Promise for Today - Hold Off

The one who gives an answer before he listens—this is foolishness and disgrace for him.\

Proverbs 18:13 (CSB)

One of the problems with humans is that we like to fix things. When we see a problem, we want to quickly jump to how we can solve it so we can move on. But God wants you to be a feeler before you’re a fixer. He wants you to feel someone’s pain before you try to solve the problem.

You may be barely into a conversation before you think, "I know how to fix this." But that's not loving. People don't care what you know until they know that you care. They want to feel heard. They want to feel loved. They want to feel understood.

There is healing in sharing. Your ear is a healing tool God can use if you'll learn to listen without trying to fix anything.

In John 11, when Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, he delayed and took three days to travel what should have taken less than a day. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had died. His sisters were grieving and told Jesus that if he had come sooner, Lazarus would not have died.

Jesus’ delay might seem callous, but he had a plan: He didn’t want to heal Lazarus. He wanted to raise him from the dead to show that he, Jesus, was the Son of God. He already knew the solution before Lazarus even got sick.

"Jesus saw her weeping, and he saw how the people with her were weeping also; his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved. ‘Where have you buried him?’ he asked them. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they answered. Jesus wept” (John 11:33-35 GNT).

Jesus was not unconcerned about their pain. When he saw everybody around him grieving, he mirrored it. He entered into it. Jesus knew the solution, but it didn’t keep him from sharing their grief. He shared their feelings, not his solution.

You may know the solution to someone’s problem, but you need to hold off. If you're going to be a great listener, you've got to listen to their feelings and enter into their pain.

Talk It Over

How does sharing in someone’s grief help that person heal?

When might be the right time to share your thoughts on a solution with someone who is in pain or grieving?

What is one way you can practice patience in your life?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Give us the grace to truly listen to others. Help us to be quick to hear and slow to speak, not waiting for our turn to share, but fully present in the moment. Grant us the humility to set aside our own opinions and provide the strength to hear without judgment, criticism, or impatience. Let our hearts be open, our minds quiet, and our spirits receptive, so that we may understand not only their words but also their needs, hopes, and fears. 

Father, teach us to be a safe space where others feel valued and heard, and may we represent Your love. Give us the patience to hold space for their pain, their joy, and their truth, and to respond with kindness and compassion. In Jesus’ Name we pray,  Amen

Promise for Today - To Live Without Fear

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.

1 John 4:18 (NIV)

God is a God of radical freedom. In fact, the Bible says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1 NIV). What does God’s freedom give you? It gives you many things, like a clear conscience, direct access to God, and the power to do what’s right. It also gives you freedom from the fear of death.

Death is a universal fear, yet it’s a fear that few people want to face. It may be tempting to go through life pretending you’re not going to die. But only a fool would go through life unprepared for what they know is inevitable.

Here’s the good news: Jesus came to set you free from the fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14-16 says, “For only as a human being could he die and in dying break the power of the devil who had the power of death. Only in that way could he deliver those who through fear of death have been living all their lives as slaves to constant dread” (TLB).

I can say, in all honesty, that I am totally free from the fear of dying. Why? Because I know God, and I’m not afraid of him. I’ve been his friend for more than 60 years. The only people who are afraid of God are people who don’t know him. The more you get to know him, the less you’re afraid of him, because God is love. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18 NIV).

How could you fear someone who loves you unconditionally? How could you fear someone who thinks about you more than you do? God knows every detail of your life. He even knows how many hairs you have on your head! So why would you be afraid to go be with him forever?

If you know the Lord when you die, you’re not leaving home—you’re going home! You’re going where you were meant to be for all eternity, to “the kingdom [God] prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matthew 25:34 NIV).

Praise God, you can live free! You can live without guilt, able to talk to God anytime and anywhere, free to do what is right, and confident there’s no need to fear death—all because you belong to Jesus.

Talk It Over

How has your salvation changed the way you feel and talk about death?

In what areas do you live as though this life is all there is?

Whom do you need to talk to today about the hope and freedom God offers them through Jesus?

You don’t need to fear death.

Many people are afraid to die—but Jesus can give you freedom from that fear. If you want that freedom and the assurance that you will be with God forever, you can pray something like this:

Dear God, 

                I know I’ll stand before you one day. I confess I’ve ignored you and gone my own way, but I want that to change. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins so I can have eternal life with you.
Jesus, thank you for taking my guilt and giving me your grace. I believe in you, and I trust your promise to forgive me, guide me, and bring me home to heaven one day. In your name I pray. Amen.

- by Pastor Rick
If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email Pastor Rick at Rick@PastorRick.com and let him know about it. He’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

Promise for Today - It's a Gift

Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.

1 Peter 4:10 (GNT)

Do you know what purpose God created you for? Do you know what your destiny is? Part of understanding your purpose is recognizing the gifts God has given you to use.

These gifts are part of the cards you’re dealt in life. They include the things you can’t control, like who your parents are, where you were born, and your background. They also include your SHAPE - Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. These are the things that make you uniquely you.

You’re responsible for making the most of these God-given gifts. But you’re not responsible for the gifts God didn’t give you. In other words, if you are not artistically gifted, you are not expected to paint pictures like Rembrandt. If you’re not mechanically-minded, God likely won’t call you to bless your elderly neighbor with oil changes.

But God does expect you to use your own gifts for the good of others: “Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God” (1 Peter 4:10 GNT).

When you get to heaven, God isn’t going to compare you with anyone else, but he will compare you with yourself. What did you do with what you were given? What could you have done if you had trusted God a little bit more? Romans 14:12 says, “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (NIV).

The Old Testament tells the story of Esther, a Hebrew woman who became queen and rescued her people. She had three assets that God gave her to fulfill her destiny. She was intelligent, was physically beautiful, and had an engaging personality. Because of these qualities, “Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her... She won [the king’s] favor and approval ... So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen” (Esther 2:15, 17 NIV).

God gave Esther specific gifts for a purpose. In the same way, God has given you gifts for a purpose. And just like Esther, you have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts - not for selfish uses but for the good of others.

God used Esther’s gifts to save the Hebrew people from a potentially murderous king. How might God use your gifts to benefit other people?

Talk It Over

To know your destiny, you need to know your God-given gifts. Make a list of those gifts, including things like your family, your culture, and your SHAPE (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences).

Look at the list you just made. Ask yourself: “What things on this list does God want me to start using for the good of other people?”

Remember, you’re responsible for your own gifts, not the gifts of other people. What are some practical ways to stop comparing yourself to others?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           You are the source of every gift and talent within us. Open our hearts to see how we can use these gifts to serve others, glorify You, and bring comfort, hope, and healing to those in need.
         Lord Jesus, You multiplied the loaves and fishes so that others might be fed — multiply the impact of the gifts You've given us so they may be instruments of Your love and grace. Help us to recognize the unique abilities You have entrusted to us, and to use them not for our own glory, but to uplift others and to honor Your Name.  
     Grant us wisdom, discernment, and courage to act in ways that align with Your will. Let the talents be a living testimony of Your work in our lives, inspiring others to discover and use their own gifts for service. Teach us to serve with humility, love, and faithfulness, as faithful stewards of God’s grace. We want the gifts to be channels of Your peace, Your healing, and Your encouragement. May we always choose to use the abilities You've given us to build up others, to meet their needs, and to reflect Your light in the world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - You Look Just Like...

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. 

 Romans 8:29 (MSG)

From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like his Son, Jesus. God announced this intention at creation: “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image and likeness’” (Genesis 1:26 NCV). In all of creation, only human beings are made in God’s image. It’s a great privilege—and it gives you dignity.

What does it mean to be made in God’s image? It’s one of those concepts that’s too big to fully understand, but here’s some of what it means:

• Like God, you are a spiritual being. Your spirit is immortal and will outlast your earthly body.
• You are intellectual. You can think, reason, and solve problems.
• You are relational. You can give and receive real love.
• You have a moral consciousness. You can discern right from wrong, which makes you accountable to God.

But there’s a problem: The image of God in you is incomplete and has been damaged and distorted by sin. So God sent Jesus on a mission to restore the full image that you - and everyone else ever born - have lost. What does the full “image and likeness” of God look like? It looks like Jesus Christ!

