It’s about His will, not mine

Today’s scripture:

“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. ” (Matthew 26:39b)

 

 

            When we pray for God’s will to be known to us there is usually some kind of underline idea what God’s will will look like. What I mean by that is, when we pray for God to have His way, we have this idea in the back of our mind that it will fit into a box that we have already created on our own. For instance, if you have gone to college and got a masters degree in science and you pray for God to have His will in your life to give you whatever job He wants to give you in the science field. Or let’s say you feel the need to move to a different location to live but you have in mind what climate you want to live in and you pray for God’s will to be known to you about finding a house in that desired climate. Or maybe you already run your own business to which you know that God has set up for you. But now you have a few setbacks to the point of needing a financial miracle to continue on in that business. So, you pray for God to have His way of however to relieve you of this burden.

 

            You see every one of those situations we pray as it has to be about us….. Lord, I don’t know what job you have for me but you know that I have worked hard in my classes and you know how much I like science, so please Lord, I really want this job at NASA but what ever job you have for me, I will accept as long as it comes from you….. Lord, you know how much I hate the cold rainy weather, so whatever house you have form me in southern California is what I will be happy with even if it’s a humble home….. Lord, I know you have called me into the trucking business and I have been trying to be a good servant with the business you have entrusted to me, but now I’m faced with this $10,000 truck repair. Please Lord have your way on how to pay for this so I can keep driving this truck.

 

            What if God wants you to be a farmer instead and to use your knowledge about science to reach people with the gospel from a scientific standpoint? What if God chooses you to stay right where you are instead of California to use you to help the homeless in New York City or Chicago where the winters can be very harsh on people with no shelter? What if God had you in the trucking industry to teach you certain things like patience, or how precious family time is? But now He wants to build your faith in Him that whatever He chooses to do, its going to be about glorify Him and bringing mercy to others and that its not about you at all.

 

            You see, When Jesus was praying to the Father in the garden, He was in agony of what the Fathers will was going to do to Him but He knew that it wasn’t about Him at all. He was willing to sacrifice His own comfort for the sake of purifying you so that you could be set free from sin and hell and be with God forever. He didn’t give the Father a box to put His will into. He didn’t have a pre-established condition that would guarantee His comfort or His wishes. He simply kept His hands wide open leaving it totally up to His Lord whatever that may be.

 

            See, even though God cares about you and will never leave you, He has a bigger purpose for His will than just our feelings or comfort, in fact that probably isn’t even considered. What is considered is how we can bring Him the most glory and how we can reach others with His word and with mercy.

Reflection:

When we can stop trying to fit God’s will into our pre-designed boxes and just let His will be His will, whatever that may be, we will be able to live a much more joyful life because we will be living up to or full potential and doing what we were designed for and that is to glorify and worship God and to give love to others. Remember, it’s not about you.

 

Challenge:

Take a moment and think of your current situation and try to take yourself out of the equation completely. Does His will still line up to where you are at in life? Does it involve giving to others and leading them to Jesus? And are you giving Him all the glory?

 

 

-Doug McGowan

The answer is to cry out

I'm reading the book of Joel and Joel is explaing how bad things of gotten in the southern kingdom of Judah. They were dealing with locusts upon locusts upon locusts. Then dealing with a drought and becuase of the drought they were dealing with forest fires destroying everything. Although this may or may not compare with what is going on in our country right now. The answer to thier plages and destruction is the same answer we have today. It's a difficult answer but it is very simple. It's not politics. It's not masks. It's not social distancing. It's not having or not having statues. It's not even electing the right president or politicians.

It's crying out to God even if you don't believe in Him. He will still answer even if you don't think He is there. Let's cry out to Him now!

Priceless

The cost of a Christian T-shirt… $14.00. The cost of a leather-bound bible… $52.00. The cost of a beautiful cross to hang on your wall… $65.00. The cost of the ability to talk to God whenever you like… PRICELESS!

God’s one and only son, Jesus, came to this world to be a sacrifice.  But not just any sacrifice. A sacrifice for sin. But not just any sin. A sacrifice for every single sin you have ever committed and for every sin that you will ever commit in the future. That is why He is referred to as the sacrificial Lamb of God  (John 1:29b “…The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”) Jesus was able to be this sacrifice because He was perfect without any flaw whatsoever and not only that but He was fully human. His purpose was to fulfill God’s plan which was to willfully lay down His life for you. Even though that sounds profound and amazing, we have no idea how much it costs God to give Him up like that. It is a concept that is beyond our ability to comprehend. It truly is priceless!

 I heard a quote recently that the value something is worth is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it.

 You see, God considers you to be priceless! Jesus paid that price! The fellowship and relationship that Jesus had with the Father was something extremely extraordinary. Something truly awesome and pure and holy. Something we don’t even really understand fully. But it was something that God considered to be very valuable. The relationship between the Father and His son Jesus was unbreakable. No force could ever separate it… except, dare I say sin.

To really even get a small glimpse of what it cost God, you have to understand what really went on during the sacrifice of Jesus that was made on that cross at Calvary.

You see, it was sin that separated The Father and the Son. As Jesus was being crucified on the cross, and being that sacrifice for your sins, He took all the sins of every person that had eve lived and ever will live and all of their past and future sins on Himself. So much so that the bible said He BECAME sin ( 2 Corinthians 5:21… “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”). When Jesus became sin, that separated Him from His Father who He had such love for (Matthew 27:46b “…Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”).

