Posts

There is no room for error in truth!

"Ah, stubborn children," declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin…." Isaiah 30:1 Making a deal with an enemy gives the enemy a gradual victory. Enemies by nature will destroy you if they ever get the opportunity, and making a "deal" with them is the first step to destruction. If we put it in terms of making a deal with the "devil," we would run from it; so, the devil has his henchmen who make the deals more palatable. The face of evil is often soft and tender, one that is contrite, and appeals to our sense of mercy, love, and grace. The face of evil frequently taunts tolerance as the ultimate human virtue, while displaying intolerance for all who have any authority over their lives. To compromise with evil is to be evil. To be somewhat right on matters that are clearly defined makes one completely wrong. There is no room for error in truth, and those who w...

Power Lines?

You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, "He did not make me"; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"? Isaiah 29:16 (ESV) I love to take on God's characteristics. I would never really admit to wanting to do such a nonsensical thing, but it seems as if I am drawn to such silliness. I want to think that I am the creator and sustainer of life, when, in reality, I am the created one who needs sustaining. I would love to believe that I have power and authority over my circumstances, when, in fact, I need to have the only true power and authority walk me through life's circumstances. When we mess up the power lines, we ruin the ability to enjoy life as life was created. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to give us life, an abundant life. Therefore, to enjoy this life, we need to live it as Jesus intended us to live it. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Any Like It!

And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden." Isaiah 29:13-14 (ESV) It is possible to be in a relationship that is all talk and little relationship. We often talk about good marriages and friendships, yet we rarely experience them. We talk about relationships at church and work, while we live desperately lonely lives. We talk about how we love God, yet we don't spend time with Him. We long for Him, yet we don't even know Him. Talk can convince me of things that do not exist. I can hear the words in a message from my pastor and think that the hearing of the words is all that matters, because my thoughts and life will not change due...
And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden." Isaiah 29:13-14 (ESV) It is possible to be in a relationship that is all talk and little relationship. We often talk about good marriages and friendships, yet we rarely experience them. We talk about relationships at church and work, while we live desperately lonely lives. We talk about how we love God, yet we don't spend time with Him. We long for Him, yet we don't even know Him. Talk can convince me of things that do not exist. I can hear the words in a message from my pastor and think that the hearing of the words is all that matters, because my thoughts and life will not change due...

Dreamers?

As when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he is eating and awakes with his hunger not satisfied, or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he is drinking and awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched, so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion. Isaiah 29:8 (ESV) Dreaming about something does not make it a reality. Dreams are real thoughts, but not real life. If one dreams about being a basketball player but sits on the couch day after day eating ice cream, the dream will be just that —a dream. In fact, one who continually dreams lives a disappointing life, as reality is always out of reach. When we dream dreams apart from God, we ultimately lose, for God is the author of reality. Satan peddles lies; God dispenses truth. The fruit of lies is passivity, anger, lust, greed, anxiousness, depression, loneliness, and so on. Those who suffer from these symptoms can alleviate their suffering by understanding and responding to reality. John 8:32 says this: ...

Seasons Of Life

Give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech. Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground? When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill, sow cumin, and put in wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and emmer as the border? For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him. Isaiah 28:23-26 (ESV) Life is seasonal. There are times of ignorance that, after years of precept upon precept, turn to times of understanding. There are times of great sorrow and times of great joy. There are times of fasting and times of feasting. God knows what times are coming up, and He knows how to prepare us for the challenges and joys we are about to face. It is vitally important that we position ourselves to listen to Him, for He alone will prepare, guide, and ultimately help us conclude this life. It is wise to understand the seasons of life and to live in the context of that season, knowing that the season will change ...

Lies are easy to come up with,

Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem! Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter." Isaiah 28:14-15 (ESV) Making a lie a refuge leads to a tragedy. To believe that you are well when you are sick keeps you from treatment. To think that you are "set" financially when you are not keeps you from making wise financial decisions. An alcoholic who thinks they have no problem can never free themselves from the grip of alcohol. Lies are easy to come up with, hard to live with, and once believed, hard to expose. It almost seems as if we want to believe lies, and sometimes we like the lie over the truth. We must have a way to check what we believe against the truth, or be subject to the tremendous and disastrous consequences of believing a l...