* Acknowledging God

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.”

John 3:27 NLT

It’s time for a refresher course in an Attitude of Gratitude. In our flesh, it’s too easy to see the down side of life. A friend of mine sent a message a while back that clearly showed her CHOICE to look for something for which to give thanks. 

She had been working mandatory overtime for several weeks. She was tired and wanted to whine about it, but that day she came home, her A/C had gone out… on one of the hottest days of the year. She chose to thank God that she had the extra money on hand to pay for the repair. She had to put her uniforms in the dryer for work the next day (while the A/C was down); she chose to thank God that she has a dryer AND that it works! She also chose to thank God that she was perspiring enough to cleanse her body from toxins (also God’s design). 

How many times do we miss the opportunity to acknowledge God in all our ways? The old car/van/truck – that still runs faithfully with no car payment. The flat tire that happened in the parking lot at work could just as easily have happened on the freeway at 70mph. You might say that NO flat tire would have been better. Let’s see, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.” Perhaps you needed an opportunity to practice an Attitude of Gratitude or find a way to acknowledge God…

Prayer:

Father,

         We haven’t the words to properly praise You for all the ways You provide for us – spiritually and physically. Forgive us for the times we don’t acknowledge You. We love You, Lord. Help us to be more aware. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

* Living Proof

The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.

Proverbs 20:7 NLT

If ever you've tried to help someone who's just learning to walk with the Lord - or perhaps is struggling to walk - and nothing you do or say seems to be making any difference, I want to share an illustration with you that I believe God showed me. 

You may not have children of your own, but most of us have seen babies who are learning to walk, so regardless, you'll have a point of reference. When my children were babies, I could teach them how to pull themselves up to stand. I could even offer them a hand. I could support them under their arms while they bounced and jumped and strengthened their leg muscles. I would hold both hands so they could stay up and not fall, but they had to make their legs and feet move. I would encourage them - even entice them with a toy or treat - but until they decided they wanted to and made up their mind to do it, they did not take one step on their own.

You can't make a baby walk unless he or she is ready to walk - whether it's an actual baby or someone trying to follow Jesus. By the same token, in order for the child to be able to walk on its own, you have to let go. They will totter, and stumble, and trip, and they will fall. And after a few falls, they may even decide just to sit or crawl for a while and try that walking thing a little later. They will get bruised, scraped up - they might even bleed and have scars as a result - but eventually, they will learn to walk because they choose to do so.

And the longer they do it, the better they get at it. You're living proof...so make sure you walk with integrity.

Prayer:

Father,

        Help us to be good stewards of who and what You have given us. Continue to give us revelation wisdom so we can teach others about You and how to walk in Your way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Indispensable Necessity +

O GIVE thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His doings among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His marvelous deeds and devoutly praise them. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek and require the Lord [as their indispensable necessity].

Psalm 105:1-3 The Amplified Bible

People get crazy when it comes to money. If you want to see someone's bad side, mess with their money. History has shown us that the people will elect an official based on their view of the financial situation - often overriding their moral convictions. Do you know that Jesus taught regarding some aspect of money about one-third of the time? Don't worry - I'm not asking for any. I just know everyone's thinking about it in one form or another.

So, I just have to tell you this. I originally wrote this post in November of 2008, but I was rereading it tonight and wanted to share the testimony of it because God's provision is timeless. The background is that at the time I wrote this in 2008, I'd been back to work for 2 weeks, following a bad fall that caused me to miss 5 months of work. Here's the story...

This past Friday, I got my first full paycheck since June. First thing I did was figure the amount of my tithe and offering; and then I began to consider the bills I had to pay. When I got done, I had very little money left for Thanksgiving and I have family & guests coming in for dinner. I gotta tell you, I thought, "There's no place to cut. I don't know what to do."

I hate to admit it, but for about 30 minutes, I was tempted to take the tithe and offering. Then I finally smacked myself and proclaimed aloud, "God, I will not rob from You. You have kept me through this entire ordeal. Who am I to even think about touching that? I don't care if we have to eat egg sandwiches, that's Yours. I'm not touching it." And I left it at that.

That was Friday morning. Friday afternoon, I got a check in the mail for a refund I wasn't expecting. Saturday, I got another check in the mail totally unexpected – short term disability had underpaid me on one check. Today, my boss handed me an envelope from the company's anniversary celebration. He was apologizing profusely for not having given it to me before (he's had it since July). I assured him the timing was perfect. All told, almost the exact amount of the tithe and offering. Malachi 3:10 teaches that had I taken God's tithe and offering, I would have brought a curse on my household.    

