God Looks At Your Heart

 

'...Motives are weighed by the Lord.' Proverbs 16:2 NIV   

             


I just wanted share with you the thanks that we are getting for all your hard work on Operation Thanksgiving. Pastor Manuel from Spanish Ag church writes, "Hi Pastor Daryl, "Once again THANKS for the baskets! Those families were so excited when we gave them their baskets! It was an awesome sight. Please share this with your wonderful congregation. Bendiciones!"
Thanks team for all your hard work and Kim for making it all happen.
What does God see when He looks at your heart? There is a story from Henry Blackaby who tells of a very self-righteous man who prayed: 'Lord, there's something wrong. I read the Bible, pray regularly, attend church faithfully and always give to charity, yet I don't have much. My brother doesn't do any of these things, yet he's got tons of money. How come you've given him so much and me so little?' After a pause, a voice said, 'Because you're a sanctimonious pain in the neck!' The Bible says, '...God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' (James 4:6 NKJV) God looks at your heart's intent; He judges your motives. You can sit in church with a heart that's far from God. The Israelites did (Isaiah 1:10-17). You can help the needy and still be greedy. Judas did (John 12:4-8 NIV). You can proclaim your love for Jesus yet be influenced by the devil. Peter did (Matthew 26:31-35 NIV). You can make sacrifices yet still be living in disobedience. King Saul did (1 Samuel 13:7-14 NIV). You can pray with the wrong motives. Some people in the New Testament church did (James 4:3 NIV). You can even be a pastor who loves crowds but has no time for individuals. Check your heart! The Good Shepherd left His 99 sheep to look for the one who was lost. Then He carried it home on His shoulders, rejoicing. 'Motives are weighed by the Lord.' God sees your heart. Everything you do must be motivated by love for Him and for others. So look beyond your actions to what lies behind them. Ask God to show you what He sees. You are loved into action!

Walking on Water (3)

 

'God is...a very present help in trouble.' Psalm 46:1 NKJV   

             


Let's observe two final things today as we wrap-up how God is always present in our lives: (1) Between the dread and the devastation, look for the Deliverer. Picture a boat lashed by huge waves, and frightened disciples who thought they were going under. They forgot the promise: 'God is...a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear...' (Psalm 46:1-2 NKJV) They didn't look for Jesus to rescue them. Yet as the night advanced and things looked hopeless, '...Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.' (Matthew 14:25 NKJV) Did they rejoice? No, their fear intensified and they said, '...It's a ghost!...' (Matthew 14:26 NKJV) If your not careful you're fear can distort your perceptions and make you see the answer as just another problem. Often what appears a threat is actually a blessing about to manifest itself. For example, you lose your job and God opens up a better one, but your fear and inadequacy make you avoid the interview. Look to Jesus in your time of fear; when He takes away the lesser, it's always to give you the greater. (2) God's best always requires facing what you fear. Jesus called Peter to come to Him. Deciding it was safer in the storm with Jesus than in the boat without Him, Peter walked toward Him. But there's always a moment after you step out in faith when you hear, 'What if I'm not up to this?' Peter heard it, and the waves began to engulf him. Panicked, he called and Jesus immediately rescued him. Peter wasn't drowning; he was learning and growing! When you walk by faith, even your failures will lead to success. I know this to be true in my own life. Everytime I stepped out, God stepped out with me. So step out with Jesus; He won't let you drown. You are loved...

Walking on Water (2)

 

'The boat was...buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.' Matthew 14:24 NIV

         

             


Sorry I missed yesterday, Amy and I went to Seattle for her quarterly checkup. It was a beautiful fall ride with the exception of rain in the pass. Thank goodness it wasn't snow or we wouldn't have gotten over. I felt like we were riding on water a few times as the car hydroplaned. Let's continue from Tuesday's thoughts and Notice: (1) Trouble doesn't mean that God has abandoned you. The disciples learned that Jesus may be out of sight, but He's never out of touch. To '...walk by faith, not by sight' (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) means sometimes you'll walk in darkness without visible cues. Someone put it this way: 'When you can't trace His hand, you can trust His heart.' When the disciples were being tossed like a cork on the waves, Jesus was up on a mountain praying for them! He was aware of the problem and He was working on the solution. He was their mediator and their 'need meet-er', just as He has one hand on your need and the other on your answer. '...He always lives to intercede for [you].' (Hebrews 7:25 NIV) Can you imagine Jesus praying to the Father for His fear-filled disciples? And can you imagine the Father refusing to answer His prayers? Never! '...The Spirit Himself intercedes for us...' (Romans 8:26 NIV) With both Jesus and the Holy Spirit talking to the Father on your behalf, your victory is guaranteed. (2) Between the command to 'Go' and your safe arrival on the other side, there's often a crisis. Jesus commanded them to cross to the other shore, but before the trip was completed their world experienced upheaval. What's buffeting your life today - loss, guilt, loneliness, financial reversal, illness, addiction, rejection? When our faith is low and our fear high, we cry, 'If only I had (or hadn't)...If only I could...' Learn to trust God. It's not over until He says so. And He hasn't! "We walk by faith, not by sight." You are loved...

Walking on Water (1)

 

'...Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go...' Matthew 14:22 NIV    

             


When you find yourself in trouble, do you sometimes think, 'I must have done something wrong, perhaps I've missed God's will and He's punishing me'? No. Trouble is multi-sourced, and frequently unrelated to our wrongdoing or God's punishment. The disciples weren't in the storm by disobeying, but by obeying Jesus; not by rejecting God's will, but by embracing it. That maybe hard to understand and it took me awhile to see that in my own spiritual life; but the Bible says, '...Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go...', and they obeyed. At times you'll find yourself in troubled waters because you did what was right rather than what was popular, easy or selfish. Here are some helpful lessons from the disciples' experience: (1) Obedience doesn't guarantee there will be no storms.The disciples had just seen Jesus feed 5000 people with five bread rolls and two fish, and end up with more food than He started with. Shouldn't their faith have been strengthened? Yet they forgot it completely when fear came knocking. Jesus had told them He'd meet them on the other shore, yet they forgot His miracle-working power and His promise and gave in to anxiety. Understand this: When God doesn't solve your problem, He will show up in the middle of it and cause you to come out with your faith fortified. (2) Fear doesn't mean you're a failure. It's just a reminder that you're human, and, like the disciples, you've forgotten Who has the power and Who's in charge. Sunday God delivered a powerful message through me. I was filled with the spirit to preach, but at the end I felt like I had to almost apologize for the spirit's presence. Satan tried his hardest to make me feel like I had failed everyone. That I hurt you. That's when God said in a small voice never stop doing what's right. There are so many lessons that transform your life's trial's into triumph. Be patient and learn. You are loved...

Think About It!

Good Morning,

A friend of mine Pastor Joe Fuiten from Ceder Park Assembly wrote this intriging thought to pastors in our network concerning the election. I thought it was worth posting today.

Some good people both won and lost Tuesday. Same for some not so good ones. That's politics. While I wish more good people had won, what really is paining me since the election is the rejection of God and his counsel. Our coins say "In God We Trust" but voters said otherwise.

The prominence given to abortion as a test for politicians and the gay marriage votes made it very clear this election was about biblical ideas. Democrats thoroughly rejected those ideas. They were joined by too many Republicans.

The campaign raised abortion and gay marriage as issues and asked if we wanted Barabbas or Jesus.

• We chose Barabbas.

The campaign contrasted government with God. Who would provide for a safe, free, and prosperous future?

• We chose government.

The offer of Galatians 5:1 of liberty in Christ or bondage was answered in favor of bondage: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

On Thursday morning I spoke for our Cedar Park Christian Elementary Veteran's Day Chapel. The kids put together packages for soldiers and their families for Christmas as they have done for the last ten years with the "Spirit of Christmas" effort. The children saluted a soldier as they handed in their packages. I spoke of sacrifices of generations passed, now buried beneath crosses in military cemeteries all over the world. I reminded the children of President Roosevelt's prayer, broadcast all over America, where he publicly prayed over the launch of D-Day which he said was to defend "our religion."

So many served and died for "God and Country" because the two were connected in the hearts of Americans. What was made clear in this election is that the two are no longer connected! Truthfully, it has been less and less true every year, but the vote took it to a new level. It was an open choice that made it official and verifiable.

The separation of God and Country is what is bothering me.

For all time people have messed up marriage, but at least they knew they were failing to live up to what God intended. Now they have voted to replace God with their own ideas of marriage. It's a perfect picture of how America views God these days. They don't want him around and for sure they don't want his ideas encroaching on their enlightened ways.

They think they can solve the economic problems by printing money or clever ideas. They forget that Jesus taught us to pray "give us this day our daily bread" and not to be anxious. They forget that Jesus said the earth itself would signal the end like "birth pains" so they are going to heal those pains.

We have raised four kids. Part of the reason I was working so hard in the elementary chapel was because we have several grand kids in that chapel. We also have a tradition of serving for "God and country."

If our country forces "God" out, there will only be "country" left.

Even worse, if God leaves through the door we are showing him, how long will it be before there is no "country" left.

How God Feels about You

 

'...You are precious to Me...' Isaiah 43:4 NLT   

             


One of things that we struggle with is if we are good enough for God? If you are struggling with feelings of unworthiness, working harder and vowing to do better won't necessarily change how you feel. It took me awhile as a young believer to realize that it wasn't always about feelings. Look at it this way, it's like remodelling an old house with a cracked foundation, you can redecorate every room but the floors and ceilings will just keep sagging until eventually it collapses. You've got to address the foundation! To do that, you must begin seeing yourself as God sees you; only then will you experience the stability and security you seek. Have you any idea how God feels about you? He sees you as: (1) Loveable. '...You are precious to Me. You are honored, and I love you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you...' (Isaiah 43:4-5 NLT) What assurance! The Bible says, '...The one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.' (Deuteronomy 33:12 NIV) What a secure position to be in! (2) Valuable. If you grew up feeling unwanted, you got the wrong message. God established your worth at the cross. '...The Son of God, who loved [you], and gave Himself for [you].' (Galatians 2:20 NIV) The slogan on Hallmark cards says, 'When you care enough to send the very best.' That's what God did for you at the cross. (3) Capable. Without a supportive environment to grow up in, you can end up with a diminished sense of ability. It's why we compensate by overachieving. But God knows that you are capable because He's '...given...you...special abilities...' (1 Peter 4:10 TLB) Furthermore, He has '...seated us with Him in His heavenly Kingdom...' (Ephesians 2:6 NIV) So stay in your seat and don't let anybody tell you that your life doesn't matter. It does, because God says so! You are loved...

Bless the Children

 

'...Some parents brought their children to Jesus...' Mark 10:13 NLT

         

             


The Bible says, 'He took the children into His arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them.' (Mark 10:16 NLT) Interestingly, Jesus had just taught on the subject of divorce. Does the Bible record it this way because broken homes produce broken children? Too often children get caught in the crossfire of angry parents. Sometimes we actually use them as weapons to hurt one another. It reminds us of the newscasts on the Afghanistan war, listing young men and women who are accidentally killed by their own military. We call it 'friendly fire'. What's 'friendly' about bleeding to death in the hot sand of a strange country? What's the point here? It's this: divorce should be our last resort, not our first option. We grow in grace by giving and forgiving, by dying to self-interest and putting our spouse first. The Bible says this kind of love '...never fails...' (1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV) Jesus, who was dealing with grown-up problems, interrupts His busy schedule to bless children. He doesn't counsel them, He just touches them because there's power in a touch. Let's salute all the wonderful people who work with children, for it's a high calling. And let's not forget to touch little lives with a word of hope and a smile of encouragement. Indeed, it may be the only one some of them will get. Don't hurt them, for they are the future. You are building a house that one day you will have to live in. What's wrong with these disciples? Who told them they were too busy to love, bless and care for children? Is God speaking to you through today's devotion? You are loved...