* Trip Advisory Thanksgiving

Do this and you will never ever be lost. In this way you will receive a rich welcome into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

2nd Peter 1:10b-11 CEB

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. - a national holiday. Lots of people travelling this week and returning home later in the weekend. Regardless of your mode of travel, I hope you have great directions for your final destination. 

When I travel on the road, I always like to have the AAA Triptik. They're great - maps laid out in a spiral flip binder in doable miles per page without being overwhelmed by the overall trip. The route to travel is clearly highlighted along with bits of vital information: the terrain is described (mountainous, flat lands, rolling hills), rest stops and road construction are marked, AAA-recommended hotels are noted with information to make reservations, etc. It will even warn you of speed traps! It's nigh on impossible to get lost while using a AAA Triptik.

As one who can get lost so frequently that all roads look familiar, I am thrilled to find today's promise - Do this and you will never ever be lost. Since our destination is the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, it would behoove us to follow the trip advisory that God has laid out for us. If we go back a few verses in our text for today, we find this vital information:

     By his divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory. Through his honor and glory he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, that you may share the divine nature and escape from the world’s immorality that sinful craving produces.

     This is why you must make every effort to add moral excellence to your faith; and to moral excellence, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness; and to godliness, affection for others; and to affection for others, love. If all these are yours and they are growing in you, they’ll keep you from becoming inactive and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

These are the things we must do, so that we will never be lost. 

Peter goes on to tell us, Whoever lacks these things is shortsighted and blind, forgetting that they were cleansed from their past sins.

Let's not get lost. God has given us the directions for our journey - His Word. It has all the vital information we need. The route is clearly highlighted. Use it! Don't take one step without it.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for the ultimate Triptik. We are so grateful that You have paid the way for us to get to You. We want to be around Your banqueting table on the day You call us home. Keep us ever mindful of the trip advisories in Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Regardless of your mode of travel, please be aware of your surroundings and stay safe.

* Where He Leads

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14 NKJV

I was remembering my sweet friend, Jenny, who passed away in March 2011.

When Jenny got sick, she invited our mutual friend, Darleen, and me to come visit. It seemed unbelievable that it had been seven years since the three of us had been together. Years before, we met originally because we were all in a tough time in our lives that had us grasping earnestly for God. Even though our lives and careers were - and still were - so vastly different, we had one common denominator – our desire for more of the Lord. 

We were not raised the same. We were not born in the same state of the U.S. We didn’t go to the same schools or colleges. We were not the same age. We didn't look anything alike. We all loved music, but not the same kind (one loved traditional hymns, one loved the Hillsong-type, and one loved Southern Gospel). We didn’t even have any friends in common who brought us to that place. Only God could have gotten the three of us together in the same place at the right time and connected our hearts.

We shared the Reader’s Digest© version of our lives of what God had done since last we saw each other. In each instance, we marveled at how God constantly - strategically - placed (and continues to place) people in our paths 'for such a time as this.' We talked for 3 hours straight about the miraculous and loving way God does this – and that was with shortened versions! 

Have you ever stopped to think about this God phenomenon in your life? People you would never have met if God hadn’t intervened. For instance, I could tell you about those I’ve never met who are on this Promise list and yet God caused our paths to cross (albeit cyber paths) and how we have strengthened each other in this journey of life. And if I start on the ones I actually know, I’ll never get done here tonight! 

Jenny and her husband would have celebrated their Diamond Anniversary in September of 2011 – married 60 years and they were still crazy about each other. A sixty-year marriage is a definite orchestration by God, but logistically, they should never have had the opportunity to meet.

Jenny was in college in Houston when her friends convinced her to go to school in Austin, so she checked out and finished her semester in Austin. She didn’t like it and came home to Houston to try to beg her way back into her former school. Well, her grades from Austin were not what they needed to be and the Houston registrar told Jenny that she had to return to Austin and take summer school courses to bring up the grades in order to be able to return to Houston for the next semester.

