In the midst of the quiet night my wife shot out of bed with a crying scream, “I am in so much pain”! Those who have experience a dry socket will immediately remember the excruciating pain it can cause. It was after my wife had finished getting a wisdom tooth pulled that she was released to go home and recover with the needed medication. Well, at the crack of dawn I was rushing her back to the dentist’s office because of the unbelievable pain she was in. It didn’t take long for the diagnosis of a dry socket to be made and dealt with.
Once the initial tooth distraction was done and the open wound began to heal on the surface, a small piece of chipped tooth was left and produced infection that quickly spread within the socket causing pressure and a throbbing pain that can bring
Too often people allow their hearts to be defiled and conceive a spiritual cancer that spreads throughout their lives. (tweet)
a grown man to his knees. The solution is to open the wound and clean out the infection and apply medication down deep so that it can heal from inside to out, instead of healing just on the surface, leaving a festering infection on the inside.
In 1 Kings 11-13, we are introduced to Jeroboam who had a similar problem. We see that because of his giftings and abilities that he was one of King Solomon’s upcoming leaders. In verse 29-39, he is given a word through the prophet that God Continue reading
The Lord answers King Solomon’s prayer with incredible hope. It says in 2 Chron 7:14-15, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” It was after the dedication of the temple that the King had an encounter in the night from the Lord. King Solomon had asked the Lord in the dedication prayer to forgive the people of God if they repent from going astray from Him and finding themselves being carried away into bondage
The abrupt and sometimes screeching sounds of the trumpet would definitely wake all that were sleeping. Even though some would put their heads under pillows and others would moan at the startling noise, the job of arousing the sleeping was done. It was my friend who had what we referred to as the privilege to blow the trumpet at “Kids Camp”. He was admired by some and despised by others. One morning I was given permission to go with my friend to blow the morning trumpet where I quickly realized it wasn’t just a fun time, but was a serious job with huge responsibility. If we overslept or were late there could be serious consequences for many people.
In the midst of a busy diner the manager who evidently is having a rough and stressful day, begins to down grade and insult a breastfeeding young mother. The belligerent manager assumes that she is disturbing other customers around her and proceeds to kick her out of the establishment. As the tension in the room rises and different customers begin to react, some try to ignore what’s going on and others just shake their heads while out of the blue a young man stands up for justice and defends the young mother.
Doesn’t it seem to come crashing in all at once? The storms of life, such as, a vehicle breaking down unexpectedly and maybe being laid off your job or even a death of a loved one can set your world in turmoil. Life at times can become very overwhelming to say the least. The Psalmist says in Ps 107:28-29 says, “they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. “NKJV
An excuse is an attempt to be forgiven and release oneself from any obligation or responsibility by circumstances. We live in a culture that I have termed as a chronic excuse syndrome society. We are to easily given over to breaking any commitments and responsibilities that we may have.
Ten out of the twelve spies who went into the Promised Land saw the inhabitants and were gripped by fear. It was a tormenting fear that not only skewed their vision but spread to many others. The Biblical account that we read in Num. 13:26-30 continues to let us know that the other two, Joshua and Caleb, had an attitude of a warrior. These two did not succumb to spreading fear but kept their eyes on God’s promises and declared with boldness, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it,”. Their tenacious heart revealed their victorious attitude for the battle that lay before them. Yet, the majority of the spies were affected by fear just like a big part of God’s people.
Like it or not, as a believer, you are in a battle! Every person born into this world is immersed into spiritual warfare. Having been plunged into the conflict of the ages, we are not exempt nor can we be neutral. Either the forces of evil will trample us or we will be victorious through our spiritual warfare—winning souls, changing society, influencing history and helping establish God’s Kingdom. I’m not talking about being a demon chaser, blaming demonic forces for every uncomfortable situation or flaw in someone’s character. But, I am talking about a battle that has been waged long before you and I were born, a battle that is waged against the purposes of God and His Kingdom. It’s a battle that has been waged by the enemy of your soul.
“It all started with one wink”, he said with tears. He had come to my office devastated from falling into the trap of the enemy. Unfortunately this wasn’t the only time I had heard this same confession. So let me be frank, it only takes one wink to begin down the slippery slope of being ensnared in sin. James 1:14-16, says that it is our desires that leads us astray from the ways of God. Scripture reveals that desire conceives sin and sin un-dealt with will progress to ultimately a death.
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