Deep Creek Java Devotion July 29, 2010

July 28th, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
Which Way is the Wind Blowing

Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 4:23 (HCSB) Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

Devotion & Meditation:
An Navy chaplain I know, said men would frequently come to him and say, “Sir, I just couldn’t resist temptation. I tried, but the pull of sin was too strong, and I’m too weak.” The chaplain would respond to his men in this way: “Son, you go down to the port and you’ll discover that the wind is blowing in one direction, and one direction alone. Even so, you’ll see ships sailing with the wind, and against it. You can stand up to temptation, but it’s up to you and your will.” An old poem I’ve always liked says it this way: One ship sails east, one ship sails west, with the self-same wind that blows. It’s the set of the sail and not the gale that determines which way it goes.”

What about the set of the sail in your life? Remember, it is not the wind that rules, it’s the set of the sail—or the set of the mind, the heart, the will. When testing and trials come, resist the urge to make excuses. Don’t say, “I was particularly weak at the time,” or “I was blinded by prosperity,” or “I was frightened by poverty.” Ask yourself instead, “What is the set of my sail?” You do not have to be a victim to sin. God has given all of His children the will and the power to resist Satan, and to live lives that are victorious.  “Do you want to get well?” ~ Jesus

Keep the Son in your eyes,
Dr. Ben J. Lahay
Phil 1:21

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Deep Creek Java Devotion July 28, 2010

July 27th, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
A Tale of Two Fish

Scripture Reading:
James 4:7 (HCSB) Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.

Devotion & Meditation:
Lucifer is an angler or in lay terms, a fisherman.  Now he doesn’t just fish in Galilee, but in Deep Creek, Oakland, USA and everywhere.  He baits a hook for you or me, and uses a lure that is certain to attract us. He’s a good fisherman, too. He’s been at it for a long time, fishing for the hearts and lives of men since Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden.  He knows our hideouts and haunts–he knows the areas in which we are vulnerable, and he is crafty enough to hide the hook from us until it is too late. I do know a little about fishing.  Enough to know that when they Lord called me to be a fisher of men, I don’t catch anything except souls for the kingdom.  I love to fish and have a great time, but for me it is about being with friends or family.  Good fisherman study fish. They know their tendencies, their habitat, their favorite lures. But even so, some fish still elude him.

Have you ever wondered how a bass gets to weigh six, seven, or eight pounds? They’ve studied the fisherman like he’s studied them. They know his best tricks, and they are not quick to pounce on a lure. They suspect the hook—and they’re usually right. Once we take the Devil’s bait and the hook is set, we’re caught. The trick to evading the fisherman is to steer clear of the lures. We can be sure he knows just how to tempt us, but we also have within us the power to overcome temptation if we will only use it. Jesus Christ gives us strength to resist the devil…and when we do, he will flee.  I hope these words today are used by you as powerful as they are used by me today.  The Devil continues to wear at my armor, but I continue to cling to the Cross and follow both steps in the verse:  (1) submit to God, (2) Resist the Devil.  I cannot accomplish step 2 without first applying step 1.  Lord bless you today, friend!

Keep the Son in your eyes,
Dr. Ben J. Lahay
Phil 1:21

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Deep Creek Java Devotions July 27, 2010

July 26th, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
Warriors and Devils

Scripture Reading:
Joshua 24:15 (HCSB) But if it doesn’t please you to worship the LORD, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD.”

Devotion & Meditation:
I Remember explaining to my son, when he was about 6 year old, how a warrior gets ready for the battle.  Do you realize that in the same manner, God has called us to be prepared each moment. A Centurion or Spartan was armed no with a gun — but with a helmet, a sword, a shield, and a belt. I am sure for many of you it is tough to grasp the spiritual meaning of this, but it is Paul who tells all who follow Jesus to put on the helmet, which is our salvation; to pick up for a sword for the word of God; and to take for our protection the shield of faith.

While going through Psalm 91, “You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day”, I was captured by this verse! Immediately I thought of Paul and his teaching about fiery darts.  A Jedi, warrior of light, can easily deflect those darts with his sword!  We can only withstand fiery darts of our adversary once we know God’s word. Jesus is our example. After completing fasting for 40 days in the wilderness, the devil came to tempt Him, and He overcame him only by the word. This is how our everyday spiritual warfare goes, is it not?  I have had one of those days today.  I am prayed up, suited up and ready for the devils assault.  However, his is not a frontal assault it is a devious, filthy, cowardly attack.  Fortunately for me, the Lord is my protector and the armor of light comes equipped with the Sword of the Spirit which is able to protect me from serious damage…I did take a few hits but they add to character and perseverance and all to wisdom!

