* Out with the Trash

     When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.
    "I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I'm a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He's going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned."
Matthew 3:7-12 The Message

I really don't like housework, but I also don't want to die of embarrassment. So, I make myself pick up, put away, sweep, and take out the trash. Some of which takes a lot of time. None of which is fun. All of which is necessary to accomplish the goal (not dying of embarrassment when someone comes to the door). Nothing will light a fire under most of us quicker than knowing someone might come by.

The Holy Spirit is here on a daily basis. He's not doing a white glove test. He's making house calls to help us prepare and be ready for when Jesus comes back. The Holy Spirit will change us from the inside out - some of which takes a lot of time! None of which is fun. All of which is necessary to accomplish the goal. Will we let Him in?

Christ's return should be the thing that lights the quickest fire in our hearts to get this old house in order. He's going to clean house—make a clean sweep of our lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned. 

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to see the necessity of having the Holy Spirit clean house and put us in right order for Your return. Light the fire within us again, O God. Cause our hearts to burn with holy fervor for everything true found only in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Then You Will

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

If you've been a follower of Jesus Christ for very long, you are familiar with this passage - or at least part of it. We're very good about encouraging others not to worry because God provides peace that far surpasses the angst and full realm of our circumstances, and exceeds our ability to comprehend its' dominion. King James' reads, peace that passeth all understanding. And truly, it does.

However, we can't just grab that part out of the Scripture. It's not a stand-alone verse. God's peace is the result of following the instructions given for how to handle troublesome situations.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need
And thank Him for all He has done

THEN YOU WILL experience God's peace...

Worry is not trusting God. It's fear, which is opposite to faith. According to Hebrews 11:6, Without faith, it's impossible to please God.

What does God's Word have to say about the situation? Look it up. Research it. There are ample Bible tools online. We can even Google©, "What does the Bible say about _______?" That way, we can tell God what we need - according to what His Word says we need - with regard to the situation.

And thank Him for all He has done! To begin with, He gave us life! He has redeemed, restored, and resurrected us from our death-inducing sinful life!

THEN we will experience God's peace - the peace that will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for all You have done for us. Thank You that by Your grace and mercy, we are still drawing breath and have another opportunity to serve You. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and great is Your faithfulness! You are the Lord our God. Teach us. Cause Your Word to come alive in us so that we experience Your peace and fulfill Your purpose for our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Run Home

The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. 

Psalm 27:4-5 NLT

I remember as a child - whenever I was afraid or in trouble - I just wanted to go home. It was not always the safest place, but it was still where I ran. Now, I run to the Lord. There I know I am always safe, always protected, and always, eternally loved.

This Psalm is so eloquent. When I'm in a battle, this is where I run. I believe you will find what you need from Him.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.

The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.

Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Prayer:

Father,
            I am confident that I will see Your goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Testify

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:15-16 NKJV

Have you ever been called to be a character witness for someone? You're brought to a court of law, sworn in and then you proceed to tell what you know firsthand, as it applies to the person in question and the situation. You cannot be a character witness on hearsay. You cannot testify based on he-said-she-said or what you heard from someone else. It has to be personal knowledge. You must have learned it yourself during the time you spent with the person - good times and the bad. You know because you've been there with them, or they've been with you. You are able to testify for them and your testimony is entered into the court documents.

They were in the Caesarea Philippi region when Jesus asked His disciples what people had to say about who He was. They told Him some thought He was John the Baptist, some Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Jesus asked what they thought - His disciples - as the ones who walked with Him, the ones who knew Him on a daily basis, they KNEW who He was. They witnessed the miracles not only to the multitudes but in their own personal lives. They were eyewitnesses to the details and the deity of His life and they were able to say unequivocally, "You are the Christ."

Ten of the remaining eleven disciples who walked with Jesus were martyred for their testimonies. And they weren't the only ones. In ancient Rome, Christians were crucified, given over to the lions, beheaded, and burned alive on stakes to light the gardens of Nero. Yet, they held on to their testimonies right to their deaths. So far, that hasn't happened to Christians in the United States, but intense persecution IS happening to Christian brothers and sisters in other countries around the world and we must pray for them.

We are overcomers - victorious - by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, according to Revelation 12:11. Jesus the Christ died on the Cross at