Thought 297: Discipline from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 297

Discipline

“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.” Proverbs 15:10 KJV

      When one falls away from Christ and leaves the narrow road after walking on it, stern discipline awaits him. Scripture says that the Lord’s punishment is much worse for those who have known the Lord and then rejected him and gone astray. There are “levels” of intensity of judgment in Hell. Scripture teaches that some will receive a greater judgment than others. May we see clearly that those who depart from the path of the Lord will be disciplined and those who turn from Him will be punished.

2 Peter 2:20-22, 3:17,  2 Thessalonians 2:3, Hebrews 3:12

 

Thought 296: False Prophets from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 296

 False Prophets

“The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.” Micah 3:11 KJV

 

    Jesus (Matt. 7:16, 24:24) and Paul (Acts 20:13-38)  both warned us that false prophets, deceptive teachers, would come among us and deceive many. We are told that we can recognize them by their fruit (Matt 7:16). For example, the verse above clearly shows that the motivation of these judges and ministers was money, not God. They were fakes! Similarly, in churches around the world today, many false prophets are followed and revered. Why, you ask? How can so many follow a false prophet? Because they are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15): they look like Christians on the outside—they say the right things and subtly weave their lies in so that many don’t “notice.” Scripture says that inwardly these people are ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15). Just like Satan seeks to devour us, so these hungry wolves want to tear apart and draw away many from the flocks of sheep.

     You may know of some false prophets; but if you fully follow Christ, you will be able to hear the voice of the Master Shepherd, of Jesus Christ, and He will lead you. His sheep know His voice (John 10:27), but for those who aren’t His sheep or have fallen astray to some other gospel, let us pause now and spend some time in prayer for them: that the wolves may be exposed for who they are and that the sheep that have been captured will be redeemed.

 

Thought 295: Take Every Thought Captive from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 295

Take Every Thought Captive

This is the only way to win the battles that lust faces us with, men, and the mental struggles that plague us all.

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: ⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ⁶ And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

⁷ Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. ⁸ For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: ⁹ That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. ¹⁰ For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

¹¹ Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. ¹² For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. ¹³ But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. ¹⁴ For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: ¹⁵ Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, ¹⁶ To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. ¹⁷ But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. ¹⁸ For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.    2 Corinthians 10:3-18 KJV

 

Thought 294: Be a voice for the heart of God from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 294

Be a voice for the heart of God

  God’s heart is pure unlike mans’; but when salvation occurs, God begins to change our heart; we still have to be careful not to ‘follow our hearts’ though. Christ lives in the Redeemed, but just because we are redeemed, doesn’t mean that we cannot reject our redemption and walk away from the gift of salvation. We can choose to hearken unto the voice of our old nature instead of our new one. We cannot follow our heart, because while we remain in this world our Flesh, of which our carnal heart consists, constantly desires the fun and exciting sin that the world seems to enjoy. God is King, He has rules, and He has set definite consequences for following our Fleshly, carnal heart because He loves us as a Father loves his children.

A loving parent will discipline their child because they love them, but a parent that doesn’t care will let their child do anything without consequence; and therefore they set the child’s life on the wrong course by implanting rebellion as ok, and discipline, authority, and rules as the “big bad guy.” But God isn’t like that. He has laid out the Rules, He has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit. Instead of following your old nature, follow your new—Christ’s Spirit within you! And be a voice for the heart of God amidst a world of prideful hearts.

 

Thought 293: Plan...Water...Harvest from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 293

Plant…Water…Harvest

 

Plant

Some plant…

Water

Some water…

Harvest

Some harvest the crop…

 

  In your lifetime you might not reap everything that you sow. In your spiritual walk, God may not use as a great harvester; instead, you might plant many seeds that God waters and harvests using other servants and other means. This book is a seed, but if the Lord tarries, this book could have another 200 or 300 years . . . . or more . . . . or less to spread God’s truth.

¹The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

² And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

³ And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

⁴ And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

⁵ Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

⁶ And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

⁸ But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

⁹ Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁰ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

¹¹ He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

¹² For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

¹³ Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

¹⁵ For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

¹⁷ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

¹⁸ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

²⁰ But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

²¹ Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

²² He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

²³ But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

²⁴ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

²⁵ But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

²⁶ But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

²⁷ So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

²⁸ He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

²⁹ But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

³¹ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

³² Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

³³ Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

³⁴ All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

³⁵ That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

³⁶ Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

³⁷ He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

³⁸ The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

³⁹ The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

⁴⁰ As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

⁴¹ The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

⁴² And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

⁴³ Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

⁴⁴ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

⁴⁶ Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

⁴⁷ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

⁴⁸ Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

⁴⁹ So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

⁵⁰ And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

⁵² Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Matthew 13:1-52 KJV

Thought 292: Busy or Occupied? . . . The Lord is coming back! from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 292

Busy or Occupied? . . . The Lord is coming back!

  Being occupied is simply doing something with purpose. Busyness is often doing just for the sake of doing, but occupation is actual work with a defined goal. Our occupation should be rooted in our Lord’s will. Are we doing as He would do? Are we willing to forsake the things that He would forsake? True occupation is living a life for our Lord and not for our own betterment. We might have a lot to do as we follow Him, but it should be a joyous, purposeful occupation, not a hated routine.

We can choose to be occupied with our Lord, both in work and rest; or we will be living a busy life.

Get alone before the Lord and seek His answer to this question: Are you busy with needless things or are you occupied living the life that you were meant to live?

 

Thought 291: Selah from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 291

Selah

      Read Psalm 46 & 47 and contemplate what selah means. . . . ask the Lord what selah means.

Thought 290: You already look like a fool; let God kill your pride from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 290

You already look like a fool; let God kill your pride

 

  Stop letting the fear of failing or looking like a fool keep you from being blessed by obedience to the Lord. Many of us have already looked like fools before in our day to day lives. So let’s face it stepping out there and living out your Faith won’t really be ‘all that bad.’ Sure people may not believe your testimony, even Jesus experienced that. Some may persecute you or make fun of you for your seemingly stupid “‘religious ‘practices;” that happened to Jesus. But—Hey!—we are supposed to be the Light and Salt of the earth. So let’s lay down the pride of failure and foolishness and start being Fools-4-Christ!

“We are fools for Christ’s sake….” 1 Corinthians 4:10 KJV

Thought 289: Hope from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 289

Hope

  Your hope seems to eventually run out, doesn’t it? I have news for you: there is a place to have your hope restored. There is a person who should be the center, the foundation of your hope. When your hope runs out; eventually it will run out when it is founded on the things of this world. 

   I’ll admit that my hope has run out and I needed a ‘lift’, but where did I get it? The altar. Now an altar does not have to be literally in a church or even a literal object, it is simply anywhere that you pour out your heart to God and guess what? He has the power to refill and make a new wine skin out of you, because HE IS THE CREATOR!

Where is your hope focused? Do you need a fresh ‘refill’? Ask the Father for He has sent the Son to save you and the Holy Spirit to empower you to be His witness in the earth.



 

Thought 288: Hear, Do, Say--What God tells you from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 288

Hear, Do, Say—What God tells you

“What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.”  Matthew 10:27 KJV

 

Reflect on the meaning of this verse and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you its meaning.

Thought 287: You've always been told.... from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 287

You’ve always been told….

  I have been told since I was very young that I am a leader. As I grew older, I heard the same type of thing. The words of those people have been a blessing to me during some discouraging times. What have you always been told? Some things that others tell us are lies and curses, while others are blessings and truth. First, ask the Holy Spirit to help you determine whether blessings of curses have been spoken over you. Remember the blessings, and forgive those who cursed you—pray that they may experience Christ’s love and forgiveness and as far much as you can, try to share Christ’s love and truth with them if you come in contact with them.

“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (servant).”

Matthew 20:26 and Mark 10:43 KJV parenthesis added

 That verse that tells us that whoever wants to be the greatest among men has to be a servant. Did you catch that? The “greatest leaders” in the world today often miss it.  The way to be a great leader is to throw away your own pride and embrace humility—begin to serve. True leadership is humbly following God in whatever and wherever He leads you. Even if it looks impossible and all your men, friends, family, and colleagues say that you’re crazy. Jesus’ mission seemed crazy to His own brothers (John 7)!

What God tells me to do has often made me ‘shake-in-my-boots;’ I am attacked fiercely by the Enemy. But God allows me to be tempted by the Enemy as a test. By that test God teaches me something. Unlike earthly tests, this test is all for me, not one ounce of the test is for God because He already knows all of the results, but nevertheless, He lets me go through it so that I might see sometime later what He has taught me.

