“No one understands…”

I was just listening to a song from one of my playlists on youtube while doing my Devo’s, and as I glanced over to my Mac I saw these lyrics together with the video, and it so caught my eye:

“I have been young”

If you really think about it, so often many of our problems stem from those feelings that (sometimes) come to us— like… “no one understands what I’m going through.” (Ever been there?)

But know this: The archenemy of our our souls, Satan, uses that very feeling to alienate us from God. But the very fact that Jesus was alive on planet earth, and that now He’s seated in Heaven, ought to give you and I some sort of a glimmer of hope, knowing that we’re not alone, and that you and I have someone who does in fact understand. He wants to help, and He will help.

That Anchor holds. And may it be an anchor to your soul today too.

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Jesus

If you enjoyed this post, come check out my new blog:   www.todayicanchange.com

Thanks,

 

Robb

 

It’s a 2-Way Street

Being in a relationship has many blessings and benefits. “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine.”  Whether it’s a romantic, professional, or just plain “friends” type of relationship— no healthy relationship is ever just “1-sided”. Our relationship with God is very similar. Check out this definition of 2-way in the dictionary:

Two-way: adjective // allowing or involving movement or communication in opposite directions : a two-way radio | make the interview a two-way process.
• involving two participants : a two-way presidential race.
• (of a switch) permitting a current to be switched on or off from either of two points.

Check out this scripture. It has 2 actions, and 2 benefits:

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God. Psalm 50: 23 [nkjv]

Can you find them? I bet you can.
2 ACTIONS                                                          2 BENEFITS
1.  Whoever offers praise…………………………………….. 1.  Glorifies Me
2.  Him who orders his conduct aright…………………. 2.  I will show the salvation of God.

I’m not real good with math, or with long-drawn out details with tons of information; but give me a few steps, or a couple keys, and you’ll have me running in no time. Because I sure do want [1] God to be gloried in my life, and I want Him to [2] to show me the salvation, deliverance, and victory that I so desperately need in my life. So what will it take?

[1] Praise is the opposite of complaining. It’s saying to God: “O Lord, in the midst of this situation, I just offer praise to You!”  Complaining says to people: “I just get irritated with my life, because I don’t have any time to do what I want to do!”  Notice the difference? One is directed to God, the other to people. Someone might say, “Yeah, but I’ve complained to God before.”  But I bet it didn’t last long. Why? Because it was a prayer, and when you begin to get God in your situation—it won’t be long before you’re having a way different perspective; and you’ll soon be praising and thanking Him for the victory that begins to flood your heart. You praise Him, and God is glorified. It’s a 2-way street.

[2] Although I would not say I’m a “Type-A” personality, I do like things in order. Ok, ok, I confess… I like to make my bed before I leave for work. Similarly, in our relationship with God, order is a very important component. When our lives are in disarray it’s hard to see God and to navigate His will. For example, if you haven’t read your Bible in a while, (or don’t happen to know where it is right now), or you haven’t had a quality Quiet Time in a while — chances are you get upset very easily, and frustration has been a emotion you feel on a regular basis. Our conduct must be ordered. It’s the way we behave and carry ourselves. Yes, you need victory over that habit, you’re praying for God’s blessing on your finances — but it’s a 2-way street.

Get clear on what needs to change in your conduct, begin to purposely praise God instead of complaining, and watch God move in your behalf. Remember, in your relationship with God—it’s a 2-way street.

“Shining with Pledge?”

What does furniture polish and living for God have in common? You just might be surprised.

“Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:38–39 [nkjv]

The Greek word for “faith” here, is “pistis”. This isn’t merely: believing, confidence, or having been persuaded. It is those things, but it also means, a “pledge”. If you get right down to it, it is “the just”, (as the Bible calls us), who live this way – by a pledge. Do you remember growing us, going to school as children, and they would have to say the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag of the United States of America? Why did we have to do that? What was the point? They were actually indoctrinating us, so that when we got older we would never draw back from being Americans. The pledge, though we didn’t know it at the time, was a solemn promise we made (and lived by). A promise to do what? That we would never defect over to join forces with “the enemy”, the communist party, but that we would remain true to who we are – American citizens. Does that make sense?

The same is true in the spiritual realm. God has called us, “Children of the most High”, “Sons and daughters of God”, “citizens of Heaven”. We were “sworn-in”, (if you will), the moment we confessed Christ at our conversion. Our new nature is built to live by faith, to live by a pledge, and live by the constitution of the Kingdom. Here in Hebrews, we can conclude that when one lives by the pledge, it brings God great pleasure.

