Guard your heart

"And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. "

Deuteronomy 4:19

 

Moses is cautioning the people of Israel to watch themselves carefully. To keep watch over the affections of their hearts. That in the act of lifting their eyes to the heavens that they not be captivated by the sun, moon and stars to the point that they bow down and worship them.  See ideally the stars and the moon and the sun should draw them closer to God as they revel in the awesomeness of God. However this heart is so deceptive that unless it is guarded by God, it is so easily swayed.

And its so easy in our day to day to let our hearts be captivated by the very things that were meant to draw us closer to God to the point of an imbalance or even idolatry .

The people God has placed in our lives, our jobs, our school, the freedom we have, the health we have, this very life itself and all it encompasses...

I pray that we lift our hearts to the Lord and pray that He keep it sensitive to Him. That at no point in time our hearts be captivated by anything that takes precedence over God Himself.

That our worship forever be to Christ alone !

God Bless

Light

"Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house."

Matthew 5: 15

The other day I was walking early in the morning through the hall while the lights were switched off and had my Bible in my hand and sure enough I bumped into my backpack that was on the side of the floor and instantly this is what God reminded me off , " This is why you need to use the word of God always. Because the world is filled with darkness and its only the word which is light . Its a lamp to your feet and a light to your path"

So picture this with me, dark pathway and you have a flashlight and the path is illuminated by you using the flash light and because light dispels darkness you can see the rocks, the wayward paths, the good roads, the obstacles and you can walk clearly. 

Here is the best part, because you have the light shining , those around you who don't have the light are directed towards the right path. They are able to avoid the dangers that lurk in the darkness because you shone the light. 

The purpose of us living out loud the word of God , the purpose of us leading a Christ-centric life is so that all those around us (wherever we may be... at home, at a grocery store , at work , at school....) will be under the influence of light.  The purpose of a lamp burning is to give light  to ? ALL in the house. ALL ! Its never about self !

I pray we will pursue His righteousness and let His word dwell richly within us and that His light will shine through us that those around us will see and glorify Jesus Christ.

God Bless

What's on our hearts?

"Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered."

Jonah 4 : 6-7 

We all are familiar of the story of Jonah. God wanted him to go to Nineveh and he refused and tried running away . And when God finally got him to obey he went and spoke to Nineveh . But when the people sought the Lord, the Lord relented from destroying them and saved their city.  Now Jonah couldn't comprehend this. In fact he was angry with God. In fact in the earlier verses , he complains saying "That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster"

Isn't it pretty interesting that Jonah did what God wanted him to do but his heart wasn't in it. He did what God wanted him to do and yet he was far from knowing the heart of God. In fact technically (from his head) he knew the merciful nature of God, but his heart was not moved with compassion for the people of Nineveh.

Its a good 'stop & reflect' moment just to think of the things we do which are right , which are good, but our hearts are not in it . Technically we know the heart of our God , but our hearts are not moved.  Whether this looks like giving to those in need, placing our offerings before God, praying for those around us, coming to church... whatever shape or form the things we do may look like, may the callousness of our hearts be removed so that our hearts will be moved with the compassion and mercy of Christ.

Gotta love how amazing our God is. He appoints a plant and made it cover up Jonah and then caused a worm to destroy it to help teach Jonah, if Jonah could miss a plant (for which he had nothing to do ... he didn't plant it, water it , make it grow... nothing.. yet he missed it when it was gone because what it provided him) , how much more would God's heart be moved for the people of Nineveh.

The blessings that God has placed in our lives stand as a constant reminder of the heart of God. The fact that we can inhale and exhale oxygen. The fact that we can the faces of our loved ones, the honour of having good knees to be able to kneel before His throne... the joy when a child comes running and gives a hug....Living a life completely ransomed by the blood of the Christ.... How can we not see the heart of God in it all ? And having received such grace and mercy , how can we not extend the same we have so freely and undeservingly received?

God Bless

LIVE OUT LOUD

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. "

James 1:22

I could spend 20 hours looking at a pair of weights or running shoes . But if Im not using it, Im not going to get what is is required.  I could probably even put on the running shoes and sit on the couch for as long as I like. But hey Im not burning any calories or getting any more fit as much as I would hope to.  The true benefit is realized when I start running. In the very least as I start walking and slowly pick up the pace and I start running.