 See how powerful and filthy sin is? God couldn’t even look at Jesus as He became sin because He became something so filthy and disgusting and wretched that it would have sent us to hell forever separated from God. And Jesus took that on Himself willing to be separated from the Father for you! That my friend is priceless!!!

- Doug McGowan

Stop trying!

Today’s scripture:

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)

Do you ever wonder why you keep falling? Why you keep giving over to that same old sin over and over and over? Why is it the more you try, the harder it seems to not give over to sin? Well, the obvious answer to that question is simple. You are trying to do it in your own strength. Yes, I know that is a fundamental answer to a typical question in the pursuit of living for Jesus, but the purpose of this devotion is to dive in deep to the core of surrender and pleasing our Father in heaven.

See, many people, and I include myself, tend to think that we need to please God. People have the mindset that we shouldn’t think this way or that way or that will lead us to sin. But it is true. We do need to please God and we do need to watch what we participate in that it will not lead us astray. But, I think the problem is how we go about it… We try and fall, we try and fall, we try and try and TRY!

May I say something that may be contrary to how people think? STOP TRYING!  Stop TRYING to please God that way! Stop trying to not sin. Yep, you heard me right. What??? How can this be God’s will? You were never meant to try and not sin. And believe it or not you were never meant to fundamentally surrender and give it to God. At least not that it would end there.

Dear saints, please understand we tend to think in a way that can be very shallow. Very into ourselves even when we are thinking we are trying to please God. If it were to stop there, the Lord Jesus would be greatly saddened and His heart would ache. See, Jesus longs for a closeness with you. What Jesus really wants from you is YOU. He longs for you. Stop trying to not do certain things and just spend time with Him. And you know what? As you do, your spirit dwells with His spirit and that’s where you are united with Him becoming one. And as you dwell with Him, all that stuff about trying to not sin will fall into place naturally! It’s in possible to dwell in His presence and sin at the same time.

This does not mean you have to stop whatever you’re doing and fall prostrate at His feet. There is a time and place for that but I believe we don’t come to Him sometimes because we feel we have to give up so much of our time. Remember, God knows you have work and chores at home and you have kids and have to prepare dinner. He knows all that. He wants to be invited into all of that while you do it thanking Him, praising Him, talking to Him like He is your earthly loving parent and friend. If you could just see beyond your eyes which are so blind to the spiritual world, you would see Him reaching out to you with arms and hands wide open pleading and saying with an almost weeping face “won’t you please spend time with Me? I want to give you so much more. I want to bless you with My peace, My joy and My strength but I can’t do that unless you let our spirit become one”.

Dear beloved, once you start spending time with Jesus by just thinking of Him and thanking Him continually, and even singing to Him, treating Him as if He were in the room with you trying to talk to you. Once you start that, stay there! Don’t leave! You may think this is impossible but you would be wrong according to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19. God would not give us a command without giving us the power to live it out. It is possible to stay in His presence and never leave, in fact it’s a command. And as you practice this and fail miserably, keep pressing in when you realize you’ve been away from Him for some time and it will get easier and easier to where you will be in His presence more often than not being there. Then you come to a point that it’s easier to be with Him than not and you will realize all of your fleshly desires have weakened to the point of non-existence!

Reflection:

My lovely wife says, “Changing the way you think will change the way you act” (2 Corinthians 10:5). If we are to have victory in Jesus, we will need to be in His presence and staying there. There was a time recently that I thought I would always struggle with sin and that even though God calls us to a life of always pressing into Him, it still seemed unattainable in this life. But Jesus wants you to experience the fullness of Himself and we cannot have that if we are only giving Him a little bit of ourselves because then we will only get a little bit of Him.

Challenge:

I challenge you dear friends to set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2, Romans 8:5). Start practicing the presence of God, and as you take tiny steps towards that He meets us the rest of the way. Just as a person trains his body to build muscle, lifting weights and getting better at it each day until he achieves the muscle mass he wants, you need to train your spirit to practice dwelling with Jesus every day even after you fail and you will get better at it then sin will start to weaken.

-Doug McGowan

Therefore, be perfect…

Today’s scripture:

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48)

“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

(James 1:4)

Pastor Mike, I fell again last night going back into sin. I just can’t seem to do what’s right and stay right with God. I want to be pleasing to Him but when my flesh is faced with such strong temptation, I just give into my sin over and over! I pray and quote scripture just like Jesus did in the wilderness when He was tempted by satan but I still give in from time to time. Jimmy, don’t be too hard on yourself son. You’re only human. God doesn’t expect you to be perfect. Besides, we can’t expect to live like He lived because He is GOD! He just did those things to show us as an example on how to live.

How often have you heard this kind of conversation? Maybe you have said this as a confession yourself. Maybe you have even given this type of council when someone has confessed to you. I know that I have been there on both sides of confessing as well as giving this kind of council.

Now, what I’m going to say next is going to rub some people if not most people the wrong way. Some may question me and say that I’m wrong. In fact, what I’m going to say goes against a lot of church teachings and church council. Just look at what scripture says, I mean an honest, hard and deep look at it.

