typically how we make decisions…

romans 12.1 in the message says, take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before GOD as an offering.  embracing what GOD does for you is the best thing you can do for HIM.  but then notice romans 12.2 (msg), don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.

this is a very important point.  most of us live our lives just like everyone else lives their life. we listen to our groups of friends and we just go along with the crowd.  we’re making our decisions like everybody else is. 

yet the bible says there is a better way.  the bible talks a lot about good decision making.  proverbs 3.5-6 (nlt) is one of the best known parts of the bible on decision making.  trust in the LORD with all your heart.  do not depend on your own understanding.  it says, do not depend on your own understanding. 

isn’t that typically how we make decisions – on our own understanding?  “this is my choice a, choice b, choice c.  my understanding of the situation is if i go that way ‘these’ will be the consequences.  those will be the pros and the cons.  if i go that way that’s where it will get me.”  then we make a decision. 

that’s how everybody is making decisions and most people are getting in big trouble.  they’re not depending on GOD to trust in.  why do you think horoscopes and psychic hot lines are so popular?  that’s kind of the way of the world.  i’ve always wondered about psychics.  why aren’t all psychics rich?  why aren’t they living in las vegas beating the odds makers?  why don’t they just retire after the superbowl?  if you think about it, you should never have to call a psychic.  if they’re psychic they’ll know your needs and they’ll call you.  not long ago one of the hottest psychic hot lines went bankrupt.  you would have thought they would have seen it coming.

just a thought from the front porch…

HE knew it was coming and HE allowed it...

psalm 91.1-5 (good news), whoever goes to the LORD for safety and protection can say to HIM, “YOU are my defender and protector. YOU are my GOD; in YOU i trust.”  HE will keep you safe from all hidden danger.  you need not fear.

listen, we fear too much because we trust GOD too little.  the more i trust GOD, the less i’m afraid of things. 

JESUS said, “in the world, you will have tribulation.”  that’s a fact of life.  “but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”  i haven't, but HE has.  JESUS CHRIST has overcome the world.  HE’s got the power.

let me ask you a question about this story in matthew 8.23-27 of the unexpected storm.   do you think that JESUS knew this storm was coming when HE had them get in the boat and set sail?  did HE know in advance the storm was coming?  yes. HE was GOD.  HE knew all things. so if HE knew the storm was coming, why did HE allow it?  if HE knew it in advance, why did HE allow this crisis?  why didn’t HE at least warn those who put their lives in HIS hands? 

because HE wants to teach a truth.  it’s a truth that i have to learn and that you have to learn and it’s a truth that the only way we learn it is by experience. 

i can talk to you all day about it, but the only way you’re going to learn this truth is by experience.  and the truth is this:  CHRIST can be trusted in a crisis.  and the only way you’ll know that is when you go through the crisis and trust HIM.  CHRIST can be trusted in a crisis. 

when you’re going through a trial and when you’re going through a crisis – some of you are heading into one right now, some of you just got out of one, some of you are saying, “when’s the other shoe going to drop?” – you need to remember three basic truths. GOD is always with me, GOD always cares for me, GOD is always in control.

just a thought from the front porch…

look at what HE’s promised…

another way to trust GOD every moment is to learn and memorize the promises of GOD.

to overcome worry, learn and memorize the promises of GOD.  promises like isaiah 26.3 (kjv), THOU wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on THEE.  psalm 23.4 (kjv), i will fear no evil, for THOU art with me.  philippians 4.19 (cev), don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. with thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to GOD.  cast all your cares upon GOD.  all through scripture, there are over 7000 promises in the bible. mark 11:24 (niv), therefore i tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  all through the bible, promise after promise... 1 john 4.4 (niv), the ONE who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. learn those promises.  they’re like blank checks. 

the bible is GOD’s contract to us.  HE says, “this is what I’m committing MYself to regarding your family, your finances, your health, your life, your past, your present, your future...”  when you know it’s covered in your contract, you can relax.  HE’ll make good on it. 

what’s got you worried?  the economy?  your job?  a personal problem?  your marriage?  health?  a problem with friends?  a problem at work?  

JESUS CHRIST has made it possible for you to live without worry. there’s absolutely no reason for you to live with worry in your life.  it is simply a matter of coming to CHRIST, putting your life in HIS hands and trusting HIM on a day by day, moment by moment basis.  you can live without worry, anxiety.  but you must put your trust in CHRIST.

just a thought from the front porch…

a way you can trust GOD…

here is a way you can trust GOD every moment.

don’t panic – pray.  those are your alternatives – panic or prayer.  in philippians 4.6-7 (niv) it says don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.  if it isn’t worth praying about, it isn’t worth worrying about.  don’t panic – pray.

1 peter 5.7 (niv), cast all your anxiety on HIM because HE cares for you.  the word “cast” in the greek literally means “to let go, to drop”.  it doesn’t mean i pick up my load and toss it as far as i can.  sometimes your load is so big, you couldn’t toss it five feet. literally it means “drop, let go, release.”  just let it drop and they’ll fall to your feet. 

he’s saying give your worries to the LORD.  but the problem is we become indian givers.  we give them to GOD and then we take them back – “LORD, i think i’ll worry about that a little bit more.”  i used to do that all the time.  i’d get in bed and start worrying about something and think, “this is crazy!  this is stupid!  my worrying is not solving the problem. it’s just a slow form of suicide and it’s keeping me awake. there’s no use worrying about it.”  i’d get out of bed, get on my knees and pray, “GOD, i give you this problem.  i cast my cares upon YOU.  it’s YOUr’s.”  i’d get back into bed, pull up the covers and then start worrying again.  i was an indian giver.  i was giving them and then taking them back. 

how do you overcome worry?  simple.  put GOD first in every area of your life.  until you do, you have mixed up priorities and you’re going to be victimized by anxiety.  your values aren’t right.  GOD says, in the ten commandments, thou shalt have no other gods before ME.  what is your god?  your job?  your winnebago?  your family?  yourself?  your bank account?  thou shalt have no other gods before ME.  when i put HIM first, all these other things will be brought in the proper perspective. 

i live one day at a time.  i trust GOD for things beyond my control.

just a thought from the front porch…  

opposites cannot live together…

step three in how to stop worrying is found in matthew 6.30 (niv), if that is how GOD clothes the grass of the field…will HE not much more clothe you – you of little faith? the root of all worry is a lack of faith.  it's unbelief.

the third step in overcoming worry is this:  trust GOD to care for the things beyond your control.  you can’t control them anyway so you might as well trust GOD for them.  it will make life a whole lot easier.  trust GOD to care for the things beyond your control. 

worry and faith are opposites – worry and trust.  they cannot live together in a home.  when worry comes in the front door, trust goes out the back door.  worry will live in your home until you invite trust to come back in the front door.  they cannot live in your mind together.  fill your mind with trust – trust GOD in every area – and worry departs.

just a thought from the front porch…

holding people to a harsh standard…

any time you find somebody really judgmental, really critical, hyper critical, they’re unforgiving, they’re unbending, they’re rigid, they’re unloving.  they’re always putting people down and they’re always giving a judgmental attitude toward others.  you can know one thing.  they are hiding unresolved guilt.  count on it!

and inside they don’t feel forgiven so they are being unforgiving of others.  if i don’t like the way i feel i certainly don’t want you feeling good. 

if you find a parent who’s rigid, demanding perfection in his or her children they are revealing their own insecurity and their own guilt.  when we feel unforgiven, we tend to be unforgiving and we hold people to a harsh standard. 

so if you’re ever going to let it go and get on with your life, the people who’ve hurt you you’ve got to realize first that GOD has forgiven you.  and the first key to understanding forgiveness of others is to remember how much you’ve been forgiven.  no condemnation.  it’s all been wiped out. 

