Gifts To Share

Read I Timothy 4

I love gifts. There is nothing like receiving a gift. The excitement of tearing into the wrapping, it is no wonder that all children love opening gifts. What is inside? Who is it from? Is it a toy or clothes? What is this gift that I am about to possess?
God has placed in all of us certain gifts that we are to open. God always gives gifts, the greatest being His Spirit. When God gives a gift, it is yours forever. Paul told us in Romans 8 that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. The first time God gives you a gift, it is for accountability. The second time is for ministry. What are you doing with the gifts that God has given you?
When God fills you with His Spirit, He desires for you to live for Him and allow Him to live through you. When you allow Him to live through you, you are being accountable to that gift. When God desires for you to use that gift, it is not simply for Him, but for those He is trying to reach. We do a disservice to God by not allowing our gifts to minister to others.
If we are to honor God, we must do so by honoring our gifts. It is not arrogant to realize that God has given you a certain gift. It is arrogant to possess that gift and not share it with someone else. It reminds me of our family Christmas time. All of the children have opened their gifts and all of them want what someone else received. As parents, we are constantly telling them to share. Words like, “I know it’s yours, but you have to share with your cousin”, ring throughout the holiday.
Sometimes I think our heavenly Father is sitting there telling me, “Tim, I know that gift is yours, but you need to share.” What are you doing today to share your gift with another?

In The Midst Of Waves

Read Mark 4:36-40

My twelfth birthday was awesome. My grandparents owned a cabin on a lake in central Minnesota that was about 4 miles long and 3 miles wide. Because of its size, the waves could get fairly big. To a twelve year old, the waves were huge.
My parents allowed me to bring a friend to the cabin for the day to swim and water ski, but when we got to the cabin, the waves seemed to be about 10 feet high (my slight exaggeration!). There was no way we were going to get the boat onto the water in those waves.
I can imagine the panic that swept through those on the boat in Mark 4. The waves were probably washing over the deck, knocking things all over the place, and fear came over all. I can feel the swells as the boat climbs and then drops suddenly to the splash and crash of the water upon the boat. The fishermen knew that they were ate the mercy of the storm.
What they didn’t realize was that they had an anchor in the ship that would not only hold their boat in place, but that could control the storm. When Jesus stepped to the front and began to speak, stillness came in the midst of the storm.
For you and I to realize the worth of the anchor, we often need to feel the storm. When our boats are being battered on every side, we need to realize that there is someone in our boat that will not only keep you, but stop the storm. Are you in a storm today? Try your anchor. See if peace can be found in-between the swells of the waves. You will be amazed at the worth of your anchor in the middle of your storm.
Oh, and by the way, we played the greatest game of water volleyball in the history of time on my birthday. The waves made the day.

Simply Joy

Read Matthew 19:13-15

We live in a world that is mostly absent of joy. The writer of the Constitution of the United States had it right when he wrote that it was a pursuit of happiness. You will never be able to attain happiness because happiness is dependant upon your circumstances. If your circumstances are well, you may be happy, but if not, happiness may seem to disappear. Happiness is a fleeting emotion that comes and goes as does the tides.
God never really promised us happiness, but He did promise us joy. Joy goes beyond the circumstances to the heart and when we dwell in God’s strength, joy is the outcome. The question is, “How do we dwell in God’s strength?” The answer is simple, do what Christ did.
In the passage that we read today, we see Jesus allowing the little children to come and have some special time with Him. “Little children” can refer to actual young children, but I also believe that “little children” can refer to those that are not as fortunate as we are.
The prescription for joy is to reach and help someone that may seem to be a little lower than you. Someone that does not have the blessings that you have. Another place in scripture the apostle admonishes us to prefer our brother or sister. When you sacrifice something for another, you have fulfilled the actions of Christ, and His strength begins to flow into us. When His strength begins to flow, we begin to receive His joy. When we receive His joy, all of the things that are bothering us seem to melt away into nothingness.
Take a moment today to do something for someone that does not have everything you have, and just see how you feel afterwards. See if you receive “joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

Will You Accept The Charges?

Read Matthew 16:24-28

I remember my first call home after I left for college. I had moved all the way from the Midwest to within about 10 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. I had never been away from home for any period of time. I had just turned 18 years old. I was excited and yet there was some trepidation in me.
I picked up my empty wallet (all my money had already gone to the school), and took out a phone card that my parents had given me. I dialed all the numbers, but it didn’t work. There was something wrong with the card. I thought real hard, and with all my intellect, realized I could call collect.
I dialed the numbers, and unfortunately my little brother, who didn’t know any better refused to accept the charges. I was furious.
Do you realize that sometimes God calls collect, and some have refused to accept the charges. Living for God is not free, as we know freedom today. Living for God will cost you everything you possess (which really is nothing) to obtain everything He has for you. He dials your number and asks you to accept the charges by taking up your cross and follow Him. What will your response be? Will you accept the charges or will you refuse to pay the small price for the greatest of riches. The interesting thing is that it is entirely up to you.
I calmed down some, and tried the number later, and thankfully my mom answered the phone and accepted the charges and paid for my phone call. I was happy to be talking to my family. Can you imagine how the Lord feels whenever we accept the charges. His heart must be filled with joy.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Read Hebrews 13

