Friday, June 27, 2008

Sanity

Sanity

Dan. 4:34 ¶ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation (NIV).

 Sanity is defined as the ability to think and behave in a normal and rational manner. To define sanity the need to define what is normal, because what the world calls normal is different than what normal means to God. God explains that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in His sight. So in order for you to be normal you need to come back to God. Come back to God and see what he sees. Come back to God is coming back to sanity, or keeping your sanity or maybe you just will discover sanity. This will lead you to God's will and see why it is good. It is time for you to make the call to Sanity because this world will drive you to insanity. God will drive you to Sanity!

The way to maintain, reclaim or attain your sanity is staying in prayer, being rooted in God's word and being filled with his Love. Listen to God through His word, Holy Spirit and how God speaks through other people. Listen to the call of God and let him keep you in perfect peace. Your sanity will depend on your prayer life as well. Staying in prayer will lead you to sanity and to the fullness of God. Praying is simply talking to God. Take the time to talk to God about your problems and regain your sanity by praying for God's strength, love, wisdom and peace. Isaiah 26:3-4 - Is. 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Is. 26:4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal (niv).

 

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Shake It Off!

Handling Rejection
Mark 6:4 "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and his own house is a prophet without honor (NIV)."

   

    Rejections from those who are close to you like your family and friends hurts. Jesus suffered that same kind of rejection in his own town among his own kind and even in his household. People where saying they knew him and put limits on Him. Jesus was teaching with authority but this was unusual for a carpenter to be able to teach with such power, let alone they saw him grow up and know his family.
    When people know you or of you it seems easy to assume they know all you are capable of doing. Jesus was beyond their limits they placed on his life. You too are not limited to the limits people have placed on your life. Jesus knew his purpose and knew that he would face rejection on the path. Your path to success will be littered with rejection and ridicule. Because if you path is easy and not obstacles than you are on the wrong path. Jesus knew to save the world he was going to suffer many things (Luke 9:22). Just know that as you face this rejection God is projecting you to your destination. What comes against you is not greater than who is with you.
    Handle rejection as Jesus told his disciples as just shake the dust off your feet (Mark 6:11). Brush them off. Do not let them weigh you down but instead know you are doing greater works for the Lord and God will judge them. You need not be worried of them but show grace and humility but trusting fully on God and following Jesus. Jesus will see that you can make it because he has made you able to win.
    So now when you receive rejection take the time to measure where you are in your journey. Ask am I on the right path? Am I doing God's will? If your answer is yes, then let the ridicule not stop you but just shake it off!

 


Wednesday, June 18, 2008

God Knows Me

Psalm 22:9-10 "Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God (NIV)."

God has called you before you called on Him. He kept you since you were a baby and even knew you before you were formed in your mother womb. Because God knows you so well, you can take comfort that God also has a purpose for your life. God's grace is present to help you grow and be all He has made you to be. God will not stop, but He will complete the good work He has begun in you. Will you surrender to God and see the outcome? When you surrender is when you become powerful. Power is not control but self-control is power. Surrender to God and let Him lead you to where you really want to be in your life.
       God has given you life for a purpose. Do you know your purpose or are you working on it now? Are you still growing to reach your full potential? As long as you have breathe in your longs and your blood is flowing your precious life as a precious purpose that only you can fulfill.
Will you call God your God and let him guide you to your destination. God sees the roads ahead and all the obstacles to come. Be strong and of good courage knowing that if God sees what is to come he will prepare you now for what is to come so you can be victorious when the challenges come. It is good to know that God knows you and knows your purpose in life and has given your life purpose. Live your life for God and find joy and peace as you fulfill your purpose. You can do this all through faith in Jesus, God's Son. 

