In your youth, Live in the ways of GOD - Feb 27, 2014

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11-12
5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.
6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
7 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
9 Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. - Ecclesiastes 11
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”
13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. - Ecclesiastes 12
Message:
God's works in mysterious ways and in all you do, do it out of reverence for GOD for He will judge us according to what we have done on earth.

Observation/Promise:
God does all things, He is working out everything according to His purpose. Are we working according to His purpose? Are we one with His will? God has given us youth and vigor, strength and energy and we can do anything with it as we please but everything we do can be a waste when we are not working in line with GOD's heart and will for us. It is wonderful to enjoy life, it's good to wake up early, to see the day dawning. Be eager to live and be excited for the future. But whatever we do on earth, we must give an account to Him who is the giver of our life. So it is good to sow seeds early in life, because whatever we sow, we will reap later. 

Command/Application:
Sow! Start sowing early in life. Invest, and divide your investments. Do everything you can do today, do not wait for the best time to do things. Let GOD work out things for you for He is the one working behind all things. God's ways are mysterious, just trust Him. More importantly than money, Invest in your spirit, which is eternal, for whatever things you invest in the spirit, you will reap eternal rewards in Heaven. The young because of their energy is prone to anger, we can be angry for a time but we can it go right away. Chose to keep your body healthy by not letting anger take it's grip on you. And in your youth, thing of pleasing your creator, the GOD who loves you more than anyone does because you are going to grow old someday and what more can you do when you are already in this dying age? Above all, fear GOD, and walk in His ways. 

You Become what You Behold

31 So shall you heartily accept My commandments and conform your life and conduct to them. I am the Lord.
32 Neither shall you profane My holy name [applying it to an idol, or treating it with irreverence or contempt or as a byword]; but I will be hallowed among the Israelites. I am the Lord, Who consecrates and makes you holy,
33 Who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.

- Leviticus 22

Conform means to comply with rules, standards or laws. It is also synonym to the word observe, follow or obey. It is only natural for people to follow other people. Children follow their parents, teenagers follow their peers. We all want to emulate or admire a certain person and follow that person. But GOD says in Romans 12:2 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. We start conforming to the things that which we behold or put importance to.

GOD says do not conform to the worldly ways and it's system. So where should we conform to? In the book of Leviticus, GOD says to accept GOD's commands in our hearts and conform our life and conduct to them. So how do we put GOD's word in our hearts? By beholding them, reading them, meditating on them and constantly purposefully putting HIS word in our minds because our minds can wander off as far as Pluto. The mind is the battle ground, whoever controls your mind controls your life. What are you putting your time and devotion to is what will shape your life. What you behold is what you become. To behold is to see or observe (someone or something, especially of remarkable or impressive nature).You become what you behold. If you are beholding earthly things, you become just as temporary and easily faded as a thing. So be careful what you behold, because this is where we start to conform and become just it. Behold GOD's word and conform to it and you will become eternal because HIS word endures forever.

Look Forward

1 Sing to Adonai a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Isra’el rejoice in their maker,
let Tziyon’s children take joy in their king.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
make melody to him with tambourine and lyre;
4 for Adonai takes delight in his people,
he crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the faithful exult gloriously,
let them sing for joy on their beds.
Psalm 149:1-5


There is always something we look forward to in our lives. What is it? Probably for students, they look forward to graduating and building a career. For young mothers, they look forward to their children going to school. Maybe for professionals they look forward to promotion or new projects. Still some for others, they look forward to fridays which they can enjoy because of activities that spice up their lives during the weekend or vacations during the summer. Women young or old look forward to their dream wedding day. Whatever it is, there is always an event in our lives, that we are waiting and wanting to happen. But do you know that GOD Almighty also looks forward to certain days in our lives? 

The Lord forwards to the day we are born on earth. He looks forward to the time we first experience HIM and have a unique deep encounter with Him. He looks forward to the day we understand His faithfulness, touching our hearts and making us lift songs of worship unto Him or when we are just filled with joy, and dancing because of what He has done for us. He awaits the days where we are just happily enjoying our moments on earth and thanking Him for it. This is just how GOD is, He looks forward to our moments with Him and takes delight in us, because we are His. From the time we fall asleep, He watches over us and looks forward to the very hour we wake up every morning, He refreshes His mercies, looking forward to the time we will direct our attention towards Him once again. The humble understand the very character of GOD and His loving attributes. Are you looking forward to temporary things? Why not consider to look forward to something that will never fade away, something you can look forward to forever? To Someone who looks forward to special moments with you from now until eternity?