We all do it. From the youngest child to the oldest adult, all have looked into a mirror. We have a fireplace in our home that my son constantly looks into because he can see his reflection. He watches himself sing, preach, and act like a horse just so he can laugh at himself.
There is nothing like the time spent looking into the mirror trying to find all of our blemishes, and trying to fix that colic right there by the part in your hair. How many hours of our life are spent in front of a mirror is anyone’s guess. Sometimes we like what we see and other times we are not so sure about that face we are looking at. Can anyone relate?
God is like a mirror. He never changes, but everyone that looks into Him sees something different. It is amazing to listen to different people try to describe God. They see Him as amazing, wonderful, awesome, big, loving, caring, and the descriptions could go on for eternity.
The important question is to ask, “What do I see in Him?” It really doesn’t matter what others may think of God. It only really matters what you think of God. God looks back from the “mirror” side of things and sees you for who you really are. You are a divine creation. You are a chosen vessel. You are the apple of His eye. You look like Him. This is why it is so important about what you think about Him. When you look into the mirror, what do you see?
Do you see all of your short comings? Do you see all of your blemishes? Or, do you see His blood? Do you see His mercy and grace? When you look into the mirror of your life, how you see God, is how you will see yourself, and more importantly, you need to see how God looks.

Trust His Heart

Read Proverbs 3:5-6

The phone rings. On the other end of the line is the specialist that you met last week. You brace yourself for the worst news possible, and yet, when it comes you almost drop the phone.
The phone rings. On the other end is the emergency room. Your child has been rushed from the school because he had a seizure. You try to focus on what the doctor is telling you while you grab your keys to head their way, but your vision blurs through the tears, and your heart races in fear of the worst.
The phone rings. The person on the other end of the line so sweetly tells you that you have 72 hours or foreclosure on your home will take place. Panic sets in. Worry overruns your emotions. You frantically attempt to figure out how to pay your bill, but answers never seem to come.
The phone rings. Your college student tells you that they have given up on God, and that they would no longer be attending church. Your heart breaks, and worse, your spirit is torn. What will I do now? How can I go on.
The phone rings. A song is playing in the background, and it goes something like this:
“God is too wise to be mistaken, God is too good to be unkind; so when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t see His hand; TRUST HIS HEART.”
It may seem at times difficult to trust Him, but He does have the WHOLE world in His hands. If you are experiencing circumstances like those referred to above, Turn to him, and Trust His heart.

When Dreams Die

Read John 12:20-36

Have you buried any dreams lately? We thought our dreams were God’s dreams.We prayed, believed, made plans and worked hard. However, now it is over. So here we sit, graveside, by our lifeless hopes. As we sit, we begin to doubt… “Did I miss something? Should I have prayed or done more? Or perhaps I never really heard God in the first place…if this was not God’s will, then how can I trust myself to ever think I hear Him?”
The disciples knew exactly what you are going through. They had a dream that was cruelly crucified right in front of their eyes. They were looking for the Messiah and they thought they had been following Him. However, after a few years their dream was shattered by the penetration of an iron spike into the hands and feet of that dream. They scattered in fear, thinking that all hope was gone and there would be no real tomorrow. They felt that everything they had put stock in was faltering. The sealed tomb confirmed the fact that the dream had died – Jesus had died. Speechless, Jesus’ followers kept watch until the very end. They held on to flickering hope until its flame was extinguished. Then they gave themselves permission to bury their dream.
Burial is a symbol of respect. When dreams shatter, we too need to give ourselves time to gently collect the broken pieces and wrap them respectfully in tears. This is not about prematurely abandoning hope. This is about accepting reality. Denying Jesus’ death would not return Him to the disciples. It was healthy for them to permit a burial. Faith is not threatened by funerals. Take the time. Prepare the spices. Preserve and honor the memories. Rest. Rest is essential—a need, not a luxury—if we are to remain healthy through the burial of dreams. The exciting part is that just like the seed that dies in the ground, and just like Jesus died, in just a few short days the dream that seemed dead will sprout to life in an even greater fashion. What dream seems to have died in your household? Have you buried it yet? When you do finally bury it, get ready because a great resurrection is about to take place.

