Craig's Living H2O

July 11th - "The Two Sides of God"

“For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. ²²Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. ²³And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.”  Romans 11:21-23

There are two sides to God. Which side are you choosing? There are consequence to our choices.

^“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” Hebrews 10:26-27

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  Proverbs 9:10

July 10th - "God's Enduring Posture"

"Therefore say to them, 'Thus declares the Lord: Return to Me and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.'"
Zechariah 1:3

This is God's enduring posture with us. He "longs to be gracious to us." He stands ready to bless, heal, forgive, love, protect, give peace, and grant mercy to all of us. It only takes our "returning to Him." His arms are open today. Don't let yesterday's failure be today's blockade. If you have failed, sinned, blown it; run back to Jesus.

"Return to Me and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.'    Zechariah 1:3

July 9th - "Access"

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here."   Zechariah 3:7

This is a powerful verse of Scripture. God says that when His conditions are met (If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge), then we will be given the right of "access among those who are standing here." This is access into the presence of angels as they stand before the very throne of God! Not everyone is given this same kind of access. This special access is for those who walk in His ways and "keep His charge." Those who are faithful, consistent, and vigilant at doing the King's business will find themselves in the presence of the angelic host, before those great spiritual beings who are "ministers sent out to render service to those who will inherit salvation." Hebrews 1:14

July 8th - "His Anointed"

The Lord is their strength, and He is a saving defense to His anointed."   Psalm 28:8

"David became greater and greater, for the Lord of Hosts was with him."   1 Chronicles 11:9

"Then the fame of David went out into all the lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him on all the nations."   1 Chronicles 14:17

When we are anointed by God as His chosen vessel, sanctified and set apart for Him; He will be our "saving defense" and we will see our influence increase with God and with men. We choose how closely we each want to walk with Him.

July 7th - "Teachable?"

"Reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning."   Proverbs 9:8b-9

Are you teachable? Or are you easily offended when corrected or criticized? Most people want to be wiser, but don't like the way wisdom is packaged. If we have good friends, they will sometimes tell us what we don't want to hear; in love. Those who are not teachable, don't have such friends because they get offended easily and thereby don't keep honest relationships for very long. If none of the people in your life challenge or correct you, you are probably not a very teachable person. Do you want strong bones? Drink a lot of milk. Do you want to be wiser? Love correction and benefit from every form of reprove that comes your way.

July 6th - "Sound, Sane, Spiritual"

"When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers? "When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt. "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me." Matthew 17:24-27

I find Jesus to be so very practical and sane in all that He did and does. His parables were about every day life. When He multiplied the fish and the loaves, He didn't waste the leftovers, but got a to-go box! And when it came to the practical things of life, Jesus didn't ignore them; He just depended on His Father to provide. Sane yet spiritual; how refreshing is that? Some "spiritual" people I've met are downright spooky. And yet, how can anyone be more spiritual than Jesus? Jesus lived and walked in a sane and a down-to-earth sort of way. This is the pattern that I want to follow: spiritual, supernatural, and yet sane.

July 5th - "It's A New Day"

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Lamentations 3:22-24

Let this be your reminder that you have a fresh batch of God's compassion, love, and faithfulness today and every day. Isn't that awesome? Every morning there is a new delivery of exactly what we need for that particular day. God knows what we need and supplies it. Look to the Him as your provider, not your strength or circumstances, for He is a great God, certainly big enough to take care of you. It is a new day!

“Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug."   Isaiah 51:1

July 4th - "More, More, More"

"Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict."   Proverbs 17:1

Peace is so greatly undervalued by so many people today. They overload their schedules for more income, more activities, more, more, more. Little do they realize that what it really cost them to have "more" is the loss of peace. They have lost the peace that comes from reading a good book, going on a long walk, or just taking time for a family picnic. Husbands and wives are stressed over their finances as they eat their meal on the new dining room furniture they really couldn't afford to purchase. The Bible pulls us back to the Truth. It is better to eat bread and water in peace than to feast with strife. Examine your own life today, does your schedule really show that you value peace? If not, make the decision to believe what the Bible says, and adjust your life accordingly. You will find that peace is a much more valuable commodity than the "more" that the world has to give.

July 3rd - "Move the Comma"

"So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him."   Isaiah 59:19

This verse hasn't really been translated correctly from the Hebrew. You see the comma is in the wrong place. It should read, "When the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." What a difference a comma in the right place makes! Has the enemy been working his mischief in your life? Then get ready for a flood of the Lord's Spirit to rout him as it raises up a wall around you. "Like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."

July 2nd - "All Out Trust"

"But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me."   Micah 7:7

Have you come to that place in your life where you can say, "But as for me, I am going to trust God no matter what may come my way?" Have you come to the place where you know that there is no longer an option to turn back, there is no switching sides, there is no other hope; all your chips are on the table and you shout at the top of your lungs, "I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me!" If that is where you find yourself today, then let me tell you, you could not be in a better place! You are safely in the palm of His hand and He never, never, never fails! Our Father God delights in those who will abandon their "Plan B's," for an all out trust in Him alone. Look at how the Apostle Paul slide all of his chips out on the table:

"In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away."   Acts 27:30-32

Only those who abandon their man-made lifeboats have the great stories of God's faithfulness to tell.