Simon Says.....(But Christ said....Don't Do it) LUST

Matthew 5:27-28 ESV - Lust : "27 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

This is Cherilyn and I, on our 5 year anniversary, and boy do we look happy. We were on a ship on Lake Michigan enjoying food, each other and the beautiful scenery. We are now 10 years in the running, and we have both begun to feel the true rigors of marriage. We have many friends that have divorced because of growing apart, adultery, finances....etc. But we have persevered and it's been rough for us both at times, but GOD! Today scripture talks about lust & adultery, and the truth of it is, this is not just for married couple (this devotional today) it's for everyone that claims to have a relationship with GOD. We have ALL LUSTED (after men, women, cars, neighbors goods)& COMMITTED or ARE COMMITTING adultery according to Christ's standard. If we are all honest a glance has turned into a stare, that turned into a thought about. Maybe your bed looked and appeared much more comfy that the missions trip, or going out on Saturday night was more appealing then getting up Sunday morning....sure He understands.....He understands that He's not FIRST! Here's how you beat out the wandering or lustfilled eyes.....FOCUS! FOCUS on what you committed to, and vowed. FOCUS on what could happen if you don't. FOCUS enough on the other person to put yourself aside. This weekend Cherilyn and I will be going to the "Art of Marriage" conference at our church, not because we are perfect, but because WE NEED our FOCUSES shifted, and we need to be able to encourage others. Whether your relationship is with__________________ or GOD, we've all cheated in some shape, form or fashion.....let's STOP and see if this is the direction we really want to send our lives in, and make whatever changes necessary through praying GOD's grace and strength for us all to be the examples He created us to be.

it is LOVE GOD (enough to do the right thing) and LOVE PEOPLE (enough to do right thing) LGLP

Simon says....but CHRIST says LOVE & BLESS THEM

Luke 6:27-28 AMP : "But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [[a]in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred,
28Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you]."

If you look close enough you will see a dirt road in the rt corner of the picture that I have termed in this particular photo the "hard walk." This was a road into the Tsilitza Village in Lilongwe. I called it hard because the road was unpaved, it was terrible terrain and even after 2miles you then came upon the actual community where you saw people living in extreme poverty and kids playing on broken dirt soccer fields but radiating from what appeared to be a depressing scene was JOY. The kids were laughing, playing and when they saw us they ran towards us embracing us with hugs an clothing us with a contagious laughter. Physically this was a hard walk much like this scriptural challenge Christ present to those who are called His disciples. Physically it is hard to LOVE people whose hearts are set against you. You can see their plans are to bring you down & humiliate you but Christ instructs us to love them & then bless them. WHY? Well first of all He created you & them, and like children you hate to see your kids fight. Second, you know we have an adversary, who wants nothing more than to see us kill each other, so if you can first see that Satan & selfishness is at the root of the disagreement you should be able to then move towards step 3. BLESS THEM; construct prayers that are loving that you see their needs and desire God fulfills them. DO something.....buy them lunch, grab their reports off the copier, ask them how___________ is doing, figure out ways to be a cold blooded assassin of hatred/malice. Like our walk if you take it in stride, knowing that JOY awaits you, it will be well worth it, for in the end GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED and you will be rewarded for your efforts!

Review: 1. Identify your sibling. 2. Recognize who has come between you and your sibling. 3. Do something (PRAY, BLESS, and kick SATAN's but by LOVING him away!)

It's all about LGLP!

Simon says....Oops JESUS SAID (Don't Kill...the person or their character)

Matthew 5:21-22 AMP : 21You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be [a]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court. 22But I say to you that everyone who continues to be [b]angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be [c]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be [d]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You [e]cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be [f]liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire."

So just a few days ago a Black man was beaten, then ran over in Jackson, Mississippi by a group of teenagers, and long before they drove into town looking for a black citizen to exact their hatred in their hearts they has already committed the crime. Jesus took the commandments so serious that He wanted to communicate to us that killing was not just about ending someone's life physically but maliciously even speaking against them. I have a mutlitude of friends (probably more associates but that's not an option on Facebook) that span several races, political parties, economic backgrounds etc, and you know some of them say some ignorant things, never thinking about the feelings of others. When this is done we rest on our "Constitutional Rights" but do they wholly reflect the heart of this particular passage? I read clearly that anyone continuing to use the words (Raca) fool or idiot laced with anger & malice will be unable to escape the fires of hell. Think about how ofter such words have been used recently regarding our last two Presidents.

My Lord, may we truly be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to wrath....for any other way ends terrible for us. LGLP

Instead of excercising our rights....let's excercise our priviledge to pray for whomever it is that is need www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFqGiHpIQJE

Simon...oops JESUS SAID (Come to me when)

Matthew 11:28-29 NLT : "28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

You know there is nothing as peaceful to me, as watching or holding your children while they sleep. I mean, I can remember times when Rajime or Tre (pictured here in a Dallas hotel) would be so zonked that they'd fall asleep in my arms and I couldn't help but become so relaxed with their state that I too would sink into a peaceful rest with them. I honestly believe that often what we experience as parents or caretakers of children are a smaller scaled version of what our Heavenly Father delights in. There's nothing like knowing your chidlren have not a care in the world, because they are safely resting in your arms. Nothing can harm them there, they are safest there.

Christ encourages those of us who are weary (physically or mentall exhausted; impatient or dissatisfied by a heavy burden) to come to Him. In the game Simon says, the whole goal is TO DO (only) what SIMON SAYS, if you don't you lose. In the game LIFE (for Christians especially) the goal is to do ONLY what JESUS says..... when we don't we lose. It's that simple like the game Simon says, if you are caught doing something other than what Simon says you are out. In the game of LIFE with CHRIST you are not out, your are just OUT OF LINE. He invites each of us daily, and even multiple times during the day to come to Him, not complain to others, but COME TO HIM so that in exchange for your exhaustion, dissatisfaction with life and it's circumstances so that He may give you rest. Give yourself a break today, and GO to Him, and rest in His arms.

I've include a song to help you get to the place where Christ wants those who need to rest: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr4XfAc1JBo

LGLP always

Simon Says....ooops JESUS said (Don't Do It)

Matthew 4:7: "Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God."

Pictured here are two of my three wonderful kids having a little fun at the St. Louis Zoo a few years ago. Rajime is is acting as if she is trying to keep the jaws of this beetle from crushing her little brother Tre who seems to have gotten between this oversized beetles jaws. Now why they are having fun, and this is totally make believe....life isn't. While God has blessed us to see, have, and live out this new day, it is filled with blessings, and Satan is up laying boobie traps. He even attempted to tempt our Savior and our Savior's response was simply " we are not to tempt/test God." In other words don't do "STOOPID" things to see if He will rescue you. Don't sign the contract knowing you haven't prayed about it, or feel led to commit to ________________ when God hasn't ok'd it. Don't purposely put yourself in harms way with poor choices and look to God to "bail you out." As my grandma used to say, don't go borrowing trouble......

Father God, bless us with the wisdom to make good choices today, and when and if we don't may your grace cover our human frailty as it has to this very day. LGLP

And the WINNER IS......(One Who Acted)

"Revelation 22:12 - Behold, I am coming soon, and I shall bring My wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each one just what his own actions and his own work merit."

You know just looking at this bed makes me wanna just go to sleep, but my mom raised us to pray right before going to bed, and we'd get on our knees and utter the words.." Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake....." And inline with this scripture Jesus is saying to John I am coming and when I do I will have their wages and their reward with me according to each ones actions. Today is just about over, and I wonder what did we accomplish today? What we did accomplish what did it matter tomorrow or 10 years from now? If it won't have any impact at all was it even worth it? Another thing my grandma used to tell me " Only what you do for Christ, will last." And the older I get the truer that is. In Ephesians 1:14 we are reminded WHY HE died for us, and what is the right thing to do in return; praise and bring Him glory? Did you bring GOD any glory today? If you died before you wake.....would their be an eternal reward for your life? THAT's what TRUE WINNING is living for His glory! If you failed to do anything to give Him any Glory, make sure you give Him some praise before you close your eyes, for all He did for you today despite your shortcomings.

LGLP...See you Monday for a new series

And the Winner is.............(THE SHEEP)

Matthew 25:43-46 MSG - : "41-43'Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'
44'Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'
45'He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'
46'Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward."

Pictured here...is couple of the guys from Ntcheu, who felt they needed to honor us (the Calvary Church Malawi Missions Team 2012) by sacrificing a goat to barbecue it for us. When you realize the resourcefulness of having a goat around and that they would kill one just to serve you meat, it humbles you to no end. Goats produce milk, which in turn you can get cheese & butter from. Goats help to dispose of waste because they eat EVERY DARN THING! No lawnmowers...so guess who eats all the grass? So killing 1 is a big deal. But that's not what our devotion is about....it's about ARE YOU WINNING? Are you the WINNER in the game of life. Jesus depicts people as either goats or sheep. Sheep are the winners...they know His voice. They are inherently stupid...(they make mistakes, the are easily misled, they are gentle, at their core pure hearted peace-loving animals.) Goats on the other hand are stubborn, they are mass consumers, they get into arguments, they are selfish, did I say they are stubborn, they don't herd well, and according to Jesus they are good for....hell (my emphasis). So which are you: at work? at church? in your marriage? in relationships? in your community? The sheep will have a eternal reward but the goats have an eternal doom?

Are you in line to recieve a eternal reward (WINNING) or eternal doom (LOSING)? LGLP

And the Winner is.......(The One Who Preaches the GOSPEL)?

1 Corinthians 9:16-20 ESV : "16For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them."

Featured today are two pictures, one of myself and a few friends serving the kids of the Tsilitza Village in Malawi at dinner time, and the other at a MEN AT THE CROSS event in 2009. Both events their were preaching one by orally communicating the WORD of GOD and in the other by becoming a servant of GOD to His people. TODAY GOD has blessed you with another opportunity to LIVE, and LIVE ABUNDANTLY. In our scritpure today Paul reminds us of why must we preach the gospel. I know some of you are saying I'm not called to be a preacher, and I say that is a lie, you may not be called to Pastor, or speak from a pulpit, but WE ALL ARE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, that was part of the GREAT COMMISSION to ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE on JESUS! But that isn't the point of this devotion to make you preachers, but rather make you aware that your life is a sermon. Do your co-workers see you dying daily or do they see you climbing the corporate ladder? Do you intentionally seek to be 3rd so that you can promote GOD first, then other's second by being a true servant of JOY (Jesus first, others second, then YOU)? Paul said "he's made himself a servant to all, so that he may win more of them."

Has winning more of THEM (the non-believers,democrats, republicans, liberals,drug dealers, your boss, your neighbor, the scoffers, the people you can't stand, but GOD LOVES) your daily goal.....for if so YOU ARE WINNING! If not....well you know what the opposite of winning is...and remember this is REAL LIFE there is an award ceremony when it ends. LGLP

And The Winner is.....(Pt.2) the Merciful

Luke 6:34-36 "34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, [a]expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 [b]Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Good morning, if you are reading this you have recieved yet another precious gift from GOD. It's called the present, you know...today, another day of life. God has chosen to give you another day to live, and He's looking to see how you are gonna handle this gift. Pictured today is some people in the country Africa. This is in a commerical area where people are buying and selling all types of goods & services. And while this picture may look a little chaotic the truth is the people in Malawi are really some of the most loving people I've ever met. Don't get me wrong many of the people at Calvary Church are like this too, but to be in a country where you feel that love almost everywhere you go is somewhat overwhelming. Now the cynic would say..."uh, duh Ray that's because they trying to sell you something to get your money.." and I would say NOT SO! Even the vendors you may refuse are not disrespectful towards you and the aim beit at a market or in the mountains is to please you, and show you the love of GOD.

