04.03.06
8 Essentials for Loving Yourself - #5
Devotional goes here….
Scripture in italics
More devotional stuff.
Crippling Fears #2
Crippling Fears # Two
“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4 KJV).
What do you fear the most? In your own life right now what bothers you constantly that is a nagging, gnawing anxiousness deep within your soul and heart? Many people live their entire life fearful of what might happen to them. This unnecessary baggage becomes a heavy smothering of their spirit, their aspirations and especially their confidence. No wonder thousands of people kill themselves worldwide because they have fought this smothering affect way too long. So, they end their own lives thinking this will be better than going on in a world of such puzzlement and perplexities.
The word anxious actually comes from an old Latin term, anxius, based on angere meaning “to choke.” That’s precisely what fears do to you. Whatever you have never done before, you’re often afraid of. When I was much younger, I almost drown. I went canoeing with a group along the Guadalupe River. The man at the canoe rental told us that it was OK to row over what was called, “Waco Falls.” However, as a novice canoeist, my friend and I went down in a hurry trying to pass through these rapid waters at the Waco Falls junction of this river. I got caught underneath the canoe and could not come up for air because the canoe became lodged within the large stones at this Waco Falls. Finally, I was able to come up for air as I miraculously weaved my way out from underneath the canoe. I was choking for lack of air.
Are you choking for a lack of air? Do you have those haunting fears around your neck? Surely, the Psalmist did and he went to the right Person to find relief. Satan loves keep you down with apprehensions. He wants nothing better than to choke the spirit of Christ out of you through every trepidation he can come up with. He is like a boa constrictor; he’ll crush your character and your heart if he can—hates to see you free in Christ. But look at what a promise we have in this verse, “and delivered me from all my fears.”
‘Down the road........,
Ronnie
Crippling Fears # 1
May 2nd,
Crippling Fears # ONE
“...and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31b KJV).
We read just a few verses before that these believers of the early church had asked for boldness. Now we see them speaking with the boldness they had prayed for. I am mesmerized by the people of this era of time. They chose not to shortchange themselves by simply taking their fears to God. You and I would have had all kind of phobias in this day and age just like them. They beheaded people, too, like they have done those captured in modern day Iraq. These people went before God because they were facing such frightening persecution. Nothing becomes mundane when your life is on this line, or I should say “head” is on the line. So in the face of enormous adversity these early apostles and followers of Christ sought God’s face to overcome their fears of repression and hateful persecution.
Phobos is the Greek word for fear. An object of memory or education inspires almost all phobic reactions of morbid dread and anxiety. As a child, you learn that a snake is poisonous, dangerous; fire burns and dogs might bite. The tragedy in adult life is that we allow fears to inhibit us, paralyze us and destroy our happiness. After many years now, I have counseled every kind of phobic person you can imagine. One lady only a few years ago had the greatest fear I have ever seen before about dying and leaving all her money to her childish husband. He was always in debt. She ha d the “head on her shoulders” for business; but not him—he was a disaster just waiting to happen. But because of her spendthrift husband she could not enjoy her own life at the present time. What a crippling phobia for someone to cope with!
Your source of new enthusiasm, dynamic energy and resiliency toward your phobias comes through your intimacy with God. Whatever you’re troubled about talk to God. Just talk to your Father. Tell Him your fears. Ask for His assistance. After all these years my wife, Nancy Jean, has always stuck by her favorite verse, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3 KJV). Beat your fears up today—trust Him. He’ll help you.
‘Down the road…...,
Ronnie
11.27.06
The Passage
Living is giving and giving is living. Keep on looking upward and forward and heavenward and never give in or out or give way. Someone once inspired me with these helpful and encouraging words, “I believe in you.” I believe in what he said he believed, too; I have bought his gracious and uplifting words, hook, line and sinker. BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE
Having confidence means everything. Does someone believe in you? If they do, you are very fortunate like myself. This you can never buy on a WalMart shelf.
02.21.07
Definitely
2-21-07 Devotional
“And when the people were gathered thick together” (St. Luke 11:29 KJV).
Recently I asked a little lady just what has it been like to grow in her Christian faith; and I asked her if she had grown closer and closer to the Lord over the years. This little lady has had many health issues for many years now and lives in enormous physical torment. In fact, she is on multiple medications and constantly undergoing medical treatments of some kind. However, when I asked her if she had indeed come to know the Lord in a deeper, richer relationship after all these years, she replied with a very distinct glow and glimmer upon her face as she threw her head back and said confidently and with an obvious assurance—even a sincere smile, “Definitely.”
What did she really mean? Definitely. I think I know. She has lived with the Friend of friends for so long now that not only is He a definite Figure in her life and constant Companion, but He is her “All-in-All.” She knows unquestionably that she has definitely come to know her Savior more and more. She has an intimate relationship that no one can steal from her.
Religion will only suffice so long, so much. But a true encounter with Christ is incomparable with any other relationship in this life; in this world and universe. In Christ there is a definite spiritual romance like no other feeling and understanding one can experience. Not only is He a “Definitely” in her life, but you, too, can come to this point in your own life down the road of your existence. You can avow with certainty and say with your own confidence that you and Him have Definitely come closer and closer moment by moment and day by day.
Why was this crowd so “thick” around the Lord when He taught? People wanted to hear more. They wanted healing. They sought the Light. They were desperate for hope and help. They hungered for the Truth. And surely some of these same people down the road of their own lives came to the conclusion this little lady had. They came to know Him more and more—Definitely more and more. Do you?
‘Down the road…..,
Ronnie
02.23.07
The Atmosphere
February 23RD,
“And they laughed him to scorn” (ST. Mark 5:40 KJV).
I was in a home many years ago in North Texas. The family was quite strange to say the least. The home had a spooky, unsettling kind of atmosphere. There were several children in this household. The mother and father were totally wrapped up in a world of reptiles, namely snakes. I was asked by the pastor to go and visit them. I was conducting a revival that week in a local church. The pastor was trying to reach out to them.
The dad had a couple of rather large snakes around his shoulders and neck when he met me at the door. All through their house there were cages of mostly mice and snakes. Need I tell you what the mice were for? Each child had his or her favorite pet snake around them as well. The mother petted and consoled her snake, too. It was not well at the time of my visit. All through their home were snakes. They were everywhere. Crawling around. There were a couple of large pythons and boa constrictors. I must say I have never been back to that house or town sense then. The atmosphere in the home was eerie, scary and uneasy. Uncomfortable!
When the Master came to this house in His ministry He found people who were apart of the wrong atmosphere. He told them the daughter of the synagogue ruler was not dead, but asleep. “And the crowd laughed him to scorn.” So “He put them all out,” i.e., out of the house. Even the Son of God wanted the right atmosphere before He healed this daughter. “And he took the damsel by the hand, and said to her, Talitha cumi; which is being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise” (St. Mark 5:41 KJV).
One can just feel that positive, happy, excited, colorful, uplifting spirit in a home. Don’t you think so? It’s just there. It is an “it.” It’s not made with furniture or fixtures or fine China. It is an ambience all of its own. Augustine declared, “To be sound in faith and holy in life—this is the kernel of Christianity.” It is the atmosphere that brings cheer or fear, assurance or anxiety, calm or confusion. When Christ comes in, things are never the same again.
‘Down the road…..,
Ronnie
PS – 8ministries.com/blog
02.27.07
The Penniless Preacher
February 27TH,
“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way” (Matthew 1325 KJV).
It was called the bearded darnel. It looks kind of like wheat. It waves in the air like wheat. It grows up about the same height as wheat. It looks good to eat like wheat. But in the end when it is totally mature, even a child can tell it isn’t wheat. The gray seeded plant is in fact a poisonous weed. And in the East in the ancient world mean, unkind neighbors seeking retribution and revenge would plant these weeds in their neighbor’s fields. As they start growing together they root together; hence to pull up the weed, you will ruin the root of wheat. “Steal, destroy and kill!” Such neighbors are always present in your world, don’t you agree?