Portrait of the Master

Read Philippians 1:1-6



Faded, broken, graceful lines are still visible upon the canvas of the painting’s original magnificence. Possibly hundreds of years earlier an artist had taken up a brush and with simple paint created this incredible scene. Now worn and weathered, the painting barely echoes its former brilliance. Through the cracks and tears, it gives silent testimony to the skill of its original artist. Wind, rain, heat, admirers—with each touch glory has departed.
Centuries after its creation one cannot help but wonder about the creator, whether he was a pained soul or happy individual. One can feel a surprising connection with painting of this magnitude. There is something familiar in comparison to anyone that dares to look closely in the mirror. The reflection too feels weathered. Pain, conflict, disappointment, sin—with each touch, glory has departed from that individual’s life. The cracks, and chips of life with those same faded, broken lines, are only a faint reflection of what God had originally intended.
Any thoughts that are present drift to the future of the painting. New artists could attempt to restore it, but its original artist could no longer take up a brush. Only one could truly return the painting to its intended magnificence. Only one saw the painting in his mind and felt the painting in his soul before others could see it with their eyes. That one master artist passed long ago.
Here ends the similarity between the painting and the picture you see in the mirror because the Original Artist of that face in the mirror—He still lives! He still remembers His master design. Our Creator is able and willing to restore the faded and broken portions of our souls. Hope exists for us--the weathered and worn--because our Original Artist lives! It is a wonderful thing to experience the molding and restoration of the Master’s hand. Can you feel those gentle hands forming you? Will you allow Him to enter your life and continue the work that He so desires to finish?

The Time to Give

Read II Corinthians 9:6-7

The power in giving. You are what you eat. You reap what you sow. Your child is payback for your childhood. I’ve heard all these phrases, and they are pretty accurate. That is the power of giving. If you never want to receive anything from anyone, never give anything to anyone.
Giving is two-fold. We need to be givers, and we need God to give back to us. There are resources in our life that have been promised to us by the Lord that we have not yet tapped into. Now is not the time for us to shrink back in a corner because some of the promises have not come to pass as yet. It is in the times that we have need, we need to give, to invest more, to sacrifice more.
The concept of investing is interesting. The people who hold stocks do so for a the long haul, knowing that if they are patient, they will see dividends. Those that go in and out of the market don’t often see the same returns.
We are in the time of history when we need to give more than what we need. The more time spent with you children will reciprocate in a stronger relationship with them. The more investment into our spouses, the greater return from that relationship will be found. The more we give to God, the greater our relationship with Him will become.
There is no where in scripture that states that if we give more money, we will reap more money. It does not say that if we give more time, we will receive more time. The concept of giving is found in the principle that if we delight, or invest in, the Lord, He will in turn place in our hearts certain desires that will come to pass. I’d much rather have the desires that He placed in my heart than for God to give me my desires. I want to have his desires come to pass in my life because His are so much better.

What A Day That Will Be!!

Read I Thessalonians 4:13-17

This passage of the Bible is probably the most exciting record to most people. The thought of leaving this old world for the streets of gold is beyond comprehension. Just think, your next step may not be on cracked concrete, but on the purest gold. The next wall you see may not be the cracked foundation you’ve been meaning to fix, but great walls of jasper. The stress of a broken heart may, in a moment, become released by the sight of skies splitting open and Jesus descending on a cloud.
Yes, indeed this will be a magnificent day. However, the statement of scripture, “occupy till he comes”, really does carry validity. It is important that we do everything possible to prepare for those streets. We cannot become complacent in these last hours, even in the midst of tragedy, heartache, loss, frustration, and stress. Sometimes it may seem easier to just throw the towel in, but it would be much more costly. So in the middle of our lives, we must take a moment and try to fathom what heaven will be.
Remember, we must wake up, brush our teeth, take a shower, eat breakfast and get dressed. We must agonize about what to wear, how to do our hair and which road to take to work. We must enter our cars, drive as fast as we can to hit the traffic jam on I-94, peel off the roadway just glancing back one time to the person who cut you off, and greet them. We must wait at the bus stop for some crazy driver to pick us up for school, listen to all of the teachers that half the time do not make any sense. We have to return from work or school in order to work some more on household items and homework. Are you tired yet?
Just think, there is coming a day when the Lord will appear and all those things that caused weariness will fall by the wayside and we will forever enter into eternal rest. Just think about it!!

The Great Mystery

Read John 1:1-14

This passage records the mystery of godliness. The mystery is not that God is unknowable or that He is a trinity of persons, but the mystery is how the great God of eternity made himself flesh and took on Him finite humanity. It is the greatest message of the world. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. We can read and teach about all the miracles, sermons and parables, but the greatest event in history was found in a baby boy wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem.
If you read closely in scripture, 95-98% of all miracles benefited the flesh. The healing of the eye, hand legs, etc., the casting out of demons, raising the dead and the feeding of the five thousand all primarily dealt with the flesh.
In the passage of John, however, the miracle is for all humanity in terms of eternity. If God would not have come, we would never have the opportunity of salvation, freedom, Sprit. In fact, the very presence that we feel when we gather together in His name would consume and annihilate us because of the heat of His holiness. The only way we have any opportunity to enter boldly into His presence is because He decided to intervene.
When CEO’s find trouble at a particular branch of their business, they oftentimes send a representative to work things out. The representative comes along and negotiates a settlement that is pleasing to all parties involved.
The “business” that the Lord created in the Garden of Eden was so messed up, that all of the Old Testament “representatives” failed to accomplish the goal. He knew that, as the “owner”, He would have to step in and intervene. You are a part of the Kingdom of God because He came Himself. When things were so out of alignment, He intervened, and He made arrangements for you and I to walk in His Kingdom. That is a great mystery.

