It Is Finished

31 December 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Happy New Year

As another year wraps up, think about what God has said to you and done for you. Has He blessed you? Has He commanded you to do great things? How have you responded to these words from our Father? Have you taken Him for granted and brushed it off, or have you taking great joy in fulfilling His will and experiencing His love.

Lot's of questions to answer, but it seems like an appropriate way to end the year.

Food

30 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

We've all heard it before…"Man can not live on bread alone, but by the word of Christ"

Jesus tells us to first seek Him; to trust in Him and the rest will be provided. Jesus is the living water, food that will satisfy our souls for eternity.

True Worship

29 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

WOWY ZOWY!!! Heavy hitter tonight!

What is true worship…I am about to drop some knowledge on your noggins…Hop on the Jesus train and buckle up! (Do trains have seat belts?? I don't know… It doesn't seem like they would…Like buses…Kids, make sure to wear your seatbelt, unless there are 50 of you on a giant steel loaf of cheese, then seat belts apparently aren't necessary…Meh, they are just kids…you know…our future… I digress.)

True worship, in the words of Henry Blackaby.

"…True worship includes the full recognition of who God is, 'Holy, Sovereign, Almighty, Loving, Merciful.' This Recognition brings about the realization of our sinfulness…"

"…True Worship is life-changing. It creates within the worshipers heart a hatred for sin…"

"…True worship results in repentance, obedient submission, and a desire for holiness.."

"…True worship generates a desire to show mercy and to express forgiveness. It includes a joyful acceptance of all that God has provided by His grace…"

"…True worship is not exclusive, it compels the worshipper to include others…"

"…True worship produces a transformed life, reflecting the One who has been worshiped…"


Wow! Intense! This has definitely been a wake up call for me. Meditate on the points and consider how or if you are applying them to your life.

Upcoming Blog Changes

29 Dec 13

Happy birthday Seester!!


Good news blog fans!! err…fan…? I got a new "daily" book for christmas called, Everyday Blessings by the amazing Max Lucado. They are just inspirational thoughts of the day. So! I will keep up with the daily blog posts, so you have something to do everyday as WELL AS, the weekly-ish posts from whatever Christian Non-Fiction book I am reading… In this case I am starting with Wild At Heart, thanks to the recommendations from the great Sara Panther Hurst…

P.S. can I just take a minute to say how awesome the last name Panther is… all other last names pale in comparison. That is all.

Commended By God

28 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

I am very tired tonight, so I am going to keep this one short. While the message is short, it is also powerful.

As human beings we always seek approval from others, whether we realize it or not. We want the pat on the back from our parents, the "way to go" from our friends and the "great job" from our employers… It makes us feel good. It boosts our esteem…Getting a "Right on" from someone is not a bad thing. On the contrary! Encouragement is an amazing thing! However…When seeking encouragement and approval in your life, it is best to seek it from Jesus Christ. God's approval in your life should be key. God's opinion of, on and in your life not only trumps those of your friends and family, but should be the only one of true importance. As the old cliche goes, "if you have to change yourself for your friends, they aren't real friends." What I'm getting at with that is…Worldly opinions come and go, some are good, some are bad, some are down right mean…But what really matters is the opinion God has. So you have to ask yourself…Is God's opinion of me and view of my life enough, or do I need to fill some kind of void with accolades from others that will soon fade away.

Have This In Your Mind

27 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Whether you like it or not, God may call on you in a way that totally changes your life. You may think to yourself, "yes, God COULD call upon me, but I really doubt he will…" But what happens when He does? How will you react? If your heart is not willing to follow God's commands and you deny what He asks of you, examine your relationship with your heavenly father. Is He really number one in your life? Is He "Good enough" for your time? Is He enough for you?

Don't try to take control of your life…God has it planned out to a T in the best possible way…why would you want to ruin something like that.

Nothing Is Impossible

26 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

What an amazing thing it is to have an all powerful God leading us… The shear fact that nothing is impossible for God is not only amazing, but baffling as well. While it is easy to SAY that God can do anything, I don't know that we will ever be able to fully comprehend that, because we only expect "the possible" to happen, its out of our norm so surely it can't happen. That is just my opinion…But listen to this passage from todays message…It should knock your socks off and hopefully change your mindset (I know its giving my think-box a workout).

