Reflections and Devotions for Today

Getting Free...
Devotion from RBC Ministries

I am not going to lie, I have a hard time letting go of things even when I don't need them anymore...my wife doesn't and many times I have seen her blessed time and time again. Why is that with many of people, Christians? We have seen God work in our lives time and time again and we know He can give us something better but we still want to cling onto old thing (with me it's old computer parts). In our human mind we come up with millions of excuses from "how long it will take us to save up for that certain thing" to "not being able to get it again." I know God has a sense of humor because I know sometimes he chuckles at you and I because he says, "If you only know what I have in store for you, you would freely let go."

This is one of my things I really need to come to grips with because I have seen what awesome things he has done in my life and continues to do in my life from the small, "Lord please find me a close parking space" to blessing me with some expense piece of electronic I never thought in a millions years I would own. Isn't it funny the older you become the grateful you become for just the smallest things and at the same time we become more cynical in other areas in our lives.

I think that will be my prayer for myself...help me to develope a "child's faith" when it come to you Lord because if I have that type of faith, look at so much you can show me, trust me with, give me and most important, to share with the world. This saying is so true, "When you have an open hand so much you can have...with a closed fist, you only have what's in your hand." And even that disappears soon or a later.

Be Blessed,
Be Safe
and have a Great Weekend

"Don’t waste your breath on fools,
for they will despise the wisest advice."

~Proverbs 23:9

A Passage That Is Very Important To Me

Proverbs 5

Avoid Immoral Women
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
2 Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,
and her mouth is smoother than oil.
4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.[a]
6 For she cares nothing about the path to life.
She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.

7 So now, my sons, listen to me.
Never stray from what I am about to say:
8 Stay away from her!
Don’t go near the door of her house!
9 If you do, you will lose your honor
and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.
10 Strangers will consume your wealth,
and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
11 In the end you will groan in anguish
when disease consumes your body.
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
13 Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers?
Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?
14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin,
and now I must face public disgrace.”

15 Drink water from your own well—
share your love only with your wife.[b]
16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,
having sex with just anyone?[c]
17 You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.

18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always.
May you always be captivated by her love.
20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,
or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?

21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,
examining every path he takes.
22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
they are ropes that catch and hold him.
23 He will die for lack of self-control;
he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

Satan Lies...God's Love

"If you're too proud to submit to God, you'll never get to heaven. You may be a kind, gentle person; you may even be naturally compassionate and charitable. But if your pride keeps you from admitting your need for Christ, then you'll never accept His gift of salvation. Many people are in hell because their heart was too hard and they believed their mind was too smart for God."

The above paragraph from today's "Early Light Devotion" from In Touch Ministries hits like a ton bricks to some people. This may be hard to grasp, it may sting, you may not want to hear it...but it is the truth. Many people think they can "work" their way into heaven but we can't. Many people think just because "I'm a nice person there is no way I can be turned away from entering into Heaven"...but you will. Many people think that once you give your life to God that is it, rules, rules and more rules, but for me it's the most liberating way to live. When I gave my life to Jesus Christ so many questions were answered for me and wondering "where will I go when I die" fell to the wayside and to me that is a heavy weight lifted off my shoulders. So many things that God want you and I to bring to Him because in the end He knows we can not do this alone. When allowing God into your heart and knowing His true love for you you feel such a peace that I cannot describe.

Why is it for somethings we can put complete faith into and when it comes to the things of God we can become so skeptical? When we go and get into our car many days we go and turn the ignition knowing it will start. We go and sit in a chair at work or at home knowing it will hold us but when turning our lives over to Christ many people can not do it. We use excuses like, "those preachers on want our money" or "How can you say, He (God) is the only way?" I myself asked those same questions growing up. I was raised in church but I walked away from God. I followed many other religions, practice them and in the end I still felt empty inside. For me one thing has always stood out to me...no other has died for my sins (past, present, future) but one...Jesus Christ. Sometimes I can't wrap my mind around this concept. Why would he do this? Why would a person who knows that I will screw up whether on purpose or by accident still wish to suffer for me?

He (God) sent His only son because He know we are a falling nature, that we cannot do this alone and the most important thing is because God love for you and I and the closeness He longs for you and I. No, God is not lonely but He knows how empty we are without Him. I heard a couple a days ago that Lindsey Lohen will spend over $36,000 dollars a month in rehab...$36,000 a month! Many people do not make that in a year and that is being spent on a person has that much money to spend in rehab? How can this person be unhappy knowing that you have that much money at your disposal?

I am not putting this young lady down at all and she is in my prayers but when you think about it don't you think she would be the most happiest person in the world? It breaks my heart to see so many young people get caught in the trappings of the world and later Satan will make her feel so guilty about how she has lived her life but that has always been Satan's gift, making you and I feel like we are worthless...but He is liar. God knows we have a fallen nature but He knew when He created you and I that we would make mistakes because He has given you a free will but He has given you and I a door to come back to Him. Satan shows people the pleasures in life but never the consequences but God will always show you and both sides of the coin. From Adam and Eve until now, God has and will always show you the blessings when living a Godly live and the curses when living outside His will.

The best thing about God is that He takes you and I when we are at our lowest...Satan tosses you and I away when we are at our lowest. When we are at our lowest, God shows us we are a diamond to Him, with Satan when we are at our lowest he tells you and I God has no use for people like you and I and that my friends is a lie straight from Hell.

God loves you...always has, always will. What God hates is sin in our lives because He knows the end result of sin. God knows we are going to make mistakes, we are going to come up short from time to time but like a loving parent, He will be there for you. Now God will discipline you and I when we are outside His will but that does not mean He has stopped loving us and at times obstacles He will allow in our lives to build character in our lives and this is what grows our faith more.

When we call upon the Lord this is not showing how weak we are...but how strong we are because we can not do it without Him.

Be Blessed, Be Safe and Have a Wonderful Day.