There is something very spectacular about the skies in Minnesota. Maybe I have grown accustomed to the smog-filled skies on the east coast, or maybe the skies stand out because there is so much open space. The skies have been just glorious to look at.

We witnessed our first real mid-west thunderstorm the other day and it was something. Nothing to block the view as the lightning streaked across the sky. At the end of the thunderstorm we witnessed a magnificent rainbow that seemed to spring from the earth and shoot straight up to the heavens. (I will try and get the picture on the web site for you to see . . . )

I am reminded that God’s magnificent promises can be an encouragement and anchor during the storms of life. While many promises were made to specific people for a specific period of time, the Scriptures are filled with many promises that you can rightfully claim as YOURS! As you spend time reading the Word today, ask the Holy Spirit to show you one of God’s magnificent promises. Take that promise and commit it to memory. Meditate on it. Write it in your journal. And even better — memorize it. Some day that promise will become an anchor in your life when you face a storm.

“Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised!” Romans 4:20-21

Good words for you to consider today.

I think my grandson has inherited one of my life-long struggles . . . HE LOVES TO EAT! He is doomed if he is not careful. This little-big-guy loves food. He has broken all the rules that our modern-day pediatricians have outlined for a baby’s normal food progression. At seven months he eats everything from fruit to pretzels to pizza and, even cheese.

When he sees food, forget it — he doesn’t want you — he wants the food. He will pout, yell, scream, wail until he gets what he wants. He loves food.

King David, writer of most of the Psalms, wrote an incredible Psalm that tells us how much he loved God’s Word. He loved God’s Word so much that he meditated in it day and night. He loved the Word and it was a part of the fabric of his life. He had a hunger for the Word of God that was almost insatiable.

How about you? Are you hungry for God’s Word? Are you so in love with it that you would yell, scream, wail until you were fed by it? May we come to that place where we will declare with David, “I LOVE YOUR LAW . . . I MEDITATE ON IT ALL DAY LONG.” (Psalm 119:97)

Have a great day!

“Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? ” . . . Seek (focus) and you will find. (See Luke 11:9)

Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent — so satisfied with your own experiences that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. BEWARE OF BUILDING YOUR FAITH ON EXPERIENCE, OR YOUR LIFE WILL NOT RING TRUE AND WILL ONLY SOUND THE NOTE OF A CRITICAL SPIRIT.

How do you seek? ” . . . knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)
“Draw near to God . . .” (James 4:8) Knock — the door is closed, and your heart races as you knock.
“Cleanse your hands . . .” (James 4:8) Knock a bit louder — you will

This morning I did a word study from Ephesians 5:1 on the subject of being an imitator. The English definition of the word imitator means “to copy exactly.” The derivative of the Greek word is “to mime.”

There is a huge difference between the word “imitator” and “imitation.” An imitation is often not an exact copy, but a “cheap representation.” We can purchase “imitation leather” Bibles. Bakers will sometimes substitute “imitation vanilla” for the real deal as real vanilla is quite costly. Some of us tightwads will purchase imitation fragrances for ourselves and our significant other. While they have a similar “smell” they are cheap imitations.

Paul isn’t asking us to be cheap imitations — he wants us to be the real deal. Charles Spurgeon says that “we are to be like Christ at all times, imitating Him in public. Most of us live in some sort of publicity, many of us are called to work before our fellow men every day. We are watched; our words are caught; our lives are examined — taken to pieces. The eagle-eyes, argue-eyed world observes everything we do; and sharp critics are upon us. Let us live the life of Christ in public. Let is take care that we exhibit our Master and not ourselves, so that we can say, ‘It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. Take this into your home as well. Carry your godliness into you family. Let every one say that you have practical religion. Let it be known and read in the house, as well as in the world. Take care of your character there; for what we are there, we really are.”

Don’t be a “cheap imitation” — be the real deal — IMITATE HIM!

Spending time with our grandson, Tanner, this week will be very special. He is the cutest baby I have ever seen. Not that sounds like a proud, boastful Grampy 🙂 Yesterday I was making noises with my mouth and he liked that. Funny how we do stupid things with babies . . . I wonder what is going through their minds as they watch these grown-ups and their antics!

Tanner likes when I stick my finger in my mouth and use my finger to make a popping sound with my cheek. He watched me do this several times and then started moving his mouth trying to imitate the sound. In time, he will make the connection that he needs his finger to make the sound. By observing and watching me, sooner or later he will imitate me and be able to do it on his own.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the church at Ephesus to be imitators of God. One of the ways that we can imitate God, is to observe the life of Christ. What did Jesus do in stressful situations? How did he treat people? How did he relate to His Father?

Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. 2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

The way to imitate Christ is to watch and observe His life. Read through the Gospel of John and observe His life. Meditate of the precepts and principles you observe. Journal what you have observed and then practice them in your life. It is a good exercise that you can do on the Lord’s
Day. Grab your Bible, pen and journal and spend some time in the Word. It will be a great way to begin your week.

“Although we have a natural, innate appetite for God and spiritual things, we may not be experiencing the sensations that would tell us we are hungering for Him. Why not? Maybe it’s because we have been depriving ourselves of spiritual food for way too long. Are you refusing to feed yourself spiritually? If you don’t actively seek God and instead ignore this yearning from deep inside, cravings can, and eventually do change.

When we are physically hungry, our body sends signals through our hunger pains and cravings that tell us we need to eat. If ignored, these signals at first grow stronger in hopes of pushing us to fulfill the need for food. But if we continue to ignore this appetite for long enough, it will eventually begin to fade and we can actually convince ourselves that we really aren’t hungry anymore. That’s exactly what the anorexic does. He/she tells themselves they aren’t hungry and ignores the signals the body is sending to them. Eventually they will have completely numbered their cravings to the point they no longer desire food. They have so effectively convinced themselves that they are not hungry that their body is no starving to death. Yet they don’t even realize the danger. So too when we squelch our hunger for God.

This it how it can be with our spiritual appetite. When we are spiritually hungry, we experience the beckoning of the Holy Spirit within us to feast on the things of God. If we ignore our craving for God long enough, we will find the craving for Him eventually begins to fade. We are capable of convincing ourselves that we are doing ‘just fine,’ yet we are starving our spirit to the point of spiritual death. Our desires for the things of God fade, and we are no longer able to experience the draw of the Holy Spirit because we have so numbed ourselves to His call. Without even noticing it, prayer has become less important, we no longer thirst after God’s Word, and we convince ourselves it’s no be deal to miss church.

Both types of anorexics refuse themselves the nourishment they need to sustain life. [If you are suffering from spiritual anorexia] the only way for you to heal and regain a healthy appetite that will grow is to pull up to the table to eat. Are you feasting at the banquet table of God? If you want to cultivate and grow your spiritual craving, you must feed it. Psalm 34:8 says, ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good,’ When you come to the banquet table to feast on the things of the Spirit, you will find that the Lord is good and that He satisfies completely. And, although the Lord does completely satisfy, once you taste of Him, you will find yourself wanting more and more of Him.”

from FEEDING YOUR APPETITES … Take Control of What’s Controlling You by Stephen Atterburn published by Integrity

“Researchers in the famed Stanford University ‘marshmallow study,’ offered hungry four-year-olds a marshmallow, but told them if they could wait for the experiment to return after running an errand, they could have two marshmallows. As expected, some followed their impulses and
gobbled the marshmallow right away when the facilitator departed. Others waited a few minutes while some delayed gratification until the researcher returned fifteen or twenty minutes later.

Years later when the children graduated from high school, Stanford researchers we still evaluating them, The differences were dramatic. The resisters were more positive, self-motivated, and persistent in the face of difficulties because they were able to delay gratification in pursuit of their goals. They had the habits of successful people which resulted in more successful marriages, higher incomes, greater career satisfaction, better health, and more fulfilling lives than most of the population.

Those who submitted to the enticement of the marshmallows earlier were more troubled, stubborn and indecisive, mistrustful and less self-confident. They still could not put off gratification. They had trouble subordinating immediate impulses to achieve long-range goals.
When it was time to study for the big test, they tended to get distracted into doing activities that brought instant gratification. This impulse followed them throughout their lives and resulted in
unsuccessful marriages, low job satisfaction and income, bad health. and frustrating lives.

Every time you see a nude image, or are tempted to fantasize over an attractive woman, think “marshmallows!” The power to make disciplined choices will turn into useful restraint for daily living in many other areas of your journey.” from THINK BEFORE YOU LOOK by Dennis Henderson Living Ink Books

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one
receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all
things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an
imperishable crown.

