4/15/21 This Life

What if this life is about nothing more than to prepare those who are going to spend eternity with God and those who aren't? What if God had no other plan but whatever is needed for the eternities, and was simply using this time we call our lives as a qualification process for what we are going to do then? What if mankind added all of the other stuff and made it important when God never intended for us to focus one moment on the things we hold dear?

Let's say that God placed mankind on this planet to first of all, know Him, and then to divide those who decide to serve Him from those who choose not to. Let's say that's all there is to it, nothing more. If that were the case, then everything else – everything - is made important by the will of man, not by God.

Entertainment would not have taken the place of complete happiness in the presence of God. Striving to work to provide for our needs would not be necessary because God, in His rightful place, would be our all provider. There would be no fears even from those who choose not to serve Him, because our reliance would be on His protection. Even if we were harmed, He would be our healer, or we would die and simply be with Him - our life's goal. His plan for us would be complete and our trust in that plan would bring total joy to those around us as we represent Jesus.

Fathers and husbands, how are you preparing those who are watching your life so that they know how to function? Whose plan for real life are you representing? What are you doing to be able to bring clear direction for your family? If you are a blind guide, an ability to see clearly is found in Jesus and His ways. He is waiting for you to come to Him for new life to give to others. Are your eyes and heart open?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

Open post

4/14/21 Knowingly or Unknowingly

“When Jesus was born, all the world had been prepared to receive Him. I don’t mean that all present at the time understood Who He was or were even aware that He existed. What I do mean is that when Jesus was present in the world, I had moved everything into its proper order to accept the work that I was doing. All the proper people existed at that time.  All the needed technology was present; everything was in My order. Even the nations that were needed to accomplish My goals were in existence so that My plan could unfold. Every player did his or her part. Knowingly or unknowingly, they positioned themselves into My plan and performed exactly as needed; so that all things could be accomplished according to My will. It is the same today. You are raised up for such a time as this. I am aware that those words have been used so much that they have almost lost their meaning, but they are as true today as they were when I first said them through My servant who was placed as a player in that specific work.

"Because you understand that I am completely capable of accomplishing everything that I have set in motion, you can be assured of this; I am aware of you. I know who you are, what you are doing, and where you will end up. It is not that you have no free will – because you do! It is just that I have already seen the end of everything, so I know what happens. Look at My Word. Is not everything spelled out very clearly? Have I not foretold the result of everyone’s actions - what they did - so that when it is all combined, the result is My plan?

"You are now fulfilling what is necessary so that the results of everything being accomplished will remain My planned outcome. You must know this so that you will not see anything that comes your way as bigger than I am. You must also rest in the fact that you are placed exactly in the position that I have formed for you. If you need to move, I will show you and you will respond. I am capable of doing what is necessary in your heart to move your feet in My direction. Be assured that I am aware of you.”

 Esther 4:12-14 NIV 

12) When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai,

13) he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.

14) For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Eph. 2:10 AMP

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

 

In Esther 4:14, the Jews were going to be delivered; that was God’s plan. Esther could choose to participate, or she could walk away from what she had been called to do. Many people, when considering the fact that God knows everything, then assume that every action in their lives really matters little. That makes no sense.

Father God knows the beginning from the end of all things. He has “already been at the end,” so He knows the outcome of every thought and every action of every person. Free will still comes into play at every moment, but there are no surprises in His world. He knew Esther was the proper person for the task at hand because of what He had completed in her. She, at the proper time, needed to give the proper response to the circumstance in which she found herself. God places, orchestrates, creates, and develops everything and everyone — all to His desired end.

Every present moment, every choice we make and its subsequent action should be vitally important to us. Seeking God’s will is paramount to our being exactly where He has ordained us to be. It is much more than something that is good for our well-being; it is necessary for us to know what His will is - the same as it was for Esther - so that we might play out our part in His plan. That “well done” stuff will then come later.

Needing to seek only His desires,

Jim Corbett

4/14/21 Respect

Saying that we have respect for someone is becoming a statement that is almost obsolete. The world has turned so dark, that the qualities determining if a person is to be respected are not qualities admired. The appearance of success or power has taken the place of a life that is worth respecting by those who are watching.

