My Study

My wife and I are in the long and brutal process of moving. Not only moving, but moving out of state. All the packing, lifting furniture, Penske truck rentals, etc. while working and doing everything else you have to do can really take a toll on you.

Last night, I was reminded of when we first moved in to our first place as a married couple. We have a spare room that I made into a 'man cave'. A few days afterward, it was filled with all sorts of my wife's belongings... Anyway, I made this room my study or office of sorts. In this room is my desk, computer, Bible, notes, books, etc. I have made this room my prayer and study room which I visit on a daily basis. I guess you could say I have made my study my altar.

The LORD began speaking to my heart last night as I was going through this room. Seeing all the clothes, boxes, and miscellaneous things laying around makes it look chaotic in here; but in the midst of the mass confusion that is in this room, I made my way to my altar.

The Bible says, "Study to show thyself approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Ti. 2:15). The Message Bible puts it this way, "Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple".

Could it be that the studying part is the prayer, fasting, and dedication that comes with a life of consecration to God? I have made my study my place of prayer and devotion, so this scripture comes to a new life to me. My 'study' is my dedicated life.

A life that is filled with prayer, fasting, dedication, and sacrifice will be the most rewarding life anyone could ever live. In our 'study' we show ourselves approved. Whether our study be beside a chair, bed, couch or whatever else, we must show ourselves approved unto God.

I've made my study my personal place of dedication. Where is yours? A study is not a fun place to the flesh... trust me. I wake up and go directly to the coffee pot that has been set on auto-brew to wake myself up, then make my way to my study. It takes extreme discipline on my part because I am in no way a morning person. Like I said, a study is never fun or appealing to the flesh, but it is most rewarding to the spirit. A dedicated life... it takes a study.

Think about it.

J.H.

Taking Jesus to All

Yesterday, I saw something that made my heart hurt. I turned into a gas station and pulled up beside the pump. A lady was filling her car in front of me. She had this look on her face that made me know there was something wrong. Her eyes were tearing and her hands were starting to shake. As I went inside to pay, I really began to wonder what was wrong. When I came out, she was driving away... then I was angry at myself for not reaching out to her.

I was reminded of an encounter I had with a homeless man not too long ago... He was sitting on a curb playing the harmonica around Market Square in Knoxville. He would talk to people as they went by. I told my wife we should get him some food and maybe talk to him a bit... When we passed by the spot again, I had forgotten about the food and didn't have time to go back and get some... again, I was angry at myself.

Last story: My friend from Texas experienced a similar situation, only he actually did something. Pulling up to a red light, Lee saw a homeless man on the side of road. He got out of his car, and sat beside the man. Lee talked to him about Jesus and shared with him the Word of God, gave the man some money for food and after a little while longer, left and went on his way.

Oh how I wish I would have been like Lee!

You see, the gospel is for everyone. God promised the Holy Ghost to all... "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off... (Acts 2:39). Just because we have it, doesn't mean we should keep it to ourselves.

I kick myself when I think about how I let those opportunities pass by and how I didn't do more. Who am I to withhold the news of Jesus to myself?

These situations lead me to ask this question: how far will you go to reach a complete stranger? What are you willing to do for someone you don't even know? Matthew says to ...go into all the world and teach all nations... (Mt. 28:19). All nations would cover everyone in the world, wouldn't you say?

People pass by strangers without so much as a nod or even a smile. There are lost and dying people out there in our world... what are we doing about it?!? We should be taking Jesus to everyone around us, showing people His Word, telling them that there is hope, healing, and salvation! We should share this gospel!

Matthew 25 talks about the King being hungry and receiving food, thirsty and getting a drink, being a stranger and receiving hospitality, naked and being clothed, sick and in prison and having visitors. The righteous ones reply when and how did we do all these things? The answer sums up this whole post: Jesus answered in verse 40 and says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me (Mt. 25:40).

Can we take that literally? When we pass strangers or homeless people and ignore them, are we doing it to God Himself? I think this is a call to do more, to reach out to people no matter who they are or what they look like.

