Here's My Heart Lord - David Crowder

Here’s my heart Lord, speak what is true. God is speaking through His word, are you listening? Don’t just be hearers of the word, be doers. Some people read the bible, some people go to church on Sunday, both of these are extremely important to God, but  neither of these makes a person a child of God. If you are a true believer, your life will demonstrate it. You could read the bible all you want, never miss a Sunday at church, but if it doesn't change you to look more like Jesus, than you haven’t given Him your whole heart.

Are you found?  Are you His,. do you have life, can you breath?  Are you healed, (spiritually) and are you free?

One of Jesus' commands is to Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind. How are you doing on this? What do you spend most of your time doing? Do your actions betray your confession of what you say you believe? Jesus wants to be LORD of your life, not just an acquaintance.

As you watch and listen to this video, I pray that if you haven’t given your life to Jesus, you will make that decision soon. When you do, you will be forever grateful, and your life will be evident of that change!

As I read , and often ponder on Matthew 7: 21-23 “Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven: but that who does the will of my Father, which is in heaven.” I wonder, what are people thinking when they confess belief of all Jesus is, but spend VERY little time with Him. Hebrews 10:25, even tells us to NOT forsake the assembly for one another. That’s how important it is to God to be with other believers in church, and even home fellowship, "[be] encouraging to one another."  I know I can’t figure this crazy world out. But with other believers, and conversation with one another in Gods word, things make more sense.

What does Matthew 7:21-23 mean to you? How does that hit your heart? Do you think you can live as you choose?   Jesus goes on to say, “MANY will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord...”  He is talking to those who think they are Christians. A lot of people think they are going to heaven by their lip service. But Jesus sees into the heart. If your heart is truly changed, your life would show it.

Many, many professed Christians do whatever they want, watch whatever they want, say whatever they want, live however they want, without any sense of conviction. To me that seems more like an unsaved person.

Sin should hurt us as much as it hurts God! If you really know God, than what breaks His heart, should break ours. It should drive us to repentance. Ezekiel 33: 11, "Turn from your wicked ways unto me and live."  This is repentance.  This is truly living.

John 3:6-7, We must,  "be born again..." or we will continue to live as our flesh desires with no sense of wrong.

"Here's my heart Lord, speak what is true." Again, ARE YOU LISTENING!!

Kim

How He Loves - David Crowder* Band

Great video, POWERFUL words!!!

How could anyone think there isn't a God. He loves us so much, that He sacrificed His ONE AND ONLY SON to be our Savior !!!

He is jealous for me, and vigilant to protect me!

Some get it at a very young age. Some get it at middle age. Some don’t get it till much later in life.  I didn’t really get it till later in life, but I’m so thankful I did. He NEVER gave up on me. I know now, He tried to get my attention in many ways. Some were gentle, and some were with His wind of discipline. His love is like a hurricane, but serves for a great purpose, and I have become a better reflection because of His great mercy. It took the hurricanes of His love to prune me in so many areas of my life, to realize… “Oh, How He Loves”

I don’t know about you, but I hate when I hear a hurricane may hit us. Just knowing the damage that the wind can do. But God’s winds are different. They have a purpose, and are meant for our good, and the good of others. You learn to, maybe not like them, but understand them better. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an ETERNAL GLORY THAT FAR OUTWEIGHS them all.”

Nahum 1:12 “Although I have afflicted you….I will afflict you no more.”  So by His word we could see that we will get afflicted. But we also see that it will end. Every affliction is for a reason, and that reason brings God glory. The darkness of all my afflictions, always become eclipsed by His glory. That’s when you realize just how beautiful He is, and how great His affections are for you.

You've seen what the winds of a hurricane can do to the fullest tree. Some branches not even touched, and some pruned to almost nothing. But when the storm passes, in time nature repairs everything to its beauty. That’s how God uses us . He says, "you remain in me and I in you..." (John 15:5). I believe this is something God teaches us in our walk with Him. The afflictions that come our way are only for a season. I don’t believe they end until our words and actions of our life, come to glorify God. To testify with praise and honor of what He has done, and is doing inside us. Taking all our weaknesses and fears, and showing His strength inside us. Taking our complaining and the “why me” and turning them into praise and thanksgiving.

I don’t envy anyone else’s walk, I learn by them that have been through the storms before me. I realize I have so much more to learn, and that God is never finished with us here.

I’ve come to realize some might have fuller branches than me, but we are all from the same root. I am still learning to bend beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.

Kim

This is what We Believe - Aaron Shust

Oh, the Power that Jesus showed in doing nothing, taking no action at all to the charges, insults, and the bloody beating that was given to Him. His silence was so intense, it caused His accusers and spectators to wonder in AWE!!! Either Jesus was a lunatic, or truly the Son of God. Which do you believe?