This penniless preacher came to town. And no one wanted him around. He grew up among bearded darnels. Their roots were steeped in the traditions of their fathers. They were toxic in their faith. They bore no fruit. They would weed themselves into the fabric of a society that wanted only laws without grace and mercy. In the end this penniless preacher taught them a new and living way. As he grew up among the weeds, it became obvious to those who picked him that he was anything but a weed. Anything but poisonous. He was indeed their food for life, their breath of hope, and the heart of mankind’s most meaningful and purposeful reason for being here. And still is.
‘Down the road….,
Ronnie
03.01.07
One Single Life/Just One
March 1ST,
“For I could wish myself to be cursed by Christ so that my brothers and my kinfolks in my own family could be blessed” (Romans 9:3 RKJV).
It must have been a deafening silence that day in Rome at the Coliseum. A hush filled the air like no other. From a mere holy hermit in the desert to the unbelievable gladiatorial games in Rome this man would soon transform an entire nation by his act of courage and love for others. While most of the audience sat there bleeding in their own hearts for more blood and death this little holy hermit sat there stunned by such a slaughtering of human life. Having felt called by God from his desolate abode in the desert to sit midst 80,000 roaring fans, historians tell us Telemachus leaped right into the arena in between two raging gladiators. He was immediately tossed aside. Even the crowd began to stone this innocent nobody. But the little holy hermit insisted they not kill one another; so he jumped in between these fighting gladiators again. At the command of the emperor came the flashing swords in the sunlight from the gladiators. Telemachus was dead. Now his blood was spilt upon the floor of the great Roman Coliseum. But from that day forward Rome was changed. Never the same again! As word spread across this mighty nation about this holy man dying for the sake of human life and dignity, there were never again any gladiator games.
One person can make the difference in life. It doesn’t take an army. It doesn’t take thousands upon thousands. It doesn’t even require a Super Power. Not really. Just one. One, single person like Telemachus, or David Livingston, or Mother Theresa, or Nelson Mandela, or a poor Galilean Preacher can transform mankind, a church, a whole nation, and even the world. Look what this Apostle did for Christendom.
Friends with the Best,
Jason D. Lloyd
PS – Be sure and check out 8ministries.com/blog
03.07.07
Your Little Tent
March 7TH,
“The cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus, when you come please bring it with you…” (2 Timothy 4:13 RKJV).
Unless you have lived in the north you can never appreciate a cloak. Especially when it is very cold, when the wind is howling and the snow is trying its best to get down your collar. It is a vestment of necessity. No wonder Paul is urging Timothy to bring that cloak. In the Roman prison he was going to be very uncomfortable without his cloak during winter’s darkest nights and coldest days. In this day a cloak was much like a little tent that opened up at the top for your head to go through, and formed a circle of heavy cloth around your body. That cloak must have been something, too. Here is God’s greatest missionary throwing this garment upon him as he walked about the prison and shared his infamous story how God changed his life on the road to Damascus when he personally saw the Light that shined around him. Goodness! What a scene!
“Bring my cloak.” Life has its necessities. Some things you just can’t go without. They are inseparable for your life to be complete. They are the “basics.” Without the cloak there’s no comfort. However, with the cloak is that soothing, warm, cuddly feeling.
God wants to be your cloak of comfort for life. Your little tent! He wants to throw His mighty, unfailing arms around you. Around your soul. Around your mind and heart. He wants to comfort you—this why the Christ made us the promise, “It is expedient that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you. But if I do leave you, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7 RKJV). How interesting words are. Comforter comes from the old Latin terms: con and fortis meaning strong. But it also means a wool or woolen wrap about you: a scarf or cloak. So today you can go out into the cold…with your cloak, your Comforter. Just think all day today, you are never alone.
Friends with the very Best,
Jason D. Lloyd