Motives

31 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Can you believe a great and power God like ours actually wants to do work FOR us? Pretty impressive and awesome right? I thought so.

So, here's the deal…If we ask God for help, or guidance or ANYTHING in our lives, know this for sure, He WILL listen. However, when it comes to answering your prayers He uses discretion wisely. Take a look at your motives behind your prayer? Are they selfish, greedy or self-centered? Or are they helpfully, giving and God centered.

Even though God CAN do everything and Anything doesn't mean He WILL just to give you what you want. The next time you pray for something and you DONT get the answer YOU want… evaluate your prayers and motives and see if you took a selfish path or a Godly path.

A Ministry Of Reconciliation

30 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message is another really good thinker. Look at yourself and examine your life; how forgiving are you?

When we become Christians and accept Christ into our hearts, we become ambassadors of Jesus. We are here not only to spread His word, but to spread is works, one of them being forgiveness. If you claim to carry Jesus Christ in your heart and think you act like a Christian but you still refuse to forgive those who have wronged you, you are living hypocritical life and ultimately giving Christians a bad name.

Sin is so destructive! It ruins, marriages, friendships, Churches, families and so on. It creates mistrust, jealousy, hatred and greed. All of these things are detrimental to the life of a God fearing Christian. So! Since we can STOP sin completely, what can we do? You guessed it! Forgive!! If someone wrongs you or a friend or family member, instead of retaliating with equal (or more) hatred "attack them" with love! Show them that God is in control of your life and they aren't.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior, without your consent" Though that quote isn't from the bible, I think it is very applicable to our Christian faith. If someone is trying to get under your skin, harassing you, tormenting and taunting you, go to Christ for help and guidance before jumping the gun and doing something you may regret.

The Judgement Seat

29 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays lesson is another hard one to accept… It's scary, and makes me and probably you, a little ashamed…

One day, we are going to sit at the feet of Jesus and confess and answer to everything we did on earth, and I don't know about you, but I am not perfect… I have done some pretty crazy stuff. The only saving grace to our judgement day is, just that… God's saving grace. He understands that we have made mistakes, and He is willing to love and forgive us anyways.

Knowing that Jesus is going to love and forgive us of our transgressions is a great feeling, but I do not recommend abusing that knowledge and sinning just because you know you are going to get away with it. Instead try to act like Paul, who was aware of the judgment to come, at which point he changed his life to try and honor God as much as possible. He changed his sinful ways, obviously not entirely, but he was aware of what was coming and wanted to do his best to BE his best.

I know trying to be your best all the time is easier said than done, but I suggest we at least give it a try. Remember, Jesus died to save us from our sins, we at least owe him an effort.

Open Doors And Adversaries

28 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message, was a little confusing to me, so instead of trying to regurgitate it in a possibly misinterpreted way, I am going to let the professionals do the talking. So here we go, Henry and Richard Blackaby say….

Open doors of service may also let in adversaries. Paul had many of both. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians from Ephesus, he was trying to determine where to go next. He chose to remain longer in Ephesus because of the open doors of service God granted him. Knowing that God had opened the doors of ministry, Paul was not going to leave, regardless of how many enemies he face. We might assume that Paul would reach the opposite conclusion. In light of the opposition he face, he could have concluded that it was best to serve in less hostile regions. Instead, Paul based his decisions on God’s activity rather than on what people were doing.

            As you respond to God’s invitations, don’t be caught by surprise when your adversaries try to thwart what you are doing. If you concentrate on your opponents, you will be sidetracked from God’s activity. Don’t base your decisions on what people are doing. They cannot prevent you from carrying out Gods will. Many times the most rewarding spiritual work is done in the crucible of persecution and opposition. While Paul was in Ephesus, a riot broke out in reaction to his ministry. The city theater resounded with an angry mob who shouted for two hours in support of their god. “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” Despite this fierce rejection of the gospel, Ephesus became one of the chief cities from which the gospel spread throughout Asia.

            It takes spiritual discernment to see beyond human activity to God’s will. As you seek places of service, look beyond what people are saying and find what God is doing.

Humble Yourself

27 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message is a tough one for a lot of people…humility, Jack!