We are called to be DOERS of the word of God. The true intent is realized when inward transformation results in outward reformation.  We read the word, we hear the word and we start to live it out loud.

Its the small every day choices that eventually lead to this huge results. Its prioritizing our quiet times with the Lord, praying together as a family, being conscious of being a testimony to those around us whether this be when stuck in traffic , or at the office or at university, the way we respond to situations, our conscious choices to share the love of God... When this world is so quick to put people down are we those to build people up even in our thoughts and speech ? 

Can we stop for a moment and gauge ...are we being doers of the word of God ? Lets look at the top two : Love the Lord your God with all your heart,mind and soul and love your neighbour as you love your self.

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. "

God Bless

Made uniquely by the Master's design

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb."

Psalm 139:13

Remember how David defeated the Philistines by going around them as the Lord had directed him ? We read in 2 Samuel 5: 17-22 , that when the Philistines went up to search for David and had spread out in the valley of Rephaim, David sought the Lord and the Lord said to David to go on for God had given him victory. And true to His word, David defeated the Philistines.  Now the Philistines came up yet again and when David sought the Lord, this time God gave him a strategy of going around them . And David did as the Lord had commanded him and he defeated the Philistines.  Love the way God works.

Ever looked at a flower and wondered at the amount of detail that has gone into it ? Our God is so amazing.  I had purchased a new desk and was busy assembling it together looking at the instruction manual. Now in my head I was like , "how hard could this be?" While the instruction manual was pretty precise, my patience to read every line wasn't . And I had to re-do a few of the parts just because I didnt pay attention to the details.  Now here is the thing... The question wasnt "Do I have the ability to place the rods in place and join them together" , the question was "will I be able to assemble them as per the manufacturer's design?"  See for me couple of the rods looked exactly the same.  But then as the plan came together, I saw the subtle differences in them and why they were placed in specific places for a reason. The manufacturer had this beautiful design in place and everything had its precision.

A lot of times we think of just getting through the day... But the real question is ..."Am I living as God has desired?" See God has this amazing plan for us. He is a God of great detail. Everything about us is by His heavenly purpose. There is a reason why you and I are alive at this point in time of history. 

When David went to battle it wasnt just about running with what he knew , but it was about doing everything with God.  He didnt live based on past experiences or head knowledge. He lived based on a relationship with God. 

The word of God says that He knitted us together ! Isnt that so beautiful. And I pray that we will live as per our Master's desire walking with Him.

God Bless

Forever !

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."

Psalm 136:1

As part of my personal reading Im currently in the book of Job. Now get this, whichever portion of the Bible you are reading, time and time again you see God's faithfulness. Whatever the situation, whatever the circumstance, He is in complete control working all things for our good by His grace and for His glory.

Whether its an Elijah situation or a David situation or Job situation or Peter situation or Paul situation or Silas situation.... however things may look like , we read God always has something amazing in store. He is good, He is steadfast and His love endures FOREVER. We are never alone. We are never forgotten. James describes Him as the "Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."

God Bless

Recipient of His Mercy

"Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice"

Luke 17:15

We read from verse 11 that on the way to Jerusalem Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers,who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 

Have Mercy on us ! Mercy ! Webster's dictionary defines mercy as "compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender" . Lepers in those days were considered unclean and were kept away from the city. So here are these ten lepers who see Christ and they are pleading "Jesus, Master have mercy on us." They know there's nothing they can do or that they are that entitles them of Jesus's attention, so they plead for mercy. We read that when Jesus saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

The Samaritan when he saw that he was healed turned back and praised him with a loud voice and fell at Jesus's feet and gave thanks. This person had received the same healing as the others. What was the difference ? His heart was conscious of the fact that all he had received he did not deserve, but yet it had been graciously showered upon him.

Jesus said to him," Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well". The literal meaning for the word "well" in this context is "saved" (same Greek verb) . It was more than a physical healing. It was inward transformation.

Lets take a moment to reflect upon the gracious love and mercy that God continues to shower upon us... none of which we deserve but yet He having loved us, having called us His own, having paid the price on the cross for us and redeemed us , as our Father showers His mercy upon us. May our hearts forever be lifted up in gratefulness to the one who deserves it all.

God Bless