“For you…have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on earth.” – Rev 5:9-10

The good news is that ALL christians will be kings . . ., but even better -not just for a day, but for eternity!

Today we reign in what we see as a world that is troubled and broken. But it’s only because we look at it that way. If we were to look at the world and see God’s beautiful creation, then the darkness fades away. Today is a day to start fresh, with a positive outlook on life, a look that says I see God’s wonder and grace all around me, and I’m going to bathe in God’s presence! “We shall reign on earth!”

Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.  –  Deuteronomy 11:1

Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today…   -  Deut 11:8

Faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul  –  Deut 11:13

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  -  Deut 11:18

Carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him  -  Deut 11:22

In the final verses of the chapter, I believe the Scripture comes to a necessary and wonderful conclusion:

I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse-  the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods  -  Deut 11:26-28

God has already, numerous times, warned us to Follow Him, to Obey His commands, to Love Him. If we simply follow these commands, then blessings belong to us.  On the flip side, however, if we fail to trust in God, then dire circumstances are headed our way. 

The Lord wants to bless us in everything we do.  I do not believe that He desires to curse us, but in the instance here, it is obvious that the Lord did forwarn us not to stray from His teachings (God’s commands).  

For those who do not believe in the Bible or in God, they may not care or believe in the curses they will and are undergoing.  However, to anyone who trusts in the Lord to fulfill His promises, then they should, in deed, be greatly concerned.  

At the same time however, there should really be no reason to be concerned if we are trusting in the Lord.  We should be receiving the blessings which the Lord continually and freely gives to those who are His children. So today, if you feel that life may not be going just right, and you think you’ve missed a blessing, then think: what have I done that hasn’t pleased God? Chances are that something small you have done was not according to God’s Word.

Challenge yourself – Follow Him in EVERYTHING and see how many blessings come your way!

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” – 1 Cor 1:18

“He who glories, let him glory in the LORD” – 1 Cor 1:31

As I read this daily devotion from 1 Corinthians, I realized yet again, that we do have things to rejoice in. For example: God gave us Salvation – and if we have salvation, then we can glorify God because of it.
See, those who are perishing have no hope, they have no joy, they only have brief times of happiness. But we, who are saved by the power of Jesus Christ, may too have brief times of happiness, but we have a lifetime of joy and comfort in our Lord and Savior.

We can glorify God because of what He has done for us.

Every few years the politicians bring up lottery and slots and so forth in our state legislature and every time, us “religious” folk go about and protest and protest – it’s unbiblical, and on a practical sense it will make our poor poorer and how the politicians will be the only ones who benefit.

Well, this morning I want to talk about the winning the lottery.  Huh? Well, let’s read this Scripture that was the foundation of my mornings devotion:

“I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”- Psalm 119:14

I think it’s interesting that the Psalmist here can only best describe how to rejoice in God’s glory by relating it to what the majority of mankind desires most: riches. “Money can’t buy happiness” – but a lot of people truly think that if they have money that they will be happy. At least, the overwhelming majority would initially feel like rejoicing had they won the lottery.

Well, scripture here tells us that feeling is exactly how we should approach God. We should rejoice that God has asked to be part of our lives and that He has given us some guidance in life. Don’t be down-trodden, saddened, or defeated – but feel power in God’s Word and in His direction for your life. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!”

We shall rejoice in God’s majesty and splendor. Only He can give us what we truly need and the desires of our heart. I ask that you say a prayer for someone that you know today that they may come to know joy through a relationship with God.

“[Let's] rejoice in following [God's] statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”- Psalm 119:14

Luke 11:9-10 ”So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

The Poem: “I asked God”

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for — but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all people, most richly blessed.
                                                                                                   – Anonymous

We always seem to know what we want. However, God doesn’t deal in wants; he deals in “needs.” 

You may ask God today for something you want, but thank Him when you receive ALL that you need.

A Poem (author unknown)

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease…..

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They’d laugh at me I’d fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die

I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God Held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
“Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down…
But never found the time.”

Kind of gives you a perspective doesn’t it?  Take time today for God . . .