Jenny was NOT happy. The fraternity houses were closed for the summer – her friends were gone until the Fall – she was sure it was going to be absolutely miserable.  Meanwhile, over in El Paso, RG needed to get to Austin, but he didn’t have a car. A friend of his was heading to Austin to see a girl he had fallen in love with at the college, but the girl was only allowed to double date (my, how times have changed!). RG’s friend agreed to give him a ride, but in exchange, RG would have to go on a blind date with whoever the girl "drug up."

Six hundred miles later, RG really tried to back out, but the friend wouldn’t let him out of the car until RG gave his word that he would show up. Jenny was the blind date and it was the LAST blind date for both of them. Jenny and RG never dated anyone else and were married in September 1951.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24 NLT 

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for every mountain, every valley, every blocked road and raging river of life …for You were there and lovingly placed one of Your children to be Your hand extended. Thank You for all the paths You have caused to strategically cross in order to fulfill Your divine plan for our lives. Help us to comfort others as You have comforted us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

* Like A Child

Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:3-5 God's Word Translation

There's a little girl at my church named Shayla. Her mother is part of the Praise and Worship team. When the music starts, Shayla moves toward the front of the church and enters in with her whole heart (proof that children learn what they live). Yesterday, our pastor's wife asked Shayla to go up on the lower part of the stage to get a handheld microphone. She ran to do her bidding, slipped and slid into the corner, recovered, picked up the microphone, and ran back... and in those few seconds, she managed to deliver a complete illustration of God's expectation of us.

The pastor's wife asked Shayla to get the microphone, fully expecting that Shayla would and she did. Children rise to our expectation of them.

Shayla ran to do her bidding, slipped, fell, and got back up to run back to her - mission accomplished.

And in that instant, I felt God speak to my heart, "Oh, that ALL my children would run to do what I ask them to do! And if they slip and fall, just get back up and keep going, then run back to Me!"

I was convicted to my toes! How often do we - as adults - stand and argue with God? Debating because we'd rather do things our own way or not at all?

Prayer:

O Father!
            Forgive us for all the times we did not hasten to do Your bidding! Break the rebellious spirit in us and deliver us into Your light. Father, may we be like children who RUN to do whatever You ask of us, no matter what! Create in us clean hands and a pure heart, we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen

* Seasoned

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

What does it mean to be seasoned? If your first thought turns to food, I understand, but that's not where I was going with it. (smiling) Although, that is an illustration we can all relate to.

We understand that a seasoned soldier or a seasoned teacher is one who has been through the battles - been through lots of seasons - one who has learned how to survive through the change. The question is - how were they seasoned? Were they salted to perfection or over-salted? Was the blend of the multiple seasonings allowed to bring out the flavor of their lives or did they sit in them too long and become bitter?

Top chefs know the remedies for correcting mistakes made with seasonings. However, even they say some mistakes just have to be tossed and then they start over. Our good news is that even if our seasoned lives have become irreconcilable to life as we know it, God can and will fix it, if we ask Him. His Word tells us He makes all things new and God is trustworthy. We may have to soak in something for a season, but if we are following Christ, we will come out of it with a sweet savor. 

Prayer:

Father,
          Sometimes the seasons and seasonings of life seem overlong and overpowering, but we choose to trust You in all of it. We invite You into our lives to stir up our souls and make us into Your already planned process so that we can be properly-seasoned witnesses of Your faithfulness. Cause us to be an appealing sweet savor to reveal Your love to those around us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Getting Close to God

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7b NLT

Christians everywhere love this portion of Scripture. In the middle of every battle we face, we encourage ourselves and each other with this passage. We whisper it, shout it, pray it, repeat it like a battle cry... and wonder why the devil won't flee. And then whine to God, "Why isn't it working?"

In this age of bottom-liner business, summarized suppositions, Readers Digest condensed versions of life, we're-so-busy-we-don't-have-time-for... we tend to only skim through and pick those portions that we think apply directly to us or the circumstance that we're in. The Truth is - it ALL applies directly to us. It's either something we should do or examples of what we should not do.

In context, this passage (vvs 7-10) in James reads, So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

All Christians want to be closer to God. But wanting something is much different than actually doing what it takes to get it. James tells us exactly how to get close to God. First, we must humble ourselves. Other versions read submit yourselves. That involves voluntarily and purposefully, intentionally giving ourselves to God, our WHOLE life - desires, dreams, plans - to HIS choices for our lives - even when it's not what we WANT. 

If we are not feeling close to God, it's not because HE has moved away from us.

Prayer:

Father,
         Forgive us for leaving You in the dust of our lives as we run off to do whatever we think is more important. The Truth is that NOTHING is more important than You. Father, we humble ourselves before You, submitting our life - all of it - to Your will. We cast off the temporary pleasures of life that lead us away from spending eternal time with You. Forgive us, Father, and help us to walk toward You. We want to be close to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Such a Thing

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Jude 1:24-25a NLT

It was the old slip, trip and fall routine. Have you heard it? The voice in my head running the litany of my past sins and trying very hard to convince me that I would slip. I would trip up. I would fall away. After all, "so-and-so did and they were a better Christian" than me...  

Can you imagine such a thing? Oh, I looked around a little bit, saw and recognized the memory lane markers and messes of my life, but I wasn't buying it. Not paying any more tolls on that road. My life has been bought with a price. It was paid in full at Calvary. I am redeemed. In my heart sprang forth the music, ♪♫ In my hurt, at my worst, when my world falls down - ♪♫ Not for a moment, will You forsake me...♪♫

Then I turned to His Word and found His Truth - His Truth that negates the facts of our lives. The facts being who and what I was; however, His Truth is who I am...through Christ. Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you [me] from falling away and will bring you [me] with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Able to keep me from falling away? Can you even fathom being without a single fault?!? Only God can do such a thing...

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for the Truth of Your Word. Thank You for salvation and redemption. Thank You for loving us enough to send Your Son to reconcile us to You while we were yet sinners. It's overwhelming - this love You have for us. Help us to help others find Your Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray.

* Raising the Standard

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
1st John 2:6 NLT

We need something to motivate us. Something that will cause us to reach up. Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without a vision, the people perish.  Where are you headed? Have you figured out where you want to go? Once you decide the destination, you can plot the necessary steps to get there. Do we have attainable goals set to keep us on track? What's your first milestone? Any idea?

I want to make Heaven. That's my goal. How do I get there? First, I must accept that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, that He died to pay for my sins, and that He rose from the dead on the third day. But if I want to live in God, I'm supposed to live my life as Jesus did.

So, how DID Jesus live? Specifically speaking? He was prayerful and full of the Holy Spirit. He was loving and forgiving, unselfish and giving, and He was purposeful and destined. Every day.

I don't know about you, but I can manage to be most of those on a given day, with reminders. However, the Word of God states that we are to DAILY pick up our cross and follow him. We cannot do that by ourselves.

We cannot live a Christian life by our own standard - it has to be God's standard. You see, when God raised His standard - Jesus, His Son - then He raised our standard, too. 

Prayer:

Father,
        Your Word tells us when the enemy comes in like a flood, You will lift the standard against him. You are righteous and holy. Let Your Truth prevail in our lives, as we endeavor to live by Your standard. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Seeing Fruit

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23a NLT

We've been talking about seasons. In the Fall is a great time for harvesting apples, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, asparagus... mmmmm, good stuff. The oranges are just now turning the right color and a whole 'nother crop of pomegranates are about ready. I love watching the plants and trees bud, blossom, and deliver. I can see what's coming and know how good it's going to be when it ripens and matures.

We're supposed to be God's harvest. What does He see as He watches us? Do we blossom? Are we growing? Is there any evidence of His fruit in our lives - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, or Self-Control? What DOES He see?

Prayer:

Father,
            We know it is only by Your Grace that we even have life, but we want to honor You in all our ways. Lord, we want to pass the fruit inspection of our lives. Help us to perfectly reflect You to a seeking world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen