Energized with JOY!

By Renee Burt

If you read the economic news this morning, it was sobering. More layoffs, jobless benefits hit a new record, and stocks are down. After I read those headlines and got my joy thoroughly zapped, I got dressed and then was going to put on my makeup and do my hair. But first, I went to grab my CD player, so I could listen to music while I finished getting ready. Well, the CD in my player happened to be one of Coffey Anderson’s. He’s a Christian artist, whose music and lyrics to “All Ye” and “Never Turn Back” are simply infectious! They infect my heart in a way that gets my feet dancing and my heart singing. Now, I was all cleaned up…I didn’t want to start dancing and get sweaty, but I couldn’t help myself. Twenty minutes later (after replaying those two songs, three times each), I was slightly disheveled on the outside, but on the inside? I was thoroughly reenergized with the joy that only He can give, even when things around us look like they’re in chaos. So is your week or your life, in general, rather chaotic lately? Maybe Coffey Anderson’s music isn’t your “cup of tea,” but find some music that sets your feet to real, genuine, “like David danced” kind of music…with lyrics that remind you that God is bigger than your circumstances. And dance…try it, you’ll like it (and you’ll even get your heart rate up in the process)! It doesn’t matter if you’re a good dancer…what matters is that He’s a good God…and He wants to give us a fresh start, a fresh outlook on life, and a huge dose of His joy…today!

Psalm 51:8, 10 MSG ~ Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. God, make a fresh start in me shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.

More devotions from Renee’s Fresh Manna

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Defeating Discouragement

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Exo 14:13-14 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today…The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

I have run five marathons (26.3 mile races) in two different locations. I have run the Twin City Marathon in Minneapolis/St.Paul and I have run Grandma’s Marathon up in Duluth. The courses for both are quite different. They are both beautiful in their own way and great to run. But there is something about the Twin Cities Marathon I love more. I love the crowds. There are crowds of people lined the entire 26 miles that cheer you on like you were family. They clap and shout encouragement to you and are the most incredible support you could ever imagine – especially when you have to run the distance of 26 miles. Their voices of encouragement help shut out some of the demons that try to speak into your ear and tell you “you can’t make it – quit now” throughout the race. When I run up at Grandma’s Marathon, there are long stretches with few or no people and those stretches without the cheering and encouragement are the hardest to run.

There are times in life when we feel God speaking to us. We sense God’s leading and direction to do something in life. He may want us to take on an assignment or task. He speaks to us through His Word or through someone preaching the Word. He may speak to us through a friend or in our quiet time of prayer. But for those that listen, He speaks. Sometimes assignments come. Sometimes they are personal assignments like, “clean up this area of your life,” or “get involved at church and do this,” or “lose 20 pounds.” Whatever it is, He gives us assignments of all different scopes and for all different reasons – some personal and some serving or helping other people.

When He speaks them to us they can sound so exciting. The thinking and meditating and planning to execute what He says begins. It can be challenging but exciting at the same time. The launch into obedience can be exhilarating. But beyond that, to continue in and finish what He has given you to do can become a journey of discouragement or fear – especially if you don’t have someone on the sidelines cheering you on. When I ran my marathons amongst all those wonderful people cheering and encouraging – I still had to contend with Satan’s voice of discouragement. The exhortation of others is what helped me overcome Satan’s voice of discouragement and helped me finish. When we are doing what God asks us to do, we may not always be surrounded by those cheerleaders. But, we will always have to contend with the enemy – always! And it won’t be to encourage you. And, he’ll often use people to discourage you. Satan’s ultimate goal is to get anyone to quit through discouragement and disobey what God asks them to do.

When Moses was given the assignment to lead God’s people from Egypt, the entire mission was a challenge to say the least. But, Moses knew he had God speaking to him and leading him. When Moses and the people of Israel started out together, there was great cooperation. Things when smoothly like they usually do in the beginning. Exodus 13:18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. You can see that the people started out fine and left orderly. They were great until the first sign of trouble. Then those voices – not of cheerleading but of discouragement started to speak.

