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

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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)
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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.

Promise for Today - Plugging In

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Real Christians don’t just talk about God; they experience God. And they’re able to do that through the power of the Holy Spirit... Jesus gave his followers instructions, but he didn’t expect them to carry them out on their own. It’s like he was saying, “The Holy Spirit is going to give you the power you need to do what I want you to do.”

Just after Jesus made this promise, he was taken up into heaven. And his followers waited and prayed. Then, on the day of Pentecost, God gave them the Holy Spirit.

There’s a direct connection in your life, too, between prayer and the power of God’s Holy Spirit. 

Much prayer, much power. Little prayer, little power. No prayer, no power.

If you don’t ever pray, I guarantee you that you’re not seeing God’s power at work in your life. And you don’t have the energy to get everything done that God wants you to get done.

A while back, I went to the kitchen one morning to make a protein shake. I was pushing all the buttons on the blender and could not get it to work. Then I realized it wasn’t plugged in.

Your life is the same way. You may be a Christian. You may be on your way to heaven. But if you’re not plugged in to the Holy Spirit’s power, you don’t have any energy to do what God has made you to do.

So, today, start plugging into God’s Spirit through prayer. You can pray about anything. The Bible says we’re to come to God as little children. Little children are bold with their parents; they just blurt out whatever is on their heart. In the same way, your heavenly Father wants you to talk to him about anything and everything.

The more you pray, the more you’ll find yourself connected to the power of God’s Holy Spirit and energized to do all he has made you to do.

Talk It Over

God doesn’t expect you to carry out his work on your own; he gives you his Spirit. What does this tell you about God?

When have you experienced a connection in your life between prayer and God’s Spirit? (Maybe you weren’t praying much and didn’t experience God’s Spirit, or perhaps you were praying a lot and could clearly see God at work in your life.)

In what area of your life right now do you need to ask God for more of the Holy Spirit’s power?

 - by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. We ask that You fill us afresh today -  Holy Spirit, we welcome Your presence in every area of our lives. Remove any spiritual dullness, awaken our souls to Your truth, and guide our steps in Your will. Teach us to walk in the Spirit, to be led by You rather than by our own desires. Let Your wisdom be our guide, Your peace our foundation, and Your power our strength.
        Lord, we surrender our fears, pride, and habits that hinder Your work. Fill the gaps in us where You see need — in our hearts, our minds, and our actions. We pray that You will teach us how to “war” in the Lord, using Your Word as our sword and Your Spirit as our strength.
       Holy Spirit, we trust You completely, knowing that You are our strength and our shield. We desire to be a vessel of Your power, to reflect Your fruit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May Your fruit be ever present in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Void of Power

Guest author, Christopher Glotzbach

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But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5

I was heading over to our rentals to mow. I normally mow with our zero-turn, then hop off to weed eat. But our new tenants have been parking in a way where I have to weed eat a pretty large section. So this time I thought ahead and decided to bring along my push mower. Only problem — I hadn’t used it all year, and it’s battery-operated... And I couldn’t find the batteries. I looked and looked… and looked.
Nothing.

It’s frustrating when things are void of power - and more than frustrating, I would argue, worthless - useless. 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be useless. But the reality is, without the power of the Holy Spirit, we are. The Holy Spirit gives us power. Scripture reminds us in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Thankfully, I eventually found the batteries, and the mower fired right up. But you know what? Our tenants were gone, so I didn’t have to use it. So it came with a teachable moment and a reminder that to be useful in the Kingdom, I need to be tethered to the Holy Spirit.

In John 15:5, Jesus reminds us — apart from Him, we can do nothing.

What about you? Where are areas in your life where it might appear to be operating well, but it is void of the Power?

 
My prayer today:

God, 

         Thank You for the reminder that every good and perfect gift is from You. Forgive me when I walk in the thought that I can rely on my own strength, and help me rest in the peace that everything I need — You have. Help me rely not on my own strength, but in the strength that You give through the Holy Spirit. What a beautiful gift that is. Help me to continue to run after You — for You are worthy of it all.
Amen.

Promise for Today - Promise, Purpose, Place, and Plan of Tithing

The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.

Deuteronomy 14:23 (TLB)

God often blesses the areas of our lives where we put him first. That’s why, when it comes to finances, he calls us to put him first with our money. This is the principle of tithing: Giving the first 10 percent of your income back to God.

The Bible provides a framework for understanding tithing. Four passages explain its promise, purpose, place, and day.

Proverbs 3:9-10 gives the promise about tithing: “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” (NIV). When we honor God with the first part of our income, we can trust him to provide for our needs.

Why does God tell us to tithe? Deuteronomy 14:23 says in The Living Bible paraphrase, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives” (emphasis added). God doesn’t need your money, but he wants what it represents: your heart. He wants you to trust him.

Where should you tithe? Do you tithe to your local food pantry? Or do you tithe to your brother who’s been out of work for three years? No, that’s charity. Tithing isn’t charity; tithing is an act of worship. It goes to God.

Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn . . . Test me in this,’ says the LORD All-Powerful. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need’” (NCV). The storehouse is the temple, or the place where you worship God.

When are you supposed to tithe? The Bible points to the first day of the week as a pattern. First Corinthians 16:2 says “On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned” (NLT). When you give to God on the first day of the week, during the first part of your day, and from the first part of your money, you’re declaring, “You’re really number one in my life.”

Notice that the verse says to “put aside.” Tithing should not be an impulsive thing. You’ve got to plan for it so that you are honoring God’s plan and purpose for tithing.

