Category: Journey Devotional

God is Strong

God is Strong

“Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit”…”Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy”…”Stephen, they found they couldn’t take their eyes off him-his face was life the face of an angel!” These verses found in Acts tell of an amazing moment of God’s Faithfulness through a man full of Jesus.

Ephesians 6 says this:
“God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way.”

What we know of Stephen is that he was living Ephesians 6. Without a doubt. As we head into Thanksgiving next week and then into the Advent season it is a good time to reflect. A moment of introspection in which we look at our lives, what we have to be thankful for and in being thankful living lives of thanksgiving. A life of Thanksgiving in which God is strong, because He is strong.

Because He is strong, we can live in faith that He will…
As we rely on Him, seek Him, rest in Him, He fills us with more of Him, His Holy Spirit…
The more we are full of the Holy Spirit the more our lives reflect grace…
Grace, when given fills us with power to change our environment…

This is Jesus’ heart for you.

You are Loved,

cj

Hope

Hope

“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” i have said this often but wasn’t sure where it came from; so i did what everyone does when they want to learn new information, i googled it. You know what i found? An amazing poem written by Robert Burns in 1785. Here is the stanza in which this oft` repeated line lays:

But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men,
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!
The poem sheds light on the mental state of Burns, who at the time was only 26 years old. He had a lot going for him, popular, young, well respected, yet still in this and the closing stanza we find a man with a bleak outlook and little hope of change. The author of the biography that i read made this observation, “Not at all what one might expect from a young man of twenty-six, supposedly so popular  with the lassies, and with his whole life ahead of him, but nevertheless expressing sentiments with which many of us today can easily relate.” 

It seems that we do live in a world that in~spite of its many advantages, technologies, entertainments and beauty, we suffer from a lack of, for a lack of a better term, hope. Hope for a future that is better than ones present.

Let me encourage us with this, there is hope, life can get better, and our choice to choose joy and hope over sadness and despair is ours to make. Psalm 65:5 & 78:7 gives a look into true hope…

“You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.”

“So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.”

Finally, Matthew writes, “And his name [Jesus] will be the hope of all the world.”

There is HOPE, You are Loved,

cj

Un~intended Conversations

Un~intended Conversations

i recently had a conversation with someone who i believe is a non-believer (actually i have many of those conversations but i want to single this one out a bit). In reality it wasn’t so much a conversation as it was a chat. Regardless, it will do well in making my point.

i made a comment, that clearly was sarcasm to anyone who really knows me. This individual did not. They read it and found it to be offensive, and they replied in part, “why must i shove my holiday on everyone…” i attempted, it appears in vain, to help the individual understand where my comment was coming from…with clearly no resolution. This person, however did go to my Facebook page, which is open for all the world to see, and then proceeded to make accusations based on the fact i am:
1. a Christian,
2. post often with Christian content,
3. do not share their particular social outlook. (based on posted content)

i realized something that is true for all Christians, in these days in which we live. We will be judged by the conduct of others calling themselves “Christians”. We will not easily persuade others to look at us in another light, than that tainted by our present culture towards Christians. We are sadly lumped into only two categories, liberal christianity; and conservative christianity…both lowercase on purpose because neither truly reflects the heart and nature of Jesus.

Here is the point i want to make, a desperate plea from my heart to yours, love. Love God with your whole being, and love people as you love yourself. Pray, pray for those that persecute you, spitefully use you, speak all kinds of evil against you. Live this life, don’t just talk about it, don’t just read about it, don’t just pretend when only certain people are watching.

These passages that we have been covering in coffee with Jesus really have been hitting home especially in light of this recent chat.

Ephesians 4:1-4; 30-32
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

You should read the whole Chapter of Ephesians 4, the whole book actually but you should get the idea from these two excerpts. In conclusion let me remind us of what Peter wrote: 1 Peter 2:12

12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

You are Loved,

cj

The Lord’s Prayer #7

The Lord’s Prayer #7

temptation and rescue…

a final look at, “Our Father in Heaven…Matt 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

Temptation is all around us. It is nearly constant as we live in an age of hyper communication. Tweets, Facebook notifications, Instagram, and countless other social networks keep us connected, informed and tempted. There are images shared by friends that appear in my feed that are inappropriate and if i am not careful i can find myself entertaining the temptation it presents. But, its not just social media, its web surfing, watching TV, listening to music, even conversations with friends. Temptation, is the mode of operation used by the devil himself.

That is why it is critical that we seek the strength of the Holy Spirit within us so that we do not yield to temptation. In fact, Yahoshua, fully aware of the tempter and his ways, doesn’t just stop with praying for strength over temptation but “rescue” from the evil one.

How is your prayer life when it comes to praying for strength against temptation and rescue from the evil one? i fear it is easy to over look this in our daily prayer life. It goes to weakness and no one likes to be weak. No one likes to admit struggle but that is exactly what this prayer leads us to do. We need His strength to be victorious over temptation and to receive rescue from the grip of the devil.

Father, help us to not yield to temptation, rescuing us from the evil one, may we live for You wholly. In Yahoshua’s Name…amen.

You are Loved,
cj

The Lord’s Prayer #6

The Lord’s Prayer #6

forgive us our sins…as we…

Continuing with, “Our Father in Heaven…Matt 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

“Forgive us our sins,” isn’t it simply amazing that we can come to the creator of everything with such a request, and He is more than willing to do so?! Its awesome really. Even now as i write it, i think of how insane that prospect really is…forgiveness of all our sins. Wow, i mean wow!

