Today with Dr. Charles Stanley

March 14
The Lure of Momentary Pleasure
Genesis 25:29-34
You probably read the story of Jacob and Esau today and thought, I can't believe Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. How foolish! But let's think beyond birthrights and soup. Is there anything of true value that you are trading for something of lesser worth? In other words, what is your "bowl of soup"?
Have you pursued wealth and a career at the expense of family? Maybe your busy schedule has kept you from spending time with God in His Word each day. Some people become involved in extramarital affairs, trading the well-being of their family for the satisfaction of lustful desires. Others sacrifice their health by consuming harmful or addictive substances, or even by overindulging in food. The list of ways we make foolish, shortsighted choices is endless.
Some of the decisions we make today could rob us of the blessings God wants to give us. When you yield to temptation in a moment of weakness, you're actually sacrificing your future for momentary pleasure. We can't afford to live thoughtlessly, basing our decisions on immediate desires or feelings. Since the principle of sowing and reaping cannot be reversed, we need to carefully consider what we are planting. The harvest will come, and we'll reap what we have sown--and more than we've sown.
Are you contemplating anything that could have serious long-term ramifications if you yield to the yearning? A wise person evaluates choices by looking ahead to see what negative consequences could follow a course of action. Don't let "a bowl of soup" hinder God's wonderful plans for you.

HE is in me!

We should not boast about what we have done for The LORD (futility), rather we should glory in what HE has/is doing in and through us!  

John 17:21 (KJV)

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

TODAY's word from Dr. Charles Stanley

TODAY's word from Dr. Charles Stanley

March 11

The God to Whom We Pray

Nehemiah 1:1-11

What’s your view of the Lord? Do you see Him as the One who can handle all the challenges you bring before Him? Nehemiah knew God in this way. Upon hearing about Jerusalem’s destruction, he mourned, fasted, and prayed for intervention. His supplication (Neh. 1:5-11) offers a glimpse of how he viewed the Almighty.

First, the Hebrew term Yahwehrefers to One who is absolute in faithfulness. Next, the title Elohimindicates infinite power and sovereignty over the universe. Finally, Adonaimeans “ruler over all.” Nehemiah was bringing his request before the throne with full confidence in God.

And the Lord answered his prayer in a powerful, dramatic way. As cupbearer in the palace, Nehemiah tasted food and drink first to protect King Artaxerxes from possible poisoning. For a servant in this position, to look sad was very risky (2:1), yet the terrible news disheartened him.

So the Lord worked a miracle: when the king asked what was troubling his cupbearer, Nehemiah expressed concern for the Jewish people. Instead of punishing him, Artaxerxes let him go to rebuild whathad been destroyed, and even supplied the materials! God handled what seemed like an OVERWHELMING, IMPOSSIBLE burden for Nehemiah, and He can do the same for us.

Having the right view of the Lord will allow us to approach Him with absolute confidence. And we know that He will hear and answer our prayers (Ps. 86:7). Remember that He is absolute in faithfulness and infinite in power. Our heavenly Father is the ruler over all.

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

Thomas Jefferson penned in the Declaration of Independence of the United States the following:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their (1) "Creator" with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, (2) "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed", (3)That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

(1). The Declaration of Independence  spells out rather plainly that we have been "endowed by our Creator".  Who created us?  If you contend we came from "Prehistoric" mammals, who Created those? No, Thomas Jefferson had it correct when he wrote the words "Creator".  The fact that the word creator was capitalized leaves NO DOUBT that it was not brilliant minds or brave soldiers who earn our rights.  Our rights are "inalienable" meaning they cannot be taken from us by man or government. They are bestowed on us by a Holy GOD.   Turning our backs on HIM abdicates our freedom and liberty, whether we realize it or not!

(2).  The Declaration of Independence is abundantly clear that the "powers" come from "the people" who are governed.  A resounding reminder needs to be sent to Washington D.C. that the political games are "old news" and it is now time to "revoke" our "consent".

(3).  The Declaration of Independence also lets us know what to do "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends"!  We the people are to "alter or abolish" it and " institute new Government"!  

