Inspired to Build

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?  Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.  For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.’  Acts 4:8-11

What inspires me?  A few days ago, I felt I was at my best at work.  Things seemed to be connecting, and the stuff on my ‘To Do’ list seemed to get done at record speed.  My meetings were focused and thought provoking, and every connection I seemed to make put not only me but others in a better place.  Those are the days where you feel inspired to do great things.  Most days, you feel that you are a productive member of the team, but days like the one I’ve described, you feel that you are the catalyst for something more than just your team.  Don’t we all aspire to have days like that?  Don’t we all want to be inspired to do great things?

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to connect with God as a continual source of inspiration.  The Book of Acts is inspirational because of numerous stories of individuals filled with the Holy Spirit and doing amazing and courageous things.  They spoke with a conviction that was awe inspiring, and they were not only inspired by God but also won others to Christ by instilling or inspiring that very same spirit burning within them.  We may not have the ability to speak as poignantly or with as great a conviction as Peter did in today’s verses, but the beauty of being children of God is that He knows exactly what we can and cannot do.  We simply need to both trust in Him and submit all of ourselves to Him.  Through this, His spirit will dwell within to use us as He deems necessary.  Our deeds can often be more powerful than words, and just your mere presence in one’s life can be transformative to them seeing your living of a Christ-centered life.  God will direct us, and we simply need to follow His instruction.

God has made each one of us a part of something bigger than ourselves.  A parable speaks to this very point (Note: There are different versions of this, but this one I liked best).  There were three bricklayers who were rebuilding a church after it had been damaged by fire.  The construction architect observed the three workers, and asked, “What are you doing?”  The first bricklayer replied, “I’m laying bricks.”  The second responded, “I’m repairing a wall.”  But the third replied, “I’m building a cathedral to The Almighty.”  The last part of today’s verses speak of Christ being the cornerstone.  Thus, the question is very simple.  Which bricklayer are you?  Who/What is your cornerstone?   What can you do to ensure you are inspired by God each and every day?  My prayer is that we, filled with the Holy Spirit, are inspired to be Cathedral Builders.  Amen.

Tues Devo: The plan

Proverbs 16:1-3 “The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the motives. Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.” (NASB)

Hello,

Do you ever get frustrated that a plan doesn’t seem to be coming together? There are certainly a number of reasons as to why things don’t work out – but this passage from Proverbs is certainly a starting point!

Look at the three elements here in these verses: The plan, the reason/motive and then finally the action itself. Have you listened to what God has to say about your plan (hint, to listen…try asking first!)? Have you visited your motives (God will)? And finally, have you affirmed your purpose in seeking success is for His glory?

I am not saying that this formula is magic – but if we want plans to succeed they will be in line with His plans! So, look at what you are working towards – check the plan, your motive and your affirmed purpose once you have started. If any of these three elements are not in step with God, your plan will struggle – take the time to go back and fix it! If you are about to start something, take the time to be before God in prayer over these items – you won’t regret it.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

False Teachers

2 Peter 2:1-12

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift
destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly
people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

I read a devotion the other day that talked about how too many preachers today never mention sinfulness or repenting and coming to forgiveness through Christ Jesus today. Too many TV evangelist are all about the feel good and not about speaking the truth of Christ. The truth of the matter is, if we aren’t centered on the hope that we have in Christ Jesus, then the message is off-kilter. Our only hope in salvation comes from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the above scripture says, not even the angels were spared from the judgment of the Lord.

Brothers and sisters, be careful of the false teachers among us and cling to the truth of the cross.

God the Father

19 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you,  Ezekiel 26

There's a lot of verses in this chapter that relate to what God's been pressing on me this week, so this is the brief one verse that I thought would pick.

Tyre, along with many other cities and many other peoples, did things that were evil in God's eyes.  God promised his vengeance and destroyed cities.  There's example after example of this happening in the Bible.  It's brought up as a point of argument by non-Christians - "Your God was quick to destroy cities in the OT, but now in the NT, he's all lovey-dovey.  Where's the consistency?"

I had a lightbulb moment with my son this last week.  I can't remember what it was exactly, but he was being stubborn and defiant over something.  I think i threatened him with taking his toys away if he didn't straighten up, and he immediately did.  It got me to thinking, this same threat won't work in a few years.  He'll probably shrug and tell me, "Whatever Mom."  I'm not looking forward to those days.

