Promise for Today - With Mercy

'Neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’

John 8:11 (NIV)

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, God calls you to treat everyone with dignity. It doesn’t matter if they act, think, or worship differently than you. He still wants you to treat them with dignity. Why?

Because that’s what Jesus did.

Jesus accepted everyone. This doesn’t mean he approved of everything people did. He doesn’t approve of everything you do either, but he accepts you and treats you with dignity.

In John 8, Jesus treated a humiliated woman with dignity, but her accusers did not. Instead, they brought her before Jesus and said, “This woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” (John 8:4-5 NLT)

Jesus knew they were just trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, so he “stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. . . . [Then] he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’” (John 8:6-7 NLT).

Nobody knows what Jesus wrote in the dirt, because the Bible doesn’t tell us. Some scholars think he wrote down the sins of the woman’s accusers: judgmentalism, arrogance, dishonesty, or spousal abuse. After all, Jesus, being God, knew their secret sins and wanted to get to the heart of the matter.

What did her accusers end up doing? John 8:9 says, “They slipped away one by one . . . until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman” (NLT). They didn’t stick around to condemn her. And Jesus didn’t condemn her either. Instead, he showed her mercy. John 8:11 says, “‘Neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’” (NIV).

Did this woman do something wrong? Yes. She cheated on her husband. But Jesus protected her dignity in a public situation and dealt with her sin gently. He, in effect, said, “Don’t do this anymore.” He changed her.

That’s why I love Jesus—because he does the same thing with me. He treats me with mercy, even though I don’t deserve it. That’s what he does in your life, too—and it’s how he wants you to treat others.

Talk It Over

When have you sensed that Jesus was treating you with dignity and showing you mercy instead of condemning you?

What does it mean to you to know that Jesus wants to offer you mercy and dignity rather than condemnation?

In what situation in your life do you have a chance to treat someone with the same kind of dignity Jesus does?

- by Pastor Rick

**************************

Prayer:

Father, 

         We come to You today asking for Your help, to increase our compassion and mercy. We know that these qualities are important for living a life filled with love and understanding for others. Please help us see the world through Your eyes, to understand that everyone is struggling, and show them kindness and compassion no matter what they have done or where they come from. We repent for the times we have not looked beyond self; we pray You will remove the spirit of selfishness in our lives. 
     Help us to be more forgiving and to let go of anger and resentment toward others. Help us to show mercy to those who have wronged us and to extend grace to those who need it most. Lord, You are rich in mercy, to the point of dying for our sins. We want to grow more in our walk to be like You according to Your Word in Ephesians 2:4 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us.”
     We pray that You will fill our hearts with Your love and compassion so that we may be a source of hope and comfort to those around us. Let the light of Jesus flow through our lives. Through the Power of the Holy Spirit, we will surrender our hearts to You and be the face of Jesus to all those we encounter. This is not something we can do alone, and we humbly ask for Your help and guidance as we strive to become more compassionate and merciful. Change our hearts, O God, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Emotional Well-being

A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity. Blessed are his children after he is gone.

Proverbs 20:7 (GW)

If you won’t get married until you find the perfect wife or perfect husband, you’ll never marry, because no one is perfect. But you do need to marry someone who’s emotionally healthy and growing. And you need to make sure you’re growing in those areas too.

The Bible has a lot to say about emotional health. Here’s a list of emotional health factors from God’s Word:

An emotionally healthy person doesn’t have uncontrolled anger. “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person. Do not associate with one easily angered” (Proverbs 22:24 NIV). An angry spouse will eventually direct their anger toward you.

An emotionally healthy person doesn’t have addictions. “Don’t associate with people who drink too much or stuff themselves with food” (Proverbs 23:20 GNT). Food and alcohol are mentioned here, but there are countless ways to be addicted, including to technology, pornography, and even spending money.

An emotionally healthy person is not bitter. “Make sure that everyone has kindness  from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you” (Hebrews 12:15 GW). Bitterness is like a poison; it eats you alive.

An emotionally healthy person is not selfish. “Selfish people cause trouble” (Proverbs 28:25 CEV). The number one cause of conflict in marriage, when you boil it all down, is simple: selfishness.

An emotionally healthy person is not greedy. “Whoever is greedy . . . brings trouble to his family” (Proverbs 15:27 GW). And Proverbs 23:6 makes it even more blatant: “Don’t eat with people who are stingy” (NLT).