As you put God first and trust him with your finances, you’ll discover that he is faithful to keep his promises and care for your needs.

Talk It Over

In practical terms, what does it mean to you to give God the first part of your income?

Why do you think God wants you to tithe to your church and not to another cause?

How do you need to plan today so that you can be faithful in tithing?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

         We come before You with grateful hearts, thanking You for every blessing You have poured into our lives. Everything we have - strength, resources, and opportunities - comes from Your hand. We honor You with the firstfruits of all we earn, giving You our tithe with love and obedience, not out of compulsion but as an act of worship. 

        Lord, we trust You completely with our finances. Remove any fear, doubt, or selfishness from our hearts. Help us to give cheerfully, knowing that when we honor You, You will continue to provide for all our needs. 
       Bless our tithe and use it for Your glory, for the work of Your kingdom, and for the needs of Your people. May it bring overflow in provision, peace, and purpose. In the words of Malachi 3:10, open the windows of heaven over our lives, so that there may be room enough to receive Your blessing. We offer You praise and grateful hearts for Your faithfulness and ask that our giving be a testimony of our trust in You. In Jesus’ Name we pray,  Amen.

Promise for Today - Where Your Treasure Is

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

Yesterday we talked about investing in eternity by using your money to grow your character, to encourage fellowship in the body of Christ, and to serve others in need. There are two more funds that you should invest in so that you can yield eternal dividends in heaven.

God’s Global Fund. 

This is when you use your money to share the Good News and bring people to Jesus. Luke 16:9 says, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (NIV).

Is this verse saying that you can buy friends? Not at all. It means that God wants you to invest in things that help get people into heaven so that when you get to heaven, they will welcome you there. It’s the greatest investment of your life. Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you?

God’s Treasury Fund. 

This is when you give money to God as an act of worship.

God’s promise in The Living Bible paraphrase of Proverbs 3:9-10 says this: “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.” The “first part of all your income” is your tithe—the 10 percent of your earnings that you give to God through your church.

The Bible says that wherever your treasure is, your heart will also be there. If what’s most important to you are the things of this earth, then every day you are moving further away from your treasure—because every day you are here on earth, you’ve got one less day to invest in eternity. You’re moving further and further away from the things you’re going to leave behind.

But if you’re investing in God’s funds and using your money to serve God’s purposes, then you’re storing up treasure in heaven every day. You’re getting closer and closer to your treasure instead of further away.

Missionary Jim Elliot once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

How will you show God that you are ready to start using your money to invest in eternity?

Talk It Over

What can you start doing with your finances that will help bring people to Jesus?

Why does tithing and being faithful with our finances require planning?

When have you used your money to invest in eternity? How have you experienced God’s blessing through that?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for entrusting us with time, talents, and treasures that are not our own but gifts from Your hand. Teach us to see beyond the temporary and to value what lasts forever. Guard our hearts from distractions that pull us toward selfish gain, and give us wisdom to sow into what matters to You—loving people, sharing Your truth, and serving with humility. Strengthen our faith so that we may persevere in doing good, even when the results are unseen. Help us to live each day with eternity in mind, storing up treasures in heaven where nothing can destroy them. May our lives echo Your love, and may our investments in Your Kingdom bring glory to You.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Wise Investments

They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NLT)

You are going to enjoy forever what you invest in heaven, and you invest in heaven every time you use money for good.

So what’s the best way to store up your treasure in heaven? Any financial advisor will tell you not to put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, you put your money into different funds for a balanced portfolio.

Today and tomorrow, we’re going to look at five different “funds” you can invest in for eternity. These funds are proven. They have a track record. They’re protected. They are risk-free. And they yield enormous dividends.

God’s Growth Fund. 

This is any time you invest in something that is going to grow your character. Proverbs 10:16 says, “The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin” (NLT).

You enhance your life with your money when you use it to grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. When you use money to develop your skills and become mature, you are investing in eternity.

God’s Mutual Fund. 

This is every time you use money to encourage fellowship and build relationships with other believers. Romans 12:13 says, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” (NLT).

Why does God want you to use some of your money to show love to other believers? There are three reasons: It proves that you’re in God’s family. It creates unity. And it’s a witness to unbelievers.

God’s Service Fund. 

This is when you invest in eternity by using money to serve others. God wants you to take some of your money and use it to help people who are in need.

Proverbs 11:24 says, “One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor” (CSB). In other words, the more you help others, the more God blesses you. Why? Because God is a giver. He is generous, and he wants you to become like him.

You’ll find yourself becoming more and more like God as you invest in your character, other believers, and people in need.

Talk It Over

Do you spend money on things that ultimately damage your character? What could you direct that money toward to build your character instead?

Why is it important to demonstrate to people that you are in God’s family by taking care of other believers?

What is your motivation for being generous? How does your motivation affect your generosity?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          We come before You, asking for Your wisdom, insight, and discernment so that we may serve others with clarity, compassion, and truth. Open our eyes to see the needs of others, to understand their situations, and guide us in how to meet them in love and faithfulness. Grant us the discernment to act with integrity, to speak with truth, and to lead with humility. May Your Spirit fill us with wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy (James 3:17), so that we can grow and help others grow in their walk with You.
     We trust in You completely, knowing that if we lean not on our own understanding but on Your guidance, You will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Help us to avoid the pitfalls of pride and self-reliance, and instead to rely on Your wisdom in every decision that affects others. 

     Father, may our words be a blessing, our actions a testimony, and our hearts a channel of Your grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen