LoveWorks, Part One - Jesus, Our Example of Friendship

John 15:9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
It is amazing to realize that we have the opportunity not only to worship God, not only to reverence him, and stand in awe of him, but we were invited to be friends with God. I don’t believe that any religion of this world offers such an idea, that one might be friends with the deity, with the God who is reverenced, feared, and worshiped.
What we learn from this text is that Jesus wants a relationship with his followers. Not just a religious devotion, but a loving, sincere, committed relationship. In verse nine Jesus said that as the Father has loved him he also loved us. This makes the relationship between Jesus and father God the example and the pattern of the kind of relationship we should have with Jesus and with one another.
There are four levels of relationship: 
1. There are acquaintances
2. There are colleagues/co-workers/partners
3. There is Christian/Kingdom Covenant with fellow believers in Christ
4. And there are true friends (Including spouse)
KEY POINT #1 - True friends experience a high level of agreement
Matthew 19:19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (KJV)
The sense of the Hebrew text here is interesting. The word agreed from the Hebrew means to fix, appoint, assemble, meet, set, betroth; to meet, to meet by appointment, etc. The sense is two walking in a common direction because they agree to do so. It means agreeing to make an appointment to come together, and from there set out on a journey to a destination together. It is like saying to someone, I’ll meet you at Starbucks and we can go to the restaurant from there. 
KEY POINT #2 - True friends are mutually loyal and dependable
True friends are mutually loyal and dependable. Again, friendship is a two-way relationship where both parties give and receive, not only in fair-weather, when everything is great.  A fair-weather friend is someone who remains a friend only when things are going well but abandons others during times of trouble or difficulty.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
KEY POINT #3 - True friends confide in one another and that confidence is never betrayed. 
1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
KEY POINT #4 - True friends speak highly of one another and empower one another, especially in times of uncertainty.
John 15: 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 
Proverbs 27:17 NKJ As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
 

Forward & Upward, Part 7, "From Strength to Strength"

Forward & Upward: Part Seven, “From Strength to Strength”
Psalm 71:18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.
Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca [tears], They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.
It is fitting that we conclude this series on Forward and Upward on the last Sunday of our Psalms Devotional and in Black History month. We often say that history is “His-Story.” We are the descendants of people who overcame impossible obstacles, went from strength to strength, and still left a legacy of provision for others.
Rudy Bridges was such a person, who made history at the age of six years old.
It’s one thing to do someting for yourself. It’s another thing to do something that benefits the lives of others. As David said, Psalm 71:18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.
A PILGRIM moves with purpose to leave a legacy. A TRAVELER just wants to enjoy the view and have a good time. Both are moving. Are you a pilgrim or a traveler? 
The western, europeon, American mindset is, ”I think therefore I am. The African and Hebrew mindset is, ”I am because we are. I'm nothing without my people"
David approaching everything from the perspective of a worshipper and a victor, not just as a victim. He looked to the Lord for help.
V. 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
God is your source. Your strength is in Him as your source, not in your resources.
V. 5 Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
A pilgrim is someone moving on a specific mission for God. We can use the word “trailblazer.” A traveller may only be someone moving for pleasure. In context, the jewish people were often on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate days of feats or “appointed times” in the presence of the Lord. 
V. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca [tears]
The journey was sometimes difficult because the of the desert environment and hardships such as drought along the way. This is the point at which travelers become “unhappy”, lose their will to continue, and drop off. A traveler is all about having a good time. A pilgrim or trailblazer is all about purpose and God’s purposes in particular.
This “Valley of Baca” is oftentimes a “Valley of tears” because of the anguish and hardship. 
V. 6 They make it a spring;
Some translations render this verse, “They make a well or wells.” The idea is that they didn’t just suffer through it. The did something about it. They dug wells or made cisterns to collect rain water and heavy dew. You might think, “how could that help them if they were in need of water?” 
Here is where the legacy part comes in: They did not make the well for themselves. They made for others who would follow them! 
A lot of us pilgrims don’t get the opportunity to benefit from their own labors. A true trailblazer is building paths and opportunities for those who follow. This is what people in the generation of Dr. Martin Luther King did, and people in every generation have done. This is what I do.
One commentator wrote: “This trouble they willingly undertook, rather than to neglect the opportunity of going up to Jerusalem at their solemn times. And possibly they did this, not only for themselves, but for the benefit of other travellers who came after them; whereby they showed both their piety and charity.”
V. 6 The rain also covers it with pools.
God (Our Source) fills the wells and cisterns with water to create a resources for those who follow.
V. 7 They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion
This is the highest hope of every pilgrim and trailblazer: That those who follow will experience strength for their journey, and become a trailblazer for others; “Strength to strength." These are things that mere travelers cannot do. A traveler is focused on more on himself than on others.
The prophetic words of Isaiah 61 describe the mission of the ultimate Pilgrim and Trailblazer, Our Lord Jesus Christ. One a day when He was in the synagogue, he stood up to read and he was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He found this place and read the following:
1  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3  To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified

The Blessings of Confidence in God & The Peril of Self-Confidence - Lesson from Hezekiah

Forward & Upward
Part Six, The Blessings of Confidence in God. The Peril of Self-Confidence.
Psalms 71:5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.
Confidence is an important part of life and an important part of your life. Confidence is part of your way forward and upward. We all have our understanding of what confidence is, but I would like to explore what the Bible says about confidence.
There are basically two kinds of confidence: 1) Confidence in the Lord and in what he has given you. 2) Self-Confidence.
Confidence in God and skill makes you strong and allows room to make you stronger.
Self-confidence is limiting because it depends on what you think of yourself. Self-confidence gets all mixed up with self-esteem.
True confidence comes from skill. Skill comes from training and repetition
The advantage we have in Christ is that we always trust in a power bigger than ourselves. Like Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) 
What you cannot say is, “I can do all things through myself.” Let me give you an example
If both pilots become incapacitated and the head steward makes an announcement: “We have an emergency, both of our pilots are unconscious, can anyone here fly an airplane?” Someone stands up and says, “I don't have pilot training but I have confidence!” 
Proverbs 14:16 “...A fool rages and is self-confident.”
That kind of confidence is just happy talk. We have a of confident incompetent people from White Castle to the White House. You never need someone who only has self-confidence. You need someone who has confidence in skills that they actually have. As believers, we need confidence in the strength of God through Christ. Strength is not a mindset, it is actual ability.
What David said: Psalms 27:3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ
We have faith in the promises of God. We are confident in what God is doing in us and in what has given us. Confidence follows faith and sustains it. Confidence is our inner image of the purpose of God being fulfilled through us. "
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence (or confidence) of things not seen.

Day 3 | February Devotional from Psalms - "Why God Cares So Much For You" (Psalm 8)

Day 3 | February Devotional from Psalms - "Why God Cares So Much For You" (Psalm 8)

Day 2 | February Devotional from Psalms - "Anger & Peace" (Psalms 4)

Day 2 | February Devotional from Psalms - "Anger & Peace" (Psalms 4)

Day 1 | February Devotional from Psalms - "Prospering by the Rivers"

Day 1 | February Devotional from Psalms - "Prospering by the Rivers" (Psalms 1)

Forward & Upward, Pt. 5. Rooted & Grounded in Truth

Part Five: Rooted and Grounded in Truth
3 John 3:3, For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Knowing and living in truth is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “You know where I am going.” Thomas said, “We don’t know where you are going, how can we know the way?”
John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”  [you know me] 
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
When Jesus said that he is the way the truth and the light, He could have also said that our way is not the truth and the life. 
Strength does not naturally occur. Certainly, we are all born with a certain degree of natural strength. We are not born with any strength in moral and spiritual terms. Increasing in strength requires training and development. Increasing in strength requires learning and coaching.
We need strategies to grow and increase in strength. I’ve attended a couple of track meets with Lexi supporting her. Being in that environment reminded me of how much I enjoyed competing in track and fields and coaching many years ago. The story I have often told of my coach Bill Bennett shouting from across the field at the beginning of practice when we made us run four laps around the track. “Hudson push yourself!”
Besides I did discus and shot put, so why do I have to run? All that was from my track and field experience, not football. 
So when I watch young men and women compete today, I find it amazing to notice that strength and skill that can come from training and coaching.
And all of this comes from truth. What is the connection? You cannot become good and doing track and field events without learning the truth involved with the event you are doing. The truth becomes your standard, your habits, your practice, and your performance.
What is the definition of truth?
Webster’s
1) The body of real things, events, and facts : ACTUALITY. 2) The body of true statements and propositions: 3) fidelity to an original or to a standard.4) sincerity in action, character, and utterance
Biblically
As to pertains to the kingdom of God, truth is a fundamental characteristic of God, Truth is a virtue that the person of God should practice.
Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God. 
Truth is ontological, —which is a fancy way of saying it is the way things really are. Reality is what it is because God declared it so and made it so. 
3 John 3:3, For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Truth is God’s Way
Psalms 86:11, "Teach me Thy way, O Lord, that I may walk in thy truth" 
"I have chosen the way of truth," he said (Ps.119:30). 

Forward & Upward, Pt. 4, Strategies for Strength

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory." ~ Romans 5:2 (NLT)
The Strategy of Better Priorities: 
Matthew 6:31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Forward & Upward: Pt. 3 The Good Eye

Forward & Upward: Pt. 3 The Good Eye
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" – Matthew 6:23-24
How we see or perceive is one of the important keys to victorious living, success, and fruitful ministry. 
Your “eye” (or your focus and perception) is the lamp or floodlight for your whole body.
A “good” eye is clear focus on the right things.
A “bad” eye is a lack of focus and seeing everything.
"Perception is how we see and understand what occurs around us—and what we decide those events will mean. Our perceptions can be a source of strength or of great weakness. Faulty perceptions lead to misdirection & disconnection. We participate in creation and destruction of our obstacles. So what are your perceptions today?" (Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle is the Way)
There things in life that we can and cannot control. Our perception is one of the things we can control. We want to have "healthy eyes," which is seeking things as they are and through the Word of God. Bad perception taints our world and our reality. As Jesus said, when your eyes are healthy, your whole body (life) is full of light. On the other hand, when you eyes are unhealthy, your body is full of darkness.
Through good perspective, we can always greet our obstacles with:
with energy
with persistence
with a coherent and deliberate process
with iteration and resilience (Like Thomas Edison)
and an eye for opportunity and pivotal moments
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 10 for he looked for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
People who don’t see purpose are easily persuaded not to follow.
2 Kings 2, And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.

Forward & Upward. Pt. 2, Roads & Rivers

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. ~ Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV
Isaiah 43:18 (GNT) But the Lord says, "Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago.
2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
God does the amazing and the impossible! "Roads & Rivers" will be created for you in 2019.
“We are laborers together with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
Seeing new things requires shifting focus from former things  (Understand why this important)
Moving forward and upward requires both natural and supernatural intervention.
Roads speaks of the natural—things you need to do. Rivers speak of supernatural — things only God can do. 0
One we control. The other we do not control.
One is what you do. The other is what God does.
1. PEACE “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old." Let the past stay in the past. Do not live in the past or look back as if you had no bright future.
2. PURPOSE "Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?" No matter how much you have done or how old you are, God is still doing new things. It will "spring forth" meaning that the "new thing" will come quickly. You need to "know it" in faith, not just wish for it.
Why it is essential to look forward and press forward:
Things that “spring up” can only do so in the future. The seed you have planted can only emerge in the future. If you look back you will miss it.
3. PROVISION "I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert." God can do the impossible for you. He will pave a road through your wilderness.  He will provide a river through your desert....provision in a dry place.