Also, think of it this way. Without using Pledge furniture polish, your house would get pretty dusty. And many of us today, are not truly living by faith – or by the pledge, and thus our spiritual lives are neglected, and the dust of sin and this world has settled upon us – without us even noticing it.

So, what do we do now? Verse 39, “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe”, (“pistis”), same Greek word. The writer to the Hebrews, in effect says…

“Hey! Listen up everyone, we’re not going to slowly shrink away from our commitment to Christ. No. We’re going to valiantly hold up the pledge that we confessed when we first believed. In fact, our commitment to live by the pledge is going to get even stronger. We’re going to feel it – even down in our very souls!”

Faith! Let’s get back to it today.

Another One Bites The Dust

Actually… according to scientists, the Dust Mites may, in fact, be the ones who are biting back!

I’m taking our youth here in Maui, HI through a series we’re calling, “Waking-Up Sleepy Christianity”.

Dust mites love dead skin and some of the best places they feast on are pillows, bed covers, and blankets. This is not meant to freak you out, (but it may have). It’s more to share the spiritual analogy between “dust” and “sleepy Christianity”.

Isaiah 52 says, “Awake, awake! Shake yourself from the dust, arise!”

“DUST”= SLEEPY CHRISTIANITY
Why? Because you don’t know it’s there until you get up close. Sometimes we distance ourselves from people and the church so that they won’t know what’s really going on in our life. Because if you get up-close to me you’ll see that there’s a lot of… Dust. And, dust only comes from one thing – Neglect.

– Dusty Bible
– Dusty Prayer Closet
– Dusty, nasty Attitudes

THE RESPONSIBILITY I HAVE TO WAKE-UP

The Scripture says I have to “shake” myself. The preacher can nudge you, but you’re the only one who can “shake” you. Your friends can try to shake you, They’ll say things like: “You really shouldn’t be doing that. What are you doing?!”, but you’ll just shake it off. You’ve got to shake yourself! It your responsibility. No one can do it, but you.

THIS IS MY WAKE-UP CALL

It’s not that you’re a “bad” person, or a “sinner”, it’s just that me and you, we have neglected our “beautiful garments” (Isaiah 52:1). We have to “put them on”. These are the…

– Beautiful Garments of Salvation
– Beautiful Garments of Forgiveness
– Beautiful Garments of Praise

It’s time to toss that old pillow of sleepy Christianity, and begin a fresh new day with the One who gave His all for you. Don’t be another one who bites the dust, (or is bitten by the “Dust”). What do you say?

Spiritual Sleepiness 101

I’m currently taking our Youth at King’s Cathedral through a series I’ve entitled, “Waking-Up Sleepy Christianity”.

Here’s some “Sleeping Statistics” for You…

• If you’re between the age of 13-25, about half of you fell-asleep unintentionally this month.
• If you’re between the age of 18-25, 5% of you fell-asleep while driving this month.
• Did you know that you will sleep-away about a 1/3 of your life?

Other words for “Sleep”= Siesta, Shut-eye, Catnap, Nod-off, Power nap; Slumber, Take a snooze, or Crash.

Anyone here ever fall-asleep in Class, School? How about in Church? True story: My Pastor in Chicago told me a little story of when he was in High School. After school he got on the bus & happened to fall asleep. That wasn’t too bad except… his head eventually made it’s way over to the chest of the lady sitting next to him. He didn’t realize what was going on. As he slowly came to his senses, his face was right in the breast of a big black lady! He was so shocked & embarrassed he didn’t know what to do. But the lady said to him, (as she put her hand on the back of his head), “There, there, it’s ok, you just rest right here with Mama.”

But What is “Sleep”? Wikipedia:

• Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity, and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles
• But if I were to defineSpiritual Sleepiness I would say: it is spiritual state of being characterized by reduced (or completely absent) spiritual alertness. With it, there’s little or no spiritual activity. All spiritual progress comes to a screeching halt.

The Apostle Paul says, “It’s HIGH TIME to awake out of sleep!” [Rom. 13:11] “High Time” is the equivalent of it being 12-noon, when the sun is shinning it’s brightest!

Can you imagine someone being totally asleep outside, laying out under the blistering sun of summer? A little drool is starting to form. Face is totally sun-burnt. You’d think, “Whoa? What an idiot?!!” And yet this is the sad state of many Christians today. God says, “It’s time to wake-up!”

Where are you at today in your relationship with God today?
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