You Shall Be Witnesses

Read Romans 14:7



Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God? For instance, if I allow my own personal agenda to waver from God, everyone I touch is affected. The Bible states that we sit together in heavenly places, and when one suffers, all the members suffer.
When we allow private selfishness, mental slothfulness, moral wavering and spiritual density into our mind, everyone that is in your sphere of influence will suffer. “But,” you say, “who is sufficient for these things if you erect a standard like that?” The answer is simple, “Our sufficiency is of God and God alone.” Through Him we are able to live a life that is consecrated to Him and will allow those around us to be affected in a positive fashion.
“You shall be my witnesses.” How many of us are willing to spend every ounce of nervous energy; mental, moral and spiritual energy, for Jesus Christ? Are we preoccupied with the things of this world, or are we tuned in completely to what God is asking? If we can answer the first question positively, we have fulfilled being a witness in God’s sense of the word. It may take some time for us to achieve that, but it is worth the endeavor to do so.
Have you ever wondered why God left us on the earth? Was it just to be saved and sanctified? Was it to be made righteous? We were left here for His pleasure. Are you consecrated to do whatever the Master may ask? When King David gave Uriah his death sentence, Uriah trusted David enough to carry that slip of paper to the front line and lay his life down. Are you trusting God enough to do the same?

Where Is Your Heart?

Read Matthew 6:19-21

The heart is one of the most important and protected organs in the body. The heart is the organ that pumps life (which is in the blood) throughout the body, and thus, God designed our bodies to protect this much needed organ. Without the heart there is no hope for life.
In this passage of Matthew, Jesus is dealing, not with the natural heart, but rather, to the aspect of our life that decides what makes us alive. He stated, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Thus, whatever we treasure is what makes us alive. The question is, “Is the treasure that we have making us alive temporary or eternal?” If you your treasure is in school, careers, stocks, homes, earthly relationships, hobbies, etc., your heart will only make you alive temporarily. However, if your treasure is based upon what God desires for your life, He will make you alive eternally.
The greatest investment we can make is in the kingdom of God. A simple investment in prayer, giving, missions or some other ministry that God desires for you will cause great returns not only in heaven, but also here on earth.
Economists say the investments in “sin stocks” are a sure investment. Society has fallen deep into the pleasures of entertainment, money and power. We live in the midst of a present day Sodom and Gomorrah. Gambling, alcohol, drugs, pornography and the decay of the family structure are all the result of “sin stocks”. It is a sure thing when you invest in the things of the world, your returns or treasures will fail. Nothing built on sin will produce a positive return.
When we consecrate our treasures to God, His Spirit then becomes the “stock” that we invest in, and that investment has NEVER had a negative return.

At The Foot Of The Cross

Read Galatians 6:1-14

If I stand at the foot of the cross of Christ, I do not become a subjective onlooker, interested in my own desires and ideas, but I become dominantly concentrated to Jesus Christ’s desires and interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor did He consider Himself above others. He did not cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected from the trappings of society at all times. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. He was so much in the ordinary world that the “religious” people of His day called Him a glutton and a wine-bibber. Our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with his consecration of spiritual energy.
The counterfeit of consecration is the conscious cutting away of things with the idea of storing up spiritual power to use at a later time. To dwell with that mindset is a completely hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has spoiled the sin of a great many, yet there is no emancipation, no freedom and no fullness in their life. The kind of religious life that is of abundance in our society today is entirely different from the robust holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from evil.” We are designed to be “in” the world but not “of” the world. We are to be disconnected from the trappings of the world in principle and value, but externally we are to t=be tuned into those around us.
We must never allow anything to interfere with our consecration to the spiritual energy God placed in us. Consecration is developed by man while sanctification is performed by God. The answer to the perplexing questions in all of our lives is to ask the simple yet in depth question, “Is this the kind of thing in which Jesus Christ is interested, or the kind of thing that the world is interested?

The "Much More" of God

Read Matthew 6:24-34

A simple statement made by Jesus is always a puzzle until we ourselves become simple. How can we be simple with the simplicity of Jesus Christ? By allowing His Spirit to lead us, recognizing and relying on Him and obeying Him as He speaks into our hearts. When we take these steps, it will amaze someone as to how simple life truly becomes. Every time we slow our walk with Him, some even backing away from Him altogether, it is because in our minds, we impertinently know better than Him. When we stop listening, obeying, trusting and following, we struggle to live for God. We allow the cares of this world to come in, and we forget the “much more” of our heavenly Father.
“Behold, the fowls of the air”; their main aim is to obey the principles of life that were placed in them when God spoke them into existence, and because they do, God looks after them. Jesus said that if you and I are rightly related to Him and obey His Spirit that is in you, God will look after your “feathers”.
“Consider the lilies of the field”, that they grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where we are planted, and consequently, we take no root anywhere. Jesus assured us that when we obey the life and calling that He has placed in us, He will look after all of the other things in our life. So the question becomes, do you think that Jesus Christ would lie?
If we are not experiencing the “much more” of God, it is because we are not obeying the life that God has chosen for us, and we are left with confusing and frustrating circumstances.
The answer to our need for “much more” is found in consecration. God is calling us to a life of consecration. Consecration means the continual separating of oneself to a particular thing. We cannot consecrate once for all, but on a daily basis, we separate ourselves to His will, and when we do, watch out for the “much more” of God to consume your life.

