Open Doors

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. -James 4:1-2

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 18-19; James 4

Isn’t this so true?

When I first read it the first couple of sentences grabbed my attention the most. But when I read it again that last sentence really brought it home for me.

Much of the struggle that we have in this life is because we try to go through it without God. We try to do it alone, our own way.

Stop Saying that You're Broke

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 16-17; James 3

Words are powerful. They have the power to create and destroy.

This is something that I need to be more mindful of.

Faithful Deeds Change Lives

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them... As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. - From James 2:14-26

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 14-15; James 2

I’m in this time of my life where I am really learning the importance of faithful action in a practical way. Sure, I grew up with the knowledge that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. My parents taught me to keep asking seeking and knocking, that if I asked for something and believed I would receive it, then I would receive it. They also taught me to work hard and do all that I can do to get what I want.

All that is fine and dandy in theory… It sounds beautiful and nice, like a ray of sunshine. But what happens when you get to the real world?

It Takes Time To Bloom

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. – James 1:22-25







Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 11-13; James 1


On my way home from work the other day I encountered a woman who needed some help. She wanted to sit in the seat that was obstructed by a handicapped bench that was folded up against the wall; but, she couldn’t figure out how to unfold the seats after yanking at it for a few moments.



Seeing her frustration, I got up and did it for her.

Stephen Colbert's Mom: A Spiritual Gangsta

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4




Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 11-13; James 1

 My buddy Merc80 sent me this clip of Stephen Colbert when he was on The View. Check out what he says around the two minute mark and later. It’s amazing to hear real life examples of folks living out messages from scripture.

The Past Inspires A New Tomorrow



Godfather of Soul



Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. – Hebrews 13:7-8





Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 8-10; Hebrews 13







As a kid I remember hearing this verse all the time:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

But never was it presented to me in the context of the verse that comes before it; remembering our leaders.

Seeing God As Father

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:9-11

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 5-7; Hebrews 12

Earlier, I wrote a post about the “fearing God” in which I told the story of getting in trouble when I was little for riding my bike in the street. Since then something has changed in my understanding.

I was recently told that I need to learn to see God as “Father”.

This Is Getting Out Of Hand!

Eat the food as you would a loaf of barley bread; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel.” The LORD said, “In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them.”

Then I said, “Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth.”

“Very well,” he said, “I will let you bake your bread over cow dung instead of human excrement.”- Ezekiel 4:12-15

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 3-4; Hebrews 11:20-40

Ezekiel starts off with a bang.

First, Ezekiel sees this incredibly wild vision of God. Then God informs him that he is His prophet and that He has required Ezekiel to go and speak the truth to the people of Israel and Judah.

Okaaaaay…

Faith Exists... Literally.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 1-2; Hebrews 11:1-19

Several years ago there was this whole craze around “The Secret”. The basic idea was that there was this secret that successful people knew that no one else knew. It was that faith through positive thinking could manifest things in the real world.

Freedom Through Repentance

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Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
   therefore I will wait for him.”

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
   to the one who seeks him;

it is good to wait quietly
   for the salvation of the LORD. – Lamentations 3:22-26

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 3-5; Hebrews 10:19-39

There is something about this passage that really hits me hard. I’ve actually been reading it over and over again for the past several days. Finally I think I am starting to get it.

Love.

The Good Fight

The things of God can sound like foolishness to man, but it is in trusting that foolishness that we open the door for God's miracles to work in our lives.

God has to be something we are willing to fight for. The battle is waged within, won within, and that victory is confirmed by the love that we share with the world.