In the Time of the Lattereign

In life, we can be unsure of ourselves and our future, at times, but there is one thing that we can count on, and that is that Jesus Christ is faithful, even when in our human frailty, we become faithless. You can depend on his word. There is no distress in the word, or doubt that he will do what he said that he’d do. Our greatest task is to take the Lord at his word and believe that he will be with us through the times of testing that will come upon us.

The bible warns us that “Everything that can be shaken, will be shaken.” Why would a loving God allow us to go through the shaking? Isn’t there some unwritten law somewhere that says that children of God are exempt from heartache? Nevertheless, his word is still forever settled in heaven, and he said that these things would come to pass, but he also promises us in

Isaiah 43:1,2, “I have called you by name–you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you,.”

To be called by name is important to me. To know that the Lord says that I belong to him, amazes me to this day; to be assured that when I pass through deep waters and I become apprehensive and unsure of my own fate, that all I need to do is be reminded that my troubles will not overwhelm me; gives me the strength to continue to walk by faith and not by sight.

I can carefully find my way through a dark world, and know that even if I stumble, that the Lord will be there to pick me up, and help me to complete the task that he has called me to do. My life belongs to Jesus Christ, but that doesn’t keep me from living in a world that may not know that the Lord loves them; nevertheless, his word is settled in heaven. You can know that God is still in control, no matter what you are going through.

Time and again, I reflect on where the Lord has brought me from, and keep moving closer to where the Lord wants to bring me to. It’s the journey that keeps me trusting in his word. If you are feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, today, look up for your redemption draweth nigh.

God bless, as you read The Lattereign for this week.

 Thy Word is Settled in Heaven

I remember when the World Trade Center fell, and one tragedy after another unfolded on that day, September 11, 2001. The following Sunday we were celebrating our 20th church anniversary. It was a difficult time to process for everyone, with so many people losing their lives, but our nation pulled together, and laid our politics aside, long enough to be the United States of America. People turned to prayer, as they tried to make sense out of the events. Only, it didn’t make sense to us, because people lost their lives that day.

My question is, Why is it that when tragedy strikes, we do forget our trivial and sometimes petty grievances long enough to show compassion on others?

Lately, I find myself having to remind myself of why I do what I do. I know that I am rambling tonight and I try to feel after God and what he wants me to share with you. I sometimes wonder…

Am I where I want to be in my walk with God? No, when I become complacent and stop striving to do more, be more effective, hone in on the skills that the Lord has given to me, I will have lost out with God.

Being satisfied with your walk with God is a dangerous place to be.

Why? Because, if I am satisfied, I will not seek the Lord the way that I need to seek him. I must always be prepared spiritually to do battle. My spirit is stirred up when I know that the Lord is dealing with me to go deeper in him. That requires that I lay aside some things that occupy my time, so that He is at the forefront of my life. Are we only putting a toe in the waters, when he wants us to get out of the boat and walk with him on the water. We can, you know, if we dare to believe God.

Our troubled sea too often paralyzes us with the  fear about drowning. It’s time to stop listening to all the voices that tell us that we are not going to make it.

I admit that at different seasons in my life I have been guilty of falling deeper into despair as the tempest claimed my footing. Aren’t you tired of being tossed to and fro; of never recognizing the joy in your life because you’re too busy looking at the trouble all around you? It’s time to plant your feet, raise your hands towards heaven and declare that you believe God.

His sheep know his voice. It is a voice that can make all things clear. His voice is the only one that matters, today.

Whose Report will you Believe

It’s time that we start thinking about what we do have, as opposed to what we don’t have. I remember before people felt so entitled to have the latest gadget; when overindulgence was when your parents let you stay up past your bedtime; when one 10 oz. bottle soft drink every other week was considered an extravagance; when making rabbit shadows on the wall because the electricity had been shut off, was a favorite pasttime; when a chance to walk down to Mc’Clellans Department Store with my daddy to sit at the counter and spin on the bar stool while I waited on my toasted cheese sandwich to be ready was a rare delight, because it was time spent with my daddy.

Times have changed. It’s unfortunate that many in this generation will never know the pleasure that can be derived from the most simple things. In our society, we spend our time always grabbing for more and more; yet, we aren’t ever quite happy with the material gain that we acquire. It gives us a sense of restlessness, or a nagging feeling that if we did x that we could climb up one more rung on the corporate ladder to y. I just bought this type of phone, but now I want the new one that has come out, because it is even more awesome. People are never satisfied–always thirsty for greater and greater.