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I
fight: not as one who beats the air.

But I discipline my body and bring it into
subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Praise the Lord for several who emailed yesterday that have asked for prayer in this area! God is working in hearts.

17. I cultivate a stronger resistance to future interpersonal sexual sin — as I avoid pornography, I cultivate a stronger resistance to future interpersonal sexual sin and its many destructive consequences.

18. I nurture that proper biblical view of the sanctity of womanhood — by resisting pornography, I nurture the proper biblical view of the sanctity of womanhood and show honor toward all the women in my life.

19. I relate to women as equals and persons of ultimate worth — by avoiding the superficial and self-serving world of porn, I am able to consistently relate to women as equals and persons of ultimate worth.

20. I learn to live in reality rather than fantasy — I embrace the rewarding world of reality rather than floundering in the emptiness of fantasy when I prevail over pornography.

21. I steer clear of unnecessary personal guilt and shame — by steering clear of the unnecessary personal guilt and shame of pornography, I will enjoy a wholesome and holy experience of life as God meant it to be.

22. I cultivate a lifestyle of contentment and satisfaction — by resisting pornography and resting in the goodness and grace of God, I will cultivate a lifestyle of contentment and satisfaction.

Here are 10 more powerful reasons to avoid pornography (or other idols of your heart . . . )

7. I turn away from the solicitation of harlots in my heart –Because my life was designed by God for high and holy purposes, I will avoid the red-light district of the heart while cherishing the higher pleasure of purity.

8. I refuse the temptation of idolatry — I will refuse temptation of porn-idolatry and set no other “gods” before the one true God who has given me a heart to worship Him alone.

9. I prove to be a faithful steward of my money — I will endeavor to be a faithful steward of my money, using my hard-earned funds to build up my life and my world, not destroy.

10. I prove to be a faithful steward of time — I will prove to be a wise steward of the limited commodity and valuable treasure of time as I use it to enhance healthy relationships, not tear them down.

11. I abstain from any promotion and support of the pornography industry — As I avoid all promotion and support of the pornography industry, I will discourage its growth and steer clear of devastation.

12. I preserve God’s gift of loving sexual expression for its intended purpose — As I preserve God’s gift of loving sexual expression for its intended purpose, I guard this treasure for the fulfillment of His plan for my life.

13. I protect the purity and power of my God-given imagination — As I protect the purity and power of my God-given imagination, my thoughts will be employed for greater positive, creative life-giving purposes.

14. I develop disciplined character — by conquering temptations of pornography, I will develop the blessings of disciplined character with positive results in every area of my life.

15. I guard the integrity of my Christian testimony — I can guard against pornography’s destructive attacks on the integrity of my Christian testimony by acknowledging my vulnerabilities and maintaining a strong, constant defense.

16. I promote health and harmony in the body of Christ — When I avoid pornography I promote health and harmony in the body of Christ, serving as a positive and pure contributor to others.

Good words to ponder as we think through guard our hearts!

Some of you may think that I speak too much about this whole pornography issue. Well you are right! Another one of my good friends just had to step down from his ministry because he was caught in the seductive web of pornography. These next few days I am going to share 40 powerful reasons why we should AVOID pornography. They are taken from a brand new book THINK BEFORE YOU LOOK written by Daniel Henderson, published by Living Ink Books.

1. I enjoy the pleasure of a love relationship with God — Every day I will remember that the pleasure of my love relationship with God is more thrilling and rewarding than the empty ecstasy of pornography.

2. I fulfill my true identity as a child of God — Every day I will remember to fulfill my true identity in Christ as a child of God and choose to live above the meaningless masquerade of a private porn party.

3. I experience God’s provision of empowering grace — In my weakness I will rely on the strength of His advanced “tailor-made” grace to turn away from godly temptations and receive empowerment for right and rewarding choices.

4. I enjoy my spiritual freedom to its fullest — because I have been set free, I will enjoy the full privileges and fulfillment of my emancipation by steering clear of the self-imposed prison of
pornography.

5. I avoid a life pattern of deception — I will enjoy the peace and prosperity of living in the truth while refusing to carry the heavy load of lies and the depression of deception.

6. I cultivate a soft and sensitive conscience — I will cultivate a soft and sensitive conscience through consistent confession of my sin and resolve toward authentic purity.

Good thoughts to helping you guard your heart.