When was the last time anyone in your family said that they respect you as a father or husband? When was the last time that you have exhibited a life, or even an action, that was worthy of being respected in God's eyes, and then in those around you?

God has ordained the offices of husband and father as a covering for those he has been given. We are to provide a safe place for our families to function in as they grow in Christ. You, as the one functioning in that office, are to act as Christ would act if he were in your position. Obviously you will only be able to act worthy of the kind of respect He would have if you have been with Him enough to learn His ways.

The life we live in this world is important to God. How we function in front of others determines how they perceive a man of God should act, especially those in our families. Are you acting in a manner that garners respect from your wife or your children? Do others show respect for Jesus because you act in a way that represents Him properly? What are you going to do about it if you are not?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

Open post

4/13/21 Be the Expression of God’s Word

“Within the heart of any fellowship, whether individual or corporate, must beat the desire for intimacy, commitment, honesty, and trust. Without them, I am unable to express Myself to the world. Without them, the world will never see Jesus in those through whom I have chosen to express Him. Sad to say, they are missing in most of your dealings with each other and with the world. You gather together wanting to hear the expression of My Word, not knowing that you are to be the expression of My Word. How you act toward one another is the outward expression of the depth of your intimacy with Me. You meet together, not understanding that I have designed that fellowship to present Jesus to one another. The way you treat each other displays your depth of commitment to Me and whether you honor My desire to move in your midst.

"The world observes your behavior and realizes how shallow you are. It observes that you are not honest, even with each other; so it cannot trust the words that you present to them. They fall to the ground in front of your feet, not because they have no potential power, but because their effectiveness is nullified by your actions. Don’t you see that who you are, especially to each other, is more important than what you say? Can’t you understand that what you do, especially to each other, testifies of the work of the cross? All of your religious activity is nullified if you do not love one another.

"Turn your hearts back toward those I have placed in your midst. Your relationships are not complete as far as I am concerned. Your investment in them is vital to Me. Your commitment to those around you indicates the depth of commitment you desire with Me.”

Exodus 33:13-16 NIV

13) “If I have found favor in your eyes, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14) The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15) Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16) How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Matthew 5:13 AMP

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality) how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

 

You and I are on this earth for two reasons: to know God and to represent Jesus. The more we invest in really knowing God and His heart, the better we will represent Jesus - to each other and to the world. The less we know our God, the less we will function like Jesus in our dealings with each other and with the world. If that doesn’t shake you up, little else will.

Wanting to know God intimately so that I can represent Jesus properly,

Jim Corbett

4/13/21 Why Are You Married?

Most of us would answer that question in some way that has hopefully grown past the "I really love her, man" kind of statement. Let's forgo the stupidity of the "I really can't keep my hands off of her" answer and get on with why our Father in heaven has given us permission to be married.

In a nutshell, God has had us men covenant with Him to marry the one He has chosen for us, for His honor and for her best interests. I know that kind of thought has rarely passed through our world-trained, pea-brain ability to understand His ways about marriage; but it is, none-the-less, true. We are to join together with one of His precious children so that she has fertile soil to become all that she can be in Him. That honors Him!

In Ephesians 5, we husbands are called to lay our lives down for our wives in the way that Jesus laid His life down for the church. He died so that we could live. That is how the Lord can use marriage as an example of the relationship of Christ and His church.

When two people are joined together, they are given the privilege of knowing the most intimate details of the other person. They get to see whatever is undone in the other. Most of the time, especially after many years together, those cute little habits or actions become a source of irritation, sometimes even separation, instead of looking at them with Christ's heart. Jesus would hold them before His Father so that we and our wives could be healed. So should we.

God sees our job in marriage as laying down our needs, our desires, and our comforts, and living for the best interests of our wife and our children. The best interests of our circle of influence violates every area of our fleshly comfort zone. It demands that we live in the spiritual zone where Jesus lived for us. That is why He has given us someone to go through our lives with. They are to be given an atmosphere to learn how to love Him with all of their hearts. We are to provide that atmosphere by the power of the Holy Spirit. How's that working for you?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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