Test Your Thoughts

'...We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.' 2 Corinthians 10:5


You will never be any better, wiser or happier than the thoughts that influence you. You say, ‘I can’t help it; these thoughts just come into my mind.’ Yes, you can! ‘The weapons we fight with…have divine power to demolish strongholds…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 10:4–5 NIV) A ‘stronghold’ is a thought–pattern that controls you. It could be fear, greed, inferiority, lust, etc. It’s a ‘stronghold’ because it holds you strongly in its grip. How do you break that grip? With God’s Word. For example, when fear and inadequacy tell you you’re not good enough to succeed, become proactive and say, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) If your immediate goal is to ‘feel good’, you’ll never develop self–control. ‘For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it…’ (Hebrews 12:11 AMP) Discipline doesn’t bring immediate joy, but it brings lasting joy later on. Note the words ‘trained by it’. You must train your mind to go the right way; otherwise it’ll take you the wrong way. God says, ‘…I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life…’ (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV) God gives you choices. But He won’t make your choices for you; you must do that. In order to walk in God’s blessing each day, you must choose the right thoughts each day, and the longer you keep doing it the easier it will become. You’ve just got to get through the ‘training’ period. You are Loved!

The Truth About Marriage

Here are some thoughts on the new Gay Marriage act that I have been pondering. We must all take a stand for Truth and Righteousness and I pray you will consider your stand for Truth!

 The decision of five individuals from the U.S. Supreme Court to redefine marriage is their opinion — not the truth. Marriage is a God-ordained institution between a male and a female (e.g., Matthew 19:4–6; Mark 10:5–9; 2:20–24; Ephesians 5:21–32; cf. Genesis 1:27–28). Not only that, but Scripture prohibits same-sex intercourse (Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; cf. Leviticus 18:22, 20:13). When it comes to same-sex marriage, Scripture prohibits what the Supreme Court permits.

The late John Stott said this,
“If society deteriorates and standards decline, till it becomes like a dark night or stinking fish, there is no sense in blaming society, for that is what happens when fallen men and women are left to themselves, and human selfishness is unchecked. The question is where is the Church? Why are the salt and light of Jesus Christ not permeating society? The Lord Jesus told us to be the world’s salt and light. If therefore darkness and rottenness abound, it is our fault and we must accept the blame.”

From the time Satan convinced the first woman and man to disobey God, the world has been on a path of disillusionment and confusion. We shouldn’t be shocked by the decision of human beings to legalize sinful activity; it only reminds us that we live in a fallen world that desperately needs Jesus Christ and the Truth. Paul reminded Timothy that the church is a powerful weapon when communicating truth, healthy living, and an eternal prospective.

“ . . . if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the householdof God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness.”(1 Timothy 3:13–15)

We (the church and the true followers of Jesus) hold up the truth and stand on it, while often the world tries to justify false concepts of how to live. In this world, we will have challenges, trials, and difficulties. Many times, suffering will come into our lives.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world.”(John 6:33)

The target we aim at when deciding how to live is the truth we find in Jesus Christ. Human beings are created in the image of God. Regardless of a person’s sin, fault, or failure — God desperately loves all people and offers us his grace and truth.

Today is a great day to be alive. I believe that you are created “for such a time as this.” God is very aware of your circumstances, our world’s condition, and the many difficulties that are part of our lives. You need not fear this time, but know that with every day (and decision), the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom, discernment, and the right words to say. As believers, we can trust the “truth-giver." You are Loved!

Forgiveness Begins the Healing Process

'...If you hold anything against anyone, forgive them...' Mark 11:25 NIV

As we go through the "Life of Jesus" Series, it's very easy to understand why the hardest offences to forgive are committed by the people who are closest to us.

Why? Because we have to live with them every day! When we’re young, our emotions are so intense that wounds and injuries may stay with us for a lifetime. The pain is worse when the one who wronged us was a parent. Perhaps a mother rejected us instead of providing the love we needed, or a father was similarly absent when he was needed most. Victims of such horror may still be consumed with resentment and anger many decades later. This can cause you to ‘act out’, and hurt the people you now love and need most.

What’s the answer? Forgiveness. Dr. Archibald Hart defines forgiveness as ‘giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.’ Only when you find the emotional maturity to release those who’ve wronged you, whether they have repented or not, will your wounds begin to heal. Jesus put it this way: ‘When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins.’ (Mark 11:25 NIV) Here’s something you may not have considered: God’s willingness to forgive you depends on your willingness to forgive others. You say, ‘But if I forgive them, I’m letting them off the hook.’ No, you’re letting yourself off the hook! You’re setting yourself free of pain and resentment, and positioning yourself to walk in God’s blessing. Leave the offence and the offender with God; He’s the only one who understands what they did and why they did it. As far as you are concerned—forgiveness begins the healing process.

The Power of God's Word (2)

'The commandments of the Lord are right....' Psalm 19:8 NIV


Observe: (1) ‘The commandments of the Lord are right…’ When people like Plato and Shakespeare speak, the effect of their words on us depends on what we bring to the process. Some of us may be informed and entertained, while others may be indifferent or bored. Their words could be described as intrinsically neutral but this is not so with God’s words: they radiate! Like heat and light, they are sources of spiritual energy. They possess a dynamic power that produces change wherever it goes. Likewise, God’s Word is dynamic. It radiates transforming power that changes anyone who lives in its ‘environment’! (2) ‘…The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy…’ (Psalm 19:9 NET) The Hebrew word for ‘trustworthy’ comes from ‘certainty, honesty and faithfulness’. With absolute confidence, you can stake your all on the reliability of God’s Word. It guarantees you that God says what He means, and means what He says. You can stand secure on every syllable of it. In other words, you can ‘…live…by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV) (3) ‘By your teachings, Lord, I am warned; by obeying them, I am greatly rewarded.’ (Psalm 19:11 CEV) God’s Word is more than just a list of ‘dos and don’ts. It’s like radar that signals to you when you’re in danger of straying off course and getting into trouble. Your conscience alone is inadequate. ‘How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults…Don’t let them control me.’ (Psalm 19:12–13 NLT) By obeying God’s Word, you will be ‘greatly rewarded’!

The Power of God's Word (1)

'The law of the Lord is perfect...' Psalm 19:7 NKJV
Of all the words ever spoken this scripture reminds me why I need His word; ‘…the Word of God is alive and powerful.’ (Hebrews 4:12 NLT) So when you read your Bible, you tap into a life–Changing Force. Let’s look at some of the wonderful characteristics and effects attributed to God’s Word in Psalm 19. (1) ‘The law of the Lord is perfect…’ To understand the word ‘law’, think of governing forces by which things like gravity, aerodynamics and physics work. When you deny or defy these laws you suffer; when you operate according to them you succeed, but either way they are always in force! So is God’s Word. It cannot be improved upon, added to, or taken from. It is adequate and able to accomplish His purposes in your life. Additionally, it ‘refreshes the soul’! Why wouldn’t you embrace it? (2) ‘The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy…’ (Psalm 19:7 NIV) You can count on the reliability and accuracy of God’s Word in every circumstance of life. In a world of changing values, conditions and relationships, you can place your full weight on the Scriptures, confident they will hold up—and hold you up, too! Furthermore, it will ‘make wise the simple’—the ignorant and immature. It will produce in you wisdom far beyond what’s available through study and education. (3) ‘The precepts of the Lord are right…’ (Psalm 19:8 NIV) God’s precepts are accurate, correct and virtuous, and we are called to ‘…add to [our] faith virtue…’ (2 Peter 1:5 NKJV) or moral excellence. This cannot be accomplished through will–power, but through God’s supernatural Word–power.

Dealing With Change (3)

'...Tell the children of Israel to go forward.' Exodus 14:15 NKJV


The last instalment in dealing with change leads us to Exodus chapter14. With the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s chariots behind them, Moses told the Israelites: ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians, whom you see today, you shall see again no more, forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. And the Lord said to Moses…“Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”’ (Exodus 14:13–15 NKJV) Notice, God told the people of Israel two things. First, that He would fight for them. Second, that they must go forward in spite of their fear. When you face the unknown it’s normal to feel fear, but that’s when you need to put your trust and confidence in God! In order for Him to fulfil His promise to you, you must obey what He has told you to do. How should you deal with change? In three ways: (1) Focus on its long–term benefits instead of its short–term inconvenience. (2) Be honest with yourself about what you really feel and fear about the change, and take it to God in prayer. (3) Keep an open attitude toward new ideas, and refuse to be influenced by rigid thinkers. Stand on this Scripture: ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left…’ (Isaiah 54:2–3 NKJV) God doesn’t change, but He moves! In order to succeed, you must move with Him. You are Loved!

Dealing With Change (2)

'...Go to the land that I will show you.' Genesis 12:1 NLT


How would you feel if God told you to leave your job, sell your house and go to a city you didn’t know? That’s what happened to 75–year–old Abram and his 65–year–old wife, Sarai. ‘…Leave your native country…and go to the land that I will show you.’ Why would God do that? Because He has a special destiny in mind for each of us! He told Abram, ‘I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you…and you will be a blessing to others.’ (Genesis 12:2 NLT) With no hint of resistance, Abram embraced change, trusted God, and reaped the incredible rewards. It’s no wonder the Bible calls him the father of faith. To walk with God and fulfil His will you must have a mindset that adapts to change—sometimes costly and uncomfortable change. How do you do it? ‘By faith’! (Hebrews 11:8) Faith in whom? Yourself? Others? No. Faith in the goodness of God! Did you know that those who flow with change rather than resist it are less stressed, healthier, and generally happier? So start developing a ‘change mindset’. Break out of your rut and develop a new routine and if you’re serious about it, ask your friends and family to point out areas where you constantly demonstrate inflexibility. Where should you start? With this Scripture: ‘Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.’ (1 Peter 5:7 AMP) Live by the principle: ‘Where God guides, He provides.’ You are Loved!