HE puts ideas in our minds...

there are lessons we only learn through pain. the psalmist says there in psalm 119.67, 71-72 (lb), i used to wander off until YOU punished me; now i closely follow all YOU say...the punishment YOU gave me was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to YOUr laws.

pain gets our attention. it's GOD's hearing aid. GOD whispers to us in our pleasures but HE shouts to us in our pain. pain is GOD's megaphone. when you're hurting GOD is saying, "hey! there's somebody here who wants to help! you can depend on me. i'll help you through that tough time, if you'll let me."

when you hear GOD speak, in your heart, you can change. nobody can really have lasting change unless JESUS CHRIST is in your life. nobody can have their life turned around so radically for the good unless you get a power greater than yourself in your life to do it and develop a relationship with JESUS CHRIST.

another way that GOD speaks and is through impressions. HE puts ideas in our minds. and when GOD puts an idea in your mind we call that inspiration. "i was inspired. i got a creative idea."

where do you think that creative idea came from? it came from the CREATOR. GOD the CREATOR. when you are being creative you're being most like GOD.

as I said when GOD puts an idea in your mind we call it an inspiration. when the devil puts an idea in your mind, we call it a temptation. so GOD is trying to speak to you.

john 14.26 (ph), the HOLY SPIRIT...will be your teacher and will bring to your mind all I have said to you. now the phrase bring to your mind means HE gives impressions. HE gives us ideas. HE gives us hunches. HE gives us gut feelings. GOD often does this.

some of your most brilliant ideas weren't yours. they were GOD's. HE was giving them to you. a brilliant business idea, a brilliant family idea, a brilliant relational idea, a brilliant financial idea.

where do you think you got those ideas? GOD loves you, HE cares about you, HE is infinitely interested in all the details of your life. it didn't feel like GOD because it's so natural. you were made to receive ideas from GOD. a lot of things you think up, you're not that smart either. GOD gives you ideas.

just a thought from the front porch…