Hebrews says it like this: "Don't forget to show hospitality to people you don't know. By doing this, some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it (He. 13:2). Could we be entertaining angels when we talk to a stranger? How about that man or woman on the street corner? Is this a test to see what you will do for someone you don't even know? If we don't share the gospel with our world, our city, our street... who will?

I ask again; what are you willing to do for a complete stranger? How far outside your comfort zone will you go? The gospel is for everyone... will you share it with those around you?

Think about it.

J.H.

God's Way

College is killing me! Don't get me wrong, I don't regret enrolling in school, but sometimes it is so frustrating! I attend the University of Phoenix (online) and it has recently become a lot harder than I thought it would be. I work full-time, I have a wife, I'm involved in church, I'm getting ready to move, etc. Please understand I'm not here to complain... I am indeed going somewhere with all this...

After completing my first class at UOP, my instructor noticed what he said was, "an extremely bright and ingenious individual". Yeah, I thought that was a little over the top too. I mean really, me? I'm not smart! Well, through a process of days, the president of the university was hearing about me. Long story short, I was the top student in the class and the university and the president wanted to recognize me for my efforts, blah, blah, blah.

Now think about this: I am just a common man. There are so many people out there that excel so much higher in academics than I. Individuals all over the nation that are just pure geniuses... people that work at places like NASA and Dawson Geophysical Inc.

Now imagine: the brightest minds around, the smartest people on earth, the quickest thinkers, the ingenious levels of intelligence... No matter how smart those people are, there is one that knows and sees so much more.

Isaiah puts it this way; "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Is. 55:8-9).

You see, no matter how smart we think we are, God knows all. His thoughts are higher! His ways are higher! Our thoughts cannot even be compared to His.

There are some things in this life that we weren't meant to understand. That is why we should put our trust in the One who does know and who does understand.

See, God is not just a man or someone who can predict the future... He's GOD! He knows everything about you and your life. He knows what is best for you and sees what you can't see. I know, sometimes it's hard to trust in another... especially when you can't even see them. But I challenge you to give Jesus a chance. Trust in Him and He will never let you down. He will never fail.

When we can't see what's going on, when we can't see a way out, God does. He knows what to do and He knows what you need. Trust Him. Trust His ways; they are higher and much better than ours. God sees the end from the beginning. He created you and knows what's best for your life. He also gave you a will to choose. So it's up to you. Will you follow His ways or try and make it on your own?

Think about it.

J.H.

This is the Line

I absolutely dislike my nose... Wait! Keep reading, I'll explain. I have this very annoying line across the bridge of my nose from where it was broken many years ago. When meeting new people, especially when I was younger, people would come up to me, introduce themselves and ask, "What's that line thing?" looking at my nose while pointing to theirs. Grrr!

It annoyed me a lot in earlier years. Now, not so much... the glasses usually hide it. You know, it's a funny thing about scars, lines, and other marks you may have. When I see my annoying little line, I remember what happened, where, how bad it hurt, etc. Also, I remember not to do what I did to get the scar in the first place.

Much like our lives today, scars have a way of reminding us of what we have been through. We may be bruised, cut up with lots of scars, but we have come through.

Back to the line; on my face there is a line. The line reminds me of some pain I endured, but it also reminds me not to cross the unforeseen line to what led me to be hurt.

A line in your life could be more of a blessing than you might think. The line is where you stop serving the enemy and letting him have control of your life, where you stop serving your flesh and giving into your desires... not crossing that line anymore.

Jesus endured much pain and had many lines on His body. Calvary was not pretty. Jesus did not deserve to die or to be in pain. The cross is a picture of a man that knew no sin, but He became sin and was crucified so that you and I could live and have a chance. What are you doing with that chance?

The lines in your life are there for a reason. Don't be so disgusted with lines that are on or around you. I can deal with my line, my nose isn't that big of a deal to me. More importantly, the lines in my life are another reminder of what God has brought me through. He said that He will never leave me nor will He ever forsake me (He. 13:5). If God brought you to it, He will bring you through it. The Scripture says, Yea though I walk through the valley... (Ps. 23:4). Notice that word... through. You will have things that come your way, you will have troubles and circumstances, but God will bring you through!

I go back to what I stated previously in this post; Jesus gave you a chance, what are you doing with that chance? How long will you go? How far will you run in fear? Where and when will you draw the line?!

We're in a battle. We will fight the enemy until we reach heaven. Have you had enough running, being in fear, and constant strife? The devil cannot stand against the Most High God! Our lives are what we build upon the solid rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail... (Mt. 16:18).

God is on our side! He is our refuge against the enemy (Ps. 61:3) His name is a strong tower that we can run into and be safe (Pr. 18:10). Nothing formed against you shall prosper (Is. 54:17). You see where I'm going with this?

Nothing the enemy throws at you can keep you down. All that he tries to do to you and build up against you will break and crumble with God on your side! Enough is enough! Draw the line!

Think about it.

J.H.

Throwback

As I've stated in previous postings, I have a daily routine. I know, I'm a creature of habit. I'll save you the morning habits and skip to the part where I get to work. I get all my things I need at the time and all pressing matters that need attended to first. When I'm ready to get started, I bring up Pandora on my computer or iPad. As I did this routine yesterday, something caught my attention; I saw a picture of an old Pepsi can. I guess I noticed because I have been on a Pepsi kick for over a week for some reason.

What really did it for me was what the ad said on the can and the sign below. It really bothered me. Throwback! You moved on but the past is back! Really irritating.

Now I'm not saying that Pepsi is of the devil, but does this ad remind you of anything the enemy tries to tell you? Yeah you tried to move on, you thought you kicked that bad habit, you thought everyone forgot about that really bad thing you did a few years ago, but WRONG! Anyone besides me ever get told this by the enemy?

Even when the devil tries to throwback our past mistakes, our messed up situations, and so on, we do not have to take it! Okay so you made some mistakes... who hasn't?!?! So you did some things that people won't let you forget... I have too!

Listen, no matter what the circumstance or what the enemy may try to tell you about your life, your past is gone! When you go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness, He forgives you! Micah says that God will have compassion on us, stomp on our sin, and throw it into the depths of the sea (Mi. 7:19). Psalms say that He is slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy (Ps. 103:8). A few verses later it says as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us (Ps. 103:12).

So let me sum it up for you: when you go to God and ask Him to forgive your sins, He does! Your previous life is over, your mistakes are no more, your past is gone! Don't let the enemy tell you any different. When God forgives, your sins do not exist anymore!

I'm sure we have all had experiences where we were reminded of something we've done or said in our past, and sometimes that happens; but you don't have to dwell on it. We can learn from mistakes, but we don't have to live in them.

When you're surrounded by people who constantly remind you of 'what you did' or when the enemy whispers in your ear that you will never be anything because of that mistake you made, you remind the devil that God forgave you! Don't let the enemy sing you that old song when God gave you a new song to sing. You don't have to live in your past. It's gone!

You are a new creature in Jesus Christ (II Co. 517). Don't let that lying, deceitful enemy throw your past back in your face. Your past is over. Jesus makes all things new!

Think about it.

J.H.

Nighmares and Dreamscapes

As a kid, I used to have this reoccuring dream that I was lying down in a field looking up at the sky. I would lay there and watch the clouds roll by, making shapes and pictures out of each cloud. I knew the grass was tall because I could always see it while looking up at the coulds. It was as if I was deep in the ground somehow.

Then the worst thing happened; I was gazing at the sky and the grass beside me began to move. Thinking it was the wind, I ignored it. Until a man dove on top of me and began to choke the life out of me. It didn't matter how many times I had this dream, he always took me by surprise.

I'd wake up in a cold sweat, breathing heavy, feeling nauseated. It always took what seemed like forever to fall back asleep and sometimes I didn't go back to sleep at all.

This went on for a long time. I had this dream maybe once or twice a month, sometimes more. However, no matter how many times I had this nightmare, I'd always wake up. It might've gotten to the point where I didn't think I was going to make it, or I may have felt like giving up, but I always woke up.

Nightmares are horrible! A living nightmare is even worse. Sometimes these are referred to as dreamscapes... it's a dream-like sometimes surreal scene one encounters.

I call dreamscapes 'living nightmares'. It's those circumstances that life gives you that make your world feel like a living hell. Torment, in a trance-like state, the enemy has a hold on you and you feel like you can't break free.

If you are in this sort of situation, or just going through something where you need to just break free and feel peace, I invite you to read Ps. 30:5 - "... weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

It doesn't matter how bad your nightmare or how unrelenting your dreamscape, there is joy waiting for you. Your night may be filled with terror, weeping, confusion, and fear; but God did not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, love, and of a sound mind (II Ti. 1:7). That sound mind part is your peace, and God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (I Co. 14:33).

There is hope. You can have peace of mind. You can lay down at night and sleep without fear; for He gives His beloved sleep (Ps. 127:2).

Your peace is through Jesus Christ. He is a loving God and the author of our peace. He can take your nightmare and your dreamscape and turn it around for your good. He will be your strength and refuge. Turn to Him! Trust Him! It's not over for you. There's more to your life than what you're currently going through. He will turn your mourning into dancing, and your sorrow into joy (Ps. 30:11). Just hold onto Him... joy awaits you.

Think about it.

J.H.

Tools of Trade

Every morning I have basically the same routine. It includes the usual getting up, dressed, prayer, brush teeth, etc. Before I leave, I go to my office and grab my bag which includes a laptop, notebooks, pens, files, papers, adapters, keys, an ipad, and more. These are all things I use for my job on a daily basis; the tools of my trade.

I get to work and have even more things I handle. A desktop computer, work books, an array of cords, different adapters for various machines, projectors, miscellaneous computer parts, and the list goes on.

Everyone has their specific tools for all that we do. A carpenter has a tool belt, a teacher has books to teach from, a mechanic has an entire tool box, etc. Each specific tool of our trade enables us to fulfill what we do on a daily basis; what we have spent time, energy, and even money on doing. Our tools aid us in operating in our particular field in which we spend our 40 hours a week.

So what's the point of all this tool-talk here? Am I trying to be the next Bob Vila? No. What I'm going to do is show us some other tools of a trade... His trade.

The majority of people may think of God and automatically think of the Bible as being the tool of trade. Not wrong, but there's more to it than that.

Ephesians tells us to put on the whole armor of God (Ep. 6:11). It goes on to tell us just what that armor is and what we use it against in verses 13:17(NIV). We don't fight against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil authorities that are unseen. So put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to stand strong in battle. After you've done everything you can, stand your ground. Stand with the belt of truth, body armor of right living, shoes of peace from God's Word so you're fully prepared. Then grab the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God.

You see preachers are not the only ones that have to fight against the enemy and use the Word of God to do so. We all have battles. Everyday. Sometimes we may feel like we can't make it, like we should just give up, throw in the towel, quit; asking questions like, "What's the point?" or "Who cares?"

Do not give in to the lies of the enemy! God's Word is telling you to go forward, there is hope, and you have what it takes to make it. The words above are written in red to show that those words are coming directly from the Word of God. You do have what it takes, you can make it, and you will get through!

This is our true trade; His trade. These are the tools for it... truth, righteousness, peace from God's Word to prepare us, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. These tools will never fail us. They'll never get old and worn out. They'll never crash, lose data, or break.

Now I ask, how prepared are you? Do you have truth? Do you have the peace from God's Word? Do you read your Bible? When you begin your preparation for the battle of life, make sure you have your proper tools. Dive deep into God's Word. Being prepared makes a world of difference. Try out II Timothy 2:15 (AKJV) Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Don't quit. Don't give up. You can make it. God handed you the tools to get through it. Are you using the tools of His trade?

Think about it.

J.H.