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Just Believe

Mark 5:36 ¶ Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." NIV
 

Jairus has just lost his daughter he finds out on his way back to see her. The reason he left her sick bed was to ask Jesus to touch her and heal her. Jairus ran to see Jesus. When he left his daughter was still alive. But now on his way back with Jesus some men tell him do not bother Jesus your daughter is dead (v.35). But Jesus tells Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

How difficult is it to believe at times of pain and hurt. When your hope appears to be gone. This world is filled with so many tragic stories but here you can read a firm strong voice saying "Don't be afraid; just believe." Jesus is asking you in spite of what people tell you believe in Him. No matter how bad the situation looks believe in Him. Placing your faith in Jesus will open you up to wonders of possibilities you once thought were impossible. Jesus can take you places you have never been and show you things you have never seen. Will you take that step of faith and believe in God's only Son, the Holy and Righteous One, Jesus Christ.

You can take the time now and just say: Jesus I do believe you are God's Son and died on the cross for my sins to rise again from the grave on the third day all to forgive me of all my sins. I will trust you with my whole life and learn to follow you and not be afraid and just believe in you.


Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Hope Has a Price

"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield."
(Psalms 33:20 NIV-G/K)

Hope is not cheap there is a price. Hope is not a simple wish, but a firm belief of the positive to come. Daily hope is the simple motivation for daily living. People broke down on their luck wake up morning after morning hoping today will be a better day. People reporting to a job they do not love in hope that their pay check will come. If you did not have hope, a positive expectancy of your life you feel like giving up. With out hope you fail to see the great meaning of your life. Your life is precious and hope is not dead. Hope is alive and well. Hope comes from God. God is your help as in he will be there for you thick and thin. He is your shield meaning he will protect you from dangers to come. This awesome hope is revealed in the awesome love God has toward us shown in His son, Jesus. 

With so much despair, depression and death around we need hope. You may feel hopeless because you feel unimportant. Jesus came just for you. He came to show you that God has something better than what this world can offer. His love that will not fail. This love is a help when you feel unloved you can see How God loved the world He gave his only begotten Son(John 3:16). God gives you his very best because you are His very best. There is no one else like you and God made you that way. You are a beautiful person who God has made. Will you allow God to use you and show you your full potential and give the world hope seeing God use you. Have ever seen and elderly person need help picking up what they dropped? Have you seen a child need help tying their shoes? Have you seen a person down on their last dime looking for an answer? There has to be someone there who can help? Can it be you?

You can show that it may cost you now to build a better tomorrow but hope cost. Jesus paid the ultimate price by giving his life for the world to have a better tomorrow. What are you willing to sacrifice today in a hope of tomorrow. God's grace saved you not for you to be selfish but to show His grace to some one else. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)." 

Just take the time to open the windows of your ears to hear the cries around you. Open your eyes to see the peril around you. These people need your help. You can give some one hope and assist their life. You can share the love of Jesus you have inside. If you do not know Jesus or are unsure know "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."(Romans 10:9-10 NIV-G/K) You can confess Jesus Lord of your life and accept God's Son as your Lord and see Him change you and fill you with hope.

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
(Romans 5:5 NIV-G/K)


Monday, June 9, 2008

It was not the Clothes

It was not the Clothes Mk 5:27- When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment (NKJV).Mk 5:28-Mk 5:29 For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."5:29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body she was healed of the affliction."

What is the news that will make you move. What will make you get up to see a change in your life. What made you realize that the news you heard was what you needed? Your hope for a change like the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years. Twelve years of suffering. Twelve years to remember that things were not always this way, but these years lead you and point you to your only help. Jesus is near and close enough for you to touch will you only reach to embrace your destiny. Reaching out to receive Jesus by faith requires action and you receive results. The result is healing, restoration, peace and liberty. Whom the son sets free is free indeed. Let Jesus free you of your sin sickness. Give your toubles to the Lord in prayer and just know you will be healed. Jesus said to her, " go your faith has made you whole go and be free of suffering. " You, too can come to Jesus to walk with in Him and He living in you and move forward in your life with confidence with Jesus. With Jesus nothing is too hard.

With God's Love
Samuel Duren