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10/07/22 Priorities

When was the last time you made a pursuit of the awe of God your priority? For that matter, how often have you set aside anything - your job, a sports event you love, even good things at church - to spend time with the Lord? I don't mean a couple of moments you throw at Him when you have nothing else to do; I mean scheduling times, possibly complete days or more for Him - times that are normally consumed with "important" things.

One of my biggest challenges is my war against the intrusions on my time with my Father. Things considered normal, even good things, are continuously presenting themselves as roadblocks to the path of quiet moments spent in pursuing an intimate relationship with ABBA God.

What I have discovered is the enemy hates anyone to go there because of the power and wisdom found by those who do. He hates us, especially men, to do all that we do from the warm, protected place on the lap of our Father. He has no power against the destruction it causes to his plans.

Have you ever wondered how you have been robbed of the taste-buds for that kind of intimacy? Doesn't it make sense that your real enemy loves to keep you so busy with urgent things that the things God sees as important are placed on a back burner, or forgotten about all together? Maybe your life and the lives of those around you will really prosper in Christ if you make time with God your priority rather than meeting Him when it’s convenient for you? What do you think?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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10/06/22 The End of Yourself

“Sometimes it is in times of pain and suffering that you find Me. Sometimes I need to bring you to the end of yourself, so that you will seek Me with all your heart. It is My love for you that turns your eyes toward Jesus. When you call out to Him in your desperation, He will come to you and bring you new life. Your religious heart will be softened. Your priorities will be put in line. Your motives for all that you do will become My motives as you grow in Me.

"Call out to Jesus in your need. Call to Him for the first time or for as many times as you need. He is waiting to ease your pain. His love is always for you, never against you. He is Lord, and He is waiting to be Lord over your every situation. Turn everything over to Him. Submit yourself to a love greater than you have ever known. You will find the answers you have been looking for as you find Him.”

2 Samuel 14:14 NIV 

“But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.”

Matt. 11:28-30 AMP 

28) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

29) Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

30) For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good – not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Luke 22: 61-62 NIV

61) The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

62) And he went outside and wept bitterly.

 

Some of us think that we have the corner on this thing called Christianity. For a while, I sure did. Having met Him in a cemetery - stupid, full of dope, one day before I planned to kill myself - I found real life and real love for the very first time. I, of course, immediately turned everyone off with my zeal and freedom - being so full of newfound love, but so immature and insensitive.

What I didn’t realize at the time is that my Father in heaven brought me to the place of desperation, so that I would finally come to the end of myself and cry out to Him in my need. Because I was such a hardhead, I had to be stripped of everything before I would submit fully to Jesus and His Lordship over my life. I had to realize that I was helpless and needed a Savior.

Since then, His faithfulness has brought me to a point of need often, so that I would realize the necessity of resubmitting and recommitting my life to His Lordship. He would stop me dead in my tracks, making me realize that I was running off by myself somehow; and quietly bring me back to the place of total submission to Him, the only place of safety.

Here’s a thought. No matter how long you have known Jesus, no matter how much you are doing for Him, stop for a moment. Ask a few questions about your life. Is everything in order? Is everything at peace in your heart? If not, maybe the Lord is calling you to turn your life back to a place of total submission to Him. Maybe He wants all of you once again. Maybe the Father is saying that the answer to all your needs is Jesus, and He is asking you to get back to basics with Him before you can move on.

Going back often,

Jim Corbett

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10/06/22 Be a Holy Representative

Our Father is asking His husbands and fathers to be His holy representatives. He is calling families to be the example of the bride of Christ and His church.

I wonder how many of us really believe that our families mean so much to Him? How many of us have thought that how our marriage and family look to others is important as a representation of God's plan?

When was the last time, you, as a father, studied your family and asked the Lord how you can better provide fertile ground for your wife and children to become all they can be in Christ? How much does it mean to you that they’re telling others who Jesus is simply by their actions, and those actions reflect on you and your relationship with Christ?

As a man, you have been given a stewardship of your family. How far are you willing to go with God so that you have the tools to guide and direct those He has given you into a deep relationship with Him? Isn't it time that you become all you can be so that they have the freedom to do the same?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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10/05/22 Still Time

“Are you part of the crowd, or are you setting yourself apart unto Me? I never approve of mediocrity. I cannot abide the lukewarm heart. I do not accept cold petitions and insincere praise. I am calling for deep devotion, first love adoration, and zealous involvement from those who claim to be Mine.

"There is still time. Turn your hearts to Me. Repent of your divided interests. Throw away the things of the world that have your attention. I will meet you right where you are. I will have mercy on you for as long as you desire, as you remain sincere in your turning from those things that are shown to be hindrances in your life.

"The call is out. I want you to dedicate yourself completely to Me. Submit to Me and I will accomplish My desire in you.”

Romans 2:4 NIV

….not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

I Th. 5:24 AMP

Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].

James 4:8-10 AMP

8) Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

9) [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].

10) Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

Rev. 3:15-20 NIV

15) “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

16) So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

17) You say, ’I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

18)  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19) Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be in earnest, and repent.

20) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

 

What an incredible Lord God! How merciful He is to have so much patience with us. I love the open kindness and loving mercy that our Lord has for us. How many of us would endure people whom we call friends for as long as the Lord has endured our fickle hearts? Praise God for the blood of Jesus!

I am convinced that this generation is being pressed on all sides for the purposes of refinement. We are being called to really become who we have been saying we are for a long time. Now He is forming us for His purposes, for this time, for these people. How blessed we are to be part of the plans of God!

Teach me to respond properly when You call me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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10/05/22 Closest to God’s Heart

Because our Lord knew that all kings, priests, government officials, teachers, evangelists, etc. would come from the nuclear family, it is an institution that remains closest to His heart to this day. In God's eyes, the family that's in line with God's Word is an impenetrable fortress against all of the world's challenges, a safe place for wives to thrive and children to prosper; and a place for His Word to gestate and then be distributed throughout the nations.

God placed man in the most important position He has ever created - head of the nuclear family. He has also created the second most important office of a helpmate, his wife. His design for their partnership is to develop offspring who learn His ways through parents who are spiritually in order; learning from God through an intimate relationship with each other and with Him, one that mirrors the life of Christ, thereby creating significant legacies and overcoming lives that honor Him. Is it any wonder that the enemy has done everything to minimize, distort, and destroy the spiritual importance of God's plan, especially by weakening or distracting men, and minimizing their offices of husband and father?

As a man, how do you fare in providing fertile soil for your wife to become all that she can be in Christ? When you stand before God and present her and your children to Him, how spiritually significant will their lives be because of your guidance and direction? Is now the time to possibly reconsider your priorities so you please God with your stewardship of them?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

 

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