PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 31

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Walking in truth is the best way to avoid disappointments and heartaches. Knowing and accepting what is real. GOD is real! GOD is truth! When we start from this foundation we can avoid illusions.

Accepting illusions as reality is like chasing a shiny object that appears as gold within our reach and the moment we hold it within our grasp it turns into dirt.

Eve fell into the trap of this illusion as she listened and was deceived by the evil one. The delicious fruit that she pursued was actually the conduit of death for all mankind.

May we seek truth and reality in our world of illusions.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 30

John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Eternal life is not an illusion or a mystical experience. It is reality. Eternal life is knowledge of the only true GOD and in addition knowing Jesus Christ who came from the true God to reveal the true God.

How do we get to know the true God? The Apostle Paul states that the Holy Spirit of God testifies, witnesses, agrees with our spirits that we belong to God if we have been born into Christ Jesus.

John also writes that as many as have received Jesus have been given the power to become sons and daughters of God.

Eternal life is real and it starts with knowing the ONE TRUE GOD!

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 29

John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Jesus told his disciples that they were all clean except one and that they were clean because of the word he spoke to them.

God's word is very powerful. Jesus spoke to the storm and it immediately became calm; Jesus commanded the demons to leave and they had no choice but to obey; Jesus yelled through the stone that covered Lazarus tomb and Lazarus woke up. The word of God is very powerful.

Part B of our verse states that God's word is TRUTH. Truth is very powerful! It has the ability to transfom us.

May we continue to allow the truth to do a powerful work in our lives.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 28

John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

A short verse of Scripture but its impact is vast. There are certain key words in this verse.

Know - Having intimate knowledge of; not merely an acquaintance
Truth - Absolute fact; no error
Free - Not in bondage or slavery.

Pilate asked at Jesus trial, 'what is truth?'
Jesus told his disciples a few hours before, '...I am the truth...'

Where do we go to find truth? How do we know it is true?

May seeking truth be our lifetime pursuit so that we may continue to live in freedom.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 27

John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

As believers we have to be very careful because lies may take many different shapes and forms. We have to be careful about what we hear from those around us but we also need to be really cognizant of the voices that echo in our minds. Voices that are not from the Spirit of truth.

Lies will keep us trap in situations that we may not even be aware of. Only truth can set us free.

May we steer clear from the father of lies and only seek to know the truth.    

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 26

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

There is no doubt about it. This world is full of troubles. It is not a matter of if we will have troubles but when it will happen.

We go to bed one night thinking that all is right with our world only to find a few hours later that troubles have descended like rain.

May we always seek the peace of Jesus that is so readily available to us. In him we can always have peace.  

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 25

John 13:38
Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Peter had just declared that he was willing to die for Jesus and he meant every word. He had great intentions and he was motivated by love for his Master.

But Peter was also very human but when fear became a greater motivator than love he did exactly as Jesus predicted.

Jesus told the disciples that he was going to be betrayed and he told Peter that he would deny him. Jesus knew the future. The Father had given him all authority.

Our intentions may be motivated by the best of motives but unless we are totally surrendered to GOD we will still give in to our human nature.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 24

John 13: 34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

As Jesus was getting ready to face his final days here on earth, he shared with his disciples what he considered important.

Serving each other was important as he demonstrated in washing the disciples feet. Now he is telling them what is important. He calls it a new command. 'Love one another'. This is not the old command of love. This is a command based on what Jesus showed to them every day.

Jesus wanted them to follow his example of loving. He showed them how to love the unlovable, how to love their enemies, how to love the outcasts, the demon-possessed, the lepers and after the next few hours had passed he would show love and compassion to Peter, who would deny him and the rest of them who would forsake him.

Love is the only test that Jesus gave to show the world who is following him. 'By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another'.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 23

John 13: 27-28
As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”  But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.

There is time for persuasion and a time for acceptance. When a person has made a firm decision and there is no chance of changing their minds, the best thing we can do is to accept the decision and let them be.

We may be able to see all the negative consequences and they probably know what the end results will be too even they are in denial about it.

Jesus told Judas and probably Satan since he had now entered Judas heart to carry out their plan of betrayal quickly. No need to prolong the inevitable.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 22

John 13: 25-26
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”  Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

When we ask a question we should expect an answer. Sometimes the answer may not be what we want to hear and we may wish we had never asked the question when we hear the answer. Or we may be like the disciples and completely ignore the answer that is right there.

They asked who it was and Jesus answered them as clearly as he could. There was no mistaking whom he meant. 'Then dipping the bread he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.'

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 21

John 13: 22-24
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

Jesus was troubled in spirit and he couldn't hold it in any longer. He knew what was going to happen, he knew the hurt and pain that would be coming shortly and he wanted to share with his closest friends how he was feeling.

The disciples were shocked to hear the word, 'betrayal'.  The 13 of them had been together for almost 3 years and as much as they fight amongst each other,  betrayal was a foreign concept to 11 of them.