What are you being called to do? Be a doctor? A scientist? Entrepreneurship? A Mother instead of just a Mom? A Father instead of just a Dad? Be what you were called to be, it may be tough, but GOD IS WITH YOU!

Thought 286: The Birth of a Ministry from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 286

The Birth of a Ministry

  God has given me these dreams: The Timothy Commission (originally the Timothy Foundation), Focusing on the Mark Ministries (originally Pressing Towards the Mark Ministries), writing and designing books and literature, studying the Word and History, teaching, mentoring, and preaching. Very few of these ‘dreams’ have come into being at the time of this writing, but they are dreams.

I have desired to start the dreams that God has put in my heart. But waiting on HIS timing is key. If I don’t wait, I will just be operating in my own strength and not the Lord’s blessing; so, I wait until God makes the way.

Has the Lord given you an idea that has or has not come to fruition? Are you trying to rush God or are you waiting on the Lord?

Thought 285: Faithfulness and Obedience are a Choice from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 285

Faithfulness and Obedience are a Choice

  You can choose to be faithful and obedient. You are never just “naturally” obedient; your human nature is naturally disobedient (Gen 3:6). Obedience is contrary to our nature, and thus we must exercise our will—make a choice—to obey.

But I have a great reminder for you! We serve a God that is always faithful and always keeps His Word! In other words, He obeys (keeps) His promises. And the greatest thing of all is that He loves you and me and ‘keeps after’ us with the message of His Son and the conviction of the Holy Spirit—He desires that none perish; yet they must make a choice: accept the final debt payment of Christ’s redemption from the power of sin or reject signing the debt over to Him and carry it themselves.

How’s your faith and obedience right now?

Thougth 284: True Love from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 284

True Love

Read 1 Corinthians 13.

The following is a definition came to me one day during school. I had been thinking about love and how to describe what it was to a group of young men I was sharing with on lust the previous week. You see, we had talked a lot about what lust was, but I hit a roadblock on how to describe love. Thus, as I was doing some homework or something one day, I had an idea and grabbing a piece of paper and a pen this “definition” is what came out of it. May those who read be given some insight into what Love is and don’t give me credit—give the credit to Jesus who by His gift of the Holy Spirit has taught me these things.

 

Definition of Love :

  Love cannot be adequately defined by a modern dictionary or Hollywood, it is not an emotion or bubbly feeling, but rather, a patient, sacrificial person whom God created to be of the utmost importance in our Christian lives.

  It is an action founded in Christ, of whom our perfected example lays. It overlooks age, race, color, and social and economic standings. It corrects, reaches, instructs, teaches, and touches the very soul. It looks past hate and pride – of which pride is forth most its enemy; since every sin somehow is stemmed from that wicked root.

  Love is thereby adequately defined by 1 Corinthians 13 which declares Love to be patient, merciful; it is an action of sorts, the opposite of hate, and above all the Divine Nature of Providence and starkly, uncompromisingly opposite to lust, hate, emotion, and pleasure – which almost invariably stem from pride. [Note for clarity: when emotion and pleasure are mentioned to stem from pride, it is referring to the emotional pleasure of those who partake of sex outside of God’s condition of marriage because they claim that they were “so in love” that they had to express it in that way.]

  Love is simply the absence of pride resulting in an “others’ oriented” mindset, seated upon Christ and worked out with healthy fear and trembling (which is due to the fact that Love is our true calling).

Side note:

Humility, Contentment, and Affection all stem from this ‘odd’ four letter word – that is, L-O-V-E.

Thought 283: Living a Quiet and Disciplined Life from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 283

Living a Quiet and Disciplined Life

Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.

Zephaniah 2:3 KJV

 

    Many of the great Christians of the past that God has used have lived a quiet and disciplined life. They spent hours upon hours of their spare time studying and learning, pushing themselves to learn new languages and acquire knowledge to achieve their dream of knowing God more intimately and touch people with the Truth of the Gospel. They didn’t run around partying or pursuing entertainment, instead, they sweated, they worked, they pressed on toward a goal! Their lives where worth something and they didn’t waste them away on excessive pleasures. Today, many Christians struggle with befriending the world. They watch the same stuff, play the same stuff, and live the same way that the unbelieving pagan does. History and the Bible show us a different picture in the lifestyle of the great heroes of the Faith, though. They were cupbearers, servants, archeologists, and young men that had a God-given passion and dream and while the world was racing by, wasting its time on the newest music, art, or other currently fashionable entertainment, they lived a quiet and seemingly obscure life. They honored God, respected others, and worked to achieve the things that God had put a passion and desire in them to achieve. Dear Reader, where are you today? Are you seeking that quiet and peaceable life? Or are you chasing the fast world of change and shifting pleasures?

 

Thought 282: The Christian Family from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 282

The Christian Family

“One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” 1 Timothy 3:4-5 KJV

 

Discipline is important, but so are love and encouragement and mercy.

ABOVE ALL,

The Father & Mother should seek to instill Scripture into the hearts and lives of their children because the Word of God will not return unto Him void (Isaiah 55:11)—this knowledge of the Scriptures, like Timothy, has the ability to lead to the salvation of their soul in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15).

The Father should LEAD & Teach his family in spiritual matters—he is the head of the home and must display Christ’s Truth through his own life example: every father is accountable to God to do this.

The Mother should care for her children in the home. She has been blessed by God to be the instrument through which God brings children into the world and He has designed her to also be a primary nurturer for a set season in a child’s life.

 

The home is an important place. The home—the family—is to do more than just provide food and drink, clothing, and shelter for a group of closely related individuals. The home is to be a place of spiritual preparation, life purpose discovery, and education. God, through the inspiration and person of the Holy Spirit, has said that one of the qualifications for ministry is that a man “ruleth well his own house (2 Tim. 3:4-5).” God considers the home to be a very important place in His redemptive plan for mankind! Today, let’s take some time to think about the Home—the Family. And may You, Heavenly Father, anoint us to hear your Truth—to have ears to hear and eyes to see your plan. Amen.

In the New Testament we see entire families coming to salvation in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:15&33,18:8)! I was once in a service where a minister gave the current statistics for his denomination on salvations. He said that they had many programs which were winning women and children to Christ, but for every 100 men they won to Christ, they won 98 or 99 families. Fathers, I believe you have an important role to play in the family. If you take your role as the leader of your home seriously, YOU WILL IMPACT YOUR CHILDREN. Two of the three Scriptures mentioned in this paragraph referred to men being saved and their entire household following them. Forget the statistics I mentioned, but look at the principle: men do have an eternal impact on their families.

Mothers, wives, Scripture describes you in a beautiful way. I won’t go into all the verses here, but here are some traits of a godly woman/wife: loving, respectful, wise, faithful to her husband, a role model of godliness, a model of purity, a model of inner beauty instead of outward vanity, a possessor of a gentle and quiet spirit, a manager of the home, one who speaks with wisdom, and a demonstrator of prudence. Wives, Mothers, your role is important too! You aren’t called to be the leaders of your homes, but you are called to be all the things mentioned above and more. Peter instructs Christian women married to unbelieving husbands to set an example for their husband that their husbands may be won over to the faith (1 Peter 3:1-6). We need you godly wives and mothers! Our world is crying out for you in these Last Days! Please take your character seriously, live the Word, model purity and godliness.

 The Family also is God’s agent for populating the earth through the union of a man and a woman in marriage. As children are born, parents naturally discover that their children will mature and grow and that they must instruct and prepare their children for life out in this world, and most importantly, for eternal life with Christ in this life and the next. Fathers and Mothers, your role of training of a child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6) is another important and necessary aspect of God’s plan. In the Fear of God may you labor, to the best of your ability, for the sake of your children.

  I’ve read numerous stories of great men and women of God and one of the most recurring themes is the fact that they had godly fathers and mothers who modeled God’s design, took their roles seriously, and prepared their children for the Way God had ordained for them to Go.

  Husband, rule your house well, sacrificially as Christ did. Protect, be Faithful, model Christ, be a Leader, Provide for your family’s needs (1 Tim 5:8), and Sacrificially Love as Christ loved us all, His Church, His Bride.

All authority flows from above, therefore Remember Christ’s example.

Five closing Thoughts on the function of the Home:

The Home is…

1. A depiction of Christ and His Church through the love, union, passion, and united labor of a husband and wife. As well as, a depiction of how Believers are to relate to the Family of God.

