The Best for Last.......? Really? YES REALLY!

1 Samuel 16:12-13 New Living Translation (NLT)  ¹² So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” ¹³ So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.

David was recorded as being the greatest KING of Israel, an ancestor of Jesus Christ, listed in the Hall of Faith, described by GOD as a man after His heart, he slew a lion, bear and Goliath and while his resume looks impectable....that's further from the truth.   He committed adultery, he ordered arrange for the woman's husband to be murdered, he directly disobeyed God (taking a unwarranted census), and was a horrible father to his sons.  May I remind you GOD said, " a man after my own heart," really and he does these things? 

GOD had a purpose for David, despite his huge failures....and what was and still is amazing to me David was told of the "calling" on his life to be Israel's king while yet a boy, and had many years and trials to go through before he was ready.   Many of you like the gentlemen in the pic have been anointed, and called to do something great....but don't let your failures keep you from walking into God's calling & promises for you.   Maybe you have been an adulterer, or murderer or a liar or just been down right disobedient.....GOD's promises are true, and He is rich in forgiveness....will you accept His promises and forgiveness of your sins?  

Here's (Hear ) God's words for  you: Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Is It Your Strength, Or IN HIS STRENGTH?

Judges 13:24And the woman [in due time] bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew and the Lord blessed him.  Judges 16:28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, O Lord God, [earnestly] remember me, I pray You, and strengthen me, I pray You, only this once, O God, and let me have one vengeance upon the Philistines for both my eyes.

Did you know that Samson too, was mentioned in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:32) and one might even have asked why.....what did he do?  Didn't he kill a lot of people.....(yes over a 1000)?   Didn't he sleep with prostitutes?  (yes)  Didn't he violate his own vow to God?  (yes)  Didn't he use his GIFTS unwisely? (yes) By no means am I trying to condone his behavior, but there is no mistaking Judges 13:24 that the LORD blessed Samson and even was with him, throughout his life.  As a matter of fact his strength was OF THE LORD. 

As you look upon this picture, this depiction of Samuel at his lowest, after his hair had been cut, he had been beaten, an chained....literally led away (James 1:14) by his own lusts to this portrait of depravity.   This wasn't the end of Samson.   As you read in Judges 16:28 Samson came to the knowleged that His strength was in his vow and faith to GOD, not in his once long beautiful hair.  God can and delights in being glorified in those that have been broken by their sin.  So maybe you were the president of a company, or a great father/mother/friend that due to some poor choices have led you to be blinded, chained, and weak due to your choices.....but you are a prayer away from the POWER OF GOD manifesting in your life.....and GOD is waiting to hear from you!

SO if you know any people that have made mistake after mistake after mistake, I challenge you to LOVE THEM back to GOD.  Don't lay your BIBLE on THEM HEAVY, but wrap your arms around them...and let them know that GOD CAN!

SHE's A PRO, and Had a relationship with GOD!

Joshua 2:9-11 And she said to the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land and that your terror is fallen upon us and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.¹⁰For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the [east] side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. ¹¹When we heard it, our hearts melted, neither did spirit or courage remain any more in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 

 YES, GOD USED A PROSTITUTE for His GLORY!  What I find amazing was actually not so much that He used a prostitute, but one that was actively still in her sin.   This by itself should make some of you sit up, and begin to repent of all the thoughts and ways you have treated our Sunday morning guests.   Not just them, but also those that you have spoke of, or against in your own families, and work groups!  She would've never known that God plan was to give her land over unless she was a friend of GOD. Why do I say that, well it says in John 15:15
I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]

So let's be clear, EVERY PERSON LIVING; beit a prostitute, a drug dealer, no matter their racial ethnicity, or drug addict.....we were all created by GOD!  No matter the depth of their sin, or the depth that they are in or practicing their sin, THEY CAN, WE CAN still reach out to have a relationship with our HOLY FATHER, and make no mistake about it, HE can still use us, and love us right OUT of our sin!  So that being said, let's put on some new glasses, and LOVE GOD (for He's deserving of all of our affection) and LOVE PEOPLE because.....OUR FATHER desires us to, and we too loved to be loved!

Ordinary, I THINK NOT

Acts 7:20 “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child."

So what do you see when you look at this picture?  Is it poorly dressed children?  Is it filthy "niggers"?  Is it children with hopefilled smiles?  Is it curiousity in their eyes you see?  Whatever it is that you see....think about what GOD sees, and ask you do you see that each child is NO ORDINARY CHILD?  MOSES was NOT, and ordinary child, while he maybe remembered for leading the people out of slavery, and doing mighty acts for GOD, even be able to view God's backside, Moses was a murderer (Exodus 2:11-12) and even had been disobedient towards GOD (Numbers 20:10-13) , but was named and spoke well of in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)....why because when his life was over, He loved GOD, and had a genuine relationship with GOD.   Listen, I have know idea who is, or will read this, but no matter what you've done...there's Hope For You!  When you were an idea in the mind of GOD, well before you had parents....He had (and still has) a wonderful plan for you life.   SO my challenge to you, is treat EVERY PERSON you meet with honor....to HONOR GOD the creator of us, extraordinary beings!  LGLP 

Are You Drunk? There's Hope For You!

^{Genesis 9:20}And Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard. ²¹And he drank of the wine and became drunk, and he was uncovered and lay naked in his tent. 
BUT

^{Hebrews 11:7}By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

 

Have you ever been drunk before?  Are you currently an alcoholic or have been told you are?  I've never been drunk, simply because I learned at an early age that my body responds very uniquely to any alcohol.   I develop excruciating stomach cramps, and I discovered this through drinking a few sips of a Bartles and James wine cooler.  After attempting to make it past 2-3 sips on different holiday occassions I came to the conclusion that the pain that resulted wasn't worth the pleasureable taste.  So therefore my relationship with alcohol ended.  But maybe you are like Noah...in the since you like a good wine, and in some cases maybe you like it too much to the point of drunkeness.   But despite this moment (poor example of godliness to his sons) recorded in scripture this didn't define Noah as a person, and even when he was remembered in Hebrews it was his faith and him acting on his faith that awarded him honorable mentioning in the Hall of Faith.  So, to those of you that are believers (followers) of Christ who have or do currently, have a bit too much to drink my encouragement to you is, that there is STILL HOPE FOR YOU!  While the Bible doesn't discourage you from enjoying a casual drink, it warns you of drinking too much Eph.5:18, and what impact that has on your witnessing (to your family & community).  If you do have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol I encourage you to get some help, before it like the featured (ark rendition) pictured Ark, will be your ruin.  Yes Noah was noted for having great faith but he too wasn't perfect, and it's all because of the relationship with GOD, and BOLD FAITH in GOD that really he's remembered for, not his mistakes in his life.   The same can be your story.............BE BLESSED (LGLP)