The Message paraphrase says: “God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. ...We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him” (Romans 8:29).

The Bible says Jesus is “the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT), “the visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15 NLT), and “the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV). Jesus is God!

People often use the phrase “like father, like son” to refer to family resemblance. When people see my likeness in my kids, it pleases me. In the same way, God wants his children to bear his image and likeness. The Bible says you were “created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” 

(Ephesians 4:24 NLT).

Live like an image bearer today so that when people look at you, they’ll think of how much you’re like your heavenly Father!

Talk It Over

In what ways are you striving to become more like Christ?

What are some ways people would say you already resemble Christ?

What Christ-like characteristics do you want to start developing in your life?
- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Shape our thoughts to be pure, our words to be gentle, and our actions to be filled with love. Let Your compassion flow through us, Your truth guide us, and Your peace rest upon us. May our lives reflect Your light so others see You in all we do. Teach us patience, kindness, and forgiveness, even when it’s hard. Help us to serve without seeking recognition, and to love without limits. Today and every day, make us more like You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - As Unto the Lord

Guest author: Christopher Glotzbach

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“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Colossians 3:23

We put an offer on a house, had it accepted, listed our current home, and then had to renegotiate our accepted offer. Needless to say, there’s a lot up in the air right now! But in the middle of all the uncertainty, we’ve continued working on our house and trusting the Lord with the outcome.

When we first bought our home, we had a pretty serious hard water problem. Everything was turning yellow! We eventually installed a whole-house water filtration system, but even that couldn’t undo some of the stains left behind in our sinks.

One thing our realtor recommended was trying to get those rust stains out before selling. The funny thing is, we had just gotten used to how everything looked. But over the last week, I’ve spent COUNTLESS hours scrubbing showers, bathtubs, toilets, and sinks, trying to get rid of those stains.
And if I’m honest, my flesh started asking, “Why am I working this hard to make this house look so nice when I might not even be here much longer?”

And then came the check in my spirit.

 
What would it look like to finish extremely well? To sprint through the finish line. Instead of throwing in the towel (literally), what if I prayed a blessing over the person or family who will eventually move into our home? What if I worked hard to prepare a place for them, even if they never knew the hours I spent or the prayers I prayed?

I think we’re all tempted to check out when things get hard, when we’re tired, or when we start believing our decisions won’t really matter in the long run. But life is so much bigger than ourselves.  Sometimes, faithfulness looks like doing the little things well, even when no one is watching.  Sometimes, serving God means serving people we may never meet. Praying over situations for which we never know the outcomes. 

And sometimes, the Lord uses something as ordinary as scrubbing a bathtub to expose something in our hearts that needs to change.

So here’s my challenge for you today:
Where are you tempted to believe the lie that it doesn’t matter what you do?
Maybe it’s at work.
Maybe it’s in a relationship.
Maybe it’s in a season of life you’re ready to leave behind.

Don’t check out. Don’t throw in the towel. FINISH STRONG!

Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:23:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
That verse hit a little differently this week. Maybe the next owners of our home will never know the work we put in or the prayers we prayed over them. They may never know how much we cared about preparing this place for their next chapter. But God sees it. And that’s enough.

I want to live in such a way that everything I do is done unto Him.
Not for recognition.
Not because I’ll get something out of it.
Not because it’s convenient.
But because I love Him, and I want my life to reflect that love in the way I serve others.

My prayer today:

Lord, thank You for the gift of serving You by serving others.
Forgive me when I’m tempted to make everything about me.
Help me walk in humility, valuing the needs of others and looking for opportunities to bless people, even when I may never see the fruit of my efforts.
Remind me that You see everything and that when I work as unto You, it is never in vain.
Help me finish well in every season, trusting You with what comes next. In Jesus' Name

And, Lord, if You wouldn’t mind helping us sell our house quickly, that would be great too. 
We love You! 

Promise for Today = Gifts of Purpose

There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (GW)

If you’re like most people, you struggle to know the unique calling God has for your life. But once you understand the gifts he gives you - and the abilities he’s given specifically to you - you can begin pursuing the plans he’s called you to.

The moment you step across the line and put your faith in Christ, God gives you four major gifts:

Forgiveness. 

Romans 5:15 says, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ” (NLT). When you put your faith in Jesus, the first thing he does is wipe out everything you’ve ever done wrong. You are forgiven! There is no condemnation.

Eternal life. 

God has long-range plans for you. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV). You’re never going to work your way or earn your way into heaven. The only way you’ll ever get into heaven is by God’s free gift that you accept by faith.

The Holy Spirit. 

Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (NIV). How do you know when you’re letting God live through your life? When you embody the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Special abilities. 

In the Bible, these special abilities are called spiritual gifts. They are different from material or physical gifts. They’re the abilities you need to do the job that God wants you to do. Most people who are believers don’t even know they have spiritual gifts, much less what those gifts are. But if you’re a follower of Jesus, you do have them!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person” (GW).

God has a purpose for your life, and your spiritual gifts are the tools he gives you to do what he asks. Remember: God will never ask you to do something he doesn’t give you the ability to do!

Talk It Over

When you become a Christian, God gives you forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, eternal life, and special abilities. Which of those gifts do you think about most often? Which do you tend to forget? Why?

What special gifts has God given you? How have you seen him use those gifts in the body of Christ?

When have you benefited from other Christians using their spiritual gifts?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         You are the giver of every good and perfect gift. You formed us with intention, weaving purpose into every part of our being. We come before You with an open heart, asking for Your light to shine on the gifts You have placed within us. Reveal to us the talents, passions, and spiritual gifts that You have entrusted to us. Remove any doubt or fear that clouds our understanding, and replace it with wisdom, courage, and discernment. Guide our steps so that we may use these gifts to serve others, bring hope, and glorify Your name. Align our hearts with Your will, so that our purpose is not just known, but lived out daily in love, humility, and faith.  
      Thank You for creating us with intention and for calling us into a life that matters. Lead us to use these gifts to serve others and glorify You. We trust that as we seek You, You will make our path clear. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Bring Out the Best

The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others - ignoring God! - harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. 

Galatians 6:7-8 (MSG)

Selfishness destroys relationships. It is the number one cause of conflict, arguments, divorce, and even war. James 4:1 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (NIV). Every trouble starts because of self-centeredness.

It’s very easy for selfishness to enter relationships. When you first start a relationship, you work hard at being unselfish. But as time goes on, selfishness begins to creep in. People often put more energy into starting and building relationships than they do in maintaining them.

If selfishness destroys relationships, then selflessness is what makes them grow. What does selflessness mean? It means less of “me” and more of “you.” It means thinking of others more than you think of yourself and putting other people’s needs before your own. As Philippians 2:4 says, “Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others” (CSB).

Selflessness brings out the best in people. It builds trust in relationships. In fact, if you start acting selflessly in a relationship, the other person changes too; when you’re selfless, you’re not the same person anymore, so they have to relate to you in a different way.

I’ve seen it many times. Some of the most unlovable people, those who no one wants to be around, are often transformed when someone is kind and selfless toward them. When someone is given what they need - not what they deserve - they change in beautiful ways.

This is the biblical principle of sowing and reaping. What you sow, you’re going to reap. When you sow selflessness, you reap God’s blessing. This is how he’s wired the universe: The more unselfish you are, the more he blesses you. He wants you to become like him, and he is unselfish. Everything you have is a gift from God, a result of his unselfishness toward you.

So while you’re here on this earth, you’ll be most fulfilled when you give yourself away. Jesus said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it” (Mark 8:35 NLT).

Talk It Over

What is one of the hardest things for you to give to someone else? (Maybe it’s your time, your money, or your emotional resources.)

How can you practice giving that thing away this week?

In what ways have you seen God bless you when you are unselfish?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          In moments when we are tempted to seek only our own desires, grant us the wisdom to remember the needs of others and the eyesight to see them. Help us to embrace selflessness and to serve with a generous heart. May our prayers align with Your will, bringing forth love and compassion for all Your children. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.