An emotionally healthy person is generous and kind. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25 NIV). And Proverbs 11:17 says, “Kindness is rewarded— but if you are cruel, you hurt yourself” (CEV).

An emotionally healthy person tells the truth. “A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity. Blessed are his children after he is gone” (Proverbs 20:7 GW). Love is based on trust, and trust is based on truth.

Maybe you’ve read through this list and realized that many of these qualities are missing in the person you’re with. If you’re already married, it’s never too late for you and your spouse to see where you’re emotionally immature, commit to change, and ask God’s help as you grow toward emotional health. If you're dating, it’s time to reconsider the relationship. And if you see some of these qualities missing in your own life, ask God to help you grow before you commit to marriage.

Talk It Over

Look back over these traits of emotionally healthy people. In what areas are you doing really well?

In what areas of emotional health do you need to grow? What help do you need to grow in that area?

Are you dating, or considering dating, someone who shows signs of emotional immaturity? If you are, what change(s) do you need to make?

- by Pastor Rick

*******************************

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You that when You came to live on earth, You experienced every human emotion. We ask You to begin the work of healing broken hearts and binding up emotional wounds. Show us what steps we need to take to move toward wholeness, and we trust You to heal us in Your perfect timing. Thank You for understanding everything we're feeling right now. Restore to us spiritual wellness and wholeness, and restore the joy of our salvation. Deliver us from any forces that stand against You, and align our hearts and spirits with Yours. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Bad Tires

Guest Author - Christopher Glotzbach

**************************************

A few months ago, I gave a friend a ride home and when he hopped out of my car, he turned and said:
“Your tires are super bad. You need to get new ones.”

Yeah — sure.  A few days later, same situation. Different friend. Same conversation.
“Yeah, I’ll look into it. I know.”

Nothing... Until last weekend, when I was driving back from Columbus and a pretty bad storm rolled in.
I don’t get scared very often — but there were a few times I thought my buddy and I were going to slide off the road. Why? Because I needed new tires. 

I knew Brittany and I were going to be driving to Florida this week, so I needed to look into new tires. There was no way I thought we’d make the haul with what I had.

You know what’s crazy?

As soon as I pulled out of the shop with the new tires, it felt like I was driving a new car. I was stopping on a dime. I was accelerating like I should have. Look — it was crazy. And this situation has made me think:

How did this happen? How did I let my tires get this bad and not even know it? It happened slowly, over time. And I got used to the bad without even realizing it.

I think if we’re honest, we’re all guilty of letting things get away from us. But most of the time, it doesn’t happen all at once. It happens through slow fades. Drifting. Hebrews 2:1 says: “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

The way we fight against drifting is by paying attention. And that can be hard to do. So stay grounded in truth. Stay humble enough to listen to the people around you when they see something in you that you might not see in yourself. Sometimes someone else can see the warning signs before you do.

My prayer today:

“God, 

         Thank You for friends who hold me accountable, and thank You for keeping me safe all these miles on terrible tires. Help me pay careful attention to what I’ve heard so I don’t drift. Help me stay humble. God, thank You for Your Word that is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Thank You for being worthy to anchor my life to. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Promise for Today - In Search of Joy

They worshiped together at the Temple each day... praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.

Acts 2:46-47 (NLT)

Do you think church ought to be fun? I do!

Worship is a celebration. It’s a festival, not a funeral. It’s a party for the kingdom of God. Joyful worship attracts non-believers to the church, because people are looking for joy.

There’s so much bad news in the world. But “gospel” means “good news,” not “bad news.” The gospel is good news that makes people joyful! So when you gather with other Christians, you can celebrate, not commiserate. That’s what the early church did. Acts 2:46-47 says, “They worshiped together at the Temple each day... praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people” (NLT).

Notice two words there: “praising” and “enjoying.” Their worship was happy! God has given us lots of emotions to express, and one place we can express our happiness is in worship.

As Christians, we have been forgiven of our pasts, a purpose for living, and a home in heaven. If that doesn’t make you happy, I don’t know what will! As Peter said on the day the church was born, “Because of this, my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful, and I will live in hope” (Acts 2:26 CEV).

We don’t have to manufacture that joy on our own. Peter quoted King David, saying, “You have shown me the paths that lead to life, and your presence will fill me with joy” (Acts 2:28 GNT). When you know your path (God’s purpose for your life) and you feel God’s presence, you’re automatically filled with joy.

But it’s true that sometimes joy can fade. In that case, there are a couple of things to do. First, you can pray like David did, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12 NLT). And the next answer may surprise you: You can practice generosity! That’s what the early Christians did: “ All the believers . . . shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need” (Acts 2:44-45 NLT).

And how did they do it? “With great joy and generosity” (Acts 2:46 NLT).

Real Christianity is Good News for everyone. And that Good News makes you joyful!

Talk It Over

Why do you think joyful worship can be attractive to non-believers?

When have you experienced joy in worship?

Are you experiencing joy in worship lately? If not, take time to pray like David, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12 NLT).
- by Pastor Rick

***************************

Prayer:

Father, 

          We come before You today with a heart full of gratitude for Your goodness and faithfulness. Thank You for the gift of worship, for the music, the words, and the presence of Your Spirit in this place. Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace and the Author of Joy. Fill our hearts with Your joy, not the fleeting happiness of the world, but the deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing You. Help us to see Your goodness in every moment, even in the midst of challenges, and to trust that Your joy is our strength. Holy Spirit, guide our hearts to worship You in spirit and in truth, not just with words but with our whole being. Remove every distraction, worry, or heaviness that hinders our praise. Let Your joy overflow into our lives and into the lives of those around us, so that others may also taste the joy of knowing You.
      Father, as we gather as Your people, let our worship be a celebration of Your love, a declaration of Your faithfulness, and a testimony of Your joy. May our time of prayer and praise be a source of renewal for our hearts, a reminder that the joy of the Lord is our strength, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - In Fellowship

All the believers continued together in close fellowship.

Acts 2:44 (GNT)

When you’re going through a tough time, no one can care for you like a loving church family. It’s been that way since the church began. In the early years of Christianity, followers of Jesus faced heavy persecution from the Roman Empire. Many of them were even killed. So they banded together and really took care of each other. They loved and supported each other.

There’s a biblical word for that support network. It’s called fellowship. Fellowship means we are as committed to each other as we are to Jesus.

The Bible says this in Acts 2:42: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (NLT). Another translation says, “They were like family to each other” (CEV).

Over and over again, the church is called a family. It’s not a business; it’s not an organization; it’s not a social club. The church is a family. The Bible tells us to treat older men in the church as spiritual fathers and older women as spiritual mothers, and to treat your peers as brothers and sisters. In fact, in some Christian traditions, church members still call each other “brother” and “sister.”

What do you do with family? You accept them and stick up for them, even if they’re a little weird. You help them when they’re in trouble. You provide for them when they can’t provide for themselves. You show physical affection to each other, offering a hug or pat on the back when someone needs it.

And this kind of fellowship often happens in each other’s homes. Acts 2:46 says, “They . . . met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity” (NLT).

The early church grew quickly because of this loving support. Even when non-Christians didn’t understand Christians’ beliefs, they had to acknowledge that they loved each other really well... Acts 2:44 says, “All the believers continued together in close fellowship” (GNT).

Love attracts. When Christians genuinely love each other, you can’t keep people away. Are you offering that kind of loving fellowship in your church?

Talk It Over

When have you experienced true fellowship in another believer’s home?

How have you seen believers care for each other like family?

Why do you think non-believers are attracted to a loving church?

- by Pastor Rick

****************************

Prayer:

Father,
          Let Your love be the foundation of our fellowship. Teach us to love one another as You have loved us, creating a strong and unified family of believers. Let it be such that the world will know we are Christ's followers by the evidence of Your love in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - You're Not Sidelined

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Acts 2:17 (NIV)

On the day the Church was born, the day of Pentecost, God worked a miracle. He gave Jesus’ followers the ability to speak in different languages so that the people around them could hear the gospel in their own language. People said, “We all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” (Acts 2:11 NLT).

Through this miracle, God showed that the Good News is for everybody!

God has already given you unique gifts that allow you to reach people in other ways.

For example, if you’re a young parent, you might speak “parent of preschoolers.” Through conversations about diapers and bottles and play groups, God might give you a chance to share the Good News.

Or maybe you speak “CEO” or “truck driving” or “retirement” or “knitting” or “soccer.” Everyone has their own unique set of cultural “languages” they speak. And God can use your languages to reach a unique group of people.

In the early church, no one sat on the sidelines; everyone was a contributor. Peter quoted this prophecy to a group of early seekers and believers: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18 NIV)

God’s plan for his church today, too, is for everyone to be involved in proclaiming his message.

You’re never too young or too old to be used by God. No matter who you are, where you’re from, or where life has taken you, you have gifts, abilities, and talents that God has put in you and wants to use to share his Good News.