This type of council is not only wrong but it leads people down a path of never really living up to the potential God has for them. It also, leads people to look at Jesus as someone who is unapproachable not able to totally relate to. God does not and never will call us into something without doing it Himself and without equipping us fully to step into that which He has called us. “By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life”(2 Peter 1:3).

Now please understand saints, this is not done by our own power at all. It can’t! Apart from Jesus, we are as wretched and filthy as they come. It’s not us at all, Its Him! When our spirit dwells and is intertwined with His spirit we become one with Him and He lives through us. Jesus is perfect just as the Father is perfect. This is not a “What would Jesus do” (WWJD) mentality. All though it is a good question to ask yourself, it is not what our relationship with Jesus is based on. Our relationship goes much, much deeper. We become one with Him and it’s Him living a perfect life through us! We don’t have to ask “what would Jesus do” when we are living a life totally in complete submission to Him.

Remember, Jesus gave up all His power when He became a human man (Philippians 2:7). He did that so that He had to totally rely on God the Father. He was without sin and did many miracles only because He was constantly getting alone with the Father and allowing the Father to live through Him. Without giving up His power, the cross would have been in vain. He had to go through His whole life being one with the Father just as we are to be one with Jesus.

Now, does that mean if we continue to fall over and over that Jesus will write us off? Of course not! One of His strongest messages is forgiveness. But true repentance will lead you closer and closer to the likeness of Jesus. Not just likeness of Jesus as if to say we are like Him but again, look at scripture… We are to be one with Him and Him with us! WE BECOME ONE!!!

Reflection:

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I look at scripture and not truly take it in for what it really is saying especially if it’s a hard and difficult one to accept. Like this verse in Matthew…”Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect”. Really? I’m called and expected to be perfect like God? YES! Because if not then that would deny what Jesus has said in this verse and in James 1:4 among many others. Again, it’s not impossible when you consider that when you are totally surrendering your everything to Him then you are allowing the Holy Spirit to take over.

Challenge:

Ask the Lord to give you wisdom about these matters and really consider in your heart what the Word of God is really saying and don’t pass it off just because it sounds impossible. But in Matthew 19:26 Jesus says “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”. Right now take time and take notice your thoughts. Is there any lust, fear, pride, arrogance, selfishness or anything sinful in your thoughts? If so, consider how to give up those thoughts of your own and let Jesus live through you with love, humility, meekness, gentleness and confidence in the power of God the Father.

-Doug McGowan

No more strife! Only mercy!

Today’s scripture:

A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. (Proverbs 29:23)

Have you ever told yourself, “I would never get like that” or “I would never do or say that”?

Being a truck driver can be extremely challenging to the values of morality and damaging to your integrity if you let the negative atmosphere effect you. There are countless situations that you can encounter while on the road that are influenced by anger, resentment, lust, envy, strife, backbiting and gossip. Not a day goes by that the CB radio is free of some driver getting so angry at another driver that causes a fight and terrible strife. Everyone is out for themselves and hardly anyone is willing to encourage or lend a hand to someone else. Even as I sit here in my truck writing this, there is a lot of arguing on the radio.

Just the other day, I was listening to a driver rip another driver to shreds (verbally) because he wouldn’t turn off his headlights while backing up into a parking spot in a truck stop (because headlights shine directly into the truck in front of you and that person may be trying to sleep, or blinding another as he is trying to park). He said he would do what they used to do in the old days which is take a hammer to the headlights which would teach a lesson to the driver.

Which leads me back to my first question… Have you ever told yourself, “I would never get like that” or “I would never do or say that”? I have to admit, a year ago in the beginning of driving a semi-truck and interacting with all the other truck drivers, I vowed I would never get like that. I wouldn’t say that but I believed it in my heart.  Can you imagine the arrogance of that statement? I actually believed I was beyond acting so low. I have a pride that is so arrogate that I actually believe I am incapable of having a bad attitude towards another human being. That I have been changed by God so much that my heart, no matter the situation, would have only meekness to give. That, my friend is one form of pride!

Today, I had encounter with another driver that left me very convicted about what and who I had become. This driver did make a mistake and got mad at me when I wouldn’t get out of his way while trying to correct his mistake. Instead of showing meekness, I was stubborn and refused to give him space just because it would cost me a few minutes of my precious drive time. It’s a dog eat dog world out here and nobody is looking out for me so I am going to look out for myself. That had become my attitude.

See, what I had failed to remember is, as long as I am being humble and kind to others, God is looking out for me. His heart and passion is about relationships and helping those who have needs. It may be small to me but it is a huge deal to God if I were to just quietly wait for this guy to correct his mistake and maybe even get out of my truck and offer help and then go about my day.

It’s so easy to get caught up in this busy life and rough world, we can forget what it’s all about. It’s all about Jesus and loving Him through our love and relationships with our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-39)

Reflection:

Rather you are a truck driver, baker, engineer, janitor, physician or whatever your profession, try not to let the severe negative comments get to you. And if you have given into strife, gossip, anger or any other sins, simply confess them to God and return back to His ways of meekness, mercy and forgiveness. You don’t have to listen to that lie from the devil…”you have already messed up, might as well finish the day off with it. Besides God isn’t interested in you coming to Him now that you have messed up” that is a lie from the pit of hell! Don’t stay there!