GOD is not mad at you.  HE’s wiped out all your sin as you’ve put your trust in CHRIST.  you will never have to forgive anybody else more than GOD has already forgiven you. 

be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in CHRIST, GOD forgave you. 

just a thought from the front porch…

reminded that HE supplies our needs…

listen.  GOD wants you to ask daily not so HE can hear you beg but because we have short memories.  GOD wants us to be reminded that HE is the one who supplies our needs.

in the old testament, when the people of israel were wandering through the wilderness, GOD fed them every single day for forty years with something that the bible calls manna which literally translated means “what is it?”  so everyday, they would get up out of bed, walk outside and on the ground they would gather up what is it? to eat every day.  every breakfast – manna, every lunch – manna, every dinner – manna. 

and they got tired of it but every day – day in, day out like clockwork GOD was faithful to provide.  GOD did it that way so that every 24 hours they would have to trust GOD to meet their needs. 

what is your manna?  what is it that every 24 hours it drives you to say “GOD, i trust YOU.  i declare my dependence on YOU.” 

look at this… matthew 6.34 (msg), give your entire attention to what GOD is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  GOD will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. 

when the time comes…

i’m to seek GOD as the one who answers the needs of my life.  then we daily declare our dependence upon HIM.   

just a thought from the front porch…

day by day needs HE will supply…

now notice something.  two times in the space of six words GOD reminds us that this prayer, the LORD’s prayer is day by day.  HE says, give us today our daily bread.  notice it says, daily.

it’s the only time in the entire bible that this particular greek word is used.  in fact, this particular word baffled scholars and translators for a number of years because they couldn’t find any record of it in any of the ancient manuscripts, they couldn’t find it anywhere in classical secular greek literature.  it was nowhere to be found. 

until, in the 1940s when they discovered the dead sea scrolls where they discovered hundreds of fragments of the bible, they also discovered many secular writings.  and in those fragments was this word. 

now they discovered that this word was a word for a daily shopping list for that which was perishable and would only be good for today.  so what HE is showing is we are praying give us our daily rations.  not enough for tomorrow, not enough for next week.  but one day at a time. 

now this is hard for us to connect with this in our world because we not only have today’s food but tomorrow’s food and next week’s food setting in our freezer. 

listen, do we really need to buy toilet paper 48 rolls at a time?  well, if there’s ever a diarrhea epidemic you will be set! 

here’s the point.  in 21st century pinellas county daily bread is not much of a felt need.  it still comes from GOD and we shouldn’t take it for granted but there are other needs that we have that are more day to day. 

for some of you you have an emotional need that really is a day to day issue of whether or not you’re going to trust GOD. 

some of you are in a marriage relationship and for you right now the issue is not whether you will have food tomorrow.  the issue is can i trust GOD to keep my marriage together today.  for some it’s an issue of finances or it could be an addiction.  it’s probably not food that’s the day to day issue in your life.  but our need for GOD is still just as great. 

it reminds me of a prayer i read a while back.  “dear LORD, so far today i’m doing all right.  i’ve not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or self-indulgent.  i’ve not lied, complained, cursed, or eaten any chocolate.  i’ve not given into temptation and used my credit card once today.  but i’ll be getting out of bed in a minute and i think i’m going to need your help.”

there are issues in your life where day to day you have to trust GOD. 

just a thought from the front porch…

putting your trust in who’s president or CHRIST?…

think about the fact that every time GOD meets one of your needs, every time HIS abundant provision is before you, it is a revelation of HIS glory.  that should strengthen your faith.

the meals that we eat, the clothes we wear, the car we drive, the relationships we have, the health we enjoy, the home we live in.  they’re all gifts from GOD.

from this phrase in the LORD’s prayer, matthew 6.11 (niv), give us today our daily bread we need to simply recognize that GOD is the one who supplies our needs and then we must declare our daily dependence. 

again, one of the things that creates anxiety and worry in my life is when i start to depend on anything else for my needs other than CHRIST. 

now we are in the middle of the election season and it is so easy for us to be anxious about who is going to be elected.  you are putting your trust in the fact that you are a republican or a democrat instead of being a CHRISTian.  and your dependence is on whom the president is more than who GOD is. i’m going to vote but that man isn’t who i depend on, GOD is.

just a thought from the front porch…

when problems are unexplainable…

sometimes you go out and in all sincerity you pray, you work, you think you’re on the right thing and you go out and do what you think GOD wants you to do and it flat out bombs!  what do you do with that?  don’t worry.  it’s all a part of GOD’s plan and HE’s moving you to where HE wants to take you.

so when problems are unexplainable, i trust in GOD’s care.  i trust in HIS care that if HE guides me HE is going to provide for me.  HE is going to take care of me. 

the bible says this in isaiah 26.3 (ncv), you, LORD, give true peace to those who depend on YOU because they trust YOU.

listen, your life is never going to be problem free.  it is a reality of life.  it’s always something!  if it’s not one thing it’s another. 

your life is like a big aircraft carrier and the problems are like planes out there circling, lined up, waiting to land.  you have about ten or twelve or twenty or thirty planes waiting to land on your deck right now.  so just about the time you get one in and you get that problem solved number two plane moves up to number one position and number three moves up to number two. 

the moment you get number two landed, number three is now number one.  and the rest of your life you’re going to have one problem after another after another.  you have to learn how to have peace in spite of your problems and in spite of conflict. 

if you’re only at peace when you’re on vacation you’re going to have peace very little in your life.  you have to learn to trust GOD’s care even when you have problems.

just a thought from the front porch…

GOD’s children trust HIM…

listen, GOD’s children trust HIM.  that’s what marks one of GOD’s children.  So, how do you need to trust GOD?  i invite you to pray along with me, recognizing GOD for who HE is in your life and asking for GOD’s peace.  just make a place there with you and GOD and just take a moment to stop from everything in life and talk to HIM.

let’s pray…

FATHER in heaven, today i choose to make YOUr name something more than just to talk about.  i choose to trust in YOUr name.  i trust YOU as my SAVIOR.  that’s your name.  i trust YOU as the one who is willing to forgive my sins.  i trust YOU as my LORD.  that’s YOUr name.  one who’s willing to lead and guide my life, who has the power to make me the kind of person YOU created me to be.  i trust YOU as my provider.  i trust YOU as my healer.  i trust YOU as my rock of security.  i trust YOU as my FATHER in heaven.  and i pray that YOUr name, YOUr character, will be recognized as of greatest importance in my life.  may my life be a continual invitation for others to join YOUr family.  i pray this in JESUS’ name.  amen.

just a thought from the front porch…

be patient and trust HIM…

in whatever difficult situation you are asking GOD to help you with, thank HIM in advance because HE’s working things out.  here in james 5.7 he gives the illustration of the farmer.  when the farmer plants the seed, he’s waiting for that seed.  while he’ waiting, GOD is working behind the scenes to cause that plant to sprout.  HE’s creating the conditions so at the right time, in the right way there will be a harvest.  the farmer waits, GOD works. 

philippians 2.13 (niv), GOD who works in you.  maybe you can’t see it, but HE is. 

romans 8:28 (niv), and we know that in all things, GOD works... 

in every circumstance in your life, GOD is working.  be patient.  i don’t know what kind of problem you have this week, but regardless of the problem you’re going through (financial, relational, health) GOD is working in that problem.  be patient and trust HIM.

just a thought from the front porch…

there is a way out if you trust…

what is your most vulnerable area?  what is your weak spot?  GOD knows it.  have you ever figured it out?

if you haven’t, you need to because once you’ve figured out where you are weak you will then know when and where you’re most likely to fall and you can avoid it. 

it is stupid to put yourself in situations that will automatically tempt your weakest area.  where are you vulnerable?  be realistic about the problem.  where do i have a lack of self control? 

is it my temper?  is it my appetite?  that is my weak area.  is it my spending?  is it my words – i’m continually talking all the time and say things i later regret.  is it drinking?  is it cocaine?  drugs?  is it lustful thoughts? 

what is the area that satan knows is my hot button and he’s always baiting me in that area?  figure it out and then admit it to GOD?  say, “GOD, you know the areas i’ve fallen in.  i’ve stumbled.  i want a clean slate.  i want to start over.  get free from my past.  get forgiveness.”  that’s available.  salvation is the first step in victory over temptation.  ask CHRIST to come into your life and give you the power.

1 corinthians 10.13 (niv), GOD is faithful.  HE will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  but when you are tempted, HE will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.

what a great promise.  GOD never puts more on you – HE never allows more on you – than HE puts in you to bear it up.

you say, “i just can’t help myself!”  wanna bet?  “it was too strong a temptation, i just couldn’t help myself!”  GOD says that is not true.  you’re just depending on yourself instead of depending on HIM.

