puts it this way…"The people of the world are focussing on what they are overcoming. Christians are focussing on what they are becoming." Don't let life get in your way. God is bigger than that, He is better than that. If you are preoccupied with your past, ask God to open up your heart to your amazing future that awaits and press on.

New Strength

9 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

When you are burnt out on life, when sin is dragging you down, when idols get in the way, go to Jesus. Rely on God's strength to get you through. God is powerful and loving enough to take care of everyone, every need, everyday, all at the same time, so why wouldn't you want to go to the most amazing resource available?

One way that God helps us is through patience. Patience is not something that comes easy to everyone, but if you can manage to give up your life to Jesus, and actually let Him take control like He should be allowed to…I promise life is going to be a lot easier on you. That's not to say that there won't ever be hardships or heartbreaks, but there will ALWAYS be refuge and help.

Don't be in such a hurry to get through life, don't make "things" your priority… Make sure God is at the tip top of your list in life. He's king of your life, makes sure He feels that way.

Steadfast In Your Resolve

8 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

I'm going to keep todays message short and sweet, it's very important and very compact. DO NOT LOSE TRACK OF YOUR WILL TO SERVE GOD!

When your heart is set on serving God, do night lose sight of your goal. Don't let objects, people or emotions get in your way. Don't let haters tell you your wasting your time. Don't let objects become idols. Don't lose heart if you don't change someones life overnight, it takes time.

The fact that you are going out and doing the Lords work is amazing enough as it is. Remember, you are working FOR Him. Let God shine and work THROUGH you.

Tempted By Shortcuts

7 Oct 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

There are many times in life where we want to take the easy way, just to get the task at hand out of the way. There is a difference between "working smarter, not harder" and cheating yourself. Don't get the two mixed up. This especially comes into play when working in the Lord's name.

God has plans for you. He has your life on schedule the way He knows best. Don't rush God, don't cheat Him by taking matters into your own hands assuming the end with justify the means. When you try to take control from God, it will ultimately end in failure. You may get a little ways down the road…you may accomplish something in your own name…but in the end, it will come crashing down. Recall yesterdays passage from John 15:5, apart from Me, you can do nothing.

In closing, remember…God loves you, He is not ruling your life like a dictator, He is leading your life, discipling you, as you disciple others. Our plans may not line up totally with His plans for us, but if you just give Him control, surrender your lives, I guarantee life is going to be a lot better.

Don't Avoid The Impossible

6 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

What seems impossible to us, is possible through God almighty. When God asks us to do something in His name, we are to follow through with this commandment and do it, no matter how unrealistic it may seem to us. I don't personally believe that God will ask us to do anything absurd or out of the ordinary just to prove His power, e.g. magically turn an ordinary carpet into a flying carpet, Aladdin style…But there are many things that He wants us to do that are impossible WITHOUT His guidance. Discipleship is one of those things…If you were to take on a nonbeliever on your own, force-feeding him information and condemning him, he will NEVER change…but if you speak to him with respect and take knowledge from the Lord, God will work on his heart, through you. The bible says in John 15:5 that, apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. NOTHING… Think about that for a minute. Even if you don't believe in God, He is still working in your life. He has given you the freedom to move throughout life the way you choose, but He is always there to fall back on when you need to, assuming you take that option.

Don't sell God short. He created the heaven, earth and everything in it, in just a few days… and you think miracles are impossible?

Wisdom Justified

5 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God.

We all want to be the expert at something, we all want to be right and make sure that others know it, but if we have to try and convince people of the wisdom of our opinions is that really wisdom, or just showing off?

With time comes wisdom; wisdom is not decided by argument or debate. The practice of your statement, throughout the years, is what proves its validity. The word of God has been tested through years and years of nay-sayers, and has ultimately been proven correct, whereas trends in Philosophy and Psychology come and go.

Wisdom is not, knowing everything, it's about knowing what's right and whats wrong. Its about stating our opinions or facts with a humble heart, not a conceited mind, with the ability to accept criticism and ask forgiveness if we are proven incorrect.

So, the next time you think you know something, don't go around pounding your chest like you are God's gift to knowledge…Think about what you have learned, and how you want to express yourself.

Let No One Look Down Upon You

4 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

So many Christians feel like they are unable to serve the Lord, or be disciples, because they don't know where to start, or they don't have "the right skills." Keep this in mind…Everyone is wired differently. We can all use the skills that we have to worship the Lord, in the ways that work for us. Whether that is in music, community, relationship, public speaking or whatever it may be. Like Paul said to Timothy, don't let your timidity and insecurity get in your way. You are created exactly the way God wants you to be, and He has given you gifts to use in His glory. Don't hide those gifts, don't sell yourself short and don't let fear get in your way.

God wants to see you flourish and become the Christlike creation that He had in mind.

Counted Faithful

3 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

God as our Father has tasks that He wants us to do. One (and possibly the most important) being, to make disciples. When the Lord asks us to do something, we should obey and fulfill this task with a servants heart. There are many ways in which you can reach the people of this world who are missing out on what Jesus is all about, or perhaps those who know Jesus but are still struggling. Prayer is key; as well as relationship, community and understanding.

As you do the Fathers work He will bless you. When you are faithful with little, the Lord with entrust you with more.

Have You Done What You Know To Do?

2 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

How often do you know and understand God's will, yet refuse to fulfill it? If its even one time, it's still a sin. Disobeying God's commands is no minor infraction, it a blatant disregard and disrespect of Jesus Christ.

Other times we may think we are making the right choice, with good intentions, but even good intentions don't make a difference if they don't line up with what God has in store.   Good intentions are not the same as obeying, nor is "deciding" to obey the same as obeying, unless you actually commit the act of obedience.

Remember, you can't con your way into grace. Good intentions and happy thoughts aside, there is only one

road…That is the road to true, honest surrender with a heart of obedience.

Grace, Mercy and Peace

1 Nov 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Prayer is an important tool in our relationship with Jesus. It is the best way for us to communicate with Him and a way to ask for help not only for us, but for others.

When you pray, are you praying with a selfish heart or with a broken, surrendered heart? Keep in mind that Jesus loves your prayers and listens to all of them no matter how small or how massive; but, instead of praying for worldly possessions and achievements, e.g. new car, pass the test, raise at work… pray for spiritual gifts, like wisdom, guidance, grace, mercy and peace. These gifts will guide you in your search for the items on earth you desire. These spiritual gifts will help you understand why you did or didn't receive something, help you realize you didn't actually need it, show you where you could use that money/time/expertise elsewhere and so on. Remember, as I posted earlier in the week, "…God is ok with you having things, but He is not ok with things having you…" Don't let your prayer life get caught up in "me, me me" but rather in, "guide me, guide me , guide me."