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Deep Creek Java Devotions August 10, 2010

August 9th, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
Forward Thinking

Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 61:1(HCSB)  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners;

Devotion & Meditation:

As the school year approaches, I am reminded of a habit my shepherd, Chief, exhibits whenever we are out walking, and another person or vehicle approaches us from behind. Instead of continuing to look forward while he is walking, he tries to go ahead while constantly looking backwards over his shoulder!

Needless to say, our progress is much impeded, and sometimes must even come to a halt, as walking forward while looking backwards just doesn’t work very well.  For many, the beginning of any season can also be a time of seeking to walk forward while the eyes of the heart are constantly gazing backwards. Memories of loved ones now gone, and happier times now lost, creep into the present, bringing within them renewed sorrow, pain, and loneliness. Emotions and feelings have the power to paralyze us from moving forward to embrace both the present and the future hope which God still has planned for us along the pathway of life.

Life is not always easy, but that’s one of the main reasons God gave us Jesus Christ.  Life’s circumstances and memories may often seek to stop or imprison us in the tracks of despair, sorrow, and hopelessness, but in Christ we have new hope, freedom, healing, and joy available for the pathway of life every day!

The difference between walking forward to receive God’s precious gifts, and being stopped in our tracks and losing them, depends upon where we’re looking and how we are thinking.  I had a woman I was counseling for a sexual addiction and every time she attempted to take a step forward she kept looking over her shoulder to see who was watching and she had to fall and fail miserably.  The night she was at wits end, she was contemplating suicide in her 6×6 local jail cell.  I spoke to her about the above verse and asked her if she was ready to move forward and think forward and let go of the past and be set free; while the Lord heals her brokenheart.  She said she was and she did, now today she is in a healthy relationship and leading a Christ-filled life, all because she stop looking over her shoulder!   How about you where do you spend the most of your time looking…?past at ghosts, shoulda, coulda, woulda… change your perspective today!

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

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Deep Creek Jamin Java Devotions

August 9th, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
The UPS Truck delivered my first full publication.  The first two books went to the Library of Congress and I received the third.  It is finally out.  Within a few weeks, your local bookstores will be able to purchase the book or you can order it from me.

I receive a discount and I will also sign each copy for you with a personal note.  However, when I place my order, I must pay for them up front, so let me know if you would like for me to order it.  The discount I receive puts the book at about $21.00.  DEEP CREEK JAMIN JAVA DEVOTIONS is a 770 page daily devotion.  These devotions are taken from some of the ones many of you have indicated as favorites and new ones as well.  It is the morning cup of Java to get you through the day!  The devotions are written from a theological position, but the application is to counsel you for a bright and better day!  Simply put all the devotions are written with a pastor’s heart and a counselor’s passion to give you the Lord’s strength to see the best and brightest possible in each new day the Lord has made.  E-mail me at doclahay@aol.com to obtain a copy.



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Deep Creek Java Devotion August 9, 2010

August 8th, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
Faith is the Victory

Scripture Reading:
Joshua 1:3 (HCSB)  I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses.

Devotion & Meditation:
We are at war. But the outcome is certain. We are not fighting for victory…we’re fighting from victory. When He died on the cross and was raised from the dead, Jesus Christ defeated sin and de-fanged death, crushing our enemy, Satan. We still battle, but victory is an accomplished act. Jesus did that. This war from victory is a different kind of war, is it not? It’s like the war Joshua was asked to fight, claiming the occupied Promised Land that God had already given. “The land is yours,” God told him. “You own it, and My word is the title deed. I promised it to Abraham; I will give it to you. But you must fight.” He led the nation of Israel in some fierce battles, but Joshua owned the dirt everywhere he put his foot down. He had the deed. He was fighting not for victory against the Amalekites, the Amorites and others—he was fighting from victory already made certain by God Himself. That’s how we are. Our battles are not against flesh and blood, but they are very real just the same. We go head to head against the wiles of Satan, but we are fighting from victory, because God has already accomplished it. When Jesus endured the cross and conquered the grave, we became soldiers whose ultimate conquest is assured.

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

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Deep Creek Java Devotion August 6 2010

August 5th, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
Yuk…tolerance & Compromise

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 26:72 (HCSB) And again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man!”

Devotion & Meditation:
Peter purposed (and promised) to follow Jesus to death and beyond, but when Peter refused to acknowledge Jesus, he eventually denied him. It is impossible to remain neutral…and Peter tried. He moved in a matter of minutes from “I do not know what you are talking about” to “I do not know the man.” The natural end of neutrality is denial. Trapped in a dark courtyard and confronted by servants with the charge of being a Jesus-follower, the man who had sliced off the ear of a soldier turned to jello. He did not flee with the rest of the apostles, but he did not claim his Lord, either. Instead, he tried to dodge the questions, hide his accent, and keep his face away from the light. But when push came to shove, Peter denied Jesus three times. His neutrality quickly turned to denial. Later in that same courtyard, Peter and Jesus came face to face with one another. When Jesus looked at him, Peter remembered his brash promises in the light of his pitiful failure. I have a question for you. If you came face to face with Jesus this day, and He looked directly at you, what kind of look would be in His eyes? What kind of look would be in yours?

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

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Deep Creek Java Devotion August 5, 2010

August 4th, 2010 Pastor Ben No comments
All for One & One for All

Scripture Reading:
Luke 11:23 (HCSB) Anyone who is not with Me is against Me,  and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters

Devotion & Meditation:
Neutrality, bi-partisanship, and tolerance are admired postures in our post-modern culture. But God does not admire neutrality. In fact, He does not recognize it at all. He clearly states that all those who are not for Him are by default, against Him. Jesus said, “He who does not gather with Me, scatters.” Could it be more clear? Satan is a strongman whose “house” is this world, and he counts as his possessions many who live here. When you and I try to stand alone against this rebel-king, we are sorely mismatched. We cannot do it. If we think that we can (“Oh, I would never be tempted by that…”) we are displaying what God calls “the pride of life.” But there is a stronger One who has come and overthrown the rebel-king. If Satan rules now, it is only by theft, not by right. Jesus Christ is the stronger man who “breaks the power of canceled sin and sets the prisoner free.” He has overthrown Satan. Even so, there are some who wish to remain neutral. They tip their hats to God by attending church occasionally or adopting certain religious rituals. But in truth, their agenda is still their own, and they are not God’s. You can’t be 90% faithful. Your mate would not tolerate that, and your Lord won’t either. You are either for Him 100%, or you are against Him. You can’t face both ways.

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

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