My Devotion
My Heart
Waiting or Withhold?
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Oh Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 84:11-12
Do you ever wonder, in comparison of course, why it seems like others are being blessed more than you are? First let me say that comparisons are just another form of judgments that we hide behind a lot. Our observations should be totally on ourselves not comparing ourselves to anyone but Christ. If we are focused and committed to pleasing God, then what does it matter what anyone else’s blessings are, except to rejoice for them and with them? I have also become a firm believer in the fact that all blessings are not material or physical. But we are so busy in trying to keep up with what we see, we completely forget all the blessings we do have.
Since we are so caught up in the comparison game and become jealous and envious because of what we see others getting, let’s look at the possibilities of how they received such blessings. There are two possible scenarios, one they could be living a life completely pleasing and blameless before God and God has opened the floodgate of blessings on them or they could be going about their life doing what they want when they want and working hard to appear to be blessed, but they are so stressed from the masquerade and hiding from the truth, they can’t stop because the lie is much easier to hide in than living in the truth is. The second scenario is short-lived and usually ends with a huge crash. People trying to live in a lie that they have so many blessings are more than likely up to their ears in debt and have gotten so addicted to the attention they think they are getting their demise is even greater.
Yes it is true that living a blameless life and pleasing God, does not always show immediate gratification in fact it gets really hard to keep it going, because we are always fighting the flesh for what we can see. Again I have to go to the words of Peter; In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1Peter 1:6-7
I have to work through this every day. There are things that I want to have and experience in this life and while God has been good to me all my life, my eyes just keep wandering to the things that this world dresses up and makes what I want look so good. I have even gotten so caught up in my desire for what I want I don’t even dream of the best thing, but will catch myself praying, God if you’ll just give me, that little shabby one over there or something like that…I don’t need much, I just want one of my own. Now I’m not even talking about the worldly things that are sinful like the obvious wild parties and the like, I’m talking about the things that are not harmful, like the great American dream, of cars, houses, clothes, travel and so on. These things are well and good, but I’ve heard of many people who have nearly sold their soul to attain such possessions, those aren’t blessings; they become the product of sin. Lust is not only limited to the lust of the body, we can lust for things just as easy and completely miss the blessings of God.
Psalm 84 tells us that NO GOOD THING does God withhold from those who walk is blameless and blessed is the man (woman) who trusts in God. It’s easy to trust in God when things are good and blessings abound both physically and spiritually, but what about those times that God feels so far away and we have to wait for His time, that is tough. Trusting God when we can’t see Him doing anything in our lives, no changes are being made, we aren’t moving forward and we aren’t moving backward, the blessings we can count are the ones we have had not the ones we are longing for. Be very careful that is exactly the time that our walk can end being blameless. It’s like we’ve worked an inner agreement, as long as I’m getting my way, I’ll be good, but the minute it gets hard and the blessings stop pouring from heaven I’m going to do it my way. God wants us to trust His heart more than we trust His had working where we can see it. God always has our best interest in His heart and He knows what is best for us. Remember He knows the future; He is already there. He knows every possible outcome and every ending to every possible way that we choose to go.
I have a question for you; Since when did life become about you? When did the purpose change? God created us for His good pleasure, we are for His good purpose so when someone tells you that God will bless you no matter what you do, don’t be fooled God will withhold blessings when we are out of His will and not living life pleasing to Him.
Now I’m not saying that because you are not being blessed right now with the good things you want that you aren’t walking blameless, I’m saying stand firm, keep walking, keep doing what you know is right, keep pressing on, the breakthrough is at hand, God will bless you when you trust in Him even when you can’t tell what He is doing. When it seems that He is silent or off busy doing something else…remember God is always here with you, His word says He will never leave you or forsake you. Sometimes to bring the blessing to you and me, many other things have to line up and be just right before the breakthrough can come through. This is why it is so very important that every person do everything that they know is right. God holds us accountable for what we understand at the level of understanding we are at. It takes time and effort to learn God’s word and apply it to your life, God will not punish you because you don’t completely understand the word of God. But He will instruct you and help you understand. Graduation is in the future, so keep studying, there will be a final exam and the questions will include what you did for Him while you were here? The redeemed will be judged for every action, thought, and word spoken.
Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debaucher; but be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit. Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart. At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Ephesians 5:15-20(MSG)
See it’s not so hard, look it up God will show you the way, the truth, and the life. Every instruction and advice has been written in His word for you and I to access anytime we need it. Do what you know to do and get to know even more make every effort to make your walk blameless in God’s sight, no good thing will He withhold from you and blessed beyond measure you will be when you trust completely trust Him all the time. Is God withholding good things from you or are you just waiting for His perfect timing? When the tough gets going, the tougher hit their knees.