Be careful not to exalt yourself, to seek self centered attention. Often when we seek glory for, and in, ourselves we will get it, but at what cost? People may adore you on the outside, but despise you on the inside. Or they may be out to get something in return. There is a difference between seeking attention and shooting for the stars though. Please don't confuse the two. If you want to try and be the best at something, or achieve big dreams, have at it, but don't flaunt your success or rub it in peoples faces. Be happy for what you have, and what you were able to achieve.

Above all, give God the glory. Be satisfied in the Lord and praise Him for the gifts, talents and success that He has given you.

Each daily devotion in this book starts with an appropriate verse concerning the lesson. Sometimes, they really stick out and sometimes they just get lost in my head…This one was a kick in the teeth.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:11

BOOOOOOOM! (As my friend Sara would say, That's a lot of thunder.)

Redeeming The Time

26 Aug 13 devotional from, Experincing God

Today's lesson is to legit to quit. We are talking about spending time with God and on Godly things. So much of our time is taken up with earthly things, and so much of our society is under attack from the devil. It's our job, with God's guidance to decide what we need to focus on and what we need to avoid. As I have stated in a previous post, earthly things are not bad, they become bad when we start idolizing them. Nothing should come before God. Money, jobs, things, even family...you can't take any of those things with you when you leave this earth. What you can take with you is the love of Jesus Christ. Make sure you are giving enough time to Him, and in turn He will supplement 10 fold, the happiness you find in earthy possessions.

“Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 HCSB)

Abundant Life

25 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message is on abundant life…obviously, since thats the title.
The bible teaches us to watch out for those seeking to kill, steal and destroy, and while watching out for these thieves and murderers in a literal sense is a good thing, what we really need to watch out for is spiritual warfare.

We get so caught up in in our form of happiness in the world. New job, best car, big house, lots of money and so on… and please don't get me wrong, these things aren't BAD…but we can't let them become our identity. God is the true form of happiness. Seek God's word and you will have a truly happy life, in excess. Seek God daily for answers, guidance, assistance, whatever you may need. He is an endless and ever available resource to you.

Spirit Of Wisdom

24 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message was long winded, but didn't really say much, if that makes sense… That being said, todays message is also one of the most influential and beneficial messages straight from God.

When God left this world He sent the Holy Spirit down in His place to live inside of us, to be with us forever. So, though we can't see Jesus in person, like they could back in "bible times" the Holy Spirit or Counselor as He is sometimes referred to, is with us today, tomorrow and for eternity. There really isn't much more to say on the matter.

Victory One Step At A Time

23 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Today we learn about the value of patience; patience in growing more Christlike.

God created us in His image to be like Him, and if we allow Him to take control of our lives, He will do so.
God takes His time, however, when molding our hearts and minds. He is not interested in taking shortcuts and getting so-so results. He works on separate parts of you at certain times until you have become full of the Holy Spirit and empty of Self.

The passage from todays message that really stuck out to me, goes as followed, "Do not become impatient while God is producing Christ-likeness in you. Do not seek more responsibilities than those He has given you. Obey all that you know He has asked, and He will lead you at a pace that fits your present character and His purposes for you."

Todays message is short, but extremely detrimental to your life as a Christian. Take solace in knowing that God is working on your heart full time and will never change His mind, no matter how many times we mess up or deny Him.

The Meek

22 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Today we are learning about meekness. When most people hear the word meek, they associate it with weakness. God's idea of meekness was quite a bit different. The meek in God's eyes gave up their selfish lives to live for God, to give Him their all.

To live in meekness is to rely fully on God, trusting that He will protect you, guide you, help and encourage you. Jesus is a perfect example of meekness. When He was on the cross, He could have called a legion of angels to come take Him away, unharmed; but instead He trusted in His father to protect Him. He followed His fathers will without question. That is how we should be living our lives with Jesus as our father.

Jesus said that in relinquishing control over our lives to God, we will gain life in abundance.
Consider how much of your life you are trying to take on, on your own and how much control you are actually giving to God.

Hunger And Thirst

21 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Today we read about Hunger and Thirst; not for food and water, but for righteousness. In life when we hunger and thirst, it means we are empty, the same goes for spiritual hunger. We should all seek righteousness daily, we should be hungry for it and we should consume it with open hearts.

