So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.Romans 1.24

As a result, they did vile and degrading things to one another ( cleaned that up for children that may be reading) . They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself. Rom.1.24-25
These verses we can see in real life everyday. Because of trash magazines, Internet porn, Hollywood, college professors, television and false religions we can't escape it. Perhaps you live in a city or town that doesn't even respect the Christmas season anymore because it's not politically correct! Come on! Christ is even in the word Christmas.
This is all a matter of the heart. The title verse says so and that means God says so. Personally, I'm so disgusted with sin being "out it the open". Everyone that sins now says " Well. If it doesn't hurt anyone else, whats the big deal?" The big deal is the heart. And if you have traded the truth about God for a lie, your eternal life is hanging in the balance! Don't be afraid of the word 'prayer'. Its simply talking to God. I know he's waiting to listen.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. Romans 1.21

And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. and instead of worshiping  the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
Rom. 1. 21-23
Everyone worships something or someone. We think of idol worship as concrete statues or some other form of dead religion. ( The God of the universe, the God of the Bible is the only true, living God.)  The truth of the matter is, that if we aren't cautious and conscious of where our mind is, we can worship our television, our car, our job, our addictive habits , even our spouse or children! Whatever takes a higher place in your life can be your god.
The verses you just read explain it. These are hard words...sound a little extreme. But remember God is holy. He's not Mr. Earthly God. He hates sin and calls it what it is. Example: We call killing a child before it is born "abortion" but God calls it "murder. Just dresses it up a bit.  He sent His Son to DIE for you sins and it is an inexcusable sin to deny Him. That is, you will constantly be searching for truth on this earth to no avail. You will claim to be wise and be a fool. Your heart will become dark and confused. You will not die and live with God and you will have an eternal life in Hell.  Would you want to live life that way? Or would you rather get forgiveness for your sins and live in total freedom? He leaves the decision to us...

God shows us his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked who suppress the truth by their wickedness. Romans 1.18

They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and the sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His qualities~ His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no  excuse for not knowing God.  Have you ever considered yourself as wicked? The picture in my mind of a wicked person is a murderer, someone abusive towards children or the elderly...you get the picture. Lets look at the definition: Morally bad or wrong; acting or done with evil intent; depraved; vicious, cruel.
The scripture above comes from Romans 1.19-20. A little homework that is well worth your time is reading Romans Chapter 1. We will continue with this subject tomorrow but I would like for you to read Chapter 1 first and listen to see if God reveals any truth to you personally before we continue on.

There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing evil...Romans 2.9

Because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But He will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. Romans 2.5-9                                                                    BUT
There will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good- for the Jews first and also for the Gentile, ( those of us that are not Jewish ), for God does not show favoritism. Romans 2. 9-10.
I love the "buts" in the Bible! Over and over again, throughout the scripture, Old Testament and New Testament, there is the word "but", describing how God has so much kindness towards us that He continues to rescue all His children IF they allow Him to. He will not force His loving kindness and mercy on an individual but He will gently nudge. The choice is ours. But , do know that you choose life or death, God or Satan to live for. We choose the god or THE GOD to live for.

Fools base their thoughts on assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness;they chatter on and on . Ecclesiastes 10.13

As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor. A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street!
If your boss is mad at you, don't quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes!
Ecclesiastes 10. 1-4
Its sad that Christians don't read the Word! There is so much wisdom and insight there. And humor! I know that as you read about fools walking down the street , you had to laugh!Someone you know came to mind! Don't get me wrong ; we have to watch being critical and judgmental, but the truth is the truth!
You will be amazed if you look up the word 'fool' in your concordance...plenty of verses with warnings attached!
The definition of foolishness:
Without good sense or judgment.
Silly.
Unwise.
Ridiculous.
Absurd.
( There are more , but I think you get the picture.)
So what is the danger of acting a little foolish? If you are a believer and your friend is unsaved, why would they want to be like you? You are just like them! They risk their life by banking on no eternal damnation...they will even argue with you about it because they see you as a hypocrite! Sadly, you lose your witness.
Lets get radical for Jesus. Lets put Him first in our lives and even if we have to sacrifice a little, lets set a good example for those people around us to see. And honestly, lets start being salt and light! Jesus is returning for us soon; lets take some people with us!

No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. Romans 3.11

What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold. They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent.
 They have rejected the law of the Lord  of Heavens' Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 5.
These verses make me sad;  especially for our nation.  It seems like everywhere I go I see ignorance and injustice. People that lie, even when the truth fits better. The arrogance and haughty spirit of those who "think" they are so clever. You can't even go out to eat anymore unless someone is intoxicated, falling out of their seat at the bar! And oh me...How many times in your lifetime have you seen the wicked go free and the innocent being punished!
It makes me sad that  people act so unwise and should be embarrassed by their behaviors but they aren't.   Satan has deceived them so much that they think that they are really living well. Jeremiah 11 states that God has a great plan for our lives but we have to accept His Son as our Savior and Lord. Then we have to learn from His Word how to be obedient and follow Him. I would prefer a relationship with my Lord and the joy that comes from that ,  plus an eternity with Him when my term on earth comes to an end ,than the sorrow and eternal damnation with Satan and his demons. All you have to do is admit to God that you are sinner, that you need to be forgiven, and ask Jesus to come into your heart and life. Purchase a great Bible that you can understand, and start looking for a place to worship. You will certainly enjoy your journey with God! And don't forget that the Creator loves you with an everlasting love!

I am the Lord your God.Isaiah 51.15

I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar. My name is the Lord of Heavens Armies. And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely in my hand. I stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth, I am the one who says, " You are my people!"
I mentioned Joyce Meyer in yesterdays blog. Look at these verses and read them outloud  several times while accenting some of the words! I've been a Believer in Christ for several decades now and I have to admit, that there were several things that I didn't know until I started listening to her on a daily basis:
1. God really loves ME!
2. The Old Testament is current because God reigns.
3.I didn't understand that the OT promises are for me.
4. That the blood of Jesus, yes, the blood of Jesus covers me. There has to be a sacrifice for sin because Holy God cannot look on sin. Jesus was the blameless Lamb of God , the perfect sacrifice and His blood is perfect. Through His Blood we can call on anything in His name and through His Blood and God acts on it as long as we have the faith that He will .
5. God doesn't want us to live out of guilt and condemnation. Why do we not "get it?"GOD sent HIS SON to die for us. He loves us that much! He wants us to live for Him and enjoy our lives. So why would He heap those two things on us!?  I'll answer that question for you. Satan's goal is for you to live in eternal damnation , like him. If you give your life to Christ , his goal is to make you miserable and he throws everything in his arsenal at you to make you powerless and to ruin your witness. After all, who wants to be a joy-less Christian!
God has a great plan for you and me! We need to believe His Word and abide in His Word so that we can live in victory!

As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. Psalm 18.30.

Truth from God's written Word keeps us stable in the storms of life. We can expect to hear from God through His written Word. It never changes or wavers in its intent for us.  Even if His Word does not speak specifically to to the details of our situation, it does speak of God's heart and character and it assures us He will always take care of us and make a way for us.
The Word teaches that our knowledge is fragmented , incomplete, and imperfect. According to 1Corinthians 13.9, we know only "in part". This tells me there will never be a time in our lives when we can say, " I know everything I need to know." Go to God in humility and be hungry to learn from His Word. Ask Him daily to teach you what you should do in every situation.
Receive the Holy Spirit as your Teacher so He can daily lead you into all truth ( see John 16.13). He will reveal things to you that you could never figure out on your own. I have decided to be a lifetime learner and I highly recommend the same for you.
This text is pure Joyce Meyer. The title is DON'T BE A KNOW IT ALL.  Knowing that some of my readers are new Christians and have not read her books or watched her television program teachings, I wanted you to see for yourself how insightful and honest her teachings are...Lead by the Holy Spirit , her teachings can have as much humor as insight . The name of her program is "Enjoying Everyday Life" and I highly recommend that you look at your local programming and tune in. Its usually on INSP network.