That led me to think about my relationship with my own parents.  When we had arguments when I was my son's age, which I don't remember, I'm sure my parents didn't handle things the same as when I was ten, thirteen, eighteen or even now in my adult life.  During that time, did my parents ever change?  No.  Who changed?  I did.  I grew up.  And the same thing will happen with my son.  He'll grow up and those arguments will come up and I'll have to handle them differently because he's different.

And here was my "Aha!" moment.  Over all these years, from OT, to NT, to present day, God hasn't changed.  We've changed.  As a society, we've learned, we've matured, and we've grown.  Think about it, even Moses was given very strict rules about sanitation in the Israelite camps to give to the Israelites.  The Israelites didn't have soap!  God wasn't giving them these rules because they needed to be super restrictive, he was giving them rules so they could stay hygenically clean!  

Think of this, the way God was giving rules in the early OT times is just like a parent sets rules for a young child.  "Do this because I say so."  The NT is more like adolescent and teen years.  "Here are some things to think about.  You'll probably fight and argue about it, but you'll come around in time once you see that I'm cool."  Where are we now?  We've grown up and moved out of the house.  It's up to us now to search him out.  He's given us all the tools and resources we need, and it's up to us as to how we use them.  We can go our own way or we can choose to do his will.  Over all these years, God didn't change - we did.

Thurs Devo: Free to Serve

I’m in a Revelation Bible study this year. It’s been a real joy to focus on so many different attributes of the Trinity that John writes about. In fact, I found it interesting that John greets the churches to whom he is writing and then immediately stops to praise Jesus!

Revelation 1:4-8       ⁴ John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

⁷ “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

John knows that the churches are undergoing severe persecution. The fact that he starts his letter by reminding them of who they serve (and why) must have been encouraging. It’s encouraging to me! My problems can seem big or overwhelming, but when I am reminded of who God is and all Jesus did for me to free me from my sin, I’m compelled to continue to worship and serve Him out of gratitude.

I’m not freed from sin to serve myself, but to serve the Almighty Alpha and Omega who will reign forever, after all the troubles in this life are over.

Knowing how much God loves you and all He has freed you from, how are you compelled?

Alice

What are you manifesting into reality?

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that is may benefit those who listen. 

I sell Jamberry Nail wraps on the side just for fun.  My upline group has been doing what they call daily vitamins lately, which is a way to encourage us.  The one that came out this morning left me thinking and the two scriptures above were left as comments so I thought it was fitting to share.

Have you ever wondered what happens to your thoughts and your words once you are done with them?  Do they simply disappear from existence?  When you think, your brain creates electromagnetic energy.  That energy is released into the world and exists.  We cannot see it, but it IS there.  It doesn’t vanish, it goes out into the universe.  Same thing when you speak.  You are creating sound waves.  Those sound waves don’t just end when you stop hearing them.  Your words travel endlessly out into the vastness of space.  You are a being of creation and you continue to create every single day of your life.  Your thoughts, feelings, and words all become part of the timeless universe.  So tell me, what are you contributing to the universe?  What are you manifesting into reality?

Recognize your power and use it wisely.

Today you and I can each impact the universe for Christ.  Will you take that opportunity?

Tues Devo: Is it true?

Psalm 63:1 “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (NASB)

Hello,

In reading Psalm 63 this past week, I was struck by the question “Is this true of me?” as it relates to verse 1. When that crossed my mind, I went back and read the verse more slowly. The first part “O God, You are my God” – yup, that was true! The rest….I want to claim it as true. I have been a follower of Jesus long enough that I know it should be true….but could it be proven to those who closely examine me at this point in my life?

It was a strong challenge to me – I encourage you to ask the same challenging questions and see what God can do.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Think Before Judging

Again, deviating from Ezekiel.  (Go read chapter 24 if you want to keep up on your own)

Over a year ago, I wrote a piece on gossiping, and I explained that it's still gossip whether you know the person or not.  It could be a celebrity or political figure, but if you're gossiping about them, you're still gossiping!  The subject matter doesn't change the meaning.  I remember it because it was fairly recent that Facebook's "On this day" reminder popped up to show the post.  I find this a fun way to go back and read some of my older posts and see how my thinking has or hasn't changed on certain subjects.