Henry Blackaby makes a point of saying, "We can not be filled with righteousness, if we are filled with self." Think about that for a while. What is taking precedence in your heart over righteousness. Impure thoughts, selfishness, hate…?
This is easier said than done, obviously, but I urge you to try and remove those idols from your heart and soul and replace them with the love and power of Jesus Christ. He is looking for a place to live, make sure your hearts vacancy sign is turned on. (Boom, cheesy sentiment, to end the post.)

Those Who Mourn

20 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Today we learn about mourning over our sins and how it's actually a healing process rather than a depressing act.

Jesus said, those who are heartbroken over their sin will find comfort. The way I see that is, if I let sin take over my life, I am destroying God's creation. God's son DIED to save us from our sins. If we continue to sin and don't see an issue behind it, we sully the authority of God and the act that Jesus took on the cross.

Merely saying that you sinned and then moving on is not enough. We owe our lives and our full attention and respect to the Lord. Take your sins to God, ask for forgiveness, and accept His warmth and love. God loves you no matter what, but that shouldn't give you free reign to run your life the way the world wants you to run it. 

We all sin… we are always going to sin… But, the next time you sin, and you feel that dull pain in your heart, saying "man you really did it this time" or "I REALLY shouldn't have done that"… talk it out with the big man upstairs, I guarantee He will help you.

Poor In Spirit

19 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

This is another one of those messages that I love so much that I am going to let the professionals explain it, better than I can. So, in the words of Henry and Richard Blackaby, I present "The Poor In Spirit"

The bible presents many paradoxes that challenge our human way of thinking. We think of the poor as possessing very little, yet Jesus said the riches of heaven belong to the poor in spirit. Self-reliance robs us of God's good gifts.
Jesus insisted that in order to follow Him, we must deny self. As long as we rely on our own resources, we will never place our trust in Him. As we acknowledge the poverty of our souls, we realize how desperately we need a savior. Jesus declared "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matt 4:17) God has so much to give the one who recognizes his need and will call upon Jesus!
Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
He had just encountered the rich ruler, who valued his possession so much  the he could not give them up to follow Jesus. Jesus later encountered Zaccheus, a wealthy, notorious sinner. Despite Zaccheus's material wealth, he recognized his spiritual poverty and found salvation. Jesus taught the disciples that true wealth is found in a relationship with God. Those who realize their inherent spiritual poverty apart from God will trust in Him, and He will enrich their lives immeasurably. Do not allow your resources, wisdom, talent, or abilities to prevent you from trusting the Person who can bring you abundant life.

Our Daily Bread

18 Aug 13 Devotional from, Experiencing God

Today's awesome tidbit of awesomeness is AWESOME!

Here's the deal…God is the king of kings and Lord of Lords, we are his creations. As His creations we are supposed to trust in Him 100%. While that can be difficult, we should strive our hardest to do so. I am not putting myself above anyone else, but I will say, as I have learned to give my life, stress and struggles to Jesus, my life has become incredibly stress free. I don't worry about money, relationships, jobs…nothing. It's so refreshing! My good friend Seth once gave me this little bit of advice to live by…he said, "Bro, I'm to blessed to stressed, to anointed to be disappointed." Once you start living that way, you will never want to look back.

May God Rule In Our Midst

17 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message is about letting God take control of our lives through prayer.
Whenever you need help, whenever you are struggling, depressed, angry, or even happy, God is always there to help and encourage you. He is your lifeline, just like on "Who wants to be a millionaire" except you get to access Him over and over and over again. How awesome is that?!

Prayer is such a powerful tool. It can be used to heal, encourage, accept, save, understand, and so much more. It's like the swiss army knife of Christianity…and I LOVE my swiss army knife.

I highly recommending delving into your prayer life and thinking about how much you try to handle on your own and how much you give to God. Remember, He is always there for us, no matter what. Make prayer a priority in your life today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life.

Hallowed Be Thy Name

16 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

So todays message is pretty straight forward…Don't take the Lords name in vain.

