“O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. Give the Lord no rest until He completes His work, until He makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.” – Isaiah 62.6-7 NLT

There are so many problems in this world.  Hunger, war, disease, anger, and the list goes on. Since the time of Adam and Eve, there has been an evil in this world that none of us are immune to.  Unfortunately, we all are subject to many of those types of evil.

The question gets posed, “What can I do. I have a job, and a family, and obligations, and…and…and…”   While I understand not having a moment to yourself, what I don’t understand is why can’t we do more for the kingdom of God in our own everyday lives?  At work, at home, or wherever we are, we need to look for more opportunities to do good for others.  And whether or not we can do something physically for someone, we can and should always pray for them.

If you are a Christian, you have taken on the responsibility of showing Jesus Christ to this fallen world.  We need to empower rather than cut down and build up rather than destroy.  I once saw a man in a truck stop bathroom who was taking a paper towel and lightly cleaning around the dirty sink.  He didn’t work there, so I asked him why he was cleaning.  The man replied, “My Savior, Jesus, left this world better than what He found it.  I should do the same.”  Those words rang in my ears like a church bell.

Granted, it’s sometimes hard to model Christ for others, especially when we feel angry or offended by someone, but it is our duty children of the Most High God.  And frankly, it is those times when we see someone that is full of anger or sadness that we need to pray for them the most.  I know what my Lord and Savior has done for my life; how selfish that would be for me to want to keep the love of God all to myself.

Many people work with others and talk with them in the course of their day.  You may talk with them for 20 years about their kids, sports teams, their social habits, and a number of other things.  The one thing that people seem to have trouble sharing is the word of God.  Even if your job banned all religious speech, you can still share the love of Christ through your actions and reactions to business situations.  Your faith is something that you should be living out loud.  If you are a Christian, you should be the most ethical and most reliable person there.  You may not get it all right all the time, but there should still be a certain joy that you bring there.  A joy based on your God and not your circumstances.  Once people see your joy, they will have no choice but to ask you the reason why.

The point is to never give up, no matter what the fight looks like.  We as Christians need to walk straighter and hold ourselves to a higher standard than the rest of this world. Even when the devil throws all he has against you, you should be able to look him in the eye and smile, knowing you are protected by the blood of Jesus.  When the devil tries to condemn you, know that the King of Kings has already given you His seal of approval.  God loves you and wants the best for you and all of His people, so keep fighting the good fight.  Model Jesus to everyone and never stop praying for them.

No matter the country, color, or circumstances, people are not so different.  We all need prayers to not only find Jesus, but to walk with Him closer and closer everyday.  We fight against the sin in this world and the wickedness in ourselves, but through God’s saving grace, we shall find our rest with Him in Heaven for all eternity.

God’s blessings to you.

DH

“The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble;” – Psalm 9:9

The Apostle Paul wrote much of the New Testament of the Bible. Many of those were letters to churches that he wrote while in prison, locked away because he was a Christian.

We may struggle with our current situations, thinking that God must not care that we are having such troubles. The reality is that nothing that happens, good or bad, escapes God’s sight. And the Bible teaches that God will work all things for the good of those who love Him.

Prison for Paul wasn’t then ideal situation, but needed for what God wanted to accomplish in the bigger, more God-sized view of it all. Paul had no idea of the people he would reach for Jesus, even 2000 years later. All he knew was that the Holy Spirit was working in and through him. Had Paul not had time in prison, he may not have had the ability to sit calmly and truly listen to God’s words.

So next time you think that God has abandoned you in your troubles, think again. You have no idea of the blessings that God is setting up for you this very minute. Praise Him in the best of times and the worst of times, for He is making the path for you to Heaven right now.

God’s blessings to you.

DH

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” – Mark 6:31

I remember being out fishing on the river with my dad. As a kid, the times when were cruising along in his johnboat were the best.  However, in order to catch fish, we would have to use the slow trolling motor to get along the river banks.  Ugghh… it was soooo boring as a kid to just troll along there, but there would be no way to catch fish when we were speeding along with the big motor.  If we wanted to eat, we would have to troll along and sometimes sit in one spot for long time.

Those were good memories with my dad, but it got me thinking about how often we hear or read the word and we don’t take our time. For some people, church is just an hour out of their lives every Sunday.  Also, all too often, I’ll hear someone say that they don’t even have time to pray.  Frankly, if you are too busy to pray, then you need to get your priorities straight.  God wants to make sure that His children are cared for, and if you don’t slow down once in a while, you will miss out on the Heavenly meal that the Lord has for you.

Speaking with God and spending time in His Word is of the utmost importance. It helps you to connect with Him and understand more about what this life is all about.  Granted, you will never get all of His plan, but you will begin to understand more of it and you will also be able to deal with the bad times just a bit better.  I’ve heard of religion being like a lift in your shoe that makes you walk straighter and hold your head a bit higher.  The more time you devote to the Lord, the more He will raise you up.

Honestly, there are times when I find myself speeding through passages of the Bible that I’ve read a hundred times. That’s also usually when the Holy Spirit smacks me upside the head and tells me to go back and re-read.  Quite often, when I slow down and take my time with the verses, the Spirit reveals more and more to me that I never got before.  The Bible is truly a living book.  The same goes for sermons from good and trustworthy pastoral sources.  Just as Christ lives, so does God’s word is alive in any form. There’s something to be gleaned from every moment spent connecting with God’s Word.

We are a busy society and that’s unfortunate. We are living our lives so fast that we blink and it’s over with.  How many parents out there (me included) can say that our kids were babies just a few minutes ago it seems.  Often, people are so stressed and lack patience so much that even if we did have a couple minutes to ourselves, we would be looking for more stuff to cram into those few short minutes.  Sometimes, we need to just slow down and troll along.  That doesn’t mean you need to quit your job and move onto a mountain top in Tibet to find peace.  You can find peace right here and now.

Stop for a moment wherever you are. Now, take a deep breath and say “Thank you Jesus.”

What are you thanking Him for? You are thanking Him for His life, death, and resurrection that erases your sins and allows you eternity in Heaven.  You are thanking Him for His peace that surpasses all understanding.  You are thanking Him just to be able to thank Him.  You have breath, you have life, and you have eyes to see or ears to hear this sermon.  That right there is more than some people have.  Be thankful and praise His name.

We often speed down the river of life. Remember that if you don’t slow down and just troll along now and then, you will miss out on the wonderful and abundant life that God our Father has in store for us.

God’s blessings to you.

DH

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” – Matthew 5:6

It is natural for us to crave things. I’ve been on diets before that I couldn’t stand to go another minute without a Coke. Many times in the business world, I’ve heard people say that it’s been a rough day and that they need a stiff drink. I reply with the question, “How many times have you said that about Jesus?”

We as humans are craving and thirsting for the wrong things all too often. Some people consume too much alcohol and get caught while being ‘under the influence.’ They say “I didn’t know what I was doing,” or “It was the alcohol talking.” They say that their actions weren’t their own and it’s like someone else was directing their path.

I say to you that we need to be under the influence more often, not influenced by alcohol or drugs, but by the Holy Spirit. Let Jesus direct your steps and your interactions amongst people. Being influenced by the Spirit gives you true clarity, a sober mind, and the ability to walk in the power and favor of God.

Have you ever seen a drunk person smiling, even when the situation didn’t dictate it? We as Christians should be the same way, smiling out of sheer joy for the Lord and His blessings. If you have happiness, it is dictated by your circumstances. If you have true joy, it is a gift from God and keeps you peaceful in the midst of all of these troubled times. Jesus wants you to be joyful, not just happy. God loves you. When you know you are loved, it is easier to love others and yourself.

So before leaving the house in the morning or before doing anything that you do, take a sip. Spend time in God’s Word through prayer and reading or listening to the gospels. Be thirsty for God’s righteousness. Jesus is the true and eternal water of life. Take and drink of the Holy Spirit, and take as much as you want.

God’s blessings to you.

DH

“And why behold you the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye?” – Matthew 7:3

During my commute the other day, I had a mustang whip past me going who knows how fast. Of course I immediately started chewing them out, even though they couldn’t hear me.  But then, just a few miles down the road, I got behind a big semi doing about 20 under the speed limit in a no passing zone.  After about 10 minutes of getting more and more frustrated, as soon as a passing zone opened up, I floored it and zoomed around the semi.  (Please note that I have a tiny Hyundai Accent and “flooring it” consists of kicking the hamster wheel just a bit harder.)  Later on, as if the Holy Spirit was convicting me, the thought came into my head of, “I wonder what words that semi driver is cursing me with right now.”

I found out a long time ago what a hypocrite is. Unfortunately, I can look into the mirror and see one staring back at me.  I don’t want to be one, but here I am.  I get annoyed at people making bad choices, but then I turn around and make some myself.  I find myself being inconsiderate to other peoples’ feelings when those people aren’t considerate themselves.  I get irritated with people who want the world to cater to them, then I wonder why the world isn’t going exactly my way.

The fact is that, like the Bible says, we focus on the speck in someone else’s eye when we can’t see the beam or plank in our own eye. It’s so easy to point out someone else’s sins, but we seem to go blind to our own.  We hold others to higher standards of what a person and especially what a Christian needs to be, but then we too fall short of that standard.  The simple truth is that, just as in Romans 3:10, “There are none righteous, no, not one.” And again in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  That’s everybody.  ALL have sinned.  Nobody is purely good except Christ Himself and that’s why we need Him.

We are called to be holy people and set apart for the good works of the Lord, but how can we do that if we sin all the time? We will never completely stop sinning, but the point is to try to stop.  To repent means to change your mind.  If you make the conscious decision to try to refrain from evil, you will become more aware of your own faults and will make an effort to not do them.  You are human though and you will have your good and bad moments.  Don’t let that discourage you too much.  It happens to the best of us, but once again, the point is to keep trying.