    " Will a man rob God?
      Yet you have robbed Me!
      But you say,

      'In what way have we robbed You?'
      In tithes and offerings.
      You are cursed with a curse,
      For you have robbed Me,
      Even this whole nation.
      Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
      That there may be food in My house,
      And try Me now in this,"
      Says the LORD of hosts,
      " If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
      And pour out for you such blessing
      That there will not be room enough to receive it.

I don't know about you, but I sure can't afford God to take away His hand of provision for my life - not spiritually or financially.

I'm overwhelmed at His goodness and mercy and grace and just wanted to share that with you. Be encouraged. God takes care of His own.

Prayer:

Father,

          I thank You and praise You for Your wondrous acts. You are more than enough. You are our only indispensable necessity of life. Keep us ever mindful of this Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

In That Day *

One day He's coming - oh glorious day!!

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.  He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. IN THAT DAY the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.

The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.

IN THAT DAY the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place. IN THAT DAY the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people...

Isaiah 11:1-11a NLT

Prayer:

Father,

          When the impossible is possible - it's only through You. And You are the same yesterday, today and forever, according to Your Word. We are so looking forward to walking with You in that day. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* A Place to Stand

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

Isaiah 28:16 NLT

Archimedes - a mathematician and inventor of ancient Greece - is purported to have said, "Give me a place to stand and a lever long enough and I will move the world." Scientifically speaking, with the working principle of the lever, that could be true...but we also know, he had no such place to stand. It's easy to make such grandiose remarks when you don't have to prove anything.

That's what I love about God - His Word is good! His Word is true. And He backs it up. If He said it, it's a done deal. The Earth is proof. The sun is proof. The moon is proof. The oceans, the trees, the birds, the sky, every living, breathing element of life. Proof.

What else did He say? Maybe you better open the Book. You need to know how it's going to end or you won't have a leg to stand on.

Prayer:

Father,

          Open Your Word to us - let us see more clearly. Teach us what You would have us to know. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Born to Just Do It

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them...

Genesis 1:27-28a NKJV

God has a reason, a design and a plan for everything He creates. We may not know or understand a large part of it, but that doesn't matter. Mankind was created in His likeness.

The original plan was that our nature would be like His, but it didn't take us long to fall, did it? One thousand, one hundred, eighty-nine chapters in the Bible, and by chapter 3, we'd already fallen. The fallen nature of man just wants to be blessed. And in our fallen nature, we started the "What about me?" saga. It doesn't want to work for it, to have to earn it - it's that whole I-didn't-ask-to-be-born-You-owe-me selfish, self-focused and self-consumed attitude.

The good news is that those who choose to follow God, to walk in Christ's footsteps - to pick up their Cross and be redeemed from the curse of sin - they can once again be the image of God. The redeemed nature wants to give and to bless others. That's following God. He's not asking us to do anything He hasn't already done Himself. You see, He gave us our very breath of life and then He gave us the opportunity for Life abundantly through the death of His Son. He gave - after we had already fallen. 

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:11-14

Prayer:

Father,

         We want to be more like You. Redeem us unto every good work, Father, according to Your Word. in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Be An Example - Leave A Mark

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

1st Timothy 4:7-12 NLT

As Christians, we know we are to be an example to those around us. True...but an example of what? If we were to ask a group what that meant, we would get answers such as Walk in love. Don't get angry. Do everything with a good attitude.  And those are true. All scriptural. And the world sees those attributes as somewhat innocuous. They think Christians should be inoffensive and harmless... non-confrontational... 

Somehow, that's not the picture I have of Jesus when He cleared the temple with a cat o' nine tails. It's not the picture I have of Jesus when He stood before Pilate, with a crown of thorns on His head, having been beaten and whipped until He was unrecognizable, and yet He answered, "You have no power over Me..."  

In our text for today, Paul writes to Timothy, Be an example... The transliteration of the word for example is typos (pronounced too' pohs). It means "1) the mark of a stroke or blow, print, or 2) a figure formed by a blow or impression (of an image or figure)."  Does that seem innocuous to you?

I am overwhelmed with the images that come to mind in the Light of this, not the least of which are the nail prints in His hands and feet. His love left marks on His own body. Have we pressed in close enough that they've left an impression on us? Are His marks of love so deep in us that we make an imprint on someone else?

We are to be an example to all believers in what we say, in the way we live, in our love, our faith, and our purity. We must leave a mark.

Prayer:

Father,

         Pray, let the borrowed words of the great hymn writer, Horatius Bonar, be ours today. Great Master, teach us with Your skillful hand; Let not the music that is in us die! Great Sculptor, hew and polish us; nor let hidden and lost, Your form within us lie! 
        According to Your Word in Ephesians 2:10, we are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which You prepared in advance for us to do. Shape us and mold us into Your image, to do Your will, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen