Lies.....they're a strange thing aren't they? Some people lie to protect themselves, others lie to keep hurtful information from someone. And over time we've developed classifications for lies. A big lie. A little lie. The "little-white-lie". An innocent little lie. No matter what people call them or their reason for doing it's wrong. The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:16 says, "Thou shalt not lie!" (say that with a deep God-like voice for full effect) Simply stated, God's not a liar! In fact, Hebrews 6:18 says that "it is impossible for God to lie". But our enemy, Satan, his key character trait is deception and lies.
In John 8:44 it tells us that Satan is in fact the "father of lies", there is NO truth in him! And in fact, his daily goal is to get you to believe his lies and abandon the truth of God. John 10:10 goes on to tell us that Satan wants to "steal, kill, and destroy" every good thing in your life! And the primary way he accomplishes this is with the lie. If he can get you to believe the lie, it's just a matter of time before your life (spiritually & physically) falls apart.
Let me ask you a question. What lie are you believing today? Here are some very common lies he tries to get us to believe. Know body loves me! I will never get over my past! God could never forgive me for what I've done! My life will never get any better! God doesn't care about me! Nobody knows what I'm going through! I'm all alone! Nobody would miss me if I ended it all!
Don't Believe The Lie!!!! I have some positive news for you today. Whatever lie Satan is telling you, the exact opposite is true since there is absolutely NO truth in him. So that means, you are loved! God CAN deliver you from your past! Not only is life going to get better, it's going to be amazing! God loves you! (John 3:16) You are not alone! Your life is valuable and priceless! Don't Believe The Lie!!!!
Remember what Jeremiah 29:11 says about your life, "I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Everytime Satan tries to tell you a lie, remind him that he's a liar and that you have God's promises!
"Lord, today I choose not to believe the lie. No matter how I feel, my feelings don't determine truth. God, you are truth! And I choose to believe what you say about me! And today I embrace your plans for my life! Help me to feed my soul today with your truth. AMEN!"
Enough IS Enough
When's the last time you heard that phrase. Maybe you remember hearing your parents say it to you when you were getting in trouble as a child (for me that was often). Or maybe you've used that phrase when you were fed up with a situation or with somebody. But that's not really what I'm talking about.
I'm really talking about this insane mindset of acquisition. We want, and want, and want; but when do we get to the place where enough is enough? I can finally admit that in my twenties, I was addicted to this mindset. I lived to get more. More stuff, better cars, bigger T.V. (still have a 27 inch by the way), I wanted more! My joy was derived from getting more stuff. But I found out over time that the stuff lost it's shine real quick, and it left me more empty than before.
Evidently we are a hard-headed culture. While I am PROUD to be an American citizen and enjoy all the benefits that affords, I am disappointed at times about who we're becoming. Contentment has become a curse word in our society. We are training a new generation that what's most important is grabbing onto whatever you can get your hands on. We've proven as a society that we are willing to trade a good marriage because it gets boring, for a different marriage, solely for the emotional rush. We are willing to work later, harder, weekends, to obtain newer cars, bigger houses, and larger bank accounts. All the while we neglect our families and our relationships in the process. The Bible tells us this, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" (Matt. 16:26 NLT)
Maybe Jesus was right when he gave us the formula for success in Matthew 6:33 when he said, "Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NIV) The formula is simple; when will God be enough for you? When will we come to the place where we want him more than anything? Because if we don't, we will continue to look for fulfillment in all the wrong places and in the process lose who we are. Are you willing to say Enough IS Enough? Because I promise, God is enough for you!
"Jesus, today I decide to seek you first. I give you my list of wants, and I've decided that what I want most is you! And I believe that your Word is true; you will supply everything else I need! AMEN!"
I'm really talking about this insane mindset of acquisition. We want, and want, and want; but when do we get to the place where enough is enough? I can finally admit that in my twenties, I was addicted to this mindset. I lived to get more. More stuff, better cars, bigger T.V. (still have a 27 inch by the way), I wanted more! My joy was derived from getting more stuff. But I found out over time that the stuff lost it's shine real quick, and it left me more empty than before.
Evidently we are a hard-headed culture. While I am PROUD to be an American citizen and enjoy all the benefits that affords, I am disappointed at times about who we're becoming. Contentment has become a curse word in our society. We are training a new generation that what's most important is grabbing onto whatever you can get your hands on. We've proven as a society that we are willing to trade a good marriage because it gets boring, for a different marriage, solely for the emotional rush. We are willing to work later, harder, weekends, to obtain newer cars, bigger houses, and larger bank accounts. All the while we neglect our families and our relationships in the process. The Bible tells us this, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" (Matt. 16:26 NLT)
Maybe Jesus was right when he gave us the formula for success in Matthew 6:33 when he said, "Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NIV) The formula is simple; when will God be enough for you? When will we come to the place where we want him more than anything? Because if we don't, we will continue to look for fulfillment in all the wrong places and in the process lose who we are. Are you willing to say Enough IS Enough? Because I promise, God is enough for you!
"Jesus, today I decide to seek you first. I give you my list of wants, and I've decided that what I want most is you! And I believe that your Word is true; you will supply everything else I need! AMEN!"
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Monday, April 20, 2009
1st Serving of Soul Food
This will will be my one-and-only first blog post. It only took me 34 years to do this (give me a little bit of a break, they didn't have blogs the whole 34 years). So I'm thinking, "What should I write the first time that would make people want to come back and read my posts later?" So where do I begin?
Well at age 11, I accidentally jabbed a utility knife into my leg and had to get 4 stitches. Or I could tell you about how I rode my dirt bike full speed into a moving car at the age of 13 (not on purpose of course, the car should have moved!). Or maybe you'd be interested in the story of how I got my left index finger caught in an electric hedge trimmer at the age of 25 (yes....stitches again). Are you sensing a theme here? Most of my life stories seem to be painful and require stitches. But I don't think that's really what you want to hear, and that's definitely not going to bring you back to read more. You pretty much know how that story ends.
But if you are anything like me (and I pray you aren't) you are searching for answers to a few basic human feelings/emotions/thoughts. Questions like; Why am I here?, or How do I get through today?, or Where do I go from here, and who can help me get there? I hope that through my thoughts, observations, and musings you will find some encouragement no matter where you are in the journey of life.
So come back hungry every week and enjoy some good Soul Food!
Mark
Well at age 11, I accidentally jabbed a utility knife into my leg and had to get 4 stitches. Or I could tell you about how I rode my dirt bike full speed into a moving car at the age of 13 (not on purpose of course, the car should have moved!). Or maybe you'd be interested in the story of how I got my left index finger caught in an electric hedge trimmer at the age of 25 (yes....stitches again). Are you sensing a theme here? Most of my life stories seem to be painful and require stitches. But I don't think that's really what you want to hear, and that's definitely not going to bring you back to read more. You pretty much know how that story ends.
But if you are anything like me (and I pray you aren't) you are searching for answers to a few basic human feelings/emotions/thoughts. Questions like; Why am I here?, or How do I get through today?, or Where do I go from here, and who can help me get there? I hope that through my thoughts, observations, and musings you will find some encouragement no matter where you are in the journey of life.
So come back hungry every week and enjoy some good Soul Food!
Mark
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Monday, April 13, 2009
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