2. The means through which children are born & raised/trained in the Fear of God & prepared and released into their life callings.

3. A place to learn, grown, share close unity, resolve conflict, & help others.

4. A productivity center.

5. A place where Fathers are leaders, Mothers are teachers, and Children obey in the Lord.

Thought 281: Drafted or not from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 281

Drafted or not

Will you serve Jesus right now or are you waiting around to be drafted?

  Often we human beings just sit around and wait for a miracle to happen. We may wait for a supernatural incident in which God does a miracle or in which an angel will give us a specific task to accomplish. Or maybe we try to never pick up the Bible and read it to know it, but rather we let others endlessly give us their views of it; and all they while we really have no grasp of the Scriptures to discern whether they are right or wrong. Please don’t misunderstand me, God has sent us great teachers, evangelists, pastors, and countless others with great insight into HIS Word and He has done this for our benefit, but don’t you think that sometimes we put more weight in what others or what someone says than what the Word says, than what the Holy Spirit has taught us through personal application and study? 

I have been told many times “you should go into the military!” Why? Because people look at my “discipline” or “accomplishments” or hobbies or “leadership abilities” and automatically make a military connection. The truth is I don’t have peace about the military or many of the other jobs that others have ‘suggested’ to me: that includes: biology, law, conservation, Microsoft, psychiatrist and others.

       First off, let me define what I mean by peace. God has given me a call to ministry and I have a peace about it. Now this peace is not un-prone to discouragement, fear, embarrassment, or anything like that.  This peace is a deep knowledge which passes all understanding—no matter what happens: no matter what obstacle I face I know that the Lord is with me. Humans often think that peace, joy, and faith are some mysterious, unconquerable, superhuman key to life—but that belief has no Biblical roots. If we are searching for the ‘keys’ to an easier life, we won’t find them. I still have to battle the fear of public speaking before speaking to a crowd (sometimes it is harder than others), but God has given me the inner peace that this is what I was meant to do. That ‘peace’ is not unconquerable though. If I concentrate on things other than what the Lord has given me to do; I can very easily entertain the Enemies lies in my thougths and get discouraged, doubt, worry and even make errors in my speech and actions.

     For a long time I played the ‘this is what I want to be when I grow up game’ and I would believe Ya! This is it! But time and time again it proved wrong, false, and untrue. But in ministry I found purpose, not because I thought it up and stuck to it, but because the Lord called me to it. I don’t always have a feel-good feeling because nothing like that exists all the time. We will all get discouraged at times, that is a simple truth and reality, if you thinking otherwise you might want to ask a friend to slap you and then see if you still ‘feel good.’ What God gives a person to do is not always “ministry” related. It could be entrepreneurship, car selling, managing, stock broking, teaching, etc . . .

     I’ll be honest here, sometimes when I don’t have peace about something, I answer in the wrong way like the following: I have told certain friends and relatives in the past that the only way I am going to the military is if I’m drafted. That was not a proper response and I primarily said it out of annoyance. Do you have the same attitude with God and are you saying I’m not going to do it (what God has called you to do) until I’m drafted, and even then I am going to do everything I can to get out of it? Are you truly waiting to be “drafted or not”?

Thought 280: The Psalms from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 280

The Psalms

Read Psalms 42, 43, 44 & 45.

Two New Audio Messages

2 Peter


Rock in the Way

Thought 279: Psalm 78 from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 279

Psalm 78

This chapter is amazing! Read Psalm 78.

§  The basis for homeschooling or any education is to be parent guided based on verses 4-6, the verses are not just referring to so called ‘Biblical education’ like Sunday school.

§  Verse 8 describes what state our country is in now. Without hearts loyal to God, we just run around with heads full of facts and figures and have no purpose to unleash them in a meaningful way for the kingdom.

§  Verses 10 &11 depict what so many of God’s children have done—forgotten the Lord and gotten caught up in themselves.

§  Verse 32 is relevant today as well: God’s wonders are all around us! . . . yet few  believe.

§  Verses 38-39 are amazing! God was merciful, yes!—even in the Old Testament.

§  Verse 52 implies that God has always been a shepherd because He was for Israel and HE is for us.

§  Verses 70-72 speak of the amazing leadership capabilities that God gave to David. Yes, God chose David as the leader of HIS people.