"…God still does the impossible. Too often we acknowledge our belief that Go can do whatever He wants, then we add a safety clause: 'but I just don't think God will do that with me.' WE BECOME PRACTICAL ATHEISTS! BELIEVING THAT GOD CAN PERFORM MIRACLES BUT NEVER EXPECTING A MIRACLE IN OUR LIVES. God wants to bring salvation to all of humanity. It is critical that Mary not only believed God could perform a miracle, but also adjusted her life to the awesome work He planned to do through her. The difference between a Christian and a moral person, is the divine. The difference between a church and a social club is the miraculous. Some can duplicate the morality of a Christian, but no one can reproduce the miraculous that should be a part of the Christian experience. Do you believe that nothing is impossible for God?…"

Spontaneous Praise

25 December 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Merry Christmas (Happy Birthday Jesus)

What is spontaneous praise? How do you plan for something like that… umm…Well, if you have to plan it, then it's not spontaneous… Spontaneous praise is that feeling you get when you are overflowing with the power and awe of Jesus. Whether it be in the middle of an amazing worship song, a message spoken from a pastor, a picturesque landscape…anything and everything that comes from the hand of God that knocks your socks off can result in spontaneous praise.

If you feel like you are lacking in your spontaneity towards Jesus, perhaps you are lacking a solid relationship with Him. Have you drifted away? Have you never given Him a second thought? Are you making Him second or less in your life? Find your way back to God and enjoy the benefits of spontaneous praise. Shout His glory from the rooftops, spread His name throughout the neighbor hood. Christ is alive and well, hallelujah.

Blessed In Believing

24 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

As Christian we are to put our complete faith in Jesus Christ. That means, trusting Him, no matter what. When life seems shaky to us, know that He has a plan. When something bad happens, know that it happened for a reason. When something awesome happens, know that God planned it that way at that time for a specific purpose. Once you give your life entirely to the Lord, which includes full trust, you will begin to feel a sense of peace come over you. Doing so is sometimes harder than it seems, but just know that Jesus is worth your all.

The Wisdom Of Spiritual Checking

23 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Just as you grow socially in maturity, you must also grow spiritually in maturity. As your faith in Jesus because stronger, your actions will (should) reflect that. You will learn to deny your feelings of anger, envy, greed, lack of forgiveness and the likes, and in turn embrace feelings of elation, love and compassion. The more you live like Christ, the better the example you set for the christian faith. A good way to make sure you are staying on track with your spiritual maturity is to seek guidance from an older (spiritually, not necessarily chronologically) christian, and ask them if you are portraying Christ in your actions or if you are lacking in growth. IF you are truly growing in spiritual maturity, you will be able to accept help and constructive criticism without becoming enraged.

If you feel like you are on the right track with Jesus, GREAT! Continue doing what you're doing…If you feel you are lacking in maturity, the time to work on that is now!

Prepare For The Presence Of God

22 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

How do we prepare for the presence of God? Simply put (not so simply done), we need to repent! What is repentance? Repentance is complete surrender to the Lord. Giving up your life entirely. Your idols, your greed, your attitude, everything that one deems important in their lives, give to Jesus. Prayer,  asking forgiveness, living like Christ…These are all part of repentance.

If you do not live a life for Christ, you will not know Him. Practicing religious acts will get you nowhere without a true relationship with Him.

Faithfulness In Prayer

21 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Prayer is a powerful tool in which we can speak to God on a personal level, even though He already knows what is going on in our lives. So…Why talk to God if He already knows everything? Faithfulness to the Lord; thats why. If we are broken enough to cry out to Jesus, He wants to hear. If we are elated in the glory of Lord, He wants to hear. If we are doubting God and need answers, He wants to hear. God wants us to come to Him for everything, and He HAS an answer for everything.

However…The answers God gives may not be what we want to hear or come when we want them to come, but we must continue to be faithful to the Lord in our prayers. Do not doubt Him, do not fall into the lie that He does not care about or love you, because He doesn't answer right away or in a way you think is "fair." God has a plan for everything and everyone, He knows exactly how the world is going to end up, but He wants to make sure you believe that. So, when you go to Him in prayer, and ask "Why is this Happening" Or "Thank you for this blessing" You are affirming your faith in Him by putting your hope, trust and life in His hands.

Don't miss out on a beautiful blessing such as this, just because you think you can figure it out on your own.

Opposition!

20 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Do you ever stop to wonder why life throws you curveballs? Whats the point? Where are you going with this? Why is this happening to me? Perhaps, instead of being on the defensive side of hardships, you should take an offensive look at it and wonder, what can I take from this? How can I grow from this? What is God showing me and how can I learn from this?

Just because you are struggling in life doesn't mean you are failing, and God is CERTAINLY not mad at you… Perhaps He is just trying to push you forward, out of your shell; to move you along in life with Him as your guide and strengthen you along the way.

Next time you are challenged, don't immediately play the "Blame God" card…He is helping you, believe me or not.

Dethroning Idols

19 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

What idols are standing in your way today? What items are getting in-between you and God? Time? Money? Greed? Lust? Anger? Things? These are all items/idols that can run our lives and take the place of God. It is our job through the power of Christ to destroy these idols. Not to rid ourselves of possessions and feelings, but rather to put them down a peg or two…or twenty, and most certainly to deny the evil ones. If you enjoy a certain object and a hobby or passion, by all means continue with it, but don't make it so important that it becomes your "number one." If you have ill-feelings toward someone and those feelings are getting in the way of blessing others, and following God, do your best to dismiss them entirely.

Idols are dangerous. They sneak up unexpectedly at times, and they certainly stick around if we don't do anything about it (like in-laws during the holidays) *rimshot*

Who Are You?

18 December 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Good question? Who are you? Who are you in God's eyes, who are you in your friends eyes, who are you in your eyes?? This all boils down to your walk with Christ. Are you a Christian, are you a nonbeliever, are you a fence rider?

If you choose to become a christian and follow the word of God, you must do so willingly and genuinely. Riding the coattails of other christians and saying you are a holy because of who you hang out with and who you act like will get you no where. Understand, that living by others examples is helpful and asking for guidance is great, but… if you are a carbon copy of your christian friend on the outside, but empty on the inside, you might as well not even claim your faith. A heart for God is key when it comes to christianity. You can't get by with just saying you love Jesus, you need to act on that love.

Im at a loss for words now and just trailing on with mindless drivel. Forgive me…

Love Jesus! Live for Jesus! Be Jesus!

Imparting Gifts

17 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Not only as Christians, but as human beings, we should seek to encourage and help others. Imparting spiritual gifts upon others is an amazing way to show the love of God. Encouraging others, praying for friends, helping in a time of need are all ways of living like Christ, which is what we are here to do. The next time you see a friend or stranger in need, take some time out of your day to see what you can do to help. It may be a prayer, a hug or just a cup of coffee and a chat.

Selfishness is no way to live your life and should not even enter your mind. Do your best to put others before you, not in such a way that you deny what is yours, (e.g. health, spirituality, and care for your family) but rather in a way that shows love, compassion and humility.

Built On The Rocks

16 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

The analogy of building your house on the rock versus the sand is key in the Christian faith. In this case, the house is your belief structure and the rock (or sand) is how secure it is in Jesus. If you build your faith in Jesus Christ and stand firm with Him, you may be shaken when a storm hits you, but you won't be broken. If your faith is weak, you will be destroyed, like a house built in the sand.

Be strong in your faith, take comfort in the love and presence of Jesus. When you go through seasons of sorrow and suffering know that Jesus is there, keeping the foundation strong. You may need to replace your roof, but your walls are still standing.

He Has Shown Us

15 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

If ever you wonder how we are supposed to live, to please God, know that the bible is readily available to answer all your questions. But, since you are currently reading this, instead of the bible, I will give you a few key points.

God wants us to treat others as He would treat them. Fairly, just, compassionately and lovingly. There is no reason for anger, greed, lust, disdain or hatred towards others. Live for Christ and live AS Christ.

Humility is another trait the Lord requests of us. Putting yourself above another may make you feel good for a moment, but in the end your selfishness will turn on you. No one likes to be the "after thought" or the low man on the totem poll. We are all equal in God's eyes, and we should all treat each other as such. Remember, at the end of a game of chess, the King and the Pawn end up in the same box, neither one better than the other…

These are just a few simple life rules that should be obvious to live by. The Lord has plenty more to say, so don't just listen to what I have to say here…because much like you, I have PLENTY more to learn.

The Race

14 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Many people think that once you become a Christian you know longer have struggles, strife and worries; that could not be further from the truth. However, the joyous thing about being a Christian is, when you face these trials, you have Jesus to rely on. You must not lose hope when the world brings you down and satan strikes. Fight for your life, lean on Jesus; He is your rock.

God's Revelation In His Invitation

13 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Many of us (myself included) have said, say, or will say at some point, "…I am seeking God's will…" as if it is difficult to find or hidden. God does not hide His will, we just aren't looking intently. Ultimately God's will is for us to live like Him and to make disciples. It's plainly explained in the bible. Without sounding arrogant (because I'm in the same boat and would be a hypocrite if I didn't point that out) perhaps you should stop "looking for God's will" and start looking in your bible. The Good book is full if great answers and God's will is clearly printed on many pages.