What does it take for some people to believe who Jesus says He is. He performed miracles right in front of their faces back then, and he still performs miracles today according to His will. He went to the cross a sinless man, took the beating, and died for our sins. He took our place.

This world has gotten so bad. So much innocent bloodshed, one bad thing after another on the news. I hate even watching it anymore. Call me naive, stupid, whatever you want, but I like to sit in peace with my Jesus. Always thanking Him that this is not the end. Praying that more and more lost souls would awaken to the truth.

So many places in the bible Jesus talks about the ruler of this world. You think people would stop blaming God, and believe we were all given free will, to make our own choices in what we think , do, and believe. 

Ephesians 6:12 - "Our struggle is against... the powers of this dark world..."

Revelations 12:9 - "that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray."

 John 18:36 - “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders."

Why did it take so long for the centurion to finally believe? Think about all he heard, saw, and knew about Jesus. This centurion was one of the key officers in the roman army who crucified Jesus. Why did it take so much of watching Jesus suffer for him to finally say, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:37-39).

  

Was it too late for him then?  Is it going to be too late for you or a loved one you know that does not believe?

We don't know when our last breath will be.  I hate to put it so bluntly, but this is the truth, it was a bloody mess at the foot of the cross. Jesus bought us with that blood.

Christians, don't abandon your first love, be the voice of truth to the lost. Remember the peace you felt in your soul when He set you free? Then let's pray to be more bold.  Jesus did, when he said, "I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first."

Unbelievers, don't you want this peace, some kind of understanding of the troubles of this world? It is a mess, and it is not getting any better. Bloodshed for no meaning at all, no purpose, nothing to prove, and certainly no healing power. The blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has purpose, power, meaning, healing to our souls, EVERYTHING to prove.

We need to be the voice Jesus needs. Unbelievers are a voice in telling you what they don't believe. They aren't ashamed to post it all over facebook. I don't really like computers, but it has really become a great way to witness. Don't be ashamed to respond back. Do it in love, and be gentle, but do it. With much prayer they may come to know the truth, and that's all that matters to Jesus. We should be doing what He commands us to do, which is to "Go.... and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15).  In John 15:27 it says, “You must testify...” He doesn't say wait till you feel like it, or when you feel moved, He says GO! Hasn't Jesus proved Himself to you, so let’s testify to who He is to us. The only thing we should care about is our loyalty to Jesus. To gain His smile.

Oh to hear someone who doesn't believe come to say, "Truly this Man is the Son of God, who takes away the sins of the world... I believe!"

Kim

One Touch - Nicole C. Mullen

You may not listen or view the videos I send along with each devotional, but I really hope you watch and listen to this one. Watch the girl with the ribbon, and how it catches Nicole's hand twice. POWERFUL message in this story of the women who bled for 12 years, until she touched the hem of His garment.   Jesus asks, "Who touched my clothes?" (Mark 5:25-34). I really hope you read this beautiful story in the bible. Nicole put it into a song, and a beautiful performance.

Many of us need to reach out and touch the hem of His garment, and then we would be made whole. Healing we need, and healing Jesus releases to our souls with just "One touch." Have you reached out to touch Him yet? Are you still searching for that one thing that would make your life perfect? Our lives will never be complete until you reach out to Jesus. We will always be in search of more, and better. That empty hole deep within your soul that nothing can satisfy but Jesus. I am always amazed at the peace I see in people who have a relationship with Jesus. Some are terminally ill, some are in broken marriages, some have lost a child, some are loving those that are so hard to even like, and so on... Nothing but His power being released to us can cause this to happen. There is no other way to explain it!

I talked with a friend of mine the other day at the gym. He has gone through a divorce, and is always trying to meet Mrs. right.  I have talked to him about Jesus many times at that open door. He has been trying to get to know this one girl that I know very well, and who loves Jesus with all her heart. She is also divorced, but the only difference with her is, she won't move, until God moves her. He told me he was going to ask her out on a date. I told him about her love for Jesus, and good luck. He said, 

"What do you mean by that? I told you I drop into church once in a while." 

I told him, "That's why I told you good luck. She is not going to make the same mistake twice. She is waiting on God to bring her someone who is in love, and has a relationship with Jesus. Not just a occasional drop in." I continued to say, "what if you were terminally ill, and Jesus just dropped in once in a while to see you, or only listened to your prayers when He felt like it. How would you feel about that kind of a relationship?" 

He said, "I see what you mean", and we left it at that. 

My girlfriend is healed from the pain of her broken marriage, and I know many other amazing stories of our GREAT GOD! Whatever pain you have in your life, press your way through the madness. His love, and His power, will heal your soul with just "One touch."

Your only hope is anchored in your fall. (Selah)

Kim