The name God and other variations are sacred, our Father is sacred and He deserves our respect. When we swear in His name, or take His name in vain we tarnish His authority, just like if you were to disrespect your earthly father, but on a much larger scale. (in my opinion anyway)

Really, there isn't much more to say on the topic, so I am just going to end it here before I ramble on to much longer.

Victory Over Sin

15 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God
(Also, Happy birthday dad…I love you)

I have noticed, reading through this devotional that the authors like to lump subjects together, back to back, day by day. It's rather refreshing actually… It gives you a double dose of reality.
Yesterday we talked about how we still sin even after we become Christians…Today we are talking about taking solace in the VICTORY over that sin.

Everybody sins! Let's just throw that out there right off the bat. But through the grace of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, the PENALTY of sin in it's truest form (death) has been struck from our record. If you ask God to come into your heart as your TRUE Lord and Savior, He will protect you from an eternity of pain and sorrow without question. God made the ultimate sacrifice to give US a get out of jail free, card. How awesome is that? (mad props to JC)

To close this post out, I'm going to leave you with an EXTREMELY relatable and very well known verse, that clearly sums up this entire topic.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness… so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26

Can We Continue To Sin?

14 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Today's topic is, once we become a Christian can we continue to sin? The simple answer…NO! However, DO we still sin..? YES!

When you became a christian you died to this world and all the impurity in it. You took on the Grace of Jesus Christ and your heart, mind and soul were washed white as snow. Sin no longer has power over you like it did when you were a non-believer. It may still control your life, if you let it get out of hand, but it truly has no power over you. Take your worries to Jesus, ask forgiveness of your sins. He knows what they are, He knows when, why, and how you committed them, but guess what? He loves you no matter what and will always love and forgive you.

So, to wrap this up… Do we sin? Yes. Should we sin? No. Is it possible for us to never sin ever again through the power of Jesus Christ? That is something Jesus is going to have to answer.

Black Sheep Of The Family

Well readers, here is a little insight into my life. Enjoy.

This weekend I was sitting in my special thinking spot… The drivers seat of my old Ford pickup…(get your mind out of the gutter) and I got to thinking about my life. I came to the realization that I am the black sheep of the family. Now please don't mistake this title as, self deprecating, sorrowful or insulting, but rather (in my eyes) a title of elation. I LOVE being the black sheep of my family.

So, here's the list of why I consider myself the black sheep, and love it.

I drive a beat up old truck, nothing new, nothing fancy.
I don't have a lot of money
I have tattoos
I drive a motorcycle, probably faster than I should
I listen to old man music (classic rock)
I'm not married, engaged or even dating anyone (right now)….Ladies… ;)

Those are just a few items that popped into my head this weekend, and I got thinking…yeah, I'm different, I'm unique in the realm of "The Brown Family" but then things got deep!! I started relating all of these things to Jesus and how He has blessed me through EVERYONE of them… So, here we go.

Beat up old Ford pick up. It doesn't have power anything, it gets 14 mpg, and it not only shakes, but it rattles and rolls as well! BUT! It starts every time, and gets me from point A to point B. BOOM! Blessed with the gift of reliable transportation and trust that God will get me to where I need to be, when He wants me there.

Not a lot of money. Not broke, not wealthy. BUT! I have NEVER run out of money. BOOM! Blessed with the gift of financial comfort. Enough to pay my bills, put food on the table and buy a few toys here and there.

Tattoos. I have tattoos, some people like them, some people don't. BUT! All of my tattoos are and will be Jesus based. BOOM! The ability to spread the word of Jesus Christ to anyone, anywhere. Tattoos are a way in which you can NEVER be lukewarm about your faith in Jesus ever again, because they are out there for all the world to see. I LOVE talking to people about my tattoos, and I KNOW that they glorify the Lord.

Motorcycle. You would think there is no way riding a motorcycle could be a blessing…BUT! I got in a motorcycle accident! I broke my leg in 4 places and totaled my bike! Wait thats not a blessing… Psyche! yes it is. Through this "accident" I am able to share the love, strength and awesomeness that IS my Jesus. Through His grace, I am back on my feet, walking almost normally, with NO cast in 3 months…Faster than the Doctors expected, and boy are they baffled as to why… BOOM! Grace card, I have an amazing story to show people what God's grace and pure power is all about!

Old man music. Not a lot of "Christians" listen to classic rock music (thats not to say that NONE of them do). BUT! Guess who does listen to a lot of secular music? Non believers. BOOM! Open door for me to witness to non believers everywhere. We have a commonality… our love for Zeppelin, Blue Oyster Cult and Black Sabbath. Start talking about music, doors open up, start sharing the word.

Single. Yes, I want to get married, yes I want to court a beautiful young women of God first. BUT! Until God shows me the right woman, I am just going to wait. BOOM! Patience son!!! Patience is not only a virtue, but it is a fruit of the Spirit of God! A little bit of patience can take you a long way.

So, there we have it folks, Mike "Black Sheep" Brown says, "It's ok to be different than everyone else…Embrace it!"

Showing Grace

13 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Today's devotional is all about grace.

Consider the grace that God sheds upon, and keep in mind that we are made in His image.
Now, consider the amount of grace that you share with your friends, family, strangers, neighbors?? Is it a lot like Jesus, a little bit or not at all?

We are here to love one another and bring the world closer to Jesus…We CANT do that without grace.
Is it easier for you to be kind and compassionate to non believers than it is to other Christians? Don't feel bad if you say yes. We often expect more from fellow Christians and feel like they have betrayed us when they step out of line, but remember…no body is perfect, and while that is no excuse, just remember that we have a Father in heaven who loves us dearly and we were made to do the same.

So whether you are in fellowship with another Christian or otherwise, Friend or stranger, spread as much grace as you can, as often as you can.

The Fragrance Of His Knowledge

12 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message is awesome! So awesome in fact that I am going to copy a passage right out of the book. I know I have done this before, and I will probably do it again, and again I ask that you not mistake it for laziness, but rather an absolute accurate interpretation of what I as well as the author of the book, am trying to get across…

Here we go, in the words of Richard Blackaby from Experiencing God: "According to Paul, God permeates our lives with the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, our lives should demonstrate to others that Christ is victorious. As unbelievers observe out lives, they should become aware of the victorious power of Christ. As other Christians witness the victory Christ gives us over our sin, they can rejoice in the triumph of their Lord and gain confidence that Christ will bring victory in their lives as well. The most compelling evidence that Christ is alive and triumphant is His activity in the lives of His people. It is a privilege to be the frangrance of Christ by which others learn of God's life-changing power over sin. Your life ought to be convincing proof that God continues to work powerfully in the lives of His people."

Pleasing God, Pleasing Others

Pleasing God, Pleasing Others

11 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Today’s devotional talks about the importance of pleasing God over pleasing humanity.

While good human relationships are important a personal relationship with Christ is most important. 

It is not easy in today’s society to give your full attention to Jesus but we have to try our hardest to do so. You have to make the choice as a Christian, whether you want to follow the ways of the world or follow the ways of the Father. Choose wisely the group of people you want to hang out with and the activities in which you partake. You may feel like God is a buzzkill and that he doesn't want you to have any fun, or that you have to follow a strict set of rules, but that is so not the case. Once you really develop a relationship with Christ you start to realize that the actions you took beforehand really aren't where you want to be and you will WANT to change. 

Remember, you can't make EVERYONE happy, but if you make the choice to follow the Lord and do what He asks, you will make Him very happy, and that is what counts.

The Testimony Of Others

10 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

So, today we are talking about standing up for your faith and setting an example for other people.

I constantly hear people saying things like "Christians are hypocrites" or "if more christians acted like their bible says they should, maybe they wouldn't scare so many people away" and you know what? That is totally true.

There are so many Christians that SPEAK one way and then ACT a totally different way.
At a church a few weeks ago we went over a (my goodness, brain freeze time) (literary tool, where the first letters of the word starts a new word) Anyway, it was S.C.O.P.E.

Scripture
Community
Ongoing Repentance
Prayer
Effort

Effort has really stuck in my mind ever since. If everyone put in as much effort as a christian, as you did, just imagine the difference it would make. Now, that being said…you have to think about the effort that you are making…if you make no effort at all and everyone acted like you, no one would move forward. So if you are a hypocritical christian who thinks you can get away with anything, a lot of people are going to follow in your footsteps and bring christianity to a halt. But if you act like the Lord asks us to, and people see it and decide they want to act that way instead, we can help move Christianity forward leaps and bounds.

So, to sum up todays message… We can learn from others by watching how they act, but remember there's always people watching the way you act too…So make sure you are setting the right example.

Put Away Evil

9 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays devotional talks about the dangers of being wrapped up in evil. i.e. sin

It is so difficult in todays society to avoid sin, impurity, immorality and the likes, but fortunately we have a Papa who loves us no matter what. However, we should not take that love for granted and assume we can get away with murder…or anything other form of sin for that matter.

While no one is perfect, it is best to try and avoid things/acts/people that tempt you to sin. So many of us think that we can get away with hanging out with "X" crowd because it won't affect us, "I'm stronger than that." and sometimes that is possible, but it's better to just try to avoid it in the first place. If you are already caught up in it and you know it's wrong, don't be ashamed to run away. In this particular case, running away can at least help, solve your problems.

When you are caught up in the darkness of temptation, take your woes to the Lord and run for the light. Remember light and darkness can not coexist, you have to chose which one you want to be in.

Giving Your Best

8 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

The title of todays devotional is pretty straight forward: Giving your best.

So much of our Christian faith can be compared to human nature…I have said this half a dozen times so far since I started this blog…But it is so true.

When we are really dedicated to a hobby or job on earth we give it our best. We give it the old college try and we go until it's complete and darn near perfect…so why don't we do that with God. God gave us His all, He literally gave us the LIFE of His son, His ONLY son…I would say that is giving your best… Now I'm not saying go out and sacrifice your first born…don't get me wrong, but there are plenty of ways you can give your best to Jesus right here, right now.

1. Money - The Lord asks you to tithe, it's a simple 10%. This money not only goes a long way to help the church, but it also says a lot about your heart and relationship with God. If you can trust God with your finances enough to give 10% away, you're on the right track.

2. Time- Going to church is awesome, but sitting on a bench for an hour every Sunday is not the only way to give your time. Help out at church, join the worship team, or be a greeter. Invite people in. Work at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Stop thinking about yourself so much and get out on the streets and start helping others.

3. Possessions- Similar to giving money, giving of your possessions is an amazing act. Donate your clothes to the needy, lend a friend your car, be willing to share your things with other, without expecting reciprocity.

These are just a few examples of ways to give your best, and you know what they all have in common? Love…These are all love based acts. Not only are you showing your love for the Lord, but you are showing your love towards the people on earth that you are helping, and let me tell you, love goes a long way.

Now!

7 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays devotional talks about doing Gods work when you are called, no matter what the circumstance, even if it seems inconvenient for you.

When God calls us to follow Him, or do work on earth for Him we need to respect what He has to say and ideally do it with a servants heart WHEN He says to do it.
Following God's will is very comparative to following your parents will as I have stated in previous posts. When your parents ask you to do something, listen, obey and act. If you can do that without putting up to much of a fight, what is holding you back from doing it when God asks?

We all have our moments where we stomp our feet and throw a tantrum because we don't want to do something, but we know (and soon realize) that that wasn't the right move, but lucky for you, you have an ever loving Father up in heaven who will forgive you no matter what. With that kind of love, don't you think you owe Him a little bit of respect?

When God asks, you listen, obey and act, no questions asked. You KNOW He will never lead you down the wrong path.

A Jealous God

6 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays devotional is all about Gods jealousy. Jealousy!?!?! Whaaaaaa??? It's not what you think, well…it kind of is.

God has a right to be jealous. He gave us life, and He wants to protect it. We own him everything, and when we stray from him and act immoral or impurely He get's upset. Just imagine your earthly parents raising you from a baby and then you steal their car after you get your license… They are going to get mad. Ok, so that was a pretty poor example that I just came up with off the top of my head, while watching TV… but it's kind of relatable.

I can't make it much clearer.

Not One Word Has Failed

5 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays devotional is all about trusting that God will fulfill the promises that He has made.
It is so easy to "forget" to rely on God when we are going through times of crisis, but He promised in the bible that he would be there to protect us. There is nothing that God can not control and He will not allow us to go through anything we can not handle.

The less we trust in God the weaker our relationship gets, and conversely, the stronger our faith is, the closer we get. Pretty simple right?
For some people putting their full faith in God comes easy, for others (christian or otherwise) it becomes a task or chore.

Think about what is holding you back from trusting in a God who can literally do anything. He created EVERYTHING out of NOTHING, so what is causing you to shy away from His awesome dedication?

Clean Hands; A Pure Heart

4 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Well guys, I missed church today, so be on the look out for Todays message later on this week, when I get a chance to hear it. In the mean time, here is todays devotional.

When you become a Christian, you start to understand what it means to be pure of heart and why it is so important. God will always forgive you and relentless love you no matter what actions you take, good or bad. But as a Christian you begin to realize that the sins you commit are taking away from your intimacy with God. The more you sin, the further you stray from God, but as you get closer with God you start to see that even the smallest sin is utterly disgusting and you actually WANT to try and refrain from acting on them.

Please understand that there is no leveling up in Christianity. You can't be a level 47 Christian and gain some kind of super power. Either you are a Christian or you are not, and just because you are a Christian, doesn't mean you are perfect and don't sin. Everybody sins, it's how you react to the sin afterwards that makes the difference.

Asking For Mountains

3 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

Todays message is all about taking God's awesomeness to the max.

I am going to keep this post short and sweet, please don't mistake this for laziness.

Trusting in God wholeheartedly means knowing that not only will He be there through the easy times, but He will be there through the hard times as well, always pushing you towards success, like we talked about in yesterdays post.

This direct quote from Experiencing God pretty much sums it all up. "…If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God's power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things through your life that can be explained only by His mighty presence."

Delivered Into Your Hand

2 Aug 13 devotional from, Experiencing God

So, todays devotional runs along the same lines of church last sunday (See first post); doing and understanding God's will.

I am having a hard time summarizing this particular devotion because it is so critical that I don't misrepresent what it is saying. After a short prayer, God has advised me to take the time to just write out the entire lesson for today.

So, without further ado, directly from, Experiencing God, in the words of Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby…

No greater confidence will ever come to you or to any other Christian than the confidence of knowing you are doing God's will. God will not commission you to do anything without ensuring your success. God assured Joshua that there was no reason to fear as he prepared to battle the Canaanites. God would allow the Israelites to fight the battle, but the outcome was settled before they ever picked up their weapons. What confidence this gave them as they fought! Even though their enemies fought relentlessly, Joshua's army was certain of eventual victory.
God does not promise you victory in every task you devise, but he does promise that you will be successful whenever you follow His will. (Deut. 28:7, 25)
Does it appear that people are keeping you from obeying God's will? Rest assured that God will not allow anyone or anything to prevent His children from accomplishing His purposes.
Be careful to evaluate success in the way that God does. Perhaps He is working to produce His peace in your hear as you face troubling times. Perhaps He is working to develop a forgiving sprit in you when others mistreat you. Perhaps he is working to eliminate a particular sin in your life. If you accept the world's understanding of victory, you may feel defeated. If you look to see what God is accomplishing through your situation, you will find that He is succeeding. When you face opposition but know you are doing what God has asked, have confidence that he will accomplish everything that He desires.

I literally could not have said it better myself. I will try again tomorrow ladies and gents without tripping over my own words. But at least the message got across in a solid way.

A Loyal Heart

1 Aug 2013 devotional from, Experiencing God

So, todays devotional messages asks: Is your heart loyal to God? That may seem like a simple yes or no answer, but really… think about it? If your heart is truly loyal to God you don't have to constantly search for him, because you know He is always there. He is looking for you! 

Loyalty is defined as, giving and showing firm and constant support or allegience to a person or instituion.

It's a lot easier to be loyal in a worldly sense. I am a loyal friend. I constantly pay my cellphone bill on time; heaven forbid I can't text my bestie! I show up for the work bowling league every Friday night even if death is knocking on my door! So, why is it so difficult to give that same loyalty to God. God was loyal to us, before we were even born. He gave his own life for ours, so that we could spend an eternity in paradise. 

What is holding us back? What are we afraid of? What are ways we can express our loyalty to Jesus?

 I highly recommend thinking these questions over a bit, I certainly know I will be.