Enlarge Your Tent

12 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Isaiah proclaimed that when God comes, you must make room for Him in your Life. You must enlarge the place of your tent because God's presence will add ned dimensions to your life, your family and your church. You do not simply add Christ on to your busy life and carry on with business as usual. When Christ is Lord, everything changes. Whereas before you may not have expected good things to come through you or in your life, now you should have the spirit of optimism. You to expect your life to become richer and fuller. You can anticipate God blessing others through your life. You can look for God to demonstrate His power through your life in increasing measure.

Three Temptations

11 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

The bible speaks a lot about temptations and avoiding them at all costs. As many of us know, Jesus, as a human was tempted by satan himself and He (Jesus) took no part in it…There were a lot of "good" rewards in store for Jesus if He were to just follow satan, but He (Jesus) knew what was right and did not let His human flesh get in the way of His relationship with His Father.

Much like Jesus in human form, we are tempted day in and day out, but we must do our best to stay strong. Fight the temptations, the wants, the temporary fixes and remember what's truly important, that is a strong relationship with God and a pure heart.

Although I have never met Jesus face to face, I can only imagine there is NOTHING on earth that feels as good as seeing a smile on His face, because He knows and we know that we did the right thing; we made our Papa proud.

All Things Pertaining To Life

10 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Making it through life on good looks, money and fame - or worse yet, on worry, debt and anger is no way to live. Worldly treasures are of no value when you leave this earth and they are superficial while ON this earth. What's important in life is found in the Holy Spirit; Love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If you live your life according to these acts, you will be far better off that if you won the million dollar lottery. Please do not mistake this message as a hatred toward worldly items, as I have quoted many times before in my blog, from Todd White, "…God is ok with you having things, He is not ok with things having you…" So, take control of the Fruits of the Spirt, make those your goals in life and the rest will fall in to place as ordained by Jesus.

Give up your worries, give up the rat race, give up your anger and poor attitude, and above all, give up your life.

Small Things Are Not Despised

9 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

The old adage, "Bigger is Better" is not always the case when it comes to following God's will. While big steps of faith are indeed important, the smalls steps and acts we commit are equally as valuable. You may not be the next pastor of a Multi-church, but you could invite someone to church. You might not know your bible cover to cover, but if you spend time in the word, the Lord delights in your acts. You may not be an award winning singer, but if you are singing your heart out for Jesus, He will rejoice. You get what I'm saying? You smelling what The Rock is cooking? Are you picking up what I'm putting down?

You don't HAVE to go for the stars, you don't have to jump over the moon, you don't have do any of those astrological cliches to earn God's love. That is the beauty of being a Christian… God loves you, no matter what. A better cliche/overused phrase to use in place of "Bigger is Better" is "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog" It doesn't matter how many "Jesus points" you try to earn…if you are praising God for your own glory, you are doing it in vain. Revel in the small steps you take and know that Jesus appreciates every one of them.

Not By Might

8 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

(Happy Birthday Mom)

As human beings we are often put into what seems to be impossible situations, and left to our own devices they are just that, impossible, or at the very least so frustratingly difficult that you just give up. But! As Christians, we have the spirit of God inside of us and the resources of heaven at our disposal. (You will see that phrase come up once more in a few seconds.)

This passage, directly from todays devotion, basically sums up what it is like to have the Spirit of Christ inside of us and how wonderful it is to fully rely on Him.

"…There will be times when obeying God will lead you into impossible situations. If you look at your own skills, knowledge, and resources, you will become discouraged. However, when you became a Christian, God placed His Spirit within you. You now have the resources of heaven at your disposal. (see, I told you…) The success of your endeavors will not depend on the way you use your own resources but on how you obey the spirit of God…"

Raining Righteousness

7 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message is similar to that of a few days ago in that we need to make sure our hearts do not become hardened against both our Savior and the people on earth. When we build barriers against other people and avoid relationships there is no chance for growth, no chance for help, for protection and no love. The same similarly applies to our heart towards Jesus. If you block Jesus out of your life, He will still love you, but you are denying Him. You are shutting out His grace, love and compassion.

Soften your heart toward humanity, break down the walls of hate, greed, and lust. Do unto others as you wish done to you. Love your neighbor as yourself. These are not just cliche sayings that you hear and then brush off. These are passages to live by to make for a successful life.

Soften your heart towards God, He has done nothing but help you in ever facet of your life. When something goes 'wrong' in your eyes, consider what God has in store for you. Why "X" happened and what you can reap from it. God is an all powerful omniscient, omnipresent being. Believe me when I say He knows what's best for you. Left to our own devices, we wouldn't even know where to begin when it comes to the future of our humanity.

A Heart That Loves God

6 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

No matter how many good works we do, no matter how much time we serve or how much money we give to the church, if we do not have a heart that loves Jesus, it is all for not.

While God loves that you do works in His name, if you you are not truly giving Him the glory it is all in vain. God explicitly says, He will not be pacified by even the most generous offerings and zealous service if our hearts are not right with Him.

Good works will not get you into heaven, don't let anyone try to fool you into thinking that. Remember what John 14:6 has to say, "…I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me…" It is only through the power and love of Jesus Christ that we will enter heavens glory.

Don't let this message discourage you from doing good works, they are greatly appreciated…Just don't mistake them for a free pass into God's grace.

Hold Fast

5 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Hold tight to your morals, no matter the persecution you face. God created us in His image, that being good and faithful. Though we will never be perfect, we must do our best to keep on the straight and narrow and follow what the Lord says. If we let our guard down, and let satan into our lives, he will take control and that is a dangerous trap to be in. Stand strong in your faith and ask the Lord for guidance and wisdom.

If we don't stand for something, we will fall for anything. Stand for Jesus, for His sacrifice and His people, don't fall into satan's snare.

Big Changes Coming Soon To A Blog Near you! (Hint…It's This One)

Hey all, come 1 Jan 2014 I will be changing up my blog posts a little bit. Since my 1 year devotional will have run out of days, I am going to start moving on to chapter books (like a big boy). Specifically Christian Non-Fiction. I won't be posting everyday anymore, but rather every chapter. I will read a chapter and then do my best to break it down into a paragraph or two. I am hoping to keep some or all of my diehard readers out there and maybe get some more. But most importantly it's giving me a chance to read and learn about what other Christians have to say about their relationships with God and how I can further mine.

If you have any suggestions on Christian Non-Fiction that you would like me to check out, leave a comment. I already have a list going, but always looking for recommendations.

A Tender Plant

4 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Much like the soil of the earth our hearts and many hearts around us can become hardened. The only remedy for a hardened heart is Jesus Christ. Like a plant rising through the brittle ground, so Jesus rises through our lives to ease the pain, distrust, hatred and other ill feelings that control us.

Christ has the power to heal everyone, but in many cases it is up to us to ask for that healing; we spoke about this yesterday. We need to WANT to be freed of these shackles that hold us down, admit that we are wrong and accept Jesus' FREE grace.

Remember, we will NEVER be worthy of Jesus…we will never praise Him or worship Him in the capacity that He deserves…But, He continues to love us unconditionally nonetheless. So, soften your hearts through the power of Jesus; let Him become king of your life and free you from the burdens that weigh you down.

Wishing To Be Healed

3 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Just because we are spiritual sick, or just because we are near a place of healing, does not necessarily mean we want to be made well. We may attend church regularly, but choose to remain sinful. Our generation has taken many of the actives that the Bible identifies as sin and has labeled them as addictions or character flaws or the result of an abusive upbringing. We act as if having an addiction is sufficient exude for disobeying God's commands. As Christians, we are no longer helpless victims of our sin. There is no sinful habit or past hurt that is beyond the healing touch of our Lord.

Have you gone year after year without receiving spiritual healing? God is capable of freeing you, but you may have become comfortable in your sin. You may not want to be healed. If you really want to receive spiritual health, God can give it today. He wants you to ask Him.

Profitable

2 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

All of the books and verses in the bible can teach us something, therefore we must not selectively read the bible only choosing verses we like and ignoring verses that scare, bore or convict us. This is not to say that you have to read the bible in chronological order to get something out of it…There is no wrong or right way to read the bible…but you should expand your boundaries of comfort and start digging into the nitty gritty of the good book and get as much out of it as possible. You never know when you are going to be confronted with questions or concerns that you will not be able to answer because you didn't read some obscure passage in Nahum 2… Good example, yeah?? You're going to go read Nahum 2 right after this, aren't you?

Anyhoodle… God gave us this wonderful gift call The Bible, full of History, full of the future (prophesies) full of answers and full of curiosities. Take some time to dive in and blow the dust off the forgotten books.

Not Quarrelsome

1 Dec 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Arguing is never the answer when it comes to defending your belief in Christ. When people around you mock you, persecute you and disagree with what you have to say about Jesus, do not fight to prove a point. You will never debate someone into the kingdom, but it sure is a great way to scare them away from it. Instead of taking the defensive road and getting in their faces, try taking the humble road and loving them like Christ loves them. Ultimately the words coming from your mind are not going to be their saving grace, but if you allow God to speak through you, there is a much greater success rate.

Don't take peoples salvations and afterlives into your hands, don't become argumentative or demanding.  Let God work through you, to guide you and them.