The wicked flee when no man pursues them, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28.1

I think that most people really have a problem taking their wants and needs to God. Perhaps its because they don't feel worthy, or they don't believe God. really loves them or they don't believe that they are spiritual enough for God to favor them. Whatever the reason,  the righteous forget or have never known who they are. They forget that they are Gods kids. They are basing their lives on what they see, not living by faith. We can all certainly try to be as "religious" as we can , however that usually blows up in our face because Jesus wants us to be righteous. Not "religious". Jesus makes us righteous and we try to make ourselves religious because we don't have the faith to believe that "all our deeds are like filthy rags" before God. The Blood of Jesus is what makes us righteous! Look up all the scriptures you can find on Jesus' Blood if you doubt me. God is good and He answers our prayers because He is good, not us. Go ahead and enter His presence with boldness, thanking Him for Who He is! Be thankful at all times, confessing and repenting of your sins; don't let your sins "pile up" until Satan condemns you so much that you are embarrassed to go to God with them! God understands and will forgive you for each one. He wants you to communicate with Him because He created you and loves you unconditionally.

The earnest prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available. James 5.16

If we are born again, we are righteous. It doesn't matter that we make mistakes ~ as a matter of fact, God knows that we will make mistakes.
2 Corinthians 5.21 tells us, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him". Now follow me here, There is a big difference between "right" behavior and righteousness. Righteousness describes our condition before God. Its not based on our performance or 
 our behavior. And its the only way that we are "right" before God and not because we do or don't behave a certain way. Its the blood that Jesus shed and His death on the cross that makes us righteous!
Because of our love for God, we should always try to do the right thing, I think God smiles at that, but don't for one little minute think that your righteousness is based on your deeds. Its Gods goodness , not yours!

Come close to God and He will come close to you. James 4.8

Some great advice I received from my doctor was this," Sandy, there are three areas of life that you really need to pay attention to: your mental health, your physical health and your spiritual health.  That sounds simple enough, right?
Well, the concept is great...but the reality of it is a little more complicated. Lets look at it a little closer.
I am pretty well convinced that "coming close to God" is a matter of time. And we all seem to have a tough time with time management.  I think that is why we are advised in the Word to give God the first part of our day. I don't want to make it seem legalistic, but in my life , its proven to be true. Why? Because starting my day without "coming close to God" creates havoc in my life.  I need to get out of bed in the morning and communicate with Him ; it gives me a better perspective and gets my brain and my heart geared in the right direction. Its the best decision I've ever made and I've seen awesome results and prayers answered! I told one of my children that it is as natural for me now to spend the first part of my day with God as it is to get dressed in the morning. Before, I would spend time doing chores or laundry and whatever else Satan could place in my mind to do. I felt defeated as a believer and would go to bed that night feeling bad that I had not included God in my day. Don't get me wrong, God loved me then as much as He does now...the difference is in the verse title verse. "Come close to me and I will come close to you.
Do you want a more meaningful relationship with God?
Determine in your heart to honor Him with your time. You'll reap the benefits of your decision and you'll never regret it.

Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17.9

Get ready to be blown away! Guess what this verse is pertaining to?
Your heart. My heart . The human heart. I was taught somewhere along the way that people are basically good. That's not what the Word of God says. " The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
There are so many verses in the Bible that describe our hearts; "Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good. They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their actions are never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil." Psalm 36.1-4.
I guess I could say that we all have a heart condition . What really changes our hearts? Renewing our minds. How do we renew our minds? Reading the Word , communicating with the Father,  being thankful for what God has done and continues to do for us,  lifting our voice in praise to Him everyday, not just when we need or want something...that is a good start! Does it work? I'd say! Keep reading Psalm 36 down to vs. 9: "For You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see." Psalm 37. 23-24: The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand."
God never ceases to amaze me. He is the heart changer!

I have prayed especially for you. Luke 22.32

Do you know that Jesus prays for you?
Jesus is our intercessor. He stands in the gap for you that exists between you and God. We all sin and all need an intercessor! So there is  Jesus, holy and pure and without fault, standing in the gap so we can have access to God. Another words, as long as our hearts are right and  we believe in  our Savior as the way , the truth , and the life, we will be able to communicate and have fellowship with God! How amazing!
The title verse today is actually Jesus speaking to Peter. In John 17 we also find this verse," I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me." Do you believe in Him?  Then you are a "those"! Thank God for your salvation , and thank Jesus for interceding for you...He's praying for you right now! Hallelujah!

If you really love me, you will obey my commandments. John 14.15

Sounds simple just reading that verse...sometimes I like to reverse it. Here goes: If you don't really love me, you won't obey my commandments? I don't think so!
Our goal as Christians should be to obey and glorify God. But we are human Christians and God knows that we are just that. We are going to sin ~ its the old nature sparring with our new nature. But,  God is always there to forgive. We should try our best to obey , but when we fail? Ask for forgiveness, asking God to help you to do better and start over again. Don't procrastinate. Do it as soon as you feel the Holy Spirit convict you. If you don't, the devil has a party and he makes us feel dirty, guilty and condemned. In Christ we always have forgiveness and a new beginning. That is His part. Our part is to confess and turn away from our sin and live a victorious life. I would much rather party with God than Satan.  I love to feel God smiling down at me and I think he does that , especially when I've overcome a particular sin , with His help , of course! Now that is priceless.

The upright shall dwell in Your presence (before Your very face). Psalm 140.13

I love to get up in the morning and listen to Joyce Meyer and Creflo Dollar on Christian networks first thing.  In the book of Psalms, David speaks of getting up early in the morning and praying to God. I have to admit early isn't a good time for me , but when I do get up, I love to listen to Joyce and Creflo and then have my devotional time.
One morning a guest of Joyce spoke of how it seems like Satan throws everything he has at us to get our attention off God and spending time with Him. (How true that is! I have laundry, making the bed, cleaning up breakfast dishes, etc. And if I'm not careful, I can fill my entire morning with "chores" and not have time left for God). However, one of her guests spoke about the same problem I was having and it made a huge difference in the way I do my life now.  He explained how he imagined God sitting on the couch in the morning waiting to for him to sit down and spend time and communicate with Him...And looking back at the couch one morning and leaving God there without spending time with Him. Ouch!
One morning I was rushing aroudn in the kitchen and imagined God , waiting for ME. I looked over at the sofa and I didn't care it the coffee pot got cleaned or not. The privilege of the God of the universe waiting on me to talk to Him? People, something is wrong with that picture! Isn't it ME that should be waiting on Him? What a picture of love, mercy , grace ,  patience!
Think about how you leave your house in the morning... Is there anything more important then seeking God? I will have to tell you, its been the best change I've made!
I encourage you to receive His love and mercy first thing in the morning. His arms are open and He's waiting to spend time with you!

Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.Colossians 3.16

What do you allow to fill your life? Really, what is it? How much time do you spend reading or listening to the message of Christ? We are told in Colossians 3 that we should be teaching and counseling each other with all the wisdom He gives. Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. AND whatever we do or say, do it as a reprensentative of the Lord Jesus , giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
I must say that I've never been in a restuarant or mall or anywhere else and overheard Christians speaking to one another about their blessings through Christ or how He is their Source.  Or even being excited about their salvation! I hear alot of arguments, foul language, bad attitudes, and "all about me" talk.
One of the resolutions I've made this year is to talk about God everywhere I go. I'm going to keep an extra NLT Bible at work and in my vehicle so I can give them away to lost people that only have a King James Version and make the excuse that they can't understand it.
Do you know that if you are a believer that God puts His seal on you? Read this: And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, ( there's the seal) guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption...
We need to start identifying Christ as our own. How will people know Him if we don't share Him? And how do we know Him? By His Word. Devote yourself to it so you will have an answer to anyone that asks of your salvation.
Hey, I'm tired of having to listen to the evil in this world. We are called to be salt and light. Lets do it!

Above all, clothe yourselves with love...Colossians 3.14

I guess we all know John 3.16 by heart. "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosover believes in Him should have everlasting life." I found a definition for love that I think I like. "Love is caring in action. Love isn't what we feel , its what we do".
What do you think...What if we lived everyday just doing love?  Caring for others. This concept isn't exactly how our world thinks today. We live in a world where everyone seems to think the world should revolve around them and their feelings.  Love is not a feeling. It is NOT a feeling . Feelings, or emotions, come and go. Infatuation is a high feeling that we get when we think we are falling in love. Often times infatuation overwhelms us and we loose our sensibilities and our morals. Right? It just feels so good to "be in love." I believe that is why divorce is so rampant. We are living out of our feelings and when our significant other doesn't "meet our needs" , off to court we go because we have irreconcilable differences. We just don't get it.
Note that in the John 3.16 verse that God gave. Its a "do" word. I shutter to think of where I would be at the moment if God looked down on sinful man and decided that we didn't need a Savior and didn't feel like going to the Cross.
Remember what true love is?  Read 1 Corinthians 13. 2-10. Lets love those around us with that kind of love, not the "warm fuzzies " and taking up our "rights." Lets try taking our "rights" to the Cross and laying them there at Jesus' feet. He's the ultimate giver and teacher of love.

Make allowances for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Colossians 3.13

 The next part of this verse is: Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  I guess I know now why vs. 12 came first!  I don't think we could even try to forgive others without having tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
The definition of forgiveness is as follows : The process of ceasing to feel resentment, indignation, or anger against another person for a perceived offense, difference, or mistake.
How do we do it? How do we forgive when the person doesn't even seem to care that they hurt you? Here's what I've learned to do and I hope that it helps you.
1. Always go to the throne and not the phone.  Tell God your hurts. He cares.  He will help you. People that you call go thru the same things you do and they don't know how to help themselves. How can they help you? ( Joyce Meyer )
2. Keep on praying about it.
3. Confess that you forgive that person out loud!
4. Choose to move forward with your life
5. Stay busy and don't dwell on the problem. ( It doesn't help to let it consume you)
6. Let go of the hurts and pains of the past. The past is called the past for a reason...it has passed.
7. Every time you think about that person, pray for them. Satan will hate that and pretty soon, you are healed and you will not think about the problem anymore. God smiles....
Now. Remember this. We never condone others' bad actions, sins , or bad attitudes. You don't have to be their friend. That person was probably in your life for a reason and the reason is usually to pray for their salvation. That's been my experience.
As long as you hold onto unforgiveness its like putting yourself in your own prison. You are in jail and they are out having a good ole time and don't even think about you anymore! It allows that person to keep hurting us.
Forgiveness. I've learned to love that word. It sets us free. ( And hopefully, the other person too! )

You must clothe yourself with patience...Colossians 3.12

So far this week we have broken this verse down and tried to understand its meaning:" Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness , and patience. "
When I looked up the  definition of patience there were a few, but this one is the best I found: Patience is the level of endurance ones character can take before negativity.
I wonder when I read a verse that lists qualities we should have , if they build on one another such as this verse does. Another words, can I have patience before I develop tenderhearted mercy? Or kindness? Why is patience last on the list?  I know it's not because God doesn't think patience is important or He wouldn't list it as a command. Perhaps the reason is that God knows how he made us. And when we give our lives to Christ, He doesn't heap a pile of do's and don'ts on us. We tend to learn one lesson at a time. So thats why I decided to break this verse down...sometimes we read the words and don't really get the meaning.
I'll close with this. A long time ago, a very wise person gave me a great definition for patience. "Patience is a good teacher, it teaches us how to wait.
Simple, but true. I use this information alot at airports and grocery store lines.
Thanks Dad!

You must clothe yourself with gentleness. Colossians 3.12

 What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word gentleness?  For me, its a baby. Gentleness is definately required for all aspects of their care.  They seem so fragile. The definition of gentleness reflects that; gentleness includes true humility that doesn't consider itself too good or too exalted for humble tasks. Think of all the humility and gentleness in caring for a baby.  You don't fuss at the little angel in the middle of the night when she's wet and needs changing or when its feeding time. You are gentle, even though that can be considered a task.
We do seem to be so gentle with children, as we should be. However,  teenagers, adults, spouses, co-workers, other drivers... what then?  What makes gentleness different with this group?  I think its our expectations of them and our high opinion of ourselves. Remember yesterdays blog? Humility vs.pride? We think people should do better, know better, treat us better, and when they don't , we start with the critical , judgmental attitudes and allow harshness to set it.
Gentleness is a command. Its #8 in the list of fruit of the Spirit. In Ephesians 4.2 , Paul urges us to live a life worthy of our calling and to be completely humble and gentle. How do we do it? How do we acquire gentleness? We choose. God doesn't command us to do anything that is impossibe. You may need to devote some prayer to this issue and ask God to help you. But simply stated, I believe its a "flesh" thing and  can be conquered but you have to face the reality of it, confess and repent of a hard attitude and harshness in your life. The Holy Spirit will convict you gently when you do not show gentleness.
All this boils down to what we already know, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