Challenge:

I’m sure there will be something said or done today that will cross your will and cause you to consider lashing out even if it is done in your mind. See this as a golden opportunity to let mercy and meekness shine bright and be for certain that will bless that person and according to today’s scripture Proverbs 29:23, God will honor you!

-Doug McGowan

Ransomed from Death

Today’s scriptures:

“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” (Isaiah 64:6)

“He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” (1 Timothy 2:6)

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

From the very early years of Tony’s life, he had many trials and challenges. Tony grew up in a home filled with all kinds of evil… violence, abuse, drugs and alcohol among many other things. He lived in this environment because his parents created that environment. Tony believed this was the way his life was to be. He hadn’t ever experienced true love and acceptance.

By the time Tony was 13, he had helped his brothers steel cars, deal crack, and even became involved in a gang. Then when he turned 16 he had taken some elderly woman and her 8 year old granddaughter’s life for the BMW she had in her garage. Even though Tony grew up with this lifestyle all around him, he knew his life was completely unmanageable and out of control. Of course he would not admit that to anyone so he could maintain is “cool” and “got it together” demeanor, but he knew it was true!

Tony was caught, arrested and put on trial. He was tried as an adult and was facing life in prison. Then, this man walks into the court room and says “I want to represent this man as my client”. Although this was not protocol, the judge allowed it. Tony was shaking inside knowing his life up to this point was a complete ruin and a disaster, but still trying to maintain his outward appearance of being so called “tough”.

Tony could not believe what he heard coming out of the mouth of his new found lawyer… “I want to take this young man as my own, and being that he is only 16, he needs to be mentored and discipled rather than a cell to rot in for the rest of his life.” Now, Tony had seen it all and heard it all. Who does this??? Who walks into a court room and says I want to take this killer home with me to live so I can teach him life? Let alone, what judge would allow it? As soon as Tony thought this with his mouth wide open in amazement and disbelief, the judge granted him that request with very strict probation of course.

After a few years of intense and extreme sacrificial love, mercy and forgiveness on the lawyers part as well as on Tony’s, he had a new life (Psalm 51:7)! He was working for his lawyer’s friend restoring cars in a body shop in town and he met with the family of the two people he had killed, pleading with their forgiveness. Amazingly all charges dropped and off his record as if to say, ‘this man was never a thief, drug dealer or killer.’

I wonder how many of us can relate to Tony. Yes, this story is amazing and seemingly untrue! But there is a story that diminishes Tony’s life in a huge way! There is this unbelievable story of someone who created a crime so horrible the judge had sentenced them to a place far off from any civilization to be tortured and tormented with fire and extreme malicious brutality for the rest of their life never seeing any of their loved ones ever again…. FOR EVER!!! You are that someone who has been sentenced to that place of torment! You are that unbelievable story of inexplicable crimes that you have committed!

Would you believe we all could relate if we really stop to meditate on the price Jesus had to pay for our freedom and a new life? You see, Jesus is our “new found lawyer” and God the Father is that judge accepting Jesus’ plea of taking us in as His own. Jesus has spent an extreme amount of sacrificial love and mercy and forgiveness on us so that we can have new life with Him! Not only has Jesus given us that mercy and forgiveness, He extends that every day!

Some of us may not be able to relate to Tony. Those of us who cannot, may not realize how wicked and demonic our sins really are. If we are to TRULY humble or ourselves we will put Jesus and ourselves in our rightful place knowing that He is our needed savior!

Reflection:

The reason why it is hard to look at ourselves as great sinners deserving of eternal punishment is we compare ourselves by other sinners deserving death. We fail to compare ourselves to a holy and righteous God. This is the point where we need to throw up our hands and say, “Lord, your right! Even though I’m not fully there of 100% totally believing what Your Word says about how wicked I am, I do want to believe it. Help my unbelief.”

Challenge:

Ask the Lord Jesus to help you believe and accept His daily forgiveness and mercy. We don’t have to do anything to receive it. It’s there as a gift to us if we realize how desperately we need it.

-Doug McGowan

The Craftiness of Evil

Today’s scripture:

“For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death.” (Proverbs 7:26,27)

“Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know it would cost his life.” (Proverbs 7:22,23)

Just like many scriptures in God’s Word, these are very sobering and frightening verses… BUT VERY TRUE! All too often I overlook the importance of the Lord’s guidance and discount the severity if I choose not to walk in His way, even for a quick moment. Please understand, the severity I’m speaking about isn’t so much God’s correction or discipline. It’s just what happens when we choose a different path that is not safe. See, God’s ways and His commandments are safe.  They are boundaries to keep us from harm, from the one who rules this earth as well as from our own nature of pleasuring self. If you choose to cross over the double yellow line on the freeway, you will die! If you choose to step in the line of fire, you will get shot! If you choose to play with fire, you will get burned! And, if you choose to follow the seducing words of evil, you will be destroyed with shame, guilt, despair and even sickness or death!

…It’s just what happens when we choose to be unsafe.

Some may read this and say quietly to themselves, this is for those who have totally lost control of themselves and have given over to whatever evil comes their way. People like thieves, murderers, rapists, child molesters or that one who is considered to be a sex craved maniac willing to be with anyone no matter what the cost.