GOD says, “I will make a way out if you trust ME.”  the fact is there is hope and you can change if you want to and if you’ll let CHRIST change you from the inside out.  there is a way out if you trust in HIM.

just a thought from the front porch…

relax, trust, co-operate...

relax.  trust GOD to know what’s best for your life.  co-operate with HIS purpose so you don’t short circuit the process.  that’s what’s called faith.  james 1.6 (niv), when he asks he must believe and not doubt.  relax.  let GOD work.

letter to a pastor:

dear pastor, “it has amazed me how the LORD has moved in my life in the past two years.  i’ve always known about the LORD and went to church but when i lost my mother in the past two years things changed.  watching someone i love and respected and being eaten away by cancer so quickly i kept asking that one question, “why?”  but strange things happened.  GOD took over in my life.  so many things happened to change my life even through such adversity and sadness.  then four months later the man i had loved for six years ended our relationship but GOD was there, again giving me wisdom and strength and protection.  then i had to overcome a drinking problem and i did.  it’s been one year and two weeks that the LORD has kept me from drinking.  HE moved in again at that point and saved me from myself.  since then i’m trusting HIM more and more each day and it is so exciting.  yes, there are still problems and sometimes deep depression but HE is there.  i know now that if i choose i can trust HIM.  do you know what that has done for me?  each day is a growing experience for me with HIM.  i know GOD sent me to this church to hear your teaching.  i wish and hope the LORD will make me grow so i can help others in the hard times and help them to know HIM.”

my heart breaks when i think about some of the heartache and pain many of you feel.  there are some of you that are going to be in GOD’s hall of fame.  you have maintained a sweet spirit in the odds of incredible pressure – things that people did to you, that people did about you, situations you have been living with.  it’s not always easy to have a joyful heart in the middle of problems.

even when you want to have a joyful attitude it’s still difficult.  that’s why you need to pray for two things: wisdom to understand the trial and faith to endure the trial.  you need them both.  james says you need wisdom to know what’s going on and faith to hang in there and never, never give up.  you’re never a failure until you quit.

GOD says the devil wants to use problems to defeat you but GOD wants to use problems to develop you.  which will it be?

just a thought from the front porch…

no trust without truth…

i don’t know what it is in your relationship that you won’t talk about.  it may be sex.  but you can’t talk about it.  it may be money.  it may be a secret habit.  it may be in-laws.  it may be an ex spouse.  it may be deep dark fear.  but you can’t talk about it and you hold it in abeyance.  and you keep yourself from having intimacy.  healthy relationships are built on honesty.

the bible says in proverbs 24.26 (tev), an honest answer is a sign of a true friendship.  a true relationship.  a true marriage.  there is no trust without truth.  if you don’t have truth telling in your relationship you can’t have trust.  and if you don’t have trust i don’t care what you say.  it’s not much of relationship whether you’re married or it’s just your boyfriend or girlfriend.  it’s not a relationship without trust.  and trust is predetermined by truth.

in fact we’re commanded by GOD to speak the truth to each other in love.  ephesians 4.15 (tev) says, speak the truth in a spirit of love.  yet so many married couples are stuck in superficiality.  because nobody has the courage to speak up about something.  we all need each other because we’re all blind to our weaknesses.  you don’t know the weaknesses in your life that other people see.  i don’t know the weaknesses in my life that other people see.  we all have blind spots.  some of us have bald spots but all of us have blind spots.  you need other people.

just a thought from the front porch…

stop trying and just start trusting…

last month margaret and i flew back to long island from colorado where we were with brett my son and his family.  now how about when the 747 that we were on is starting to taxi down the runway and as it begins to go i start trying to help it, try to get one foot off the ground then both feet off the ground.  i’m flapping along.  then all of a sudden the flight attendant comes back and says, “sir, what are you doing?”  i say, “i’m helping it get off the ground!”  she says, “sir, you don’t have to do that!”  i say, “yes i do!  i am committed to making this thing work.”  she says, “you don't have to do this.  just relax.  trust the force!”  i say, “no.  i can’t trust.  i’ve got to try.  i’ve got to help this pilot get this thing off the ground.”  and inevitably the plane takes off.  but my hands are getting more and more tired and soon my arms collapse because i can’t do it anymore and i just let go.  guess what?  the plane keeps going.  i needed to stop trying and just start trusting. 

that didn’t happen but you get the point.

GOD brought some of you here to the front porch so HE could say this to you – i hope you’re listening – “you can stop flapping your arms.” 

i have seen some single adults – men and women – who are so eager to get married they pop from single’s scene to single’s scene flapping as hard as they can and it looks silly.  they’re making a fool of themselves.  “i’ve got to get married somehow!” 

the battle is not yours but GOD’s.  “i’ve got to make this business deal work....  i’ve got to raise perfect kids...  “  name your flap! 

some of you have been flapping for a long time and if the truth were known you’ve come here to the porch saying, “GOD, i’m so tired!  i can’t do this.  it is too hard.  it is too much.  it requires too much emotional and physical and spiritual energy.  i cannot keep up.  i quit!”  GOD says, “it’s about time!  congratulations. now I can get something done in your life.” 

as long as you’re trying to help out GOD, you’re trying to control things.  you can’t help out GOD.  HE helps you out.  the moment you relax and begin to trust, things can start happening.  GOD says, “you give up?  good.  I’ve been waiting for this for years.  are you going to start letting me take over?”

just a thought from the front porch…

I’ll fix it if you just wait…

in dealing with delays in your life, don't fret. instead: trust GOD’s timing.  psalm 37.7-8 (tlb), rest in the LORD, wait patiently for HIM to act. don’t fret and worry.  it only leads to harm. 

one time, JESUS and the disciples were in a boat and JESUS fell asleep.  a big storm came up and the disciples freaked out.  JESUS is in the corner of the boat sleeping.  they wake JESUS up,  “why are you sleeping?”  HE said, “do you think GOD is going to let the boat sink with ME in it?”   JESUS, by HIS sleeping, was saying, I can trust GOD even in the middle of a storm.  I don’t have to worry about it.

when we get into a storm, we lay awake all night.  and we fret about it.  the very fact that we’re lying awake at night means we’re not living by faith.  we can’t get any sleep because we don’t really trust GOD to work it out.  GOD says, “don’t fear, don’t fret.   remember I’m always with you and trust MY timing.” 

don't fret and worry.  it only leads to harm.  worry doesn’t work.  it just makes you miserable.  so stop worrying and start trusting GOD. 

ecclesiastes 3.11 (tev), GOD has set the right time for everything.  GOD’s timing is perfect. 

this is so difficult for americans.  we don’t like to wait.  americans are activists – doers.  we think it’s far easier to work than wait.  if i can do something about the problem in my home, do something about the problem in my body, do something about the problem at work – then i’m mr. fixer.  GOD says, “I’ll fix it if you just wait”.  it’s the delay that’s building your character.  HE can fix it better than you can.

just a thought from the front porch…

the raw material…

we are all about problem – solution – done.  problem – solution – done.  but GOD’s all about problem – patience – growth.  problem – patience – growth.  because more than anything HE’s interested in what HE wants to do in your life.  and your problems, my problems, are the raw material out of which GOD manufactures hope.  out of which GOD moves us to trust HIM in something that in this world is not going to last to trusting in HIM in something in the next world is going to last. 

we all trust in things that aren’t going to last.  one of the things our problems do is help us to realize “i can’t trust in that anymore.  i’ve got to find something greater to trust in.”  GOD tests us, not to grade us but to grow us.  HE doesn’t test you, looking at you thinking, “wonder how they’re going to do with this one.  oh!  they get a c minus on that one.  they didn’t do very well.”  GOD already knows how you’re going to react.  HE’s GOD.  HE knows everything.  so why does HE let us go through tests?  because HE knows what they’re going to do to our heart.  HE knows how they’re going to grow us. 

but growth and hope are not guaranteed results of problems.  i know plenty of people who go through problems and they’ve got no growth going on.  they’ve got no hope in their lives.  it takes patience.  that’s why you want to make patience your priority. 

so what is it that keeps us from hope?  circumstances?  it’s easy to think that.  but no.  every one of us knows someone who has the best of circumstances but no hope at all.  and we know people who have the worst of circumstances but they’re lives are overflowing with hope.  so obviously it’s not about circumstances.  it’s something about your heart, your attitude, in the circumstances. 

now, having patience in the midst of problems is easy to talk about but it’s hard to do.  whether you think they should or not, whether you feel guilty about that or not, your problems tend to wear you down after a while.  so what do you do?  here’s the answer.

don’t face your problems alone.  GOD never meant for you to face those problems alone and try to be patient alone.  galatians 6.2 (tlb), share each other’s troubles and problems and so obey our LORD’s command.”  our LORD’s command to love one another.  you share each other’s troubles and problems.  GOD didn’t mean for you to face it alone. 