Talk It Over

Think about when you first heard the gospel. How was it shared in such a way that you were interested in it?

What unique cultural “languages” do you speak that God might use to let you share the Good News?

There are lots of different ways to explain the Good News of Jesus. Take a few minutes to think about the unique way you would share the gospel with someone.

- by Pastor Rick

*******************************

Prayer:

Father,

       We give You thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to be bold witnesses of Your love and grace. Just as the Apostle Paul exemplified in his ministry, we long for our lives to be a testament to Your transformative power. Enable us, God, to be a vessel through which Your signs and wonders will flow. Just as You used Paul to preach the gospel throughout formidable regions, we ask that You empower us to spread Your Word in our community, workplace, and beyond.
     As we reflect on Paul's ministry from Jerusalem to Illyricum, we are reminded that the call to evangelize does not carry geographical limitations. Ignite in our hearts a fierce passion to reach out to every corner of our sphere of influence, encouraging those who do not know You to encounter the saving grace available through Jesus Christ. May we be a mouthpiece for Your truth, presenting the good news with clarity, conviction, and love.
      Father, we also recognize that to fully share the gospel involves much more than mere words. It entails living a life that reflects the love of Christ, demonstrating through our actions what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Let our lives show forth the fruit of the Spirit, that when others see us, they might see an embodiment of Your kindness, patience, and joy. Create in us opportunities for sincere service, that through our conduct and character, the beauty of Your gospel may shine forth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - What Am I Going to Do?

Guest Author – Amber Lausch (In SOAP format: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)
***********************************
Scripture:
James 1:5 “..if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Observation:
James doesn’t say, “If you lack wisdom, try harder.” He says “ask God.”

There’s a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is learning and wanting to know “all of the things.“ Wisdom tells us to ask, “God, what do You want me to do with this?”

God isn’t irritated because I don’t know what to do. He doesn’t look at me and say, “You should have figured this out already.” He invites me to keep asking again.

And He is a giving God.

Sometimes I think wisdom should be apparent - and LOUD - an answer we can’t miss. But often God gives us wisdom a little bit at a time. He guides us with what to say, and what not to say (although I know I don’t always listen). He tells us when to act, when to wait, what should be important to us, and what to put down.

Application
This hits me because I spend a lot of time trying to figure things out. Whether through research (mostly through research) or polling friends and family.

I’m a wife, mom, Lolli (grandmother), friend, organizer, problem-solver, people-pleaser, and the person people often come to when something needs to get handled. There always seems to be another decision, another person I want to help, another responsibility, another thing I could worry about, and I carry it willingly, and sometimes unfortunately. Funny enough, my husband ran several lunch suggestions by me on Monday, and I asked him to pick one. He said he didn’t know what I wanted. I told him anything was fine as long as I wasn’t tasked with making another decision because I didn’t have the capacity.

Otherwise, a lot of the time my instinct is: “Okay, how do I fix this?”

This verse is challenging, though. Instead of asking, “What am I going to do?” I want to start asking: “God, what is the wise thing to do?”

Not the fastest thing.
Not the thing that keeps everybody happy.
Not the thing that gives me the most control (and Lord knows I struggle with this)…
The wise thing!!

I need His wisdom in my marriage and family, in raising and loving my girls, in knowing when my grown children need my help and when they need room to make their own decisions, in friendships, in serving others, in all the little responsibilities I willingly (and unfortunately at times) pile onto my plate.

And I need wisdom to know the difference between something God is asking me to carry, and something I have decided is mine to FIX.

Today, before I react too quickly, worry, overthink, send a text, make a decision, or start trying to solve the problem myself, I want to pause long enough to ask: “Lord, give me Your wisdom here.” And then trust that He meant what He said: He will give it generously!

Prayer:

Father,
      I know I don’t have to have all the answers. You know how quickly I slip into problem-solving mode and start carrying things as though everything depends on me. Give me wisdom.
     Give me Your wisdom for my marriage, my children, my family, my friendships, my responsibilities, and the people You’ve placed in my life. Show me what needs my attention and what needs to be placed back into Your hands.
     When I don’t know what to say, give me wisdom to speak, and please give me wisdom to stay quiet when I should. When I don’t know whether to step in or step back, please guide me. When anxiety makes everything feel urgent, help me recognize Your voice over the noise in my own head.
     And Lord, teach me that asking You for wisdom doesn’t mean that I’m failing. It means that I’m learning to depend on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.