Oh, dear ones, please do not fool yourselves!!! This is for ANYONE and EVERYONE! Anyone can be deceived. Remember, it is in our nature to serve self. To take pleasure of what feels good to our flesh. This is even for the one who is desiring God and seeks Him daily. He too can and will be deceived.

I have recently taken on a new kind of lifestyle to provide for my family. It is something both my wife and I know this is what God has called me to do. I am now driving a big rig across the country delivering loads to different companies. I am away from my loving family weeks at a time. Needless to say there are tons of temptation out here on the road for lonely men that are away from their loved ones. In my old life before being born again to Jesus Christ, I lived a double life of serving myself always without regard of anyone or anything, even the ones I loved the most. I was willing to give into any kind of seduction that would make me feel good. I would even ask satan to give me things I wanted because I knew God wouldn’t.

A couple of weeks ago, I pulled into this truck stop to get some coffee in Kentucky outside of of Cincinnati, OH which was on my way to Michigan to deliver a load. As soon as I parked, this lady walks right up to the cab of my truck and climbs up with a map. She asked me to help her read the map being that I was a truck driver and looked at maps as part of my job. As she was pointing to the map, she very boldly physically advanced herself onto me. She used the map as a crafty way of getting close to me so that I wouldn’t be hesitant. Without any details, I had a very quick decision to make. Now at this point I had been away from home almost a month. I was missing my family and was feeling lonely. Satan knows just when to strike and how to strike, doesn’t he? I had just came off of a fast and seeking the Lord desperately two days before.

As she talked the Lord revealed to me the scriptures above but yet I was still very enticed to be ohnest. Her words were smooth as silk and inviting but the gracious and loving Lord Jesus reminded me what my life was like before when I gave into such temptation. I destroyed my marriage and relationships and mostly destroyed my desire for the Lord! I didn’t want that anymore. I told her I am married and she needs to leave and then I got out of there and started calling everyone I knew within the brotherhood of Jesus Christ.

It can happen to anyone at any time anywhere in any way. Please be aware of those tiny little steps that walks ever so slightly away from God. It usually doesn’t start out so bold, it usually and gradually starts with little and subtle things like a look or a thought. Do not be fooled! These are not little things because they will lure you away from a safe and loving God and onto a path that is DESIGNED to destroy you! It can and will destroy you!

Reflection:

The ways of God are safe. They can be difficult to follow even though they are so simple. Remember, they are difficult because we make them difficult due to our nature of always wanting to serve self. Never forget that! If you get only one thing from this reading, let it be this… Never, ever think you are strong enough or too close to God for something to lure you away. Remember, it starts out ever so slightly and subtle. The devil is very crafty and knows you are weak when you are left to yourself. He knows you like pleasure. Pleasure is not wrong as long as it is directed from our Lord Jesus.

Challenge:

Before you go any further today, be aware that there is one looking to devour you and rip you to shreds and he will use anything to get to you (1 Peter 5:8). Be mindful of what your next steps today will be. There is no in between, they will either be from the Lord or from the enemy. Press into the Lord pleading Him to keep you.

-Doug McGowan

Awake oh you sluggard!

Today’s scripture:

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…” Revelation 3:15-17

I was recently requested to write about the institution of the Lord’s Supper and more importantly examining ourselves before we take part in such a glorious and reverence time. Honestly, it is a topic that I have felt very strongly about and felt the need to make it known to the church at large the importance of having that time to reflect on what God has done, more specifically what Jesus has done in your life!

I have witnessed some who have a misunderstanding of what is meant by taking communion. First of all, it’s only meant for those who have truly asked the Lord Jesus to come into their lives and to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This is only meant for followers and lovers of Christ because of the meaning of communion. It’s to remember and reflect of what Jesus went through for you and why He chose to give up His glory in heaven and be beaten and spat on and die a horrible hellish death on a cross so that you can have close contact and a relationship with the Father.

My concern is that even in the church there are many who may have once made that decision to give their life to Christ but now have slipped into a spirit of sluggishness and have fallen asleep spiritually. Have we as a church lost that reverence and aw on what the cross means to us? Have we slipped away from thanksgiving and gratitude to our Lord? I even fear that sometimes I fall into that spiritual sluggishness and lose sight on the Lord Jesus and why I chose to follow Him in the first place a few years ago.

Look at the Word from God… Matthew 25:5 – “But while the Bridegroom (Jesus) was delayed, they all slumbered and slept”. See, the Word of God says He was delayed. Jesus will come again whenever He chooses to come. He is not late! He is delayed only in our minds because people have been saying His is coming again very soon for years. We think we can kinda skate by and when things get bad we can turn to God  until things cool off and then we go back to living our busy lives going to and fro and not having much thought about Jesus until Sunday rolls around again next week.

The truth is we need to press into Him now! Examine yourselves before God and before you take part in the Lord’s Supper. Is there anything at all that The Lord Jesus wants you to turn from? Are you living a consecrated life devoted to Him and Him only? Are you devoted to sacrifice your will so that His will can be lived out through you? Put down the smartphone and tablet, and stop playing those video games and listening to that music and taking part in group activities just for a moment each day and spend time with the one who has saved your life from the tortures of hell!

Let’s together turn from that sluggish spiritual sleep and awake up to a spirit of thankfulness and respect to the enormous sacrifice Jesus made for us! It is time to stop being a lukewarm church and start living a life of prayer and a burning fire in our hearts to enjoy Jesus Himself by living and sacrificing for others in need and having a special time set aside each day for the Lord to speak to us.

Reflection:

The verse for today is indeed strong! It is not meant to cut people down but it is the Word from God and it is meant to put us in our rightful place and humble us. It is also meant to show us our need to be godly rich only in Him and to be clothed with a whiter than snow garment to cover our nakedness and we need Him to give us sight to see Him as He truly is and not a false distortion of a god. This writing is about communion. Communion with Jesus and knowing who He is and who we are in light of Him. To have Him be put on the thrown of our hearts instead of us being our own ruler of our lives.

Challenge:

My challenge to you today is to put down and stop anything that has kept you from spending time with Jesus. Maybe even fast for a week or so from that thing that has become a god in your life.

-Doug McGowan

A walk in the park

Last night I was driving home from a meeting I had to attend, and I drove past this park that I used to go at night and pray a few years ago. Well, since I got married 3 years ago, I find it a little more difficult to try to take that time with God. That used to be my favorite thing to do.

But anyway as I drove by, the Lord asked me why I don't spend time with Him like I that anymore. He laid it on my heart to pull into the park and so I did. I got out of the van, put on the song "Give me Jesus" by Jeremy Camp and just continued to walk in the dark between these two softball fields. I just started talking to Jesus and thanking Him for bringing me here and all that he has done in my life.

After spending a while in prayer I started walking back to my car clear across the park. Then, something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. From a distance I saw this man rattling a plastic bag as he sat on one of the park benches facing the softball field. It was very difficult to see because it was so dark out. So, I kept walking but I started to think what if this man is homeless? It's cold out here and it's late. Where is he going to go? So I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do. Should I go up to him? What would I say? Should I offer him a ride anywhere? Should I buy him food? I don't want to scare the poor guy, after all we are the only two people in this big park late at night. And I, being a total stranger, just walk up to him? Kinda creepy I admit.

After struggling with the idea of going up to a total stranger who appears to be homeless in the dark late at night in a park with no one else around, I finally gave in to the Holy Spirit and started to pursue this poor soul who needs Jesus. I thought to myself, I am doing God's work right now. This feels good. I'm going to help this poor man and then he is going to thank me and I'll be good with the Lord and I can go back home to my wife and family so I can brag about how I've been a servant doing God's work helping a homeless man…. Just being honest.

As I approached him I said “I was in the park praying and felt lead to come over and talk with you”. I explained to him I used to come here all the time and pray and having a big family lately has distracted me from doing so. He said... "Yeah". So, thinking he was going to give me some sad story of him being homeless tonight and that he has nowhere to go, I asked him "What are you doing here"?

And this is when I started to be humbled and surprised by his answer… He said with such a meek, gentle smile and tone…”Why am I here? Well I am here to talk to people about Jesus.” Umm…I thought to myself, we are the only ones here and it’s dark! What people is he talking about? Anyway, we continued talking about our Lord and before I had shared anything at all with this man he starts telling me Satan is after my family! Wow!!! Blown away again! Over the course of three years of being married, my family and I have been through some pretty rough spots. I’m not going to go into all of that but those rough spots were pretty significant to say the least. And here lately in the past month, we as a family have been hit with some more intense drama that can easily bring division between me and my wife. So, I briefly shared some of those things with my new meekly mannered friend Anthony. He simply said “don’t give up! You will be ok, just keep loving the Lord and seek him like you did tonight. And keep loving your wife.” I asked to pray for him and he was grateful. Then he prayed for me. He laid one hand on my shoulder and my other hand he held in his. As he started to pray, his words were powerful and started to shake me and physically move my body as he rebuked Satan and his demons to leave me and my family alone! That prayer came straight from his heart! He was so passionate about it. Then we said our good byes and I went back to my van.

Isn’t it funny? I went over to that man thinking I was going to bless him and do something wonderful for God by being a servant to this man… Reality was, I was the one who got blessed last night! I was the one who was broken and needing Jesus! And Jesus knew it!

Don’t ever think, just because a man wearing worn-out clothes and has a plastic bag for his home, he doesn’t have anything to give and to bless somebody with! This man lead me back to Christ. That gift is priceless!!!

-Doug McGowan

His Favorite Name is Father

Today’s scripture:

“I have always wanted to treat you as my children and give you the best land, the most beautiful on earth. I wanted you to call me “Father” and not turn from me.” (Jeremiah 3:19)

“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9)

What kind of thoughts or emotions go through you when the word “Father” is mentioned? If you’re like me, you might have a hard time relating the name Father to the gifts of the Spirit… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. I didn’t have the best experiences with my earthly father, so when I hear the word father mentioned, thoughts of anger, disappointment and bitterness kind of rises up in me.

Of course, as you can imagine, having these kind of ungodly thoughts is not what God wants for you. God the Father has much more for you than that. He has a great and awesome plan for your life. A plan that includes Him being your father and you being His son or daughter! He loves you so much and He is patient to have that unfold in your life.