Jesus and Judas knew who the betrayer was.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 20

John 13:19, 21
“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.  After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

As believers we are confident about our future because we trust and serve the only ONE who knows the future. There are many psychics and fortune tellers who claim to be able to predict the future. They may get a few things right by guessing but if they are wrong only once they cannot be trusted.

God is never wrong. He gets it right each and every time. There is no guessing, no probability, no statistic other than 100% all the time.

It is far better for us to trust the only one who sees and knows it all. We have no need to worry or fear when we are in the hands of the ONE who cares.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT -July 19

John 13:18
“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’

Jesus words remind us that we are truly loved and wanted. He states that he knows those who he had chosen.

When we accepted Jesus invitation to become citizens of his Kingdom we were chosen by him from the foundation of the world.

Nothing can ever separate his children from him. We are blessed above and beyond to be sons and daughters of GOD.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 18

John 13:16-17
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

It is not a good idea to usurp someone else's authority. Position, power, authority will come to us in the right tine. It may take hard work and experiences but it is better to achieve a leadership position in an honest and right way.

As believers we are servants of King Jesus. He has the highest authority over everything - visible and invisible. When we call him LORD we are saying that we are his servants and that we are willing to obey him.

When we choose not to follow and obey him we are usurping his authority in our lives and in essense we are saying that we are now Lord of our lives.

Blessings come to us when we not only hear the Words of Jesus but when we choose to obey them and keep HIM as LORD of our lives.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 17

John 13:13-14
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

It is a wonderful privilege to have a 'Teacher' worthy of honor. We know as believers there is only one role model who will always be the perfect portrayal of who we should be.

Today, many people look up to mortal men and women as role models and become very disappointed when their role models show that they are only humans with faults like everyone else.

Our perfect Teacher and Lord left us a blueprint of how we should live our lives and if we call him 'Teacher and Lord' it would be great if we follow his example.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT -July 16

John 13:12
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.

Jesus finished the task he started. His action was deliberate and he did not put his outer clothes back on and returned to his place at the head of the table until he had washed all the disciples feet.

Jesus came to this earth for the redemption of mankind. He had a work to do and he finished that work on the cross. The last words of Jesus were, 'It is finished' then he gave up his spirit.

May we follow the example of Jesus when we are given a task to do. May we not get discouraged and give up until the task is done.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 15

John 13:9-10
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”  Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.

Peter did not want to miss out on fellowship with Jesus so he was willing to be washed completely not just his feet but his whole body.

Jesus had a simple but profound answer. There is no reason for him to be washed again, he was clean except for his feet. We only need one new birth. We cannot be born again and again. But as we walk in this world we get dirty as the way of the world clings to us like dust clinging to our feet.

We need to constantly seek to maintain our fellowship with Jesus by confessing, repenting and walking in newness of life.

The eleven disciples were all clean because their hearts were right with God but Judas was not clean because he did not allow his heart to belong to God.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 14

John 13:7-8
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”  “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

'... But later you will understand'! How many times have we said these words to our children. Experience, wisdom and time change our perspectives. When we are young we tend to look at things in a more concrete form, impatient at the world and our parents for not being smart enough to figure it all out quickly.

A few years down the word we are amazed at how wise our parents really were. The lessons they tried to teach us as teenagers were rejected but as we become parents we teach our kids those very same lessons of love, forgiveness, patience, understanding, etc.

Jesus was teaching his disciples valuable lessons as he was saying goodbye. They remembered them after he was gone.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 13

John 13:5-6
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Sometimes we just have to close our eyes and let our minds bring certain scenes to life. The act of Jesus washing his disciples feet is one of those scenes.

Jesus knew that no matter how hard the next few days would be, he would be returning to his Father, to his unveiled glory and to his throne. Washing his disciples feet was easy to do especially when nothing could ever change his status and position.

Whatever was going through Peter's mind for him to refuse Jesus kind gesture presented a teaching moment. Again, Jesus was able to use the negative and turn it into something really beautiful.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 12

John 13:4
so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

It is interesting to note that Jesus was given authority over all things by the Father and now we see him becoming a servant to his discip.les. ALL of the disciples, even with the knowledge that they would betray, deny and forsake him.

Jesus gave up his throne in heaven to become human and a humble servant. The actions that Jesus took in the upper room as he completed his mission of redeeming mankind is noteworthy.

Jesus was already sitting at the head of the table as Teacher and Lord. He left that position. He took off his outer garment, the garment of the head of the table and wrapped a common towel around his waist.

This act is symbolic in that it paralleled what happened as God became man. Jesus, God, the King of heaven got up from his throne, took off his glory and wrapped himself in humanity in order to serve mankind as our Redeemer.

To be continued

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 11

John 13:3
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

Jesus was in complete control of his mission to redeem mankind. Nothing was taking him by surprise. He knew that he came from God and he was positively confident that he was returning to God.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus saw the joy set before him and he endured the cross despising the shame. He knew he would be sitting at the right hand of God again very soon.