In HIS Time
Teresa
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
From the Cross to the Crown
My Devotion
My Heart
From the Cross to the Crown
By Teresa Preston Jenkins
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet forfeit his very self? Luke 9:23-25
Why do we have to suffer so much? Go through so many trials of every kind? Life seems to be one battle after another; why? If God sent His son to save the world and not condemn it shouldn’t all the struggle be over? As long as we live in an imperfect world still full of greed and sin, good will always battle bad. It won’t always be like this, Jesus came first to offer us salvation and a new life in Him, He is coming back to take us to the perfect life and place He is preparing for us where there will be no more pain, sickness, disappointments, sorry, grief, or any other hardship known to us now. We can rest in the truth that any condemnation we may endure now is not from God. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the Law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4
As long as we live here before Christ returns again to claim us, we will struggle, but because we live according to the Spirit we have a spiritual weapon that is more powerful than just being law-abiding citizens. When we live only by the law, we die by the law, because of our weak sinful nature it is impossible to follow the law perfectly, but when we allow the Spirit to have full, total, and complete access to our heart, mind, and soul we are powerful to even follow the law that we can’t even quote. There are so many rules and regulations and new laws being written every day in an attempt to keep everyone safe and fair there is no way we can know every single one of them, but if we have Christ in our heart and we rely on Him we can be perfect law abiding citizens.
Jesus tells us that we have to take up our cross daily and follow Him. He is the perfect example of a perfect life. He said that He did nothing without the Father telling Him what to do. Jesus was in perfect communication and listened to the Father intently about how to live, what to say and what to do in each and every situation all the time. Jesus said if we are to follow Him, we have to give up everything we know and love and take up our cross. Ok, does that mean we have to completely walk away from the life we know, the people we love, and all that we have worked for? Maybe, or maybe not. What it does mean is that we have to be willing to do whatever God tells us to do. That is why it is important to know Him as well as possible. Accepting Christ as your personal savior is only the beginning. Living as Christ is the goal; becoming so in tune with Him that our old self is no longer recognizable.
Have you ever noticed that everything worth achieving or doing is like an endurance race? The easy stuff comes and goes like the wind, but the stuff that means so much, that gives us a sense of accomplishment or is more precious than anything is hard or comes with a great struggle or endurance? Getting a higher education takes time, effort and test after test then one day you receive a degree that proves you’ve earned it, it wasn’t given to you, you worked hard through the struggles with administration, demanding professors, work that seemed pointless, you endured it all and accomplished what many do not. To become successful in business you have to climb a long ladder of endurance, work long hours, do jobs no one else is willing to do, every owner of any business knows the difficulty in making it successful, weariness is your closest companion. What about giving birth? Now that’s an endurance that is long, hard, uncomfortable and very painful to get through, but what you hold in your arms is a prize that is so worth every sleepless night and sick morning for nine long months.
We all have a cross to carry, a hardship to bear, a life to sacrifice. No God isn’t saying we are to be crucified in the same way Christ was crucified, but we are to crucify everything that isn’t pleasing to Him and commit our way and everything we do to Him. Jesus endured the cross because that is what God sent Him to do and now He sits on the throne next to His Father. Whatever it is that you are suffering through in Jesus name, there is a crown of life to gain. We rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, 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 5:3-6 The opposition and struggle we face is nothing to the love God has poured into our hearts and the life we live in Christ. It’s not even about the suffering, it’s the victory through the suffering that illuminates His glory in our life. Everything we go through is nothing compared to what Christ went through for our sake.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3 Jesus suffered so much more than you and I can even imagine and what we do go through is very small in comparison, so then when we consider all that Jesus did, we don’t lose heart and we don’t grow weary, because the life and crown we will receive because we have taken up our cross will be the ultimate prize that everything else we thought mattered will completely disappear in the light of His glory.
Life is the time of the cross we must bear to get to the crown we will gladly lay at His feet and live forever praising Him. Weeping will last for the night, but unspeakable joy will come in the morning. Hold on, and press through the crown is on its way.