It’s good enough to stop right there right? i mean what else could there be to get hung up on. Yahoshua, came to earth, lived, died, and yet lives victoriously so that we can come to Him for the forgiveness of our sins.

Yet, there is more. In fact there is a lot more. Yahoshua doesn’t stop there and we must not stop there either. “As we have forgiven those who sin against us.” Suddenly it doesn’t seem so easy does it? It is easy to receive forgiveness, far more easier than offering forgiveness to others. There is story after story in Scripture that reveals the dire need for us to forgive. We must be willing to lay down our pride, (as that is what it boils down to)  and forgive. It may not be easy but it is essential. Talk it out with someone if you need to first…but find away to forgive.

“…and forgive [me] my sins, as [I] have forgiven those who sin against me.”

You are loved,
cj

The Lord’s Prayer #5

The Lord’s Prayer #5

Give us today…

Continuing with, “Our Father in Heaven…Matt 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

“Give us today, the food we need,” It’s easier, i find, to ask for things for tomorrow. Things for the future, needs or not, in fact i find it real easy to ask for wants more than needs. No one wants to feel needy, no one wants to feel like they cannot provide the basics for life. Pride roots itself in there, it whispers in our ears, don’t let Him or anyone know your needs! You will look weak, unable, unintelligent! Yahoshua’s knowledge of our nature leads Him to instruct us to pray for today’s need.

Don’t get wrapped up in tomorrow. Focus on today. It doesn’t mean that we don’t concern ourselves ever with tomorrow, only that we embrace this day, today. We live in it, we seek His provision for it and we honor Him because of it.

You are loved,
cj

The Lords Prayer #4

The Lords Prayer #4

Your Will BE Done…

Continuing with, “Our Father in Heaven…Matt 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

“May Your Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Have you ever really considered these word of Yahoshua? What they really mean and do we really mean them when we repeat them? Do you repeat them?

What is happening in heaven that Yahoshua teaches us to pray about on earth? The list really isn’t that long.

Praise.
Worship.
Adoration.
Obedience.

You are loved,

cj

The Lords Prayer #3

The Lords Prayer #3

Your Kingdom come

Continuing with, “Our Father in Heaven…Matt 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

So much in this statement, “Your Kingdom come”. i will only focus on a small part of it to emphasis one point. The Kingdom is HERE! On that great and glorious day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended and we through the Spirit can live in His Kingdom now.

It is in the Spiritual, in thought, word and deed. Soon it will be in the physical as well. So we rejoice in the now. In the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and soon we will rejoice in the presence and power of our Adonai Yahoshua bodily as He returns.

12 Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

You are Loved,
cj

God’s Holiness and Love: Insights from the Lord’s Prayer

God’s Holiness and Love: Insights from the Lord’s Prayer

May Your Name be kept Holy

Continuing with, “Our Father in Heaven…Matt 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven,
may Your name be kept holy.
10 May Your Kingdom come soon.
May Your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who offended us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

Let me remind us of another passage we find in scripture 1 Peter 1:16   “For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” Now this passage in reality is impossible apart from Messiah. We can not on our own ever achieve holiness. So how can we be holy? Well, we know that Elohim is Holy, and if Elohim dwells in us and is changing us into His likeness then we are made holy through Yahoshua. It is His righteousness, His grace, His mercy…not our own works that we can boast.

There is another aspect of our part of holiness. It is a set-apart holiness. Although we live in the world we are to be separate from it. We are not to partake in its sins. We put on the new creation brought through repentance and baptism. This new way of life is sanctified in Yahoshua. Through the power of the Holy Spirit within us we are enabled to live holy set-apart lives for the Father.

Yahoshua, in teaching us to pray reveals the very nature of Elohim. Holy, yes, but also love. Yes, love. As we hear Yahoshua say, Elohim is Holy…we also see the Love of Yahoshua displayed in every action. Elohim’s love at work in and through the person of Yahoshua reveals His Holy Love. To make us Holy as He is Holy so that we might dwell in His presence. Messiah’s holiness in us…may we keep His name Holy and wholly before us.

you are loved,

cj

Meditating on Our Father: A Week of Reflection

Meditating on Our Father: A Week of Reflection

Our Father in Heaven

Your Kingdom come swiftly Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father who is in heaven,

uphold the holiness of Your name.

10 Bring in Your kingdom

so that Your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven.

11 Give us the bread we need for today.

12 Forgive us for the ways we have sinned against You,

just as we also forgive those who have wronged us.

13 And don’t lead us into temptation,

but rescue us from the evil one.

This prayer that Yahoshua uses to teach His disciples to pray is so rich in practicality, simple, yet deep, humble, yet bold…all who dare speak it, who dare meditate on it, will be changed.

Our Father…lets just meditate on that for a week. Our Father, do you believe that Yahovah, the Great I AM, Creator of the universe, the stars and planets alike, the one who breathed life into existence on earth desires for us to call Him Father, but not just that but Daddy?! “You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

Do you realize the magnitude of that TRUTH, Abba or Daddy as we would translate it, an intimate rendering of Father. He desires intimacy with us as Daddy, He commands respect from us as Father.

This week meditate on [Y]our Father.

you are loved,
cj