After God's Own Heart Ministries

How Solid Is Your Foundation?

“We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them.” — Charles West

Luke 6:46-49 NLT 46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

If you find that your foundation is shaking, in my humble opinion, its not as important as who is shaking it, than what we have built your foundation on.

Jesus is the Solid Rock, on which we should have our foundation built upon.  He does not move or change by any storms, circumstances or trials that come our way.  However, anything and everything else will.  When God shakes our foundation, its because our foundation is weak, built upon something else, other than Jesus.  And its because God loves us, that He does not want to leave us in deception that our foundation is strong, when its not.

I Corinthians 3:11 NLT  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

My brothers and sisters, we must keep in mind that we all are going through a process of having all our spots and wrinkles removed. Yes, our repented sins are forgiven, but there is a cleaning up process, a changing of heart, mind and attitude, that must be repaired from the ravages of our sins.

When we can come to understand that God truly loves us and when we surrender our lives to Christ, He will keep His Word to make us ready for eternity with Him.

Its all in our perspective of who God is and who we are in Him.

Thank you Father for shaking our weak and destructive foundations so that you can rebuild our lives on the right foundation…Jesus. Thank you for not leaving us in our sinful state. Even though it may hurt, please continue to remove ALL spots and wrinkles in our lives, so that we can be made right to spend eternity in your wonderful presence.  We love you Father and praise you for Jesus, your Spirit and your love.  It is in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

True Success

“Success is found in maximizing your potential for the good of others and the glory of God.” – Dr. Tony Evans

Joshua 1:8-9 NKJV 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

The world is fixated on achieving success, power, possessions and fame, at all costs.  Get on TV or any type of media, and say whatever and/or do whatever, to make a name for yourself and hopefully big bucks.

No longer does character, integrity, morals, decorum or respect, mean anything. Its all about achieving success as today’s society has defined it.

I’ll think I will stay with the success that comes with knowing Christ as my Lord and Savior.  Long after the ratings have dropped for that reality show, or the music has faded, or whatever is popular today, is no longer the “next great thing”, I will still have Jesus!  My sins will still be forgiven, my name written in the Book of Life, and my life lived for Him.

Then on that special day, my success will be revealed in hearing my Lord say, “Well Done!”

Be Encouraged. Hold on just a little while longer. Our Victory is assured.

Seeing Through The Eyes Of Faith

Everyone else thought, “Goliath is so big, I can’t beat him.” David thought, “Goliath is so big, I can’t miss him.” “A man of less faith might have been too nervous to take the proper aim.” W. G. Balikie

2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT  18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Its by faith in God that we must see this world differently. Where we see hate and evil, we must see and understand what the power of love and good can accomplish.  Where there is despair, we must see hope overcoming it.  Where there is a mountain or valley before us, we must see that mountain moved, that valley filled or even better, see ourselves climbing up and over that mountain or walking through the valley in strength, perseverance and thanksgiving.

Its by faith that we can serve and please God. Its by faith that we can endure all things with hope. Its by faith that we can walk through this world and be the light it so desperately needs.

Its by faith that we can and must see ourselves forgiven, redeemed and empowered to be mighty servants of our most Holy God. Its by faith that we know that we know that we know, we are indeed, God’s children, God’s chosen and His vessels to show the world His glory, power and might.

See yourself and your situations through the eyes of faith today.  And be victorious!

Heavenly Father we thank you today for your faith that grows and grows each day.  Open our eyes to see your power and Spirit working in and through us.  Help us to see our “giants” as big enough not to miss them when we stand before them.  And we know that we must face them to receive our victory and your glory, when we defeat them in your name.  Help us to stand in faith and trust that you see all and know all that we must face and have to go through. And remind us, Father, that you are always there, waiting for that one step of faith, to show your power, not only to our enemies, but to us as well.  We love you and praise you. It is in Jesus’ name we pray and thank you, Amen.

When We Seek Him…We Will Find Him

“God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill all His promises . . . leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Daniel 9:4 NLT  I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.

Oh, the promises of our God!  To love us, to keep us, to never leave us.  To protect our souls and to lead us to righteousness and glory that we cannot imagine.  To forgive our sins and to restore us to our rightful place with Him.

Matthew 5:2-12 records the Words of Christ, detailing the blessings and promises of God.  Note that he doesn’t mention worldly blessings that we desire, but those things that will not perish or be stolen. The things that God promises are not “man-made” but God given!

Only when we seek after the things of God, will we know true deliverance, freedom, contentment and love.

I pray that we seek and are satisfied with the blessings and promises of God.