Sometimes the crucifixion is told in such a way that emphasizes the suffering of Jesus and somehow we tend to forget that he was given authority by the Father. His body was weak as he was beaten, battered and abused but his mind remained strong because he knew how the story would end. He would take everything that Satan threw at him and would emerge victorious.

Knowledge is power and Jesus knew he was returning to his rightful place as King of the universe.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 10

John 13:2, 27
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

The last few hours that Jesus spent with his disciples were filled with many memorable things. John gives us an idea of the emotions that were present, the love Jesus had for all his disciples, the last words that Jesus shared and even the unexpected (to the disciples) betrayal of Judas.

John tells us that as they were eating and celebrating the Passover, Satan had already prompted Judas. The time to resist Satan is at the very first prompting. Paul reminds us not to give the devil a foothold. James admonishes us to resist the devil and he will flee.

Judas did not resist the prmpting of Satan and that allowed him to enter into Judas before the meal was over. Judas was no match for Satan after he chose him over Jesus.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 9

John 13:1
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Jesus knew! The final days of his ministry would not take him by surprise. He knew the fullness of time had come and history was about to be split in half - before his death and after his death. Mankind was about to be ransomed from our destiny of God's wrath to our new destiny - eternal life through God's Grace.

Jesus knew that after he poured out his blood and gave up his life, he had the authority to take it up again and return to the Father and to his rightful place on the throne as the King of it all.

Love propelled him forward! He looked at the 12 disciples before him and knew what would happen to each of them that night but he loved them until the end.

JESUS KNEW!

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 8

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The Apostle Paul knew that the time to depart this world was fast approaching and he was saying goodbye to his spiritual son, Timothy.

In looking back over his life starting with his trip to Damascus as a persecutor and leaving as a believer in Jesus, Paul began his journey as one of the most vocal defender of Jesus as the Son of God.

He was now in prison awaiting his execution and he knew that he lived the life that God called him to live. He was ready to be in the presence of the Lord.

May we also live our lives in such a way that no matter when our time of departure from this world comes we would also be able to echo Paul's words.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 7

2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

The Spirit of God is not just mere words used in religious circles.  According to the Apostle Paul, we received the Spirit of God when we became believers in Jesus.

Jesus promised that when he returned to the Father that he would send the Holy Spirit as a gift to us so that we will always be connected to him and the Father.

When we have the Spirit of God living in us, our lives are continually being transformed because the Holy Spirit is alive.

We do not ever have to be fearful and weak when we allow the Spirit of God to do his work in our lives.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 6

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

There is great wisdom in simplicity. These words from the prophet Micah seems so basic. What does our Lord consider good and requires of us mere mortals?

To act justly - live a fair and balance life and treat others the same
To love mercy - always choose the way of kindness
To walk humbly with God - know our place as mere mortals and know who God is in comparison to us

Simplicity continues in other verses. We are told to love God with all our hearts, souls and our minds and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

May our theology never be too complicated for us to just simply love.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 5

Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord .

When we follow the advice of the Apostle Paul and allow ourselves to be transformed by renewing our minds, we may get to know what God's will for our lives could be.

When God reveal himself to us and his will for our lives we can rest assured that our loving Father will give us all good things and no wisdom, no insight and no plans can succeed against him.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 4

Proverbs 21:2
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.

It is a very wise person who takes the time to examine the motives behind any action.

Why do I feel the way I do?
Am I making this choice because it is best or because it makes me feel better temporarily?
Will this decision matter in 3 years?
Will this bring me closer to God or put distance between us?
Is this the most loving thing to do?

We really do not know our hearts. Only God who sees the end from the beginning knows why we do the things we do. He was there when our thoughts were being formed, when hurts and betrayals shaped the person we turned out to be.

May we seek the motives behind what we do and leave room for God to change our hearts.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 3

Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

It seems that anxiety is on the rise these days. Doctors are prescribing more and more anti-depressant medication to even younger people.

Suicide among children, teenagers and young adults are on the rise as bullying has become prevalent on social media.

The question Cain asked of God when confronted with Abel's death, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' should be answered by each of us as we relate to each other.

May we have kind words for the anxious hearts we may encounter today.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 2

Psalm 24:10
Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory.

The Psalmist wrote these words hundreds of years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem and walked the shores of Galilee; many years before he healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, touched the leper and raised the dead; hundred of years before the people shouted, 'Hosanna in the highest' and welcomed him as the Messiah.

Jesus showed the world he was born into that he is indeed the King of glory in everything he did and through his Holy Spirit he is still showing us today that he is the King of glory as his Word becomes alive in our hearts.

PAUSE FOR A MOMENT - July 1

Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord ’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

It should bring great comfort to the hearts of believers as we read these words. God made this world; He knows everything about it and we can let God deal with it.

There are times when it seems everything is out of control and chaotic but as long as our trust is in God we have nothing to worry about.

May we let go and let GOD!.