After each attempt at Christlikeness, there will be a failure, but each time you try you will ‘fail better.’ You aren’t going to be perfect until you get to Heaven, but the point is to try. Each one of us has the capability to become like Christ and don’t stop trying.  Just know that you aren’t there yet and don’t get down on yourself like you are.  You aren’t where Christ is just yet, but you are on the way.

I like the old song that says, “I’m gonna try with a little help from my friends.” In short, each one of us is a sinner and knows something about what other people are going through.  If you’ve struggled with alcoholism or drugs, you have a ‘proof of purchase’ that can help connect you with other people who need help.  Not only can you help others, but frankly, you are obligated to help others.  Same goes for just about any sin.  That’s why God kept you around and pulled you through your ordeal, to be a faithful witness to others about God’s love and grace.

So don’t be too harsh on yourself or other people for various shortcomings, but by the same token, don’t just look upon sin and be OK with it either. See things through the eyes of Jesus and he will help you and others to see sin for what it is.  One day, we all will be better for it.

God’s blessings to you.

DH

“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” – 1 Peter 1:15

There’s an old saying, “you can’t give what you don’t have.” That means so much more when you are talking about Christianity.  Those of you who have children should know well that when there are questions from your kids about God and His ways.  My Lord is my life, but I still get blindsided by questions from my kids about God’s ways.  Let’s face it, God’s ways are so far above our ways as the heavens are above the earth.  There are times when I have to look at them and tell them that I’m not sure what the answer is, but I always try to find out the answer.

Being uncertain about God’s ways isn’t a real big deal in many cases, but being uncertain and not doing anything about it is a tragedy. You can say that you aren’t sure about something, but it better be followed up by the comment that you will find out more about the question.  We all have questions and it is probably not your fault.  You haven’t been told or shown the answer.  There was a part in the book of Acts where the disciple Phillip saw a gentleman reading the scriptures.  Phillip asked if he understood them, to which the gentleman replied, “How can I if nobody explains it to me?”  You will always have some questions, but if you don’t try to find out an answer, then shame on you.

Thankfully, we don’t need to seek out some yogi or lama on a mountain top thousands of miles away somewhere. If you live in America, you are blessed with the ability to walk into almost any Christian church anywhere and hear the word of God preached.  You will find believers just like you who either used to have or still have those same types of questions as you.  If you spend time listening to and reading the gospel, the Holy Spirit will reveal things to you.  It is almost like turning on a light bulb.  Probably every day I read the bible and will get something new that I didn’t even see there before.  The bible has been called a living book and that is a true statement.  The Word of God touches my heart all the time, because the Word is not a ‘what’, it’s a ‘who’; and that ‘who’ is Jesus Christ. The more I pray and talk with Him, the better I can navigate through this sea of craziness called life.

To live a good life, you need to first know good from evil. To be moral, you must first know what good morals are. If you look at the example Christ set before us, you see exactly what good is. You see what a moral life should look like.  You can spit out verse after verse of scripture, but do you live it?  You can’t give what you don’t have. God asks the question, “So what have you got for me?”  If you can’t say that you are trying to do right in His eyes, then you are living a poor existence, with one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel.

There’s a problem in this world because there’s a problem inside of each and every one of us. If we want this world to be better and closer to Jesus, we first must be closer to Jesus.  Like Saint Teresa said, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” I will do all I can to give good, solid, and biblically based answers to anything that’s asked of me and that’s including asking me how I live my life.  I will point not to how I live, but how Christ lives in me.

I may not have all of the answers, but “I gotta guy…”

God’s blessings to you.

DH

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” – Luke 12:49

I have a friend that had to set fire to his property the other day. It’s not in the way you would immediately think.  He did a controlled burn of his field so that the land could grow and be better used in the future.  That same fire, which could bring destruction is instead bringing new life.  This is much the same way that God works.

Fire gives off light and heat and so does the Holy Spirit.   Jesus is called the light of the world.  His truth allows us to see what is right compared with the darkness of this fallen world.  Bad people with evil intentions do their worst at night in order to hide their actions.  In contrast, Jesus says for us to do our best so that we can be like beacons of light honoring God.  Matthew 5:15 says, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.”  We should try to be more like Christ in order to bring more people to salvation.  This world needs more lighthouses and less storms.

If you desperately love someone, it’s said that you are burning with desire. If someone is a bit slow in their actions, someone will inevitably say that “a fire need’s lit under them.”  Well, this world and this country is going in the wrong direction.  It’s overgrown and getting choked out by the weeds of sin and immorality.  And here we are as Christians, supposedly bringing light to the world, but most of us couldn’t even get a good smolder going on.

Fire can be a good thing when used correctly. It is better to light the world on fire for Christ rather than for all of us to burn in hell for eternity.  It’s time for us to start a controlled burn for Jesus.

God’s blessings to you.

DH