God is moving in our church. Last night’s youth service was filled with the Holy Spirit. Those who missed it, missed out on a very meaningful, heart-touching time with God; and I just wanted to share with you what the experience meant to me! Most of you know that last night wasn’t the first time God moved within the youth service; it was just the first time that I have been present when it happened. The only times I have felt The Holy Spirit in the past two plus years was when we went to “The Blaze” or to Pigeon Forge. In fact, several days ago, I was complaining to James that it seemed as though God was leaving me out, that I was being “left behind.” Every time I couldn’t be at church, (whatever the reason), would be the time James would come home and say, “You missed an awesome service! Everyone was talking about how The Spirit spoke to them tonight!” Those were bittersweet moments for me because I was happy for everyone else having that wonderful experience, but at the same time was jealous because they “got it” and I didn’t!
HOWEVER, no matter what my reason was for not going to church on those other nights, whether it was because Wesley was sick, because I wasn’t feeling well, or because I needed time alone at home to get something done – I WAS THE ONE WHO MADE THE CHOICE NOT TO GO TO CHURCH. God was NOT leaving me behind. I was leaving HIM.
My reasons for not attending on those nights were just excuses, some justifiable and others not so much. My point isn’t that we should never miss church NO MATTER WHAT, (although we should do our best to ALWAYS attend church.) My point is, DON’T BLAME GOD WHEN YOU ARE LEFT BEHIND! You see, I realized this morning that I was blaming God for “moving” and not allowing me to come along. I was envious of everyone who was “allowed” to go with Him. But this was Satan’s way of thinking – Satan was putting these thoughts into my head and telling me that God didn’t love me as much as he use to. Satan was using the time I missed church to his advantage. He knew I was tired and weak spiritually, hadn’t taken the time each day to re-fill my spiritual tank, and didn’t allow it to be filled at church because I didn’t go! Satan was watching me and waiting to strike just like a snake in the grass! He struck me. He bit. He made me fall.
But, by the Grace of God, I fell to my knees! See, Satan forgets that each time he knocks me down a little, I come back fighting hard! My heart, mind, spirit, and soul has and forever will belong to God. Satan may break my flesh at times, but God is always there to pick me up and heal me.
The Holy Spirit is moving people in our world today! God has never stopped using people to do His work. People have stopped ALLOWING God to use them!
We take God for granted! Even as Christians, maybe more so because we are Christians, we take God for granted. Just like we tend to take for granted our parents, grandparents, or siblings, we take for granted that no matter what we do, God will still love us. Yes, He will still love us, but the more sin we allow to separate us from God, the less He can BE WITH us and the less He can use us to help others. God and sin cannot co-exist within us. We chose one or the other every moment of every day. Every decision we make in our lives – yes, I emphasized EVERY – whether they are conscious or unconscious decisions, we chose God or we choose sin. There is no in between.
Did I choose sin just because I couldn’t go to church one night? Not deliberately; however, because I chose to “take a night off” and didn’t spend time with God during those times away from church, I opened up the opportunity for Satan to attack. Satan didn’t “make me do it.” I CHOSE not to go to church, not to spend time reading my bible, not to spend time in prayer, and to push God aside for the things I WANTED to do at that moment. I ALLOWED Satan in.
I’m writing this down for myself, just as much as I am for you all, as a reminder to make God Choices. This has been a learning experience for me and I hope if you are also having these feelings you have learned that God loves you – He didn’t leave you behind – He didn’t leave you out.
CHOOSE GOD! He’s waiting for you!

Psalm 92

 ¹ It is good to praise the LORD
       and make music to your name, O Most High, ² to proclaim your love in the morning
       and your faithfulness at night,

 ³ to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
       and the melody of the harp.

 ⁴ For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;
       I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

 ⁵ How great are your works, O LORD,
       how profound your thoughts!

. . .

 ⁸ But you, O LORD, are exalted forever.

. . .

 ¹⁵ proclaiming, “The LORD is upright;
       he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Worship should be a “lifestyle.” Yesterday, on my way to work I heard the song by Casting Crowns “If we ever needed you, Lord it’s now.” As I considered and pondered the meaning of the song, I realized how badly we do need God, not just on our down days, but on our up days too. He is the reason we have Salvation. Without Jesus, we have nothing.

We need to remember this constantly. Praise and worship is something that should happen consistently and constantly. As I heard several times in a local Pentecostal church in my hometown this past Sunday “Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!”

Three different times [Paul] begged the Lord to take away [his weaknesses]. Each time [God] said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

And in Nehemiah 8:10

“This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

We should be glad concerning our weaknesses, for it is when we are weak that we MUST look to God for strength. It is when we are at rock bottom that we have nothing . . . but GOD. So we should be thankful when we are in trials/troubles and in our weaknesses, because they are reminders to look up (toward God).

Think about the times that you are feeling great and at the top of the world: how often do you remember that it was God that put you there? Probably not very often.

Therefore, THANK GOD for your weak days and let the Lord give you strength.

• What is worship?
• What do you consider worship?
• Do you worship every Sunday?
• Do you worship DAILY?

That was part of the topic of our discussion. Worship: 

Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Luke 4:8 – And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

I propose that I will post additional comments concerning worship more this week as I learn what the Bible has to say about it.  I have already learned one thing that I will reveal later this week.  Stay tuned to find out, you may be VERY surprised what the Bible says about worship!