IF

Then if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek me and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land. Now I will see them, and I will listen to the prayers prayed in this place.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15

HUMBLE MYSELF: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3

PRAY…SEEK (ASK) GOD: While Jeremiah was still locked up in the courtyard of the guards, the LORD spoke his word to him a second time: "These are the words of the LORD, who made the earth, shaped it, and gave it order, whose name is the LORD: 'Judah, pray to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets you have never heard before.' Jeremiah 33:1-3

STOP:  We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne. Think about Jesus' example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying.
Hebrews 12:1-3

Choices I make with results that will affect a nation…one person at a time…because I AM has spoken and promised!

Exist or live?

“There was a time when I didn’t exist, but there will never again be a time when I won’t exist.”

This was quoted at a seminar I recently attended and I can’t seem to get it out of my mind. I have been thinking about life and existence all week. I didn’t have a choice in my conception and birth that was my parent’s choice. However, it is my choice that will determine my existence as living or dead AFTER my last breath on earth. What I do with my life from the time I came out of my mother’s womb until I breathe my last breath is in preparation for a time when I won’t physically exist…yet I will still exist.
Sounds like a riddle? Jesus often spoke in physical terms to explain an eternal/spiritual concept. What to the physical ear can sound like a riddle is revealed as truth to the spiritual ear. Two examples:

1. Jesus speaking to Martha after her brother Lazarus died:
Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this, Martha?” (John 11:23-26)
2. Jesus speaking to Nicodemus explaining that unless he was born again he could not see the Kingdom of God. To which Nicodemus explained, “Huh???”…well, not exactly that word.
Nicodemus said, "But if a person is already old, how can he be born again? He cannot enter his mother's womb again. So how can a person be born a second time?” (John 3:1-16)

What sounded like a logical question from Nicodemus, Jesus used as a segue into explaining the lives in of John 11:26. "I tell you the truth, unless you are born from water and the Spirit, you cannot enter God's kingdom. Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit. Don't be surprised when I tell you, 'You must all be born again.’ No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man (Jesus) has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

So what does all this have to do with my opening statement?
Knowing at some point in time I would be born, God had a plan for my life. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Knowing exactly what I would need for my body to be formed and grow, God was there when I was conceived. (Psalm 139)
Knowing the number of days I would live on earth….God determined my beginning from my end. (Psalm 139)
Knowing eternal life past my earthly existence….God gave His Son so I could always live (eternal life) not just exist (decaying yet remaining alive…forever). (John 3:16-21)

“In the beginning…God” are the first words written in the Bible. "Come!" Let whoever is thirsty…whoever wishes may have the water of life as a free gift…Jesus, the One who says these things are true, says, "Yes, I am coming soon." These are some of the last words written in the Bible. In between are all the answers we will ever need to make an eternal choice.
There may have been a time when I didn’t exist, but there was never (nor ever will be) a time when God did not exist. One question remains for you and me: do I want to “live” or just “exist” after I die and leave this earth?  That choice will always remain ours.

Prized possession

Mr. Jenkins was the old eccentric that lived at the end of Dead End Alley. The street name was actually Prince Avenue but it had never looked like a description of royalty! Mr. Jenkins would rummage through peoples garbage and bring home…stuff. Always had stuff just lying around his yard. Never could understand why anyone would want an old tub in their yard filled with dirt and flowers, the neighbors all complained that it looked just plain tacky! Mr. Jenkins was once asked, “What value is there in old rusted pieces of broken down appliances, scraps of ‘who-knows-what’, some of it unrecognizable through years of exposure from the weather. Why do you hang on to this stuff? It is an embarrassment to the neighborhood.”

The old man paused and then carefully choosing his words replied, “These were once prized possessions of someone…someone who saved money to buy them, who cared for them, cleaned them, and showed them off as bran-spankin’-new. Time was when they all had a purpose and value to them; when people would fix things that were broken, now everyone just wants to throw away…seems like EVERYTHING is disposable now. See this rockin’ chair? To you it is a broken piece of furniture, of no use or value. But I imagine a momma once sittin’ here and rockin’ her baby…singin’ and tenderly caressing a precious gift given to her by the Almighty. You see this ‘junk’, as you call it, just needed some tender loving care and it could have been restored back to its original purpose. Kinda like you and me. Just like I clean the dirt and tarnish away from this junk, God did the same for me. He used my tears to clean out the dirt I been collectin’ over the years. We need to stop lookin’ at each other as ‘junk’…need to stop throwin’ each other away when life gets tough. When we can get past the outside dirt we are all carryin’ then we’ll see the beauty…the treasure inside each other. We’ll take time to help fix the broken in all of us instead of throwin’ in the towel and throwin’ each other out.”

People can be seen as “junk”. Children in and out of foster care because parents no longer are able or desire to care for them; abandoned like a piece of trash along the street. Marriages torn apart…looking for something (someone) better, younger, more interesting; adult children giving up on their parents once they hit the “golden years”, and the list could go on.

Perhaps you feel like you are living in a “junk yard” today, discarded for reasons you had no control over. You may even have thought God has forsaken you. Let me reassure you…HE HAS NOT!!
When others let go of us, God will never forget us.

"Can a mother forget her baby...have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." Isaiah 49:15-16
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Friend, you are of such great worth and value that the God of all creation...of all created beings is singing over you today!! He sent his only son, Jesus, to pay the penalty of all our past, present and future sin. He has not thrown you away, but rescued you from the junk yard of life, cleaned you and restored you to your original purpose: to give God glory in everything you do.

The dynamic duo

Fear and worry are the dynamic duo that once given an inch will take the preverbal mile in our lives! Much is written on fear and worry throughout God’s Word. Isaiah wrote, “So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed (worried) for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

I find it interesting that an antonym for fear and panic is self-control. I don’t know about you, but I must admit that sometimes I don’t like that word, self-control!! Could it be that it makes me accountable for my actions (as in one scoop of ice cream instead of three!)? That it requires I make a choice and ultimately the consequences of that choice cannot be blamed on someone else? “I can’t help but worry” has been an excuse I’ve heard a thousand times….yes you can! It is called, “choice”, as in SELF control.

Solomon reminds us of the danger of not having self-control: “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” Prov 25:28
When we allow fear and panic to invade and take control of our thoughts we are opening the doorway of our hearts and minds for physical, spiritual and mental attacks. As in the city walls , WE cause a break in the seal placed around our hearts and minds through which the Holy Spirit was sent to bring safety and security.
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice (this includes fear and worry!).” Eph 4:29-31
“Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness (this includes fear and worry!).’ 2 Timothy 2:19
Picture your heart and mind as a fortress and above the door is the inscription, “The Lord knows and guards this entrance.”

Jesus said out of the overflow of the heart our mouths speak (Luke 6:45). Ultimately what we believe and live will be revealed through our speech and our actions.
In other words, whoever has control of our mind and heart also has control of our actions. If fear and panic are the foundation our walls are built upon, our actions throughout the day will be aligned with anxiety, paranoia, anger, jealousy, etc. because those are the byproducts of fear and panic. But if we allow God to be the foundation faith, hope and trust will be the walls built around our city (our heart and mind). This will then result in actions such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (or no limit).” Galatians 5:22-24.

It is our choice…..fear and worry or trust and faith. Both options are placed upon the unknown, but only One option gives life.
Be humble under God's powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you. Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat. (1 Peter 5:6-8)