Thank you Father for your love, your word and your promises.  May we never take them for granted and seek your face with all that we have and all that we are.  Continue to open our eyes and hearts to see and know you more today than yesterday.  We love you and thank you for all that you have done and plan to do for our lives.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

If It Wasn’t For Jesus…

“Perhaps one reason God delays His answers to our prayers is because He knows we need to be with Him far more than we need the things we ask of Him.” — Ben Patterson

John 6:26 NLT Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.

It has been said that we should love the giver more than the gift. But our human nature is such that we often get caught up in the excitement of the gift we have received, instead of recognizing the love and desires of the giver.

As Believers, we indeed have been given wonderful blessings and promises from God. Unmatched by anything remotely possible in this world.  Yet, we are not to worship anything or anyone more than our Heaven Father who has given us all of Him.

Another reminder of this can be found in Hebrews 7:7 where the writer states:

And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.

Take an assessment of what you have and where you are today.  Now think about God’s love for you and His very character.  Which is greater? Would you give up what you currently have and the position you are in today for not knowing Christ as Lord and Savior?

Its fine to want things and/or to seek a better position in life.  But none of that should be greater or mean more to you, than God, the Father; the Son; and the Holy Spirit.

I know for a fact, that if it wasn’t for Jesus, I would not be here today.

Thank you Jesus for who you are.  You didn’t have to give your life for us nor show us the way to the Father.  You didn’t need to intercede for us nor send the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us.  So we thank you and praise you for being everything and all things to us and for us.  It is in your wonderful name, we give thanks.  Amen.

Free-Will or His Will

Charles Spurgeon: ”  I see, in one place, God in providence presiding over all, and yet I see, and cannot help seeing, that man acts as he pleases, and that God has left his actions, in a great measure, to his own free-will.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. — Proverbs 21:30 (NIV)

A lot of people, even Christians, fall into this trap that they can out-think or out plan God. We amass so much knowledge, experience and faulty logic, that we are led to believe that we have things figured out…or at least the next steps.

The problem with this type of reasoning is that we are actually in control of very little in our lives.  We only have control of our choices and our attitudes.  And even those are heavily influenced by our current situations.

However, God doesn’t change. He is timeless, and therefore, knows all the options from start to finish.  He is Sovereign and therefore, nothing escapes His Will.  Nothing is allowed, unless by His permission. See Job 1:6-12.

If we would only surrender all, trust and rest in God’s care.  We would find that we would not have to waste our time trying to out-think God or worry about a future that ultimately is God’s to establish.

Alas, our FREE-WILL.

I know this doesn’t quite sit well with a lot of people, because some truly believe or have been taught that we have our own destiny in our hands.  We set our path for life and or future.  But if that was indeed true, would you really plan for the storms to endure, the mountains to climb and the valleys to cross?  Would you plan for the losses in life and the pain and suffering that we sometimes have to face? Can you see that far in the future to avoid these things?

If the answer is “no”, then why does a God who says He loves us, allow these things or has planned them for our future?

To keep this short this morning, just let me say again, that God is Sovereign and that He knows what is needed to get us to the future He planned for His Children.  Some of those unpleasant moments in our lives have set us on the right course to Him and some have kept us on that course.

I for one wish it was or could be different, but in light of Job 1:6-12, the entire book of Job and what Christ endured for our salvation, I’m willing to simply surrender all and trust the ONE, who knows all and is All.

As far as my Free-Will…I thank God daily for His mercy and patience with me. Because if left to my own imagination, wisdom and desires, I would still be lost in my sins and my life would eventually be headed to an unpleasant eternal end.

Yes, God allows us to have Free-Will, but I rather have HIS WILL.

Know that we are truly blessed to have Christ as our Advocate.

We Have To Want It…Desire It…Pray For It

“God takes us into deep waters, not to drown us but to cleanse us.” — Author Unknown

Deuteronomy 10:17 NLT  “The Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes.

Our Heavenly Father is Holy and Righteous.  He does not change.  His standard, we must meet.  We must live in His Will, not get Him to approve ours. Christ has set the standard in how we are to relate to the Most High God. Although He shows us unconditional love, mercy and grace, this doesn’t mean we can act and live any way we choose and still expect Him to bless us.

We are new creatures in Christ. Our old way of life and living is no longer acceptable. Therefore, we must desire the life that Christ has won for us. To be Holy as He is Holy. To live in and by love, instead of by our selfish desires and wants.  Our lives are to represent Christ in everything we do, say, believe, think and act.  Our attitudes should be ones of peace, love and hope.  We should always be ready to provide encouragement and help to those around us and share with them the truth of the Gospel of Christ.