Warning has been given to all of us by Peter, when he speaks of the roaming lion. So let each of us march like a brave soldier, putting on the whole God-given armor, as described in Ephesians 6:10-18 — the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the boots of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.  Friends don’t think for a moment the war will pass you by… you cannot run to Canada nor can you claim a disqualification.  Let me tell you simply–you are not 4F!  Either you will be in the war fighting against the devil or you will be in the war, oblivious to the war, fighting the Army of the Lord!  The choice is yours…  Get caught up in the world and in the things of this world and you will be overrun!  You buy into political schemes and enterprises at your peril, but as Joshua said, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

Keep the Son in your eyes,
Dr. Ben J. Lahay
Phil 1:21

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July 26th, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
Forgiving & Forgetting

Scripture Reading:
Hosea 3:1 (HCSB) Then the LORD said to me, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the LORD loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.

Devotion & Meditation:
A fable tells of Ralph and Hilda, a baker and his wife. Ralph was tall and lean, and he was an unusually righteous man. He spoke in moral platitudes, and always did right. Hilda was soft and round—and as fun-loving and joyful as Ralph was cold and aloof. One night Ralph came home late from the bakery and found Hilda in the arms of another man. The whole town expected him to throw her out, but he didn’t. He vowed to forgive her “like the Good Book says.” But as time went on, it became clear that he had not. Heaven did not smile on Ralph’s cheap brand of forgiveness, and soon sent an angel to place a small pebble in Ralph’s heart with every look of scorn or belittling jab he gave to Hilda. In time, his heart was so heavy he could hardly stand up straight. When he cried out in his pain for someone to help, the angel offered to cure his heavy, hurting heart. “How?” Ralph asked. “I will give you the gift of magic eyes,” the angel replied. “What is that?” Ralph wanted to know. “With magic eyes,” said the angel, “you will see Hilda not as someone who has betrayed you, but as a lonely woman who is trying her best to love you.” Ralph wasn’t sure he wanted magic eyes, because he had come to enjoy his hatred. But eventually, he said yes, and discovered that every time he looked at Hilda with his new magic eyes, a pebble was removed from his heart. Soon he began to feel good again, and he invited Hilda back into his heart. All of us have been hurt. We may think the hurt we suffered was too deep to ever forget and forgive, but Jesus can give us His eyes—magic eyes—with which to see our enemies.
Keep the Son in your eyes,
Dr. Ben J. Lahay
Phil 1:21

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Deep Creek Java Devotion July 23, 2010

July 22nd, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
Over Run

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 1:20 (HCSB) Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?

Devotion & Meditation:
Do you ever feel overwhelmed with the demands and skills parenting requires of you?  Many young parents with multiple children do, but so do parents with only one child.  “only the adult who stands like a child before the grace of God is fit to raise a child.”  In one of God’s most brilliant ironies, He uses the process of raising children to become adults to help adults become more like children…believe me, I know quite a few “kids”.  Children will often feel over-run, but in our arrogance as adults we tend to think we have everything figured out – until God in His mercy sends us children, and godliness we lack.  I thank the Lord my wife and I had almost seven years to figure each other out before a child came on the scene.

Little children have to ask when they want a drink, when they want to eat, when they want to get out of bed, when they want to play a game.  The key here is they ask, they do not cry, scream or throw a temper tantrum.  Eventually smaller children learn and realize that crying does not get results or answers, especially when the crying is “just because”.  The bottom line is children are always asking.  God wants us to ask as well.  he delights in our dependence and relishes our reliance.  The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 2:1-3, “When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom.  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness, in fear,  and in much trembling.”

Secular teaching and education can do nothing to nurture the spirit of our children’s heart and certainly does not provide refreshment to ours.  However, a parent who is sold out to Jesus and spends the day directly seeking the Master’s leading rather than the world’s following will help the child grow leaps and bounds.  In the same stroke from the Master’s brush, the parents will be taken down a notch or two and humbled by the Almighty presence of a Holy God…
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