Anointing In The Depths Of The River

Read Joshua 3:14-17

The ark of the covenant was the Old Testament symbol for the presence of God. The Lord was very specific in how the children of Israel were to handle the ark. The priests were the only ones allowed to handle the transportation of the ark, and it was specifically to be carried upon their shoulders. When Uzzah, who was trying to help out, touched the ark to keep it from falling off the cart, he was instantly slain. The presence of God, no matter the intention, is to be carried in the proper form.
Joshua describes for us the time when the children of Israel had come to the end of the wilderness wanderings. They are preparing to cross over the Jordan river, and the first item that passed over was the ark, or the presence of God. Joshua and the people followed the presence of the Lord into the depths of the water that were outside the banks of the river. They did not know what was going to happen, but they knew they needed to trust the presence of the Lord.
It is easy for people to follow the money, the blessing, the easy way, but the presence of God often leads us through the depths of situations to reveal the power of the Lord into our lives. It is of utmost importance for our ear to be tuned to the moving of the presence of God so we can follow wherever it leads.
The priests began to step into the water, and when they did, the waters parted and the children of Israel walked across on dry land. The interesting thing to notice comes from Jewish manners and customs literature. It is said that when the priests lifted the ark upon their shoulders, the ark would always become weightless. For forty years they carried the ark without any pressure or tension from its weight.
When they began to step into the water, however, they felt the full weight of the ark. When they got into the water they were carrying the full weight of the ark. When they stepped into the depths of the unknown, the anointing, or glory, or weight of His presence was noticed. You see, when you allow yourself to follow Him, He will lead you into some unknowns, but be confident of this; while you’re there, you will notice His presence more than if you were not in the depths.

The Real Thing

Read Exodus 30:22-33

There are two things about the anointing that must be discussed today; (1) it will not and cannot be poured on a stranger, (2) it will not and cannot be imitated. God has reserved the right to only allow true anointing to fall on His children and His anointing is not to be imitated by man. The fall of Lucifer in the beginning transpired because he tried to possess the anointing of God without the heir-ship of God, and he tried, and still tries today, to imitate God’s anointing.
In this passage, again we read that the strangers are all those that are outside the priesthood and the sons of the priesthood. In the Newt Testament we became priests through the ministry of Jesus Christ. Every son, without regard to finance, education, material blessing or familial name, can possess the anointing of God. No one else is able to receive the anointing of the Lord. It is important to understand that we, as the children of the Lord, are both blessed and anointed , not for ourselves, but for God and His desires. He has set us apart for His service.
Those that attempt to imitate the anointing of the Lord will be cut off. It is imperative that we recognize and cleave to the true anointing of God. There is nothing that we can do to earn, buy, steal or embezzle the sweet and powerful anointing of the Lord. It can only come through Him and from Him into our lives. When we, through vain glory or traditions of men, try and portray ourselves as anointed, we utterly fail. Remember the words of Jesus, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of heaven and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Anointed To Serve

Read Exodus 30:22-33

In this passage that we have looked at for the last few days, there is a command to anoint all of the vessels and anything that was connected to those vessels in order to make them holy, or set apart. The only way that these vessels were to be ready for service was to have the oil of anointing placed upon them. It is imperative that you and I fulfill the same command.
Surely the symbolism can be seen in that we have been chosen by God to be vessels of His Spirit. Each individual must be anointed for His service and His blessing. We will fail miserably in the things that God desires for us without first having the anointing oil poured over our vessels. There are times in life where it is evident through the moving of the presence of God that His anointing Spirit envelopes us and saturates us with a divine touch from His heart. When that anointing pours out, it is for the purpose to lead you into greater heights and depths of ministry for the Kingdom of God.
The great harvest that God has promised in the last days can only be wrought as we, the vessel, fall under he anointing of God. According to Jewish law, it takes six quarts of oil to anoint, but it would benefit us greatly today, to seek for more of the anointing. We need to be as Elisha of old and yearn to follow the Lord into a double portion of anointing. The wonderful thing is; God wants to do just that. He longs, it is a burning desire, to bless His vessels with that anointing.
The other aspect of the anointing in this passage was the anointing of the things connected to the vessel. It is not enough just to have our vessel anointed, but we must also anoint our families, jobs, homes, cars, affections, thoughts and desires. Will you allow God to do that for you?

