Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

Luke 11:34 “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.”

The eye is a small but powerful part of the body. It gives us the ability to do many things. Our eyes detect light and send a signal to our brain which interrupts the image. Simply put, our brain tells us what we believe about what we are seeing. If you are taught that white is called black, then when you see white your brain will tell you it is black. You know the saying,” seeing is believing”. Jesus said that if you see good things your whole body will be clean, the opposite is true if you are viewing bad things.

This culture today has so many negative things to see that it can be difficult to keep our minds clean. Violence, sexual content or suggestions, pornography, and that’s just the beginning. We must be intentional about what we view and how we allow it to affect us and our families. We also view things in a negative manner. Many people see life as “the glass half empty”. God is asking us to not only guard what we see with our natural eyes but to change our view of life. This comes through having your mind washed by the word of God. Only God can give us the right outlook on life and circumstances. Reading and apply His word daily is the bath we all need.

Lord, wash my mind today and give me Your eyes. Help me not only to guard what I see but intentionally look for the good in all people and circumstances. In Jesus name. Amen

Jesus Magnet

Luke 8:27-28 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!"

I have read and journaled on this story before but it seems that I see new things every time. Jesus was not in this town long when this possessed man came running to Him. The presence of God is strong and powerful, it draws the hearts of people and strikes fear in every demon. This man desperately needed God and Jesus did not have to go looking for Him.

So, why as Christians are we looking for the lost and not being a magnet for them instead?

I am in pursuit of a more intimate relationship with the King of Kings and in that pursuit; I should attract people to Him. I work at Cal State East Bay for a scholarship program for former foster youth and I love when a student comes in my office just to be with me. When everything seems to be falling apart, I love that I can be the one to pray with them. God will bring the hurting to us; we just need to be filled with Him.

Lord, thank You for Your presence and Your power. Let me be a blessing in someone’s life today. Amen

Spoiled

Luke 7: 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

When I pray with intent God always moves and it’s funny that I am amazed that He answers. It is not that I have a lack of faith; it’s the fact that I am not worthy. God’s blessing has nothing to do with my worthiness though. It is a hindering mindset that needs to change. The soldier understood his worthiness had nothing to do with God’s power.

I have been accused of being spoiled many times by different people and oddly enough I took offense to that. My view of a spoiled person is someone who does not care about others and asks for things all the time. This is not me. However, I do get some great things without asking, that’s favor. I have no problem being called favored. I had a co-work one time call me spoiled and I asked, Why? She said simply, “You’re a princess. Things are given to you and you don’t even have to ask.” I didn’t feel offended this time. She is right. I am a child of God, a princess and I have the God given right to the blessings of heaven. I am favored. I do not need to walk about with uncertainty; I just need to ask my Daddy.

Lord, I thank you for your awesome favor in my life. Your blessings are more than I can count. Thank you.

Follow Me

Luke 5: 11 “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
Peter had just witnessed the biggest catch ever at Jesus advice to cast their nets one more time. Now Peter, James, and John, his business partners just leave everything and follow him. Let me put this in common terms.

These men are like modern day business men, owners of a thriving business that just had its stock go through the roof. No planning, no board meeting, nothing, and they just walk off the job. They understood that Jesus had more in store for them than the material things of life and they wanted it.

As I have mentioned many times, I am a planner. I like to think things through and have an idea of what and where I am going and how it will all work. Yet went it comes to planting the Hawaii church, I just know I have to go. Sure I have done some planning, but the future is truly in God’s hands. We have no place to live or jobs to work, or even a place to hold our services. I just follow Him and I know it will all come in His timing. If we did have all these things we might move in our time and not His. I don’t want to do anything without God’s leading. I am totally at peace leaving it all behind because that is when the true journey begins.

Lord, You are crazy awesome. I give myself and all I have to You. Lead me and I will follow. I give up my plans for You’re in Jesus Name. Amen

Details

Today’s journal reading begins in Ezekiel. Ezekiel is not an easy book to read and the measurements are not very exciting. However, as I read and tried to visualize the temple and the rooms, God just spoke to me. He said “I am concerned about details. I am a God of details, even the details of your life.”

I am a person who likes details. I have been accused of over planning. I am always at least one month ahead of myself, and as the move to Hawaii nears I am finding that my plans and details are getting all messed up. This is a good thing. God has a way of slowing us down when His plan and our plan are not the same. I am so grateful for that. This is the second time in four days that the Lord has told me that He has it all worked out. I truly need to take my hands of the wheel and allow my God to drive. He knows all the details for a successful journey. Someone today is dealing with stress, take God’s advice to me this morning and let it go.

Poor and Needy

Psalm 70: 5 “Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.”

A prayer of the heart is simple and sincere. The psalmist had a heavy heart and needed God’s quick relief. Poor and needy are a condition. A state of being. It is not who he is but what he is going through.

Poor has many definitions. Here are a few. See if you can identify.
· having little or no money, goods, or other means of support
· dependent, inferior
· inadequate, lacking in skill, ability, or training
· small, unfortunate
Needy means:
· marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support
· reassurance, especially to an excessive degree

The synonym for needy is poor, so they have a connection. The writer was poor enough to need help from others. Poor is not just a physical thing it is an emotional thing that cries out its need for help. How often have you felt this way and not known how to explain your condition? Let me tell you, you are not alone. I have felt this way since last week, but I know who to cry out to. It’s hard to do anything when these emotional weigh you down, but it does not take much to ask God for help. He is my Helper and Deliverer.

Deliverer:
· To bring or transport to the proper place
· To surrender (someone or something) to another; hand over
· To secure something promised or desired
· To set free, as from misery, peril, or evil
· To express in words; declare or utter
· To produce or achieve what is desired or expected; make good

Knowing what My Deliverer does to my feelings of poor and needy makes me feel special and loved. It gives me hope that this will pass. It’s not who I am and I cannot make decisions based on emotions. Only on whom my Lord says I am.
Lord, I need you. Don’t delay; remind me who I am in You. Thank you for being all that I need. Amen