Do you have a good heart?

We have good news. God has made a promise to us and has entered into an agreement with us through the amazing work of Jesus. Our hearts are good. This is stunning because daily, minute by minute, our enemy lies to us causing to believe it is not true.

We must get this in our core. We have been given a new heart through to gift Jesus has given us. It is true. Do we believe it? Do we act like we believe it?

God has called us to do amazing things but they can’t be done if we live in guilt and shame. God will not seem good. He will seem aloof. God speaks to us in our heart. He can do this because he has given us a new heart, free and clean from guilt.

Do we believe God? Do we know our hearts are good? What would our life look like if we lived that reality every minute of every day?

“Well, tell them this, ‘This is your Message from God, the Master. True, I sent you to the far country and scattered you through other lands. All the same, I’ve provided you a temporary sanctuary in the countries where you’ve gone. I will gather you back from those countries and lands where you’ve been scattered and give you back the land of Israel. You’ll come back and clean house, throw out all the rotten images and obscene idols. I’ll give you a new heart. I’ll put a new spirit in you. I’ll cut out your stone heart and replace it with a red-blooded, firm-muscled heart. Then you’ll obey my statutes and be careful to obey my commands. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God! (Ezekiel 11:15-17)

Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. (Luke 6:44-45)

The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (Luke 8:15)

Accountable and it is good!!!

God is good and He is in a great mood. This is nothing to take lightly. We know it and are accountable. There is a judgement. We don’t like to think about it but it is true. We can’t turn our back on what we know. And we know His goodness. We can’t insult Him, His Son and His Spirit by pretending we aren’t His children. We are and must live like it.

We know He is love. We must continue on in the new plan and His good news. No turning back. No half hearted efforts.

May I be accountable for showing God’ goodness to everyone I know.

So be it LORD!!!

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What can’t God do?

What can’t God do? It is a simple question. The silence around this one is deafening.

There is nothing He can’t do. Nothing is impossible with Him. Not a single thing. Nada.

May we all have supernatural courage. Let’s give it up for God!! He is so good. He is so great.

He is God.

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“The children get fed first. ” ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to understand certain realities. The wise person doesn’t argue with him. The wise person has insight.

A woman who had a disturbed daughter heard where Jesus was. She came and knelt at his feet, begging for help. The woman was Greek, Syro-Phoenician by birth. She asked him to cure her daughter. Jesus didn’t respond the way we thought he would. She knows he is right. She knows her place in this world. She knows children get fed first. She also knows if there is anything left from the meal, the dogs will get fed as well. That is how she responds.

Jesus is impressed. He heals her daughter. God is in a good mood and that extends to all, not just the children. No matter what our place in this world, we have a place of honor in His world.

“The children get fed first. ” ~~Jesus Mark 7:27 (The Message)

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How amazing is God?

We serve an amazing God. We need to celebrate everything He does for us. Celebrate Him doesn’t quite seem to capture it though. Paul suggests we revel in God. In Greek, the word is χαίρω. It means to rejoice or be glad. It is also used as a salutation or greeting.

Paul is emphatic. In the New American Standard Translation we read it like this. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

God is in a good mood. Whoo hoo!! I am glad. That is some good news. It is an amazing day in paradise.

I mean, revel in him! ~~Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:4 The Message)

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“He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.” ~~Jesus

God’s generosity extends to everyone. He includes the evil, the bad and the nasty in His plans to redeem and restore. He is not like us, good to those who are good to us but vindictive to those who hurt us.

He gives his best to everyone. Think about that. In our world, we dole things out in a hierarchical way. Average things to most people and the best for a few. Not our Father. He gives his best to everyone. No distinctions.

“He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5 The Message)

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Is God hard and unreasonable?

One of the themes I hear about almost everywhere I turn is about how good God is and what a good mood he is in. The story of the bags of gold that Jesus told is on the same theme. I have heard a lot about using the talents God has given us as the message here. And it is. But part of it, maybe much of it, is about the heart we have for God and how we see Him.

Of the three men in this story, only one starts his conversation with God with an indictment of who God is. His first sentence revealed his heart. He believed at his core that God is a hard, stubborn, and stiff necked. WOW!!!

Now think about all the messages you have heard about God. Which fall in the “God is good” category and which fall into the “God is mean” category. What does God think about that?