The Anointing Continued...

Read Exodus 30:22-33

The oil, which is the Holy Ghost, that we read about yesterday carried with it a distinguishing and essential characteristic that was holiness. The chief purpose for the oil of anointing was to sanctify and set apart something or someone for the service of the Lord. When a person receives the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost, they receive an initial anointing for the service of the Kingdom. However, as we read in Luke 2:52, even Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, even so, we also must grow into the anointing for our specific responsibilities within the body of Christ.
The anointing is the symbol, or the seal, that the Lord places upon a person to identify to the natural and the spiritual world that he or she has been chosen by God to do many exploits. The anointing is the VOICE of God asserting His authority. When a person is in under the flow of the anointing oil, or Holy Ghost, as he begins to speak, he speaks, not with human or man-made authority, but with the very authority from heaven. Our communities do not need more man-made religiosity. It needs a “voice crying in the wilderness”. It needs a people that have been born into the anointing that will be bold enough to speak in the authority of the heavenly realm.
The anointing is also the HAND of God that separates His chosen from the masses. The Ezra 7-8, the phrase “the hand of God is upon them” appears seven times. Our prayer should be that this phrase would apply to our families, our ministry, our church, our city and our region. We stand at the edge of a mighty move of God, and it is now up to the people of God whether they desire the man-made , man-centered authority, or do we crave the power packed, providential authority of God.
Always remember the scripture in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…”

The Anointing

Read Exodus 30:22-33

The anointing oil referred to in this passage of scripture deals with making the articles chosen by God, holy. Holiness is an express manifestation of the anointing oil of the Lord. In the Old Testament, this oil was made from liquid myrrh, sweet-smelling cinnamon, sweet-smelling cane, cassia and olive oil. This was not some magical potion that would change the entire world on it’s own, but when it was blended and placed on the articles of the tabernacle, the combination of these fragrances with the presence of God, made everything holy.
In the New Testament, the anointing oil is manifest in the Spirit of God residing in each born again believer. The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of God’s ways of placing the oil of anointing upon the life of the believer. When you receive the Holy Ghost, God anoints to be set apart for His glory. The writer of Hebrews tells us that no man shall see God without being holy, and the only thing that makes us holy is the anointing oil of the Old Testament fulfilled by the gift of the Holy Ghost in the New Testament.
In the Mid-eastern cultures this oil was used for three distinct purposes;(1) in anointing the body (temple),(2) in preparation of food,(3) in giving light to the lamp. Likewise, the oil of the Holy Ghost gives freshness and the hope of incorruption to our bodies, strength for our heart and soul, and a brightness of life for a testimony to others.
If we allow the Holy Ghost to lead us into this anointing, the result will be physical healings, marriages united, broken hearts mended and ultimately we will se unprecedented harvest of both souls and blessings.
We will be in awe of those that dwell in our orb of living that return to the Lord or enter into His presence for the first time because of the light that our life casts.
This day and age requires that we, through consecration, enter into the anointing of the Lord.

The Spirit of Reconciliation

Read II Corinthians 5:16-18

The ministry of reconciliation is the most powerful weapon against the adversary. In fact, according to the passage in II Corinthians, everyone that has been born again, have not only received reconciliation, they have possessed the power of that ministry. This ministry is so grand, so far above human paradigms, so incredibly awesome that we often fail to realize the necessity of it and our role in performing it. We often picture ourselves as “saved and sanctified”, but when it come to being a reconciler, we laugh.
It is a true statement that all have been called to be a soul-winner. We must all influence someone’s life by being salt and light, leading the way to Jesus Christ. Influencing someone to begin and sustain a relationship with the Lord is the role of the reconciler. The ministry of reconciliation must be present if we are to do what God desires of us. We must take up the mantle of the mediator and draw people to Jesus Christ. Paul said that God was in Christ reconciling the world, and while Jesus still draws all men, He does so by His body, or ambassadors, still on earth.
We reconcile in diverse capacities. Some welcome guests to the church. Who knows, maybe your smile and handshake will lead someone to reconciliation? Maybe it’s the bus driver that takes the time to pick a child up for Sunday School. It could be the preacher or teacher behind the pulpit or the person that sends a birthday card just to show them they care.
Whatever we do in life, it is imperative in these last days to remember our main goal is to influence men and women to reconciliation. What a day that will be when we stand at the throne and see everyone that we helped find Jesus.

