Facing Reality

                                                               When The Door Slams

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.                                                                                                                                                Isaiah 53:3-4

          In our culture, there are many times when we want to associate with the hero, the leader, and the beautiful people. We sometimes hope that we will feel better about ourselves by our association with such figures. 

          Jesus chose a different image for Himself than the top rung of society. In His physical appearance Jesus was not particularly outstanding or attractive. Rather than being the hero, Jesus was despised and even rejected. He experienced sorrow and grief.

          Jesus chose the image of the unlovely. He chose to identify with where most of us live on a daily basis, in order that we could identify with Him. Jesus did not want us to have to escape from the realities of life and try to get next to a superstar. Jesus took on human form and suffered the rejection and disappointments of life. He suffered through everyday trials, but live victoriously through them all.

  Think about this: He did this in order that we also would be able to face our reality honestly, and with the Lord's help be victorious. Jesus identified with us so we could identify with Him. People are drawn to Christ because He is a real person who lived as we live. If we are like Him, we will be approachable and attractive to others not because of the image we project, but because we are real.

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.                                  Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.                                                                                                                                                                                Never Rest Ministries     

From The Love Of Power To The Power Of Love

                                                              When The Door Slams

The greedy sir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.                                                Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.                              Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.                                                                                                                                                                                                   Proverbs 28: 25-28                           

          Do you ever wonder if the Bible has anything relevant to say to you? A sure sign that the Scriptures are God's Word is that they hit each of us right where we are living. A proud heart shows up in the way we relate to others. Do you have a need to always be in control? Inside every overly controlling adult is a wounded, shame-driven child. 

          Trust in the Lord and applying His principles moves us from the love of power to the power of love. After people been with us do they go away impressed with our greatness, or full of the possibilities of their own greatness? Do they feel used or misunderstood?   

          Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of sacrificial, serving love. As His followers, we are to be Christ's channels of love to the people in our lives. We must not refuse to open our minds, our hearts, and our arms. We must share our Christian principles with others, and embrace who they are. 

          Think about this: When we relate in this way to others, we enable them to have a clearer and bigger understanding of God. We can make the invisible God more "real," and bring about in each other's lives a radical awareness an accountability of what it means to be deeply love by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Lord, help me to make You more real to the people in my life today. 

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.                          Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank  Him for His forgiveness.       

                                                                                                               Never Rest Ministries

Discipline Or Punishment

                                                          When The Door Slams

For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.                                                                                            Though he brings grief. he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.                                        For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.                                                                                                                                                                           Lamentations 3:31-33

         In many homes today, ranging across all social, economic and educational lines, the horrendous crime of child abuse is being committed everyday because of stress in the home. Physically abusive parents seem to have many similarities. Instead of dealing with their own negative feelings, they assault their children. Physical abusers often come from violent homes and enter adulthood with unmet needs.

          If you were raised by physically abusive person, you have experienced the horror of being punished to serve their purposes, not for your good. Two important distinctions must be made: the difference between punishment and discipline, and the difference between your earthly guardians and your heavenly Father.           

          Think about this: Discipline is motivated by love; punishment is the result of fury. Discipline is what is best for the child or person, while punishment is a reliever of parental poison. We must also grasp our heavenly Father's character. 

          Look how incredibly different it is from that of vengeful, insecure child abusers. Our heavenly Father disciplines us but does not inflict pain maliciously nor grieve our hearts as does the abusive guardian. Our heavenly Father compassion and mercy are constantly with us. He has our best interest forever in His heart. Lord, think you for loving me enough to discipline me. Teach me to discipline rather than punish. 

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.                          Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.    

                                                                                                              Never Rest Ministries 

Weakness

                                                          When The Door Slams

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.                                                                                                                                              Hebrews 4:15-16

          The people in my life that I have felt a real freedom to talk with are very few with empathetic and understanding. I have felt that they were on my side; that they were for me. In contrast, there are many I would never have gone and talked with because I felt they were judgmental or condemning. 

          In order to feel safe and share our deep feelings, we need friends who are empathetic, supportive, and caring. If the person we confide in has also gone through a similar experience, that will increase our confidence. For example, a victim will often feel safer working with a therapist who has also been a victim.

          The Lord is like this for us. He was tempted in every way we are. The Lord is our High Priest. In Old Testament times, the high priest was the one who represented the people of Israel to God. He was their spokesman. Jesus is our representative before God, and He is on our side. 

          We can confidently come to Jesus, since He is for us. He has experienced what we are going through, and He sympathizes with our weakness. Jesus does not condemn when we come to Him, but in Him we will find mercy and grace. 

Think about this: If I am hesitant to go to Jesus in prayer, it might be because I have not seen who He really is. He is on my side; He went through what I am experiencing; and He is empathetic regarding my weakness.         

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.                          Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.                                                                                                                                                                               Never Rest Ministries      

Temptation

                                When The Door Slams

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And 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 that you can endure it.        

                                                                                                                         1 Corinthians 10:12-13

          True wisdom is demonstrated in how we understands and handles temptation. What does the Bible say about temptation? James 1:13-15 tells us God is not in the "tempting" business. He is not the author of temptation. Instead, temptations come from our own subconscious desires. 

          Today's passage says that we can be tempted when we least expect it. When we are standing firm or think that we are doing well in avoiding sin, we need to be careful lest we fall flat on our faces. Temptation is also a progressively developing process. 

          Think about this: Evil desire can creep into our conscious awareness. The thought is followed by being enticed, where there is no accountability, there will be no peace or trust, temptation have negative outcomes. Like a fish drawn from its hiding place toward the wiggling bait on the fisherman's hook. 

          As the thought is focused on, it develops, and finally it is acted out. Sin leads to death. But we do have hope. Temptation do not need to get the best of us. For each temptation there is an escape. If we call on the Lord, He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to withstand it. Lord we need Your help to conquer the temptations and lies in my life.

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.                          Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.              

                                                                                                                Never Rest Ministries