Well, my oh my, did God get angry with him? His answer was blistering. Oh my goodness, he ticked Him off big time. This is not the kind of answer I want to get from my Father. I want the “well done” answer. I do not want the “you wicked and lazy” man answer. I want the “he has a heart after God” answer. I want Him to put His arm around me.

May I take what God gives me, have a heart that knows He is good and use what He gives me well.

Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man.” Matthew 25:24

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Will I throw up my hands and walk off the job?

 

Will I throw up my hands and walk off the job? No way. I have to be clear about that. I am in this for all eternity.

Sure, some times it gets real tough and it is tempting. Even Paul could admit that. Jesus never promised us it would always be easy. In fact, he did promise that we would see trouble and hard times. He also reminded us that he leads he way and he has overcome. The victory has been won and we can join him in that victory.

God is in a good mood. He is generous to us all the time not matter what.

Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times.” ~~Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 4:1 The Message) 

 

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“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.” ~~Jesus

We all have the same amount of time every day. Jesus challenges us to use it to focus on it on a few (three) very important issues.

• God-reality – God is first and most importantly God. He has a reality that He gives us when we live in His world. His reality is not the reality of this world. We need to focus on what is the reality in Heaven (God’s world). He wants that reality here on earth. He teaches us to pray “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. What is God’s reality. That should be our focus.
• God-initiative – Everything starts with God. He has created everything. Nothing exists without Him.  Do I see everything that way? Everything in my life, my world, starts with Him. There is not success without Him.
• God-provisions – God gives us every good thing. He is in a good mood. In fact, He is in a great mood. He wants us to have every good thing. We need to focus on what He has for us and not what we want. Do we see the good He is doing or do we see what He is not doing?

Jesus challenges us to focus. With the help of His Holy Spirit, we can do it.

“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 6:31 The Message)

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Am I too bold in what I ask of God?

Am I too bold in what I ask of God? Or am I not bold enough? He has a heart to give to me. He loves to do it. That is just the way He is.

I love to give gifts to my children.  My heavenly Father is the same way only much better at it than I  am. He loves to give us what we ask for. God is in a good mood.

I need to ask. That is my part. And I can be bold in it. I can ask for things I am reluctant or embarrassed to ask for. He actually wants me to ask.

The story Jesus told about the friend and asking boldly is amazing. The word used is variously translated as “boldness” or “persistence”. The actual Greek word is Anaideiaand is only used once in the New Testament. It is actually perhaps better translated as shamelessness or impudence. It could be “Have you no shame asking for that?”  “That is too much. How can you ask for that?” But when it comes to asking our heavenly Father it is not too much. Nothing is impossible with Him.

May I be bold in what I ask for.

 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? f you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:5-13

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How compassionate is God?

God is incredible good.

He is looking for me. He feels compassion for me. His heart pounds when He sees me. He runs to greet me. He gives me a bear hug of an embrace. He kisses me. He wants to do this every day. He wants to do it every time he sees me. He is looking for me now.

This is not a story about the prodigal son. This is a story about our loving Father. He loves us no matter what. His heart goes out to us. He has compassion for us. He is in a good mood, every day, all the time.

May I know, in my heart, our Father’s compassion.

His father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20

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Is God in a good mood?

I need to be content with who I am in God’s family. I should not put on any airs and think more highly of myself. God is in control and it is He who promotes me when I trust in Him and not trust in myself.

He does it at the right time. He is so wonderful that way. I should live carefree. He loves me and will take care of me. I don’t have to worry at all. I should keep a cool head and not let the devil catch me napping.

Peter recognizes we will be anxious. He challenges us to give it all to our loving and caring heavenly Father. He is in a good mood. He is in control.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:6-8

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Will I hear GOD?

Worried! (Photo credit: photoloni)

The worry of the world can completely drown out the word of my heavenly Father. He speaks to me. He gives me His love. But worry has a way of overcoming what I know He is saying. How often do illusions about getting more choke out the word? The way of the LORD is to hear the word and understand it. True repentance is to change my mind. That brings fruit!!

Jesus challenges us about how deceitful the pursuit of wealth can be. That leads to worry and not hearing GOD.

May I hear GOD and believe He is good. He has my best interest at heart. He will not fail me.

And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns , this is the man who hears the word , and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word , and it becomes unfruitful . Matthew 13:22

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“Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” ~~Jesus

Our heavenly Father is in a good mood. He always is and never waivers from that feeling. No ups and downs with Him. Always excited to see us. Loves us even when we ignore Him.