In HIS Time
Teresa
My Devotion, My Heart by Teresa Preston ISBN # 978-1-61566-460-3
http://mydevotionmyheart.blogspot.com
My Heart
From the Cross to the Crown
By Teresa Preston Jenkins
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet forfeit his very self? Luke 9:23-25
Why do we have to suffer so much? Go through so many trials of every kind? Life seems to be one battle after another; why? If God sent His son to save the world and not condemn it shouldn’t all the struggle be over? As long as we live in an imperfect world still full of greed and sin, good will always battle bad. It won’t always be like this, Jesus came first to offer us salvation and a new life in Him, He is coming back to take us to the perfect life and place He is preparing for us where there will be no more pain, sickness, disappointments, sorry, grief, or any other hardship known to us now. We can rest in the truth that any condemnation we may endure now is not from God. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the Law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4
As long as we live here before Christ returns again to claim us, we will struggle, but because we live according to the Spirit we have a spiritual weapon that is more powerful than just being law-abiding citizens. When we live only by the law, we die by the law, because of our weak sinful nature it is impossible to follow the law perfectly, but when we allow the Spirit to have full, total, and complete access to our heart, mind, and soul we are powerful to even follow the law that we can’t even quote. There are so many rules and regulations and new laws being written every day in an attempt to keep everyone safe and fair there is no way we can know every single one of them, but if we have Christ in our heart and we rely on Him we can be perfect law abiding citizens.
Jesus tells us that we have to take up our cross daily and follow Him. He is the perfect example of a perfect life. He said that He did nothing without the Father telling Him what to do. Jesus was in perfect communication and listened to the Father intently about how to live, what to say and what to do in each and every situation all the time. Jesus said if we are to follow Him, we have to give up everything we know and love and take up our cross. Ok, does that mean we have to completely walk away from the life we know, the people we love, and all that we have worked for? Maybe, or maybe not. What it does mean is that we have to be willing to do whatever God tells us to do. That is why it is important to know Him as well as possible. Accepting Christ as your personal savior is only the beginning. Living as Christ is the goal; becoming so in tune with Him that our old self is no longer recognizable.
Have you ever noticed that everything worth achieving or doing is like an endurance race? The easy stuff comes and goes like the wind, but the stuff that means so much, that gives us a sense of accomplishment or is more precious than anything is hard or comes with a great struggle or endurance? Getting a higher education takes time, effort and test after test then one day you receive a degree that proves you’ve earned it, it wasn’t given to you, you worked hard through the struggles with administration, demanding professors, work that seemed pointless, you endured it all and accomplished what many do not. To become successful in business you have to climb a long ladder of endurance, work long hours, do jobs no one else is willing to do, every owner of any business knows the difficulty in making it successful, weariness is your closest companion. What about giving birth? Now that’s an endurance that is long, hard, uncomfortable and very painful to get through, but what you hold in your arms is a prize that is so worth every sleepless night and sick morning for nine long months.
We all have a cross to carry, a hardship to bear, a life to sacrifice. No God isn’t saying we are to be crucified in the same way Christ was crucified, but we are to crucify everything that isn’t pleasing to Him and commit our way and everything we do to Him. Jesus endured the cross because that is what God sent Him to do and now He sits on the throne next to His Father. Whatever it is that you are suffering through in Jesus name, there is a crown of life to gain. We rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, 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 5:3-6 The opposition and struggle we face is nothing to the love God has poured into our hearts and the life we live in Christ. It’s not even about the suffering, it’s the victory through the suffering that illuminates His glory in our life. Everything we go through is nothing compared to what Christ went through for our sake.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3 Jesus suffered so much more than you and I can even imagine and what we do go through is very small in comparison, so then when we consider all that Jesus did, we don’t lose heart and we don’t grow weary, because the life and crown we will receive because we have taken up our cross will be the ultimate prize that everything else we thought mattered will completely disappear in the light of His glory.
Life is the time of the cross we must bear to get to the crown we will gladly lay at His feet and live forever praising Him. Weeping will last for the night, but unspeakable joy will come in the morning. Hold on, and press through the crown is on its way.
In HIS Time
Teresa
My Devotion, My Heart by Teresa Preston ISBN # 978-1-61566-460-3
http://mydevotionmyheart.blogspot.com
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
When His Kingdom Comes
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be His God and He will be my son.” Revelation 21:5-7
I have been familiar with the kingdom of God all my life, but I have limited the Kingdom to being heaven you know where all born-again, believers will go, the verse above says these are the over-comers, the ones who live by faith and resist the sin of this life. Look around you is everything perfect and new or can you see that every sorrow you have ever known has come from the brokenness we live in now. Bad things happen around us all the time. When I learned about the Kingdom of God, I learned it as a future hope, a future home, that the kingdom had not yet arrived. So for now we have to muddle through, get by, and survive this life that we live. If that is true, we are in for more disappointment and more brokenness…
No, in all things we are more than conquerors through loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, no any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
If the Kingdom of heaven is God and through Christ God is in you and me, wouldn’t that mean that the Kingdom has already come? That we live in the Kingdom now because the Kingdom is in us. Jesus came to renew, restore, and re-create you and me. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:23-24 We make the effort to put off, out, and away our old nature, it is an act of our will to resist to empty ourselves of everything that is not pleasing to God so that He can fill us up with Him.
I get so frustrated with life and how before I know it all the temporary stuff has robbed me of living in the kingdom. In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Matthew 3:1-3 The Kingdom is not only some future destination when we did or when Jesus returns for us, the Kingdom is right now in you and me because we have accepted Jesus and He is the Kingdom, He is what we have until that glorious day when He returns to wipe away every tear and there will be a new heaven and a new earth, but for right now in this present age we have a fortress a strong tower, a stronghold in all our trouble and sorrow. We have a hiding place that keeps us safe even though we go through the fire. We have nothing to fear. But this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, you Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you…Do not be afraid, for I am with you; Isaiah 43:1-5 Because of Jesus we are included in this passage. When it speaks of Jacob or Israel, we are included, the Kingdom of God is in you and me, He is with us, He is in us.
I know how hard it is to grasp that, life is not easy, it is excruciatingly painful sometimes, but it can be less painful and stressful when we take our eyes off the problems, and turn our gaze upon Jesus, the Kingdom will overcome our fear, worry, doubt and all the calamity that comes with the trouble of this world. John the Baptist said that Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven is near, so if Jesus is in you then the Kingdom is in you as well. We can experience the glory of heaven right now and magnify it even greater because through our problems and through our struggles He will be glorified so everyone can see. We aren’t defeated we are more than conquerors because He is in us working diligently to complete what He began until Jesus returns to take us home.
When the Kingdom comes we will just be moving on up to His glorious level, the penthouse in the sky, the mansion on the hilltop, the city on the hill. Live today like it is…the King of King and Lord of Lord reigns in your heart…We have won.
In HIS Time
Teresa
My Devotion, My Heart by Teresa Preston ISBN # 978-1-61566-460-3
I have been familiar with the kingdom of God all my life, but I have limited the Kingdom to being heaven you know where all born-again, believers will go, the verse above says these are the over-comers, the ones who live by faith and resist the sin of this life. Look around you is everything perfect and new or can you see that every sorrow you have ever known has come from the brokenness we live in now. Bad things happen around us all the time. When I learned about the Kingdom of God, I learned it as a future hope, a future home, that the kingdom had not yet arrived. So for now we have to muddle through, get by, and survive this life that we live. If that is true, we are in for more disappointment and more brokenness…
No, in all things we are more than conquerors through loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, no any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
If the Kingdom of heaven is God and through Christ God is in you and me, wouldn’t that mean that the Kingdom has already come? That we live in the Kingdom now because the Kingdom is in us. Jesus came to renew, restore, and re-create you and me. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:23-24 We make the effort to put off, out, and away our old nature, it is an act of our will to resist to empty ourselves of everything that is not pleasing to God so that He can fill us up with Him.
I get so frustrated with life and how before I know it all the temporary stuff has robbed me of living in the kingdom. In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Matthew 3:1-3 The Kingdom is not only some future destination when we did or when Jesus returns for us, the Kingdom is right now in you and me because we have accepted Jesus and He is the Kingdom, He is what we have until that glorious day when He returns to wipe away every tear and there will be a new heaven and a new earth, but for right now in this present age we have a fortress a strong tower, a stronghold in all our trouble and sorrow. We have a hiding place that keeps us safe even though we go through the fire. We have nothing to fear. But this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, you Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you…Do not be afraid, for I am with you; Isaiah 43:1-5 Because of Jesus we are included in this passage. When it speaks of Jacob or Israel, we are included, the Kingdom of God is in you and me, He is with us, He is in us.
I know how hard it is to grasp that, life is not easy, it is excruciatingly painful sometimes, but it can be less painful and stressful when we take our eyes off the problems, and turn our gaze upon Jesus, the Kingdom will overcome our fear, worry, doubt and all the calamity that comes with the trouble of this world. John the Baptist said that Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven is near, so if Jesus is in you then the Kingdom is in you as well. We can experience the glory of heaven right now and magnify it even greater because through our problems and through our struggles He will be glorified so everyone can see. We aren’t defeated we are more than conquerors because He is in us working diligently to complete what He began until Jesus returns to take us home.
When the Kingdom comes we will just be moving on up to His glorious level, the penthouse in the sky, the mansion on the hilltop, the city on the hill. Live today like it is…the King of King and Lord of Lord reigns in your heart…We have won.
In HIS Time
Teresa
My Devotion, My Heart by Teresa Preston ISBN # 978-1-61566-460-3
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