Christ’s coming to earth to live among man was not Him coming down to our level. No, it was to show us how to be renewed, cleaned, and restored, in order to live in God’s presence.

That should be our goal my brothers and sisters: to live in His presence.

We have to want it.  We have to desire it.  We need to pray for it.

Dear Lord, please hear our hearts this morning to live for you and not for this world.  Help us to see and understand that we were made to reside in your presence. Work on our hearts and minds to realize that everything we truly need resides in you.  We praise you and thank you for your presence in our lives.  For your glory and for your love.  Forgive us for being distracted by the things of this world and help us to seek after you daily.  We love you and thank you for loving us.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

When He Becomes All You Want…He Will Be All You Need

“All I want is you…Jesus. You are my reward.” – William McDowell

Ecclesiastes 1:8 NLT Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

Until Jesus is all we desire and all that we want, we will never know true contentment, peace and victory.  You may be saying this is a little extreme, but think about your life for a minute.  Outside of Christ, are you content? At peace? Do you feel that you have everything under control?

Some may say that they don’t feel that way, even with Jesus.  And I would have to comment, that there still must be parts of their lives that need to be totally surrendered unto Christ. I know it is this way with my life.

Paul writes to the Philippians in Chapter 4, verses 11-13;

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

It’s in and through our relationship with Christ, that we are able to endure all things, be at peace with all things and through His power alone, subdue those lusts and selfish desires of our hearts.

It is at this point, that we can sing, “glory glory, hallelujah; since I laid my burdens down. I feel better, so much better, since I laid my burdens down.”

Isn’t it about time we Christians really began to enjoy our relationship with Christ?  He’s already offered to take own our burdens and worries and offered us to take on His yoke, for it is much easier for us.

When Jesus is all that you want…He will be all that you need.

Know that you are really free. Be encouraged.

It’s Not Just About You

“Somebody is waiting on the other side of your obedience.” — Tim Storey

1 Samuel 15:22 NLT 22 But Samuel replied,
“What is more pleasing to the LORD:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

This quote really woke me up this morning. I needed to be reminded that as a Christian, a Believer in Christ, my life isn’t about me or for me any longer.  I am a servant for the Most High God.  My life has been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ for a new and higher purpose.

So is your life.

We have been created for a purpose.  For God’s purpose.  When we humble ourselves and obey, God leads and directs us to wonderful opportunities…for others, for His Kingdom and His glory.

This growing doctrine that we go to God to get what we want and desire is a lie and trick of the enemy.  God provides our needs, all of them…for His glory, according to His Will.  God blesses us with His love, mercy and righteousness, so that others may come to know His Son, repent, believe and be saved.

Father, help us to hear and obey.  Help us to see with your eyes at those around us and understand our created purpose for the life you have given us.  Help us to continue to seek your face and your will, so that we can be used by you to humbly serve. Help us to really understand that in you, we have Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the truth of your Word.  We lack absolutely nothing and therefore can do all things to benefit those around us, to know you through your son Jesus.  We thank you for our lives and ask forgiveness for those times that we lack of obedience and was full of fear and doubts.  But today, oh Lord, remind us of your love for us and your gift of eternal life and hope, that we must share.  It is in the name of Jesus that we thank you and pray.  Amen.

It’s Time!!

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Chad Hymas

Isaiah 50:10 Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord And rely upon his God.

No more excuses!  No more reasoning away the Word of God and His promises!  No more weak and foolish doctrines of seeking after what the world offers in the name of God! No more wishing and begging for our lives to be free of storms, trials and problems! No more looking for the easy road!

The time is long past to walk in confidence.  Not confidence in our abilities, but in the abilities of an all powerful, all seeing and all knowing God.

Its time to STAND! Its time to trust and not doubt.  Its time to either believe with all your heart and not swing to and fro with ever man-made doctrine that comes down the pipe.

We know what the Word of God says.  We have read, studied and heard, what our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has done and won for us.  Its time to stop wavering, running and hiding.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

Its time to BE THE CHURCH. The Church whose purpose is to spread the love and Word of God to its homes, communities, workplaces, governments, the nation and the world.

We are not powerless as the media, society and the enemies of God wants us to believe.  We have Power from God Himself to stand.  Not only to stand, but to advance the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is shining upon you.

May you be encouraged and realize God’s power within you to arise and stand.  To move through and beyond, whatever obstacle that may temporarily be in your way.

We are more than conquerors.  You are more than what your circumstances are lying to you about.

You belong to Christ!  And that, my brothers and sisters, IS the difference!