Exo 14:11-12 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

Anytime you pursue what God leads you to do, big or small, personal or world changing, you will come up against the adversity of the devil. Any form of obedience to God that is followed through on becomes a threat to Satan. At times like that your own flesh wanting to quit will cry out. You need to be prepared to do what the Apostle Paul exhorted when he said. “I make my body my slave.”

You need to know that other voices will speak doubt, unbelief and blame including your own. You’ll hear yourself whining at some point. “This is hard and nothing seems to be going right. I must have missed God.” At times like this when deep down you believe you were following God but now your are faced with adversity, know that you will again hear His voice and He will say something like today’s Fresh Manna verse. “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today…The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

At times like this, let Galatians 6:9 cheerlead you from the sidelines. It says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” What’s the modern day translation of this? “If you don’t quit, you’ll win!” Beyond that – measure your own attitude toward others. Are you the voice of exhortation and support or are you being used as the voice of discouragement! I know I’d never complete much of anything if it was for the encouragement of God and the encouragement of others! We all need it! And we all need to here “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today…The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

A God Plan for Wholeness, Healing, Direction, & Protection

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Isaiah 58:8 “If you fast as I show you, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

I am only 55 years old and am a young grandfather. I am still working and as busy in my life as I’ve ever been. That bothers me whenever I think about my two granddaughters. I always envisioned having all the time in the world to be with them when that day came. Instead I have to set special time aside – consecrated time where it’s just them and me. I love it when I do. It is so precious and special and truly refreshes me on the intensity of my love for them and on the influence I desire to have in their life. Fasting before God is to be special and precious time like that.

To God, sincere fasting is a holy thing. Fasting is about consecration – about emptying yourself of all the distractions that knock you off course in your relationship with Him.

God would often call His priests and /or His people to consecrate themselves. There are two primary words used in the Hebrew for consecration, one meaning to be filled –as to be filled or replenished wholly with the thoughts and the purposes of God. The other meaning to receive from God’s open hand to yours – His power, His direction, His anointing so that you may once again, be His agent – His hands in the earth.

Not eating is about denying your flesh – something you can’t live a God-life in this earth without learning to do when necessary. It’s not about weight loss. That would simply and naturally be a by-product but should not play into its purpose.

A time of consecration and fasting doesn’t mean you can’t work or go about your day. It just means that what you are doing is between you and God and could and should result in a constant conversation prompted by the reminder of your whining flesh. Fasting is a time to refresh yourself in the Word of God. Fasting is special and focused period of time where you consecrate yourself to reflect on your transformation through God’s power – learning to say yes or to do what is right. It is to get your flesh under the control of the Holy Spirit – learning to say no and not do what you know is wrong. Fasting is a time of refocusing on the fact that you are the hands, the feet, and the mouth of Jesus in this earth. It is a time of refreshing yourself in the truth that you have been given power – the power of the Holy Spirit within you to walk through life with grace – His supernatural help to accomplish what He puts before you.

God spoke strongly to His people through the prophet Isaiah about fasting and they were intense words not to be taken lightly. His purpose for fasting becomes clear and I assure you again, fasting has strong purpose but it isn’t about weight loss.

Isaiah 58:1-14 (NLT) Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Tell my people Israel of their sins! Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to hear my laws. You would almost think this was a righteous nation that would never abandon its God. They love to make a show of coming to me and asking me to take action on their behalf. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have done much penance, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why! It’s because you are living for yourselves even while you are fasting. You keep right on oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like a blade of grass in the wind. You dress in sackcloth and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? “No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. “If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Stop oppressing the helpless and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. The Lord will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Your children will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as the people who rebuild their walls and cities. “Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Lord in everything you do, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. If you do this, the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and give you your full share of the inheritance I promised… I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Fasting is a special and holy time with the Lord. It’s the time to change from distraction and lip-service to intimacy and purpose. Engage in it. It will change your life! But please, don’t call dieting, fasting.

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/