Today's scripture mentions lending & loving and while you are not going to Malawi (the warm heart of Africa it is called) you are going into the market place (beit work, or out in the public) and now God want's to see how will you lend & love with this day He's given you. How you do so will determine what type of reward you are living for. He promises that when lend without expecting ANYATHING in return, and LOVE (in DEED...so you figure out what that looks like and make it happen)even our enemies, actually especially our enemies then your reward will be GREAT and you will be consider sons (daughters) of the MOST HIGH.

So ......CHARLIE SHEEN has been publicly deemed crazy, or a lunatic because he thinks he's "WINNING" and I wonder would you be considered just as crazy if your too are thinking you are "WINNING" if you aren't merciful and loving to your enemies.

And the WINNER is (pt.1)

Matthew 10:41-42 AMP: "42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward."

So it sounds like we will have to endure a few more days of possible triple digit temperatures and if you are like me....you were done with this type of weather weeks ago. This type of weather presents many challenges, or if you choose to look at it through God's lenses opportunities for Him to be made famous through your actions. Sure it's easy to choose to stay in, keep cool, or hang out in your favorite mall, dept. store, or movie theatre but all of that is ALL ABOUT YOU. In today's scripture we are being given the opportunity to be WINNERS! Jesus said " 1)whoever gives to one of these little ones a 2)cup of cold water" . What will you purpose your heart to GIVE TODAY? He has richly blessed you, so before you say you don't have...remember you are RICHLY BLESSED by your association, your relationship with Jesus Christ. The second thing is you GIVE what they are in need of. He mentions "a cup of cold water" funny how that's so applicable today. For instance we all have our trash picked up or mail delivered or lawn's mowed, but since we have had all of these scorching temperatures have you provided any of those people with a bottle of ICE COLD water? How about the homeless who you may drive past daily, have you just decided to give them a couple of bottles of water or maybe a frozen towel.

The children in today's picture were reaching out to just be loved, and at the end of the day that's what we ALL want, to be loved, but in order for that to happen sometimes YOU need to be the initiator. Christ said those that give that
"cold drink are truly HIS disciples, and they will not lose their reward" So my question is are you WINNING? If not I pray that you live to be the WINNER Christ created you to be, in the game of LIFE!

MEDITATE ON (WHAT'S GOOD) THIS!

"Philippians 4:8 American Standard Version (ASV)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things"

In this picture is a monument dedicated to the late husband, Prince Albert of Queen Victoria. It is definitely a captivating piece of work that is beautifully position in a park in London to stand as a symbol of her love and affection for her husband. One can only imagine the multitude of thoughts (great thoughts, intimate thoughts) that she shared about him, that so moved her to have this built in his honor. Much like the thoughts GOD had of you. I'm sorry not much like them, FAR BETTER than them that GOD had of you. While you may not have a statue overlayed in gold, with ivory surrounding you, and gated off so no one can get to you, but you have YOU! GOD's workmanship. You are a representation of HIS LOVE poured out on you. Today's verses beg us to think on a list of things....and I believe if and when we allow ourselves to do so....it causes us to do something. The question is "What will you allow, release yourself to do amongst or to the people HE will send in your path?" How will you honor HIM through them? How will you express your love and devotion to GOD through your living today?

Well He blessed you with another day for a DIVINE purpose (not so you can sit in your jammies, and sip your lattes)......I can't wait to see or hear what you did! Don't waste this DAY, this gift to you called the present.

LGLP

MEDITATE ON (The Teachings of Christ) THIS!

Psalm 1:1-3 AMP : "1 [a]BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. 3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]."