GOD says we’re not built to face it alone.  HE has made us to share our problems with other people so we can lift each other up and encourage each other.  problems have this power to move us from false hope to real hope but it takes other people involved in our lives for that to happen. 

just a thought from the front porch…

the power of trust…

another defining part in noah’s life was when he entered the ark and that shows the motivational power of trust. he took his obedience and applied it by trusting GOD.

and that had to be a scary moment. he’s got all these animals in this ark and he walks in and genesis 7.16 (msg), then GOD shut the door behind him. it wasn’t noah that shut the door, but GOD. that’s trust!

in my life many times i want to keep my options open – “GOD, i’ll do this for YOU but let me keep this over here open in case this doesn’t work out. i can go through that door too.” but if GOD’s saying, “i want you to shut the door,” it’s shut.

trust. genesis 7.6-10 (msg), noah and his wife and sons and their wives boarded the ship to escape the flood…just as GOD had commanded noah. in seven days the floodwaters came. the door was shut and it was seven days after that door was shut before the rain started to fall. how do you think noah felt during those seven days? seven long days. “GOD, what am i doing in here? YOU’ve made this promise. the rain’s supposed to come. where’s the rain?”

i don’t know why GOD waited seven days. i don’t know if HE was giving people an opportunity to repent outside the ark. i don’t know if HE was doing something inside noah’s heart within the ark.

and i don’t know why GOD waits in my life sometimes, or in your life. but HE does, doesn’t HE? some of you are in that seven-day waiting period and you’re wondering what in the world is GOD doing? you’ve gone in, the door has been shut. you’ve made the commitment, total commitment to GOD, and you’re asking, “GOD, i'm not sure this is going to work out!” noah had to feel that way but he kept coming back to trust and obedience.

in the span of things what was seven days? the longest seven days of his life, that’s what they were! in the span of days what’s seven days or seven years to us or 11 years? sometimes they can be the longest time in our lives. but trust says “GOD’s working.” the rain hasn’t started yet. what HE said hasn’t happened yet. but HE’s preparing it to happen just in HIS timing. noah’s trust was vital. and so is your’s.

just a thought from the front porch…

trust, faith, expectation…

another key to GOD’s blessing in your life is to expect GOD’s blessing by faith.

you receive it in CHRIST, you celebrate it in worship, and you expect it by faith. GOD blesses people who trust HIM. GOD blesses people who believe in HIM. GOD blesses people who expect HIM to bless them.

hebrews 11.1 (njv), says this, only faith can guarantee the blessings we hope for. not going to church, being a nice person or anything else. only faith can guarantee the blessings we hope for.

GOD blesses you when you trust HIM. and GOD loves it when you expect HIM to take care of you. it’s a compliment. you say, “GOD, i don’t know how to handle this problem but i’m trusting YOU. i’m up to my neck and i’m in deep and i feel like i’m going under for the last time. but GOD YOU have blessed me in the past so i am certain that you’re going to do it again because you are a good GOD.” “GOD, i don’t know how this is all going to work out. i don’t know what you’re doing and i don’t know what the problem’s solution is but i do know this. YOU are a GOD of blessing and YOU have blessed me many times before and i am counting on it. i am trusting you. i’m expecting you to bless me.”

and GOD says, “that’s MY girl! that’s MY guy! you’re doing exactly what I want you to do. trust ME.”

it is faith that brings the blessing of GOD in your life. the bible says, hebrews 11.6 (niv), without faith it is impossible to please GOD. every time i chose to worry instead of have faith i am unpleasing to GOD. all those times i chose to have anxiety instead of trusting GOD, i displease HIM.

just a thought from the front porch…