We give thanks this week because it is tradition. Thankgiving Day is upon us. I thought about the things that I’m truly thankful for, and I can promise you it’s not my computer, that could crash at the drop of a keystroke; or my highly functional flip phone that I still use in spite of the pressures for a more up to date model. Mine works just fine, thank you.

No, I am most thankful for three things:

My relationship with Jesus Christ. To know that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, loves me and was willing to give his life so that I might have eternal life, absolutely humbles me. If I lived in a shack, and I was isolated from the world’s gadgetry, knowing that Jesus Christ loved me, would be enough reason for me to give him thanks for eternity.

My relationship with my family and my church family. Not everyone really appreciates their families or sadly, even their church. Like in many things, people mean well, but sometimes life causes us to neglect time with both our home and church families. We are so wrapped up in the traps that rob us of quality time with families, that we forget to “be still.” In all of our busyness this season, let’s don’t forget to stop long enough to notice the ones we love the most. The world will not stop turning if you shut down the computer long enough to listen to what others have to say. Give the ones you love a chance to bless you by allowing them to share their lives with you.

My commitment to choose to do God’s will for my life, even when I don’t understand all of the journey I’ve been called to take. I trust God. This solves much stress and fear, when you can finally allow God to step in and be at the forefront of your life. He is my shield and buckler. He goes before me. I’m not alone any more.

Do I understand everything?No.Will I be without difficult, uncertain times in my life? No. But, with God on my side; I win, no matter what the outcome, because Jesus Christ directs every step that I take and he does it for my good.He sees the entire picture, while I may only see a speck that is blocking my vision. When I learn to get out of God’s way, he then does what needs to be done in order for my provision, health, or other circumstances to be resolved. He never fails.

So, it is true that Every Day is a Day of Thanksgiving. Click on the link for this week’s Lattereign.

I have to ask myself, am I as committed as I should be when it comes to following Christ on a day to day basis? My heart longs to be close to the Lord, but often I find myself torn between my desires to build a fully committed relationship with Jesus Christ, and meet all of the demands that living in the 21st century brings. In 2014, there is nothing that could be more crucial than building my relationship with Jesus Christ. I’ve come to the conclusion, that if I get that part of my life in order, then, all of my other relationships will be stronger as well.

What life can exist unless it is connected to the bread of life? He gives living water, that I might not thirst again. He brings peace when I am walking through the storms of life.

For me, 2014 will be a year of fulfilled promises. The Lord has blessed me, more than I ever deserved, but deep in my spirit there are those–I never thought that you would do that for me Lord–kind of promises, that are still unanswered. He says that he will bring it to pass, and then another year goes by, and decades zip by, and he still says to, wait. But Lord, I’ve been waiting all of my life, I have said many times in desperation; this years feels different.

After the years have continued to pass when it seems that the Lord isn’t responding to my prayer, I realize that every day has been a part of the journey to prepare me for what the Lord desires for me. If he had caused it to come to pass too soon, it may have caused me to fall away from his presence. Would I still be seeking God, if he answered too soon?

Would the answered prayer, consume too much of my time that I wouldn’t have time to go to the house of the Lord to worship? What would an early answered prayer cost me spiritually?

No, when the Lord says to wait, it is for our good. This year is different. It is time. I don’t need to beg God to come through with his promises, because he is the keeper of time, and at the appointed time, he will bring it to pass. When it does happen, I will know that all of the tears, sleepless nights, intercession, were for his purpose to prepare me to receive it.

Could God trust me to still be faithful to him after he gives me the desires of my heart? Building trust takes time. The Lord is getting ready to move some mountains in our lives, because the time is short before his return. My desire is to do God’s will. There is no backing down or turning back, I am committed to step out in faith and trust God.

This week’s Lattereign challenges us to make up our minds to be Committed in 2014. To be half-committed is no commitment at all.

2014-1-5 Committed in 2014

August 25, 2013   Waiting on the Promises of God

It’s hard to wait on God’s promises when for whatever the reason, God delays the answer. The promises of God are something that we can be sure of, because he is always faithful. He says we have need of patience–there is nothing that I need that he won’t supply.