So in this gossip piece, I pulled a celebrity figure for the example.  Reading what I wrote reminded me that at the time, Justin Bieber had just gotten a DUI and was going through typical "out of control rich celebrity" syndrome.  I remember thinking that we needed to pray for him, and others in the news, that they get through these difficulties and find a way to be drawn closer to Christ through all of it.  It's hard though to know what's really going on in the heads of public figures, because so few of them openly discuss their Christian faith - it isn't the popular thing to do and it could be career suicide if they bring it up too much.

We don't truly know where anyone else is in their walk with God.  They may not be walking with God at all, they may be new to the walk, or they may be grounded in their faith.  They may even be making mistakes now that will be forgotten by God when they truly devote their lives to Christ.  My mother-in-law is a pastor and tells the story of why she stopped going to church when she was in grade school.  She wore a rather short skirt and could hear other ladies in the pew whispering about how indecent it was that she wore that skirt to church!  She ended up leaving the church for many years before returning later in life to it.  Why do we need to judge and criticize that which God won't even remember?

A few days ago, I was reading my daily news and it included a quote from Justin Beiber about Christianity.  I don't remember specifically what it was, but I remember rolling my eyes and thinking, "Oh boy, now what?" and still clicking the link to see the whole interview.

I was stunned - in a very pleasant way.  I skimmed over most of the first half (I don't really care about his love life or how he is creatively inspired for his music), but the second half is when the topic of Christianity is brought up - by Justin Bieber.  He then goes on to profess his faith in Christ for having died for his sins!  It's really inspiring to see someone talking about Christ specifically, and their relationship with Christ.   Justin Bieber Interview (2015 Cover Story)

Whether we're making snap judgments about a celebrity we don't know, or a person sitting a few pews away from us in church, we're still making judgments that are not for us to make.  We are called to love like Christ.  The judgment is up to God.

Thurs Devo: The Bronze Snake

How do you think the Lord answered the Israelites’ request to take the venomous snakes away?

Numbers 21:7-9  The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. ⁸ The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

God didn’t take the snakes away, but instead provided a unique way for the people to survive a snake bite. Similarly for us, God doesn’t always remove the consequences for our sins. He does help us move forward through the consequences, though, when we turn back to Him and seek His help.

All sin deserves death. However, God is so merciful. He gave many of the Israelites an opportunity to live, even if they were bitten. The Israelites didn’t earn the right to live, but rather looked to and accepted God’s way of salvation.

Going even further, God has provided an opportunity for eternal life with Him in Heaven. Like the Israelites, we don’t earn it, but must choose to look to and accept God’s way of Salvation.  

John 3:14-16      ¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Is Jesus your “bronze snake?” Have you accepted God’s unique way of salvation by looking to Jesus? He paid the ultimate sacrifice so you and I don’t have to experience the full consequence for our sins (Hell/eternal separation from God). Instead, you and I can live with Him for eternity!

Alice

Protection, Blessings, and Love

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever.Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.  Psalm 5:11-12

The other day, my family found that our first house had a major fire.  We were incredibly saddened to learn of it, and we prayed that everyone who currently lived in the house was safe.  Then as I thought more about it, I realized that I would never see my old home again.  The memories that our family built there would be all that remained.  But on the other side of it, I realized God had blessed us allowing our family to move to our new home and change our lives.  Even if we were still in that house, I believe we would have been alright, but I did not want to be unappreciative of the fact that God has loved, blessed, and protected our family.  We are so humbled that He has done so.

All of us as Christians are so incredibly blessed as children of God. We could complain about many things going on in our lives.  We might feel our boss is being tough on us or our children do not want to talk to us anymore.  Some of you might have the struggle of dealing with the loss of a loved one, and others wish they could lose the loved one they have (smile).  Many face difficult decisions about what job to choose.  Even some are struggling to decide whether or not to stay in an abusive relationship with a spouse.  No matter where you are in your life, know there is a God who is with you each and every step of the way.  He loves you, and blesses you infinitely.  He is always there looking out and protecting you from harm.  In placing our trust in Him, there are barriers moved that we would never see, and He sets in motion plans for us days, weeks, and months in advance so that each move we make is in line with His perfect plan for our lives.

When we give praise to our God, we have nothing to fear!  God said through the prophet Isaiah, “I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)  God is always looking out for us.  Our goal is to rely on Him, give of ourselves to Him, and give thanks to Him for He is indeed worthy of our praises.  What should you be thankful of today?  What small issue can you give to Him in exchange for praising Him for the position He has given you?  My prayer is that we praise God for His protection, blessings, and love.  Amen!