Jesus challenges us to know that in our soul. Why?

Many of us have an image of fathers, maybe even our own, that doesn’t match that.

Jesus is God’s Son. He knows the Father. We can rely on what He says. He says that GOD is generous and gracious. Always in a good mood. So, it is true.

“Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5 The Message)

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Does God short change me?

I gave her a $20 bill. I owed her $2.32. She gave me my change and I walked away. Later I discovered that she gave me $2.68 back. Oh man, I was short changed. It has happened enough over the years. Nothing like getting short changed. Grrrr!!!

Here is the good news. AND, there is only Good News here. My heavenly Father doesn’t ever short change me. When I give Him my life, he gives me ABUNDANT life back. He gives me more than I could ever ask for, more than I could ever think or imagine. But, never, ever does He short change me. Good God Almighty, isn’t that something?

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God doesn’t have victums does He?

There is something horribly wrong with a “victim mentality”. It is complete and total mistrust of God. God is in control. He is in a good mood. He loves us and wants the best for us. God makes everything come out right. Not a few things. Not things occasionally. He is the God of making everything RIGHT.

How easy it is though to not trust Him and wallow in our misery. Too easy some days. I can see clearly what He isn’t doing in my life. I am happy however when I focus on what He is doing.

So … God makes everything come out right. That is that and that is all there is to it.

God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. Psalm 103

Great things are coming

Our Father cares for us. He has great things in mind for us. He is doing it.

What we are concerned about is what we are concerned about. He will complete the good work in us. He hasn’t brought us this far to leave us now. We need to stand firm. He cares for us!! How can anything happen that won’t complete His good work? Everything is working for our good and His glory.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

May we have absolute trust in Him. May we know how much He cares.

Killing Desire is not Sanctification: God is not a Hard Man

Jesus told of the man who entrusted three of his servants with thousands of dollars, urging them to handle his affairs well while he was away. When he returned, he listened eagerly to their reports. The first two fellows went out into the marketplace and doubled their investment. As a result, they were handsomely rewarded. The third servant was not so fortunate. His gold was taken from him, and he was thrown into “outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” My goodness. Why? All he did was bury the money under the porch until his master’s return. Most of us would probably agree with the path he chose-at least the money was safe there. But listen to his reasoning. Speaking to his master, he said, “I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it” (see Matt. 25:14-30 NLT). He was afraid of the master, whom he saw as a hard man. He didn’t trust his master’s heart.

The issue isn’t capital gains-it’s what we think of God. When we bury our desires, we are saying the same thing: “God, I don’t dare desire because I fear you; I think you are hard-hearted.”

Even though we may profess at one level a genuine faith in him, at another level we are like the third servant. Our obedience is not so much out of love as it is out of carefulness. “Just tell me what to do, God, and I’ll do it.” Killing desire may look like sanctification, but it’s really godlessness. Literally, our way of handling life without God. The deepest moral issue is always what we, in our heart of hearts, believe about God. And nothing reveals this belief as clearly as what we do with our desire.

The Main Thing about the Main Thing

Here it is. It is the main thing about the main thing.

Our Father is in a good mood. He always has been. He always will be. His love for me is pure. He isn’t keeping a list of all of my sins. He isn’t frustrated with me at all. He is just tickled pink with who I am in Him. The life He has given me as a gift is amazing. I didn’t do a thing to earn it. Never could. His love isn’t cautious at all.

Now how amazing is all of this. He so ROCKS!!!

What is it all about?

God is great – Nothing is impossible for Him. He can and does anything. He redeems us. He saves us. He heals us. He restores us. We will speak of His great and mighty work.

God is God – He is in control. He has always been and always will be. This is not a democracy. Democracies are a good form of government but His government is not a democracy. His way of doing things is what is important. The way He does it in heaven is the way we want it done here on earth.

God is good – He is always good. He is perpetually in a good mood. He is not upset with us, the redeemed. We are His children and He is doing so many good things for us. We are His friends and He will do anything it takes to help us out. We are His bride and His love for us is passionate beyond imagination.

More to come!! With Gods help, this is good stuff for sure.

How is God?

God has smiled on me. He has set me free. He has been good to me.

He is in an amazing mood. All the time not just occasionally. Not just part of the time.