Sunday, June 29, 2014

IMMERSED WITH HIM









FLOODED WITH HIS WORD


 There was the first thunderstorm that rumbled into town at 11:30, then my phone started ringing at 2:00am and it was Ned Perme our statewide meteorologist.  The automated phone call reported a severe thunderstorm in our area.  Then early this morning I received an alert that we were under a flood watch.  Arkansas weather you just never know what you are going to have to deal with. 

You may have thunderstorms rumbling in your life right now.  You may have warning of their arrival or they may arrive unannounced.  The thunderstorms may be mild or they may be severe.  When these thunderstorms come blowing into your life there is one way to calm the storm.  That is by flooding yourself with the Lord. 

The easiest way to do this is to be immersed with His word.  Ask the Lord for scripture that will be the answer to all your storms.  The devil will try anything to blow you down, but he can’t drown you with his lies if you resist him with the Word of God.  The best defense is an offense and the Bible is it.  James 4:7 states “he can’t take the word!”  Isn’t that good to know?  When the devil tempted Jesus He quoted the word (Luke 4:1-13) and the devil fled. 

So when the storms blow in, be flooded with the Lord, become drenched in His word.  You can find your storm shelter with Him. 

Isaiah 59:19  “when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God will raise a standard against him!”



Saturday, June 28, 2014

FULLY CHARGED








PLUGGED IN


It is summer and that means my girls are home from college.  More laundry, food to be cooked, late nights, and disappearing items.  Somehow my phone charger and my computer charger always seem to go missing.  I am so irritated when I wake up to write, open my computer realizing that they have watched a movie on it so it is almost dead and there is no charger in sight.  I just wonder what has happened to my chargers I know they didn’t grow legs. 

In this day and time of electronics everything has a charger.  You can’t just buy one charger you have to have a certain charger for a certain device.  Some items will take hours to charge, some will only take minutes.  One time my phone messed up and was unable to be charged now that caused a problem.  It is the age of plugging in, plugging in the USB, plugging into the outlet and getting the most charge time you can get.

When we are plugged into Christ we have the power to have a joyous life.  We don’t have to have a specific cord or a certain outlet to plug into.  We don’t have to wait hours to be charged by Him.  He won’t ever decide that we can’t be charged.  Unlike my charger disappearing, we can always find Him.   It is just as simple as plugging in a USB, we just accept Jesus as our savior and we will be charged.  As He says in John 15: 5-6
[John 15:5-6New International Version (NIV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.]
Jesus is saying in this scripture that they only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to Him, like the branch attached to the vine. 

God loves us and wants us to be fully charged.  He is our power source all we have to do is plug into a relationship with Him full of trust and obedience and we will never go dead.  

Friday, June 27, 2014

OCEANS

http://youtu.be/dy9nwe9_xzw

TREAD


Treading water burns the calories.  It is a full body workout that involves movement from every major muscle group.  Because it is a nonimpact sport it tones your muscles while being easy on your joints.  It is great for someone with joint problems or someone who is recovering from an injury.  You can either tread fast or slow, like you are running or walking.  You can even slip into a pair of jeans for extra intensity.  There are many different water exercises you can do to get your body fit. 


You may feel that you are treading in the waters of life.  You may think that you can barely stay afloat or that you are just keeping your nose above the water.  Under the surface you are paddling frantically, but your strength is almost gone.  Your weight has become heavy and sinking and drowning is the next phase.  The pressures of life bear down on us.  This can come from work, friends, or even family.  They put demands on us and then we put demands on ourselves.  So where do we turn when we are exhausted from treading in the waters of life?  Who will throw in the life ring when we feel that we are drowning?

Psalm 12:1-2 NIV “I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth.”  This scripture gives us the assurance that He is with us, the help we need comes from Him.  He is the maker of all things, even us.  Because of this we should trust in Him.  He is not only powerful but He also watches over us.  Nothing takes Him away from us; we are safe with Him.  He is our lighthouse in the middle of the ocean of life. 

The next time you feel as if your body is sinking keep on treading.  The Lord is your lifeguard.  He will always hear you and He will react to your cries for help.  He is there with you keeping you afloat.  He will lift you up and give you strength.  Keep focusing on your lighthouse and you won’t need a life ring or a life persevering.  He will have you walking on water in no time.


 “When you feel like you are drowning remember your lifeguard walks on water.”  

Thursday, June 26, 2014

PRECAUTIONARY






KEEP THE BEAT


Jay and I both participated in the “Keep the Beat” program at the heart hospital.  This program checks out everything about your heart:  cholesterol, blood pressure, plague buildup, sugar levels.  At the conclusion of your visit you receive at what percentage you are to having an issue.  If your numbers are high they then refer you to a cardiologist.  What a great preventative to prevent heart attack or stroke. 

When we take precaution we do something that will keep us from bringing harm to ourselves.  We take precautionary measures for many things, but do you take precautionary measures to ensure a peaceful life? 

When you put the hedge of Christ around your life you are protected.  This is the precautionary measure to not take away adversity, but to keep you from being harmed by it.  This hedge is the abstract reminder that Jesus Christ died for us and because of Him we are forgiven.  We must choose to obey Him and follow His word.  When we follow He will send us precautionary warnings against possible adversities. 

When we take the precautionary actions with God our percentage of adversity will go down.  Be preventative and make the Lord part of your life everyday.  He is the prescription to help you become healthy. 

Romans 5:1
New International Version (NIV)
Peace and Hope
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,