You must clothe yourself in humility. Colossians 3.12

  This is a biggie in todays world. I believe its one of the major struggles for the believer.  To be humble.  What does it mean exactly? I know that the opposite is pride. I know that in 1 Peter 5.5 Peter states: "God opposes the proud but favors the humble. So humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and at the right time He will lift you up in honor."
  One writer states that humility is "accepting ourselves as we really are before God." Wow! Thats big ~ God see's all. He knows every thought we have and every move we make.
  So how do we apply this humility stuff? I think we know already. We have to get real with ourselves, (again), and start at square one and let God lead us all the way to humility. Humility really is an act of feeding our flesh.  The times that you love to exalt yourself , make yourself look better to others than you really are.  To get the "scoop" on someone and spread it around because the information came to you first. To "share" about all the good things you do for charity. Oh, and the accolades! My child is this or  that, or my spouse is this or that, or I am this or that...must I go on?
  Lets take a good, hard look at our hearts. Everytime that you use the word "I" in a thought or sentence...Look at this: prIde. Its the world we live in. But God says we are just passing through here and our real home is with Him.  We cannot witness to the amazing salvation we received if we are proud and haughty... people hate that! That is why we are called hypocrites and the world doesn't want any part of it...and why? Because they see little difference in our lives and theirs.
Jesus , the epitomy of humility. Humble all the way to the cross for you and me. Lets do life His way...His promise is to exalt us in His timing.  Hmmm. Me exalthing myself or letting the Creator of the universe honor me? No brainer.

"You must clothe yourself with tenderhearted mercy."Colossians 3.12

We looked at this verse yesterday and I thought it would be good to disect this passage this week.  Since God tells us in his Word how to treat others, I think its important to study and meditate on it.
I looked up the meaning of tenderhearted mercy. It means, ' having great sensibility ~ quick to feel pity ~ sympathetic.' Mercy is when we spare another from judgment or harm. Also, mercy is a kindness in excess of what may be expected.
Do you see what I see?  This is GOD.  The author is in essence saying, "clothe yourself with GOD." Romans 3.23 explains it well:  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God , with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Jesus Christ when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus Christ sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
It's a little embarrassing. The way we treat others in light of  how God treats us; you know, having great sensibility, pity, sympathy, sparing us from judgment and harm, mercy in excess of what we deserve!
Lets make a conscience effort to put God first , every morning, and put on the 'clothes' that He would have us wear, tenderhearted mercy.  It's probably not the most popular 'outfit' in the worlds eyes, but it changes lives.  We have to shed no blood to do it, God made is simple for us.  Jesus paid the price.

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4.1

Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves,  you must clothe youselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness,  humility,  gentleness,  and patience.  Forgive anyone who offends you.  Remember the Lord forgave you so you must forgive others.  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.  Be thankful.  And whatever you do or say,  do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus. 
These are some scattered verses from a section of Colossians 3. The commands above are for those of us who have given our lives to Christ. They are to be taken seriously. This week we will break some of these commands down and look more closely at our responsibilities as believers.  Lets decide that we won't make anymore excuses for our sins,  that we need to face some realities in our lives and repent! This way, we can live wisely among those who are not believers and we can make the most of every opportunity .

The Lord says, " I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you..." Psalm 32.8

"What joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,  whose sin is put out of sight! Whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin,  my body wasted away and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated away like water in summer heat.
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.  I said to myself,  I will confess my rebellion to the Lord." And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone. "
These are the words of King David, once again proving the amazing and uncondional love that God has for us.  Notice the verse about his body wasting away and groaning all the time?  Sounds like some major depression there! Makes me wonder about all the people in the world that carry the load of guilt, sin, and condemnation on their shoulders everyday.  Instead, we could be leading them to the loving Savior that died for them...
The warning that God gives to us is this: "Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control." vs 9.
The promise He gives us is this: Unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord." vs.10
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey Him! Shout for joy , all you whose hearts are pure! vs.11
What if you don't feel like claiming vs.10? Pray. Talk to God about it and ask Him what is wrong. He's waiting...I promise you, He will show you.

Time is running out...Romans 13.11

Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will be here soon.  So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes,  and put on the shining armor of right living.  Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.  Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness,  or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.  Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.  Roman 13. 11-14
Are you thinking about what you are thinking about?
Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12.21

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. Mark 14.38

Watch and pray. There's another commandment that is good for us.  Stay alert. When your spirit cautions you,  stay away.  Keep your eyes open. Be smart. Be obedient.  Pay attention.
You know what your weaknesses are.  You know when you are headed for trouble.  We like to straddle the fence a bit sometimes,  thinking that we will be ok.  Stay away from those situations that you know will get you in trouble! Movie theaters, the internet,  the bars,  even television, to name a few. Temptations aren't from God,  they are Satanic.  Satan knows what your weaknesses are better than you do. He's had his eye on you, studying you for your entire life.  He knows how you think. Whatever it is in  your  life that Satan has a foothold on, watch out!  Its his trap.  If you are a believer , his goal is to make you miserable and to destroy your witness.   If you haven't given your life to Christ yet,  his mission is to kill you.  He would rather  you spend eternity in flames than with a loving Savior. 
Ephesians 6 tells us that we are not fighting against flesh -and -blood enemies , but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world , and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.
Expect temptation.  Everyone is tempted.  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

Lord, who may worship in your sanctuary? Psalm 15.1

What a question! I love to read through the Psalms and be amazed at the conversations, the arguments, the praise, and the questions that David has for God.  Psalm 15 is full of answers to his question, " Lord, who may worship in your sanctuary, who may enter your presence on your holy hill?"
Answers:
1. Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. vs. 2
2. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. vs.3
3. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. vs.4
4. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. vs.5
My  translation of this passage is that David is asking God, "who will know you intimately?" Those of us who Obey. Obey in the small things. Obey no matter what the cost. Those who "know God" will obey out of respect for God and to be obedient ~ not for selfish gain. Think about this. Do you "use" God or do you want to "know" Him?
There is a promise for us in the last part of vs. 5, "He who does these things will never be shaken." I certainly saved the best for last! Thank you God.

Keep yourself in God's love... Jude 21

  How do you "keep" yourself in something?  It requires action.  It requires sacrifice.  It requires choice.  God tells us in Joshua 24. 15: If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you,  then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.
  We all have our favorite loves.  I love my family,  I love to go to the ocean.  My husband loves his family and loves vintage cars.  We love our church.  The choice we make on a daily basis is to keep ourselves in God's love,  keeping Him first in our lives. The verse above indicates that we all have a god. We all serve something everyday.  As believers it is our responsibility , our choice, what or whom we serve.  Think about what it is , or who it is,  that you are placing above Christ in your life and decide, choose, to repent of that and ask God to help you, to show you how to "keep yourself in God's love."
  "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy ~ to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty,  power,  and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord,  before all ages,  now and forevermore! " Jude 24
Amen.

If you don't know what you are doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. James 1.5

  If you don't know what you are doing, pray.  How many times a day do we need to pray?  This verse indicates that God is interested in the choices and decisions we are making on a daily basis.  The scriptures state that we go to the throne boldly, believing that God is listening.  One thing that I've learned is that to start my day on my own, leaving God out, makes for a disappointing and stressful day.  It is that first part of the day that I love to make the connection with God, just thanking Him for His love, His mercy,  His grace, His forgiveness and praising Him for who He is that renews my spirit and helps me to focus on the things that He wants me to think about throughout my day.  Do yourself a big favor this year and give Him the first part of your day; you will be amazed at the blessings that will begin to flow from your life!