It was a few years ago when I was living alone about a year or two after becoming born again that He revealed something very precious to me. He knew I was having a hard time relating to Him as my Father. So, one 4^th of July when most people were with their families and friends, I was feeling exceptionally lonely and God was calling me out to walk with Him so He could speak tenderly to me being that I was feeling vulnerable.

He said to me, “Doug, My son, don’t feel discouraged or even shameful that you have a distorted view of what a father really means to you. I will fix that in you. I understand that you need to relearn Fatherhood in the way that was meant for you. In the mean-time look to the one that you can relate to as a friend… My son Jesus.  I sent Jesus to you as a human being. He has experienced pain and suffering and loneliness more than you have, so you can be sure the two of you can be the best of friends if you let Him. He will always be faithful to you because He is one with Me and I am perfect in love. And Doug, its ok when you hear me being referred to as Father to also picture me being nurturing and gentle like a mother because that is what I am to you. Do not worry my child, I will purify this idea of fatherhood in you so that we can be closer than ever before. I love you.”

God is so good, isn’t He? He knows just what we need and when we need it and just how to apply it to our lives. He showed me that He can be everything that a father should be but He is not gender specific. You see, when we hear the term “Father” we tend to think masculine as a man and maybe even a little rough, that’s my view anyway. However, God the Father is not a man or a woman. To be a man you would miss out on what comes natural for women and to be a woman, you would not have what comes natural as a man. But, God you see, is complete not lacking anything. He is not gender specific. He has a nurturing and gentle disposition just as a mother would have with the same amount of leadership and protection and provision as a father would have. He is complete and all that you need.

God is addressed as “Father” 260 times in the bible. Some theologians say that “Father” is Jesus’ favorite name when referring to God and I believe that it’s true. Think about it… could it be because Father and son is all about a relationship and an intimate relationship at that! Remember that Christianity is not about following rules that your father has giving you. It’s about having that close love for your father that you want to follow His rules. He even says in Matthew 18:3 that to be the greatest in His kingdom, we need to become as little children. Little children have this way of calling for their father… “Papa” or “Daddy”. These two words refer to father with such intimacy that says I trust you.

Please click on this link for a special blessing...  Your favorite name is Father by Newsong

Reflection:

I sometimes cringe a little when I hear that people have this incredible closeness with their earthly father only because I never really had that, but praise the Lord that they are blessed with that awesome gift. Statistics say that 1 out of every 3 children are living without their biological father in the home! So, I know that this will be speaking to a lot of people who don’t really understand having an intimate relationship with their earthly father. However, it should create a hunger in us to have that closeness with God as our Father. Believe it or not, that in itself is a gift.

Challenge:

With these statistics as high as they are, I’m sure you know someone that has this challenge of knowing a compassionate loving father. Will you please intercede for them in prayer? Ask the Lord to touch their heart and to use that challenge to create a hunger in their heart for Jesus to be their friend and savior so that they can have an intimate relationship with the one and only Father. Maybe even come alongside them with the compassion of knowing where they are at and be mercy to them.

-Doug McGowan

A Fight to the Death

Today’s scripture:

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (Mark 8:35)

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)

Very recently I heard of a situation about this one person who we will call Becky. Becky has been faced with all kinds of health issues the past few years which have continually gotten worse and worse. Over the years her family has prayed for her to give her life to Jesus and to be healed. Now Becky is at the point that she is face with the very real probability of death and nobody being able to care for her until she dies and still she is so set in her ways she will not give up and let God in. Becky continues to fight to the death to have her way instead of letting God have His way.

Have you ever been so stubborn wanting your own way that you shove God out? God may have been trying to get your attention for a long time and the more you shove God push Him away, ignore Him or even wrestle against Him, the worse things get. God is a very patient God but He is also very very jealous.

As I was hearing about Becky and her situation, immediately I started to wonder and question God like I usually do when I hear about things like this. I would think things like “Is God even paying attention to this lost soul?” “Does He even care?” The answer is of course He cares and yes, not only is He paying attention to her needs, He is doing something about it.”

Think about it. In Becky’s situation, things started out kind of bad with her health. However, as time went on and prayers went up, God heard those prayers and He decided to do something about it. When God works, it usually does not come how we imagine it should come. God is trying to get her attention! He is at work….MIGHTLY!

I have been following Becky’s situation for a little while now. And, now things are worse than ever with her. Her stubbornness is stronger than ever, her health is weaker than ever, and her relationship with friends and family are at its most desperate moment. In Becky’s eyes it may be a fight to the death to have her own way but with God at work, it’s a fight to the death of one’s self (Mark 8:35). He has to bring us to the end of our own self where we have nothing left to fight with where we have to either die or give up and let God. I believe this happens a lot when people go into comas. They have nothing left to do but talk to God.

But God is so gracious and merciful that when we come to the point of giving up and letting God have us, we end up so filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. It’s almost like even when we lose, we still win! That is God’s heart and His character. This is what is meant by one of today’s scripture Mark 8:35.

My prayer for people who find themselves in the state of absolute despair is that they also see themselves as the thief on the cross. It is NEVER TOO LATE! That thief on the cross was being crucified along with Jesus. Moments before his death, that thief admitted his sins and asked for forgiveness and so quickly Jesus responded with such mercy “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” It is never too late!!!

Reflection:

Coming to the end of one’s self is not the end at all. It’s a new beginning (2 Corinthians 5:17)! The only death, the only end, the only destruction when you give up on yourself and let God is the death of self. And that is a very good thing! Until then, Just watch how God will continually try to get your attention with humility (Matthew 23:12)

Challenge:

Today, pray for those who you see that are going through some very difficult times. God may be using those trials to get their attention. Next time you go through some tough times, remember that God is paying attention and He is doing something about it. Just humble yourself by giving up and just let God have His way with you.

-Doug McGowan

The Great Banquet

Luke 14:21b "...Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame." Throughout the bible Jesus' heart has always been for those "down-and-outs", "outcasts" those kind of people that you normally wouldn't want to have around because of various reasons. But Jesus came for everyone and He is calling out ....NO, He is CRYING out to those lost souls with a desperate cry for them to hear that their sins are forgiven if they would just turn to Him. And He is also calling us to go and send them the invitation.

"Who will go for me...? Here am I Lord, send me!"

A little while back Pastor Bob Nienhuis from my church (Liberty Bible Church) gave a sermon about the parable of the great banquet and reaching out to the lost? Well, I have put together a preliminary idea of something that maybe we as a church can do. What I mean as us as the church is no matter your domination or detailed beliefs. If you have a desire to help those who are lost and need to hear about the mercy from God and what He has done on the cross for them, then that's all that matters, not what church you belong to.

Here is the idea...

The Great Supper based on Luke 14:15-24

This would be a FREE "non-formal dress come as you are" event. However, they will be treated as royalty being catered to just as if it were an expensive night out.

We want this night to communicate to them that we care about the struggles and trials of life we all go through and we want to help and that there is hope in Jesus Christ and help from those who want to follow Him.

Provide...

- Bus commutes to & from dinner    
- Biblical Counciling information booths    
- Designated testimonies on stage    
- Most Excellent Way information (support group from LBC)
- Prayer warriors standing by
- A small teaching of the symbolism of this banquet and the banquet with God (salvation)
- Invitation to receive Christ as their savor (altar call).
                                         
Promote at...
     
- Welfare offices
- Porter County Jail
- Westfield Prison    
- State Prison
- Rehabs centers
- Porter Starke          
- Trailer parks
- New Creation Men's Center
- Battered women's shelter
- Housing opportunities
- Any other places you may think of

As you can probably imagine, this kind of event may be a lot of hard work for one person, so I'm looking to see how many local people that see this post will be willing to help me pull this off. Also if you have any ideas to help to add to this or to make it happen, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Build on the Rock

Today’s scriptures:

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalms 18:2)

But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), (Genesis 49:24)

As we go through life we are bound to have disappointments, hurt, pain, and sadness. We are guaranteed to experience earth-shaking situations that could either, in a matter of speaking, make or break us. I can say this because Jesus tells us that we will have trouble in this life (John 16:33). But then He says that it is ok that we go through times that are hard because He has overcome the world. Being that He has beaten the grave and the ways of this world and the lies of the devil, that gives Him the right position to be the Rock on which we can stand in the midst of such adversity in our own lives.

Please dear saints do not read this and hear me say so flippantly that its ok that you are experiencing great sadness and hurt because you can always turn to Jesus for your rock. Even though that is true, Jesus is not saying it so carelessly. He says it with deep compassion of knowing your great pain because He himself went through that. And He is not some vague imagination that can turn your world into happiness whenever you turn to Him. As a matter of fact, God the Father did not do that for Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane as Jesus prayed for the cup of a terrible death and separation from His Father to be passed from Him. No, Jesus had a purpose to endure the physical and spiritual pain so that you and I can be free from Hell if we embrace that gift by giving Him our life and letting Him live through us.

Today we are looking into the twenty-first topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Build on the Rock”. Matthew 7:24-27… Jesus says, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

What does Jesus mean when He says, “I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock”?

Building your house on the rock is about intimacy with Jesus. Strengthen your faith in Him by worshiping Him with everything you do, so when the suffocating floods and the damaging winds come, and they will come, your house will not fall.

Recently I was meditating on this very thing when my wife Cyndi told me about this car accident that she saw on 80/94 by Chicago yesterday. She said this woman looked like she was in emotional agony as help was just arriving to the scene. Cyndi didn’t find out what had happened but it got me thinking maybe it was a fatal accident and it was someone this woman was close to that had died. It’s horrible enough to go through something so gut wrenching, it is even worse to face it without the hope that Jesus gives if you have a relationship with Him. He is the firmness of your strength, the stability in your weakness, and the power in your love in any and every situation you are in.

Reflection:

Well, this wraps up the teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. All of which are attitudes of the heart. Remember, attitudes come from the heart. If your attitude is wrong, that means your heart is not right. In this teaching there is an attitude of endurance as you work out your faith in Jesus and what He has done for you. The kind of endurance that will carry you through trials and that endurance only comes by you surrendering your own will and strength and let God work through you.

Challenge:

Dear saints, I challenge you to carefully consider how you are building your faith. Even people who call themselves christains can build their faith on sand having knowledge of God but not having closeness with Jesus. Talk to Jesus and ask Him to make it clear to you if you are standing firm on His foundation. Then go and win souls to the same house built on the Rock!

-Doug McGowan