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6/13/24 Our Only Source and Hope

“You need to remember that I am making you into the image of Jesus as you requested. Every trial strengthens you. Every need brings you closer to Me. Every heartbreak brings forth My comfort, and allows you to see that your only hope is in Me. I will never fail you. I am trustworthy. I am for you. You must make Me your only source as Jesus did. Then you will be at peace. His heart knew truth. His heart was single-purposed, as I need yours to be. Stay the course. I am with you!”

Amos 5:4b AMP 

…Seek Me [inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food] and you shall live!

Matthew 16:24-25 AMP

24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

25) For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

John 5:19-20a NIV

19) Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

20a) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.”

 

That “nothing by myself” part is hard for us to understand. It is even harder for us to walk in it daily as Jesus did. We forget that the obedience needs to be formed in us before we can be truly obedient to the Lord’s every command. Absolute trust needs to be “owned” by us before we are even willing to attempt that “nothing” stuff. In fact, all the character traits of Jesus must one-by-one be formed in us before we can walk in them.

We will never “own” trust until we have desperately needed the Lord and found Him faithful. Obedience is formed in us through repentance of the self-will that is so very evident in us daily. I am convinced that until we embrace our lives as the training ground and “Jesus school” that they really are, we will never be at peace.

Open my eyes to Your work in me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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6/13/24 Just Get in the Car

A while ago I was faced with an opportunity to see how much I lacked faith and really needed God if things were going to work out. As a husband and father, the weight of my responsibility was somewhat overwhelming. We had packed everything we owned in a small truck and our van, given away what we were told to share, and spent most of what we had at the time for necessities. What little I had, I knew that my faith was being tested. I felt like a rubber band that had been stretched to its limit.

I had read somewhere that faith combined with sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit fills hands that were formerly empty. Well, my hands felt really, really empty. My faith felt like a single drop of water on its way to attempting to put out a raging fire. So we went - not in a bright powerful way, but just one foot after another, one mile after another until we reached a temporary destination.

A little while later, someone mentioned a phrase that really spoke to my heart. He said something like, “Faith is simply getting in the car and going when you are told.” Boy, did that hit home! I felt that phrase applied directly to me. “Just get in the car.” That’s faith!

Men, if you are attempting to be a monument of faith to your family, you may be imparting the wrong message to them. Maybe it’s time to trust in the faithfulness of God instead of your ability to have faith for any situation. Maybe it’s time to simply “get in the car” and trust God to do what He has told you He would do. God is faithful. You are His greatly loved child. He desires to walk with you even more than you desire to walk with Him every moment.  Why not trust Him to be Who He says He is?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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6/12/24 Praise is More than Singing Songs

“Praise is not songs sung from a distracted heart, a wandering mind, or an organized musical score. Make no mistake; I know the difference. To Me, high praise is a devoted life that longs only to glorify Jesus. It is a heart consumed with the ardent desire to fulfill My plans and My passions. It is an inner being that is passionate to align with My Spirit by submitting to the power of My Holy Spirit and being fulfilled only when it overflows with My ideals and My character. It is a life that is continually making room for My presence. These anthems ring throughout the heavens and become choruses that weave their melodies with those of celestial beings who cry Holy, Holy, Holy!”

Psalm 46:10a NIV 

Be still, and know that I am God...

Psalm 51:10 AMP

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering and steadfast spirit within me.

Isaiah 43:21 NIV 

…the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

Luke 6:45-46 AMP 

45) The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.

46) Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you?

 

I am convinced that the Lord God is calling His devoted hearts out of any place that is playing business-as-usual church. The heart of God is saying that dirty hands lifted in song do not please Him. They never did, but now He is making those who will listen aware of how much an abomination it really is. I believe that it is time to shake off all gatherings, programs, and rituals that sound and look like service to God—but are not and turn to Jesus for His pattern of praise while He walked as a man.

Jesus did nothing of Himself. Jesus came to die for others. Jesus was torn from communion with His Father only long enough to fulfill what He had been told to do in that time of communion, and then rushed to get back to His Father as soon as it was implemented. He continually stole away from living out life to gain the power of real life.

Jesus loved with action, wept for the decadence of those He created, and died for those who hated Him. He glorified His Father by being a devoted Son and set a pattern for us to follow. I believe that we must get on with it!

Teach me Your way, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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6/12/24 Pancakes and Sausage

How many of the men’s groups around this land are no more spiritually filling than the pancakes and sausage breakfasts that are considered valuable gatherings? How many men’s groups do nothing more than gather as a social get together? How many men’s group leaders have real answers for men attempting to restore their marriages or rescue their children? Look around; there are seemingly very few.

God is in the process of rebuilding Christian families, because they are the most powerful witness available to a dark and dying world.  A proper marriage tells others about the relationship between Jesus and His church. A proper family builds a legacy that not only impacts those around them, but potentially generation after generation to come.

Men, the power, love, and wisdom needed to walk with God in order to help restore those offices will not come from one more pancake breakfast or weekly social gathering for men. It will not happen through weak leaders who have no answers for themselves. The power to help turn marriages and families around will only come to a man who desires to see wholeness restored as He seeks God in His throne room.

If the leader of your men’s group (even a pastor for that matter) is not a frequent visitor to the throne room of God, where he can receive what is needed to help rebuild marriages and families, he is nothing more than a blind guide. He’s probably a very nice, very caring guy; but, more than likely, he’s incapable of helping anyone who really is serious about God’s plan for the family, which is the key unit for all He does.  That man is unable to share and give away whatever is needed if he doesn’t own it himself.

Today is the day to look around at those you are following and those who are walking with you in life. Are they heading in God’s direction, or are they remaining where they are, hoping that things will one day get better? Are they hearing the call to become servant leaders, first in their marriages and families, and then to those around them? If they aren’t, it might be time to make some changes, so you don’t find yourself with no answers and no one to encourage you to go to God for inspired answers when they are needed.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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6/10/24 Share and Share Again

“You must never hesitate to bless someone. You must never be afraid to share what I have given you when I tell you to bless that person. It’s time for you to realize that whenever you have come to Me in your need, I have shared something of Myself with you. You have never gone away empty-handed. You have always become a bit more like Jesus. If you have the misfortune of thinking that all the wealth I have imparted to you is for you alone, you are wrong. You are My ambassador to those around you.

"Here’s how it really works. I woo you—or drive you if necessary—to Me, so that you can be changed. You come at first because of your need. Eventually you begin to come because of Our mutual love. That is when I can begin to trust you with those who also need Me. Share with them what We share with each other in its proper season. Keep coming to Me. I have much more for you. Then help others begin to know Who I really am.”

Matthew 19:14 NIV

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

John 14:12 NIV

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

2 Cor. 1:3-4 AMP 

3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement),

4) Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.

 

Whenever we become self-centered and selfish, we lose the overall purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s plan is to have each of us come to Him through Jesus, learn of Him; and then tell others about Him, so that they can repeat the cycle. Most of us must not really learn of Him, or else we would know His heart. He wishes that none should perish. We wish that things always get better for us.

Create in me a clean heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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