The Mixture Of Life

Read I Thessalonians 5:18

There is something about a thankful heart that God desires. Thankfulness enables us to see the “big picture” of our lives. When thankfulness is present, we tend to focus on God and His glory rather than on ourselves and our personal trials and triumphs. A thankful attitude should not be reserved for the month of November, but should permeate all aspects of our being. A thankful attitude openly expressed and lived out sends a powerful message to our families, friends, neighbors and community. The message states, “God is in control and I’m glad that He is!” Thankfulness breeds the proper attitude that says, “...we know that all things work together for good…” When we forget this promise, we begin to take God for granted and thankfulness becomes impossible. We then become self-focused and lose sight of what God is accomplishing in the greater scheme of life.
Staring into our past allows us to see the “cake” that we have created. Baking a cake requires a number of ingredients (I know, I had to read the recipe). If you happen to eat most of the ingredients on their own, you will find them most distasteful. Flour, raw eggs, baking powder, etc. can twist our taste buds in directions that they are not intended to go. However, if these same ingredients are carefully blended and baked for the right period of time, the finished product is a delicious dessert. God has, from the time that we were born, been standing at the “mixing bowl” of our lives. Our “flour and raw egg” experiences , however distasteful, are the ingredients of a wonderful creation. We must give thanks to God in all situations knowing that the end result of what He is doing in our life will blend perfectly for our good and His glory.
In your personal, or family devotion time, be encouraged to identify at least one good and not so good experience in recent memory. Take time to thank God for both situations, remembering The Master Baker’s perspective. It is Proverbs 3:5-6 that state, “trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Vision: Endless Possibilities

Read Ephesians 3:15-21

The records of history are filled with amazing statements of men whose vision was clouded on some important issues…
On world population: “The population of the earth decreases every day, and, if this continues, in another ten centuries the earth will be nothing but a desert.” (Montesquieu, 1743)
On anesthesia:“The abolishment of pain in surgery is a chimera. It is absurd to go on seeking it today. Knife and pain are two words in surgery that must forever be associated in the consciousness of the patient. To this compulsory combination we shall have to adjust ourselves.”(Dr. Alfred Velpeau, 1839)
On aviation:“The demonstration that no possible combination of known substances, known forms of machinery, and known forms of force can be united in a practical machine by which man shall fly long distances through the air, seems to the writer as complete as it is possible for the demonstration of any physical fact to be.” (Simon Newcomb, 1903)
On the atomic bomb: “That is the biggest fool thing that we have ever done. The bomb will never go off, and I speak as an expert in explosives." (Admiral William Leahy to President Harry S. Truman, 1945)
Though these men were well meaning, they just didn’t seem to see things in the right way. Their sight for the future was distorted by the seemingly impossible circumstances of their era. They looked at the natural world and concluded that certain things were just not possible. As we consider their words today, be admonished not to look at the spiritual world and conclude that certain things are not possible, for, with God all things are possible.
As we gaze into our futures, we need to have 20/20 spiritual vision. We need to pray together that in the midst of our walk with God, our families will be experience a unifying power of seeing and believing God for something that is far beyond the imagination.

"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossoble."
Arthur C. Clarke

The Heart's Investment

Read Matthew 6:19-21

A friend of mine once told about the adrenaline rush of holding someone’s heart in their hand during surgery. She shared with me what it felt like to have a beating, pulsing organ held in the palm of her hand. What an experience that must have been.
The heart is one of the most important and protected organs in the body. The heart is the organ that pumps life throughout the body, and thus, God designed our bodies to protect this much needed organ. Without the heart there is no hope for life.
In this passage in Matthew, Jesus is dealing, not with the natural heart, but rather, to the aspect of our life that decides what makes us alive. He stated, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Whatever we treasure is what makes us alive. The question is, “Is the treasure that we have making us alive, temporary or eternal?” If your treasure is in school, careers, stocks, homes, earthly relationships, hobbies, etc., your heart will only make you alive temporarily. However, if your treasure is based and founded upon what God desires for your life, He will make you alive eternally.
The greatest investment our families can make is in the kingdom of God. A simple investment in prayer or missions or some other ministry that God desires for you will cause great returns, not only in heaven, but right here on Earth.
Economists say the investments in “sin” stocks are a sure investment. Society has fallen deep into the pleasures of entertainment, money and power. We live in the midst of a present day Sodom and Gomorrah. Gambling, alcohol, drugs, pornography and the decay of the family are all the results of “sin” stocks. It is a sure thing that when you invest in the things of this world, your returns or treasures will fail. Nothing built on sin will produce a positive return.
If we consecrate our treasures our heart will be invested in Godly things that return great rewards. We will receive that reward that moth and rust cannot corrupt.

The Real Act

Read Luke 14:27

I have directed many dramas in my day. I have found that the best way to act is to not act. Make the part seem as real as possible and the action will be more real. So when I came across this story it struck home.
Being a modern day disciple of Jesus Christ isn’t something to take lightly. This was what Jesus wanted the people to understand. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ demands our very best in everything we do. There is no such thing as a “part-time” Christian. Being a disciple is a way of life.
Someone once told the story about an American businessman who traveled to Europe to see the famous Oberammergau Passion Play. Following the performance the businessman had the opportunity to meet and talk with Anton Lang who portrayed Christ in the play. Seeing the cross that was used in the play, the businessman wanted his wife to take his picture with it. Handing the camera to his wife, he asked her to take his picture while he lifted the cross to his shoulder. To his surprise he could hardly budge the cross from the floor.
“I don’t understand,” he said to Mr. Lang. “I thought it would be hollow. Why do you carry such a heavy cross?” Anton Lang’s reply explains why this play draws people from all over the world to that little Bavarian village every decade. “If I did not feel the weight of His cross,” he said, “I could not play the part.”
Likewise, in order for us to play the part of disciple, we too, must carry His cross. If being a disciple of Jesus costs us no pain to acquire, no self-denial to preserve, no effort to advance, no struggle to maintain, then this isn’t what Jesus had in mind. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not something we should take lightly, but it should involve our total commitment.

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Calling All Refugees

Matthew 23:37

There is nothing like a father’s embrace. My son had a bad dream one night and the first place he came was to snuggle in between dad and mom in bed. There is nothing like the protection that is available at the hand of a father.
Whenever there is a disaster in the world such as, hurricane Katrina, the last tsunami and the destruction found in tornado alley, those that survive are often called refugees. For some, this term is viewed as insulting, and it calls for the more politically correct terminology, “evacuees”.
In all actuality, the word “refugee” is a word that is filled with hope. One definition of this word is “one who leaves in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression or religious persecution.” “Refugee” comes from the word “refuge”. It speaks of safety, protection and care for the hurting. It speaks of a safe haven in the midst of the storm.
I do not know what storm or disaster you are going through or have gone through, but I am sure there is one thing you looked for; refuge. For those who have been battered by the storm, tragedy or disasters of life, refuge is what they probably looked for first. They may seek shelter in the arms of a great big, wonderful God, who alone can give us refuge and who desires to cover us and protect us and preserve us.
Jesus declared to the broken people of His day, “How often I wanted to gather you children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings”. That declaration stands today as a beacon that drives through the rains of the storms to draw refugees to Himself. The only requirement for us is that we seek His care and trust His heart.
The heart and arms of God are wide open to receive the tired and wounded in this battle of life. He wants to receive you into His arms, and give that warrior refuge and protection and care.

Walking In The Light

Read Psalm 14:1

Having a five year old, one is taking their own life in their hands to walk around in the dark. From stepping on a horse, car, dinosaur to any of the other of a million toys that he just happened to forget to pick up, you walk at your own risk. It was just the other night that T-rex was flattened, and I was angered because I was the one flattening him under my bare foot. It was vary painful, and it took all of my self control to keep from waking the neighborhood with screams of anguish.
The same is true of our spiritual walk. You take your life in your own hands when you walk in the darkness of false ideas. When you walk in His light, you place yourself in the sure hand of God.
Have you ever thought what it would be like if we didn't have faith in God but accepted instead the God-denying theory of evolution? Suppose we had an atheistic view of life. Cornell University biologist William Provine declared in a public debate that if you’re a consistent Darwinian, you realize there is no life after death, no ultimate foundation for ethics, no ultimate meaning for our existence and no free will. Life would be empty.
Thankfully, we have another view. We can open our hearts and minds to have faith in God as He has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. We can have forgiveness of sin through His death on a cross. This not only assures us of a blessed eternity, it also fills our here-and-now experiences with measureless blessings of meaning and hope. We can know by the indwelling of His Spirit that Jesus’ words were true in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
As we move along on our earthly journey, there is no fear of stepping on the “toys” in the dark because we can walk confidently in the light of Jesus Christ.

"God's first creature, which was light."
Francis Bacon

God: The Only One Unchangeable

Read John 10:28-29

I have said that I am afraid of heights. There is nothing more terrifying than standing on a ladder and it begin to shake. I am paralyzed by fear and my stomach drops when I begin to imagine my tumble to the ground even though I may only be a few feet in the air.
I cannot imagine how I would react if I were in an earthquake. Though I may be afraid of heights, it is not exactly the height that I worry about, it is lack of a sure footing. If I had to stand through an earthquake, I would probably just pass out.
Photographer David Crockett of Seattle’s KOMO-TV is much more brave than I. He found out one day that the mountain that looks solid and immovable wasn’t. On May 18, 1980, he was at the foot of towering Mount St. Helens when it erupted. For ten hours he was nearly buried by the falling debris. As the atmosphere cleared, a helicopter pilot spotted him. He was dramatically rescued and flown to a hospital.
Writing about his terrifying experience, he said, “During those ten hours I saw a mountain fall apart. I saw a forest disappear...I saw that God is the only one who is immovable...I feel somehow that I am being allowed to start over—whatever is in His master plan for.”
Nothing in our world, not even a mountain, or an unruly stepladder, is absolutely indestructible. God alone is unchangeable. It is only when we stand in His path that we stand on sure footing. He is the One that truly endures “forever” (Psalm 102:12). He “has established His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19).
When we trust ourselves to God’s keeping, we are forever secure. He removes our sin from us “as far as the east is from the west” (psalm 103:12). His mercy towards us is “from everlasting to everlasting” (vs. 17). He holds us in His almighty hands, and nothing can pry us loose from that omnipotent grip.