Folks, it is our own fault if we do not realize what the problem is.  GOD took HIS protection from Israel and HE will (if HE has not already) take it off of the United States!  Matthew 6:24 JESUS says "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."  If we choose NOT to follow GOD, but to just not be bothered by all of that "religious" stuff, we choose to follow the devil.  

Joshua 24:14-15  (ESV)

"Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

PAIN IN THE BACK!

I have been battling a pinched nerve in my upper back for almost a month.  Yesterday I was able to be driven to my chiropractor's office and get my back "adjusted" and now everything is back in line.   The relief is indescribable, but the soreness from being out of alignment for so long is VERY DEEP!  

So often, we try to act like the sin in our life is not known by anyone. Numbers 32:23B says "and be sure your sin will find you out."   Again, Job 34:21-22 (KJV) informs us that "For HIS eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth ALL his goings.  There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves."  

GOD even knows the intent of my heart!!  In Hebrews 4:12 the Book reads "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and INTENTS of the heart."  GOD knows when a HEART is pure.  HE also knows when fellowship is broken.  When fellowship is broken, it will leave a mark.  

My back will be better in a few days, but the pain I felt will not soon be forgotten.   I pray that, just as my back is now in line, my life will be cleansed of anything unpleasing to The Lord!

I ain't worried!

Luke 12:25-26  (ESV)

"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?"

GOD has a multitude of "guardian angels" protecting and shielding each one of us.   There are UNTOLD predicaments we are shielded from through HIS wisdom.  There are some things that are avoided by us that we would consider to be "good".  Of course, the bad things we pray to be shielded from, but can be made manifest so The Almighty can be glorified.  

Dr. Charles Stanley recently wrote in his daily devotional "With godly wisdom available, it’s hard to understand why anyone would prefer to trust his own hunches!"  

We are to be a "Chosen Vessel" (Acts 9:15-16) for "my (HIS) names sake".  Don't worry over what lies ahead.   Our future is all about HIM!  

"HURRY!"

I awoke this morning at 2AM.  It was one of those times when I was tired and sleepy (muscle relaxers all day Saturday) but I "KNEW" The Lord was speaking, the question was did I care to listen????

The Lord has really been working on my about "slowing" my life down.  Everybody and everything seems to be in a "Fast-Paced" mode.  We used to write a letter to communicate.  Now we type an email, or if we can't "wait" for a day, we send a Text!   

On my Facebook "Cover Photo" I simply have "Be still and know that I am God!"   That is the first half of Psalms 46:10.   That is what GOD has been getting my attention with for the last couple of years.  

"Be Still" is the part that MOST of us have a problem with.   It seems the world has decided for us what our schedules should be.  Our office opens from 8am - 5pm.  We go to church from 9am - 12pm on Sunday. We eat lunch at the 12pm - 1pm time slot.  The evening "news" comes to us between 5pm - 6pm.  We are so "busy", yet are we accomplishing anything for The Kingdom?   What if GOD were in charge of our schedules?

How refreshing it would be for a client/prospect to let me know that he will not be in the office this week because he is spending time alone....with GOD!   Is HE not more capable of running our business than we are?  "Sabbaticals" are almost never heard of anymore.  Even MORE radical, what if we missed church services for one Sunday "in seclusion" with GOD?  How many times do you reckon the pilgrims had Sunday School at 9:45am?   Or prayer "meeting" on Wednesday evening?   When do we have time to "hear from GOD"?  Could it be HE doesn't speak like HE used to because no one is listening?  

The next part of that verse is "and KNOW that I am GOD"!   I am of the belief that our "FAITH" will increase as we spend more time with HIM in prayer and scripture reading.   We can profess to know HIM, but if we do not trust HIM, we don't really KNOW HIM?  To know GOD "intimately" implies that one is trusting HIM with their all. To know GOD, as someone who you pass on the way to work with a nod of the head, is NOT at all what this verse speaks of.  

I have a LOT of friends!  GOD has blessed me to have a personality that is easy to meet people.   But, my dearest friends, are SPECIAL to me.  Even as close as some of my friends are, my relationship with JESUS is of no comparison. 

Proverbs 18:24 says "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother".   

I pray that I will value my relationship with HIM above all by not getting caught up in the "rat-race" of modern society.   "BE STILL"!