What do you love doing or as it is scripturally termed "delight" in? Today's verse talks about BLESSED IS THE MAN (WOMAN) who (and it first talks about what they don't do) delights and desires are in GOD's teachings. Last night as I finished the "11 page" open call application for the NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR, I couldn't help but notice that you must really like cooking and be excited about the possibilities of being showcased on such a platform. Each question sought to peel back a layer of who you are at your core. If I am honest, winning would be EXTREMELY COOL, but REALLY just being selected as a contestant would do it for me, because if I am...I know that this is not of my doing, it would be of GOD'S doing and all He expects out of me is that He'd be glorified. Much like how the pictured tree is. It's planted firmly on a bluff above the river and it doesn't have to do much other than stand. The fruit it produces are these huges fibrous sausage looking like pods that can weigh up to 15lbs. Doesn't sound much like fruit but provides a space for bats and insects.

People ask me all the time, "how are you doing", and if they hang around long enough to hear my answer you know I will say BLESSED! I never gave much thought to if I was saying it with this scripture in mind, but I need to, and maybe you do to. Maybe we need to commit to meditating on CHRIST's teachings (loving our neighbors, loving GOD, just & wise living) day and night, like a tree is committed to being planted never moving to truly experience a BLESSED LIFE!

My prayer is that you are found firmly planted, bearing fruit, and full of life for those that may come to rest under you. BE BLESSED my friends!

Meditate ON (His Unfailing Love) THIS!

Psalms 48:9-10a says...O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your temple. As your name deserves, O God , you will be praised to the ends of the earth.

So today is termed as hump day! We are two days away from the weekend, many of you, or us are taking sighs right now...of the fact whew....we are almost there....thank you Lord (we utter under exasperated breath) But really stop, and think about God's unfailing love for all of us. Not just you...but ALL OF US, ALL OF CREATION! While you may not be fond of your boss, your neighbors, some of your co-workers, the disrespectful kids in your neighborhood, those whom you have a short fuse with, those who don't care about or think about HIM (God that is) , He is madly in love with. What about you? Do you love like He loves? Do you even desire to? (Be honest) THIS IS PRECISELY WHY HE should be worshipped! Pictured are some hands shaped as a heart and it's no mistake that hands are also used in serving others which is a key facet in worshipping.

After all, while you can't stand______________ (you fill in the blank with a name or group of people) He still is madly in love with YOU, praying that you will someday LOVE as HE LOVES. That's how you make the world a better place!

Father forgive us of our thoughts and even prayers that were contradictory to your character and love for each of us. Help us to love as you love, serve as you serve and be bold enough to carry this type of love to the edges of the world! AMEN

Meditate ON (HIS WORKS) This!

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 says Oh give thanks to the LORD, call on His name, make known His doings to all the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to him; meditate on talk of his wondrous and devoutly praise them!

So as you prepare to leave the house....what are you thinking about? What owns your thoughts? Is it how much work you will have today? Is it the meetings you have to sit through? Maybe you haven't made it that far yet, maybe you are preparing for the traffic you know you have to face. Or will the car act right today. Whatever it is...if it isn't thinking about God's works...you probably are unnecessarily stressing. You can't even stress when thinking about what GOD HAS DONE or IS DOING! Look at the picture....does that evoke stress in you? Look at the beauty and magestic nature of the creatures in harmony just EXISTING or should I say CO-EXISTING. When you meditate on GOD's GREAT works you can't help but want to talk to people about them, and hope they notice or see what you see.

So if you do decide to "lose yourself" today make sure it's in meditating on GOD so that the next words that follow are praises of what He's done or doing. One way to help with this mood setting command is to govern what you listen to on the way to work or while at home. BEFORE doing......just listen to at least one song in it's fullness so that you can lend yourself to the lyrics and comprehend..."REALLY...WOW...GOD I'm sorry you are.....(mighty, faithful, lovely____________ you fill in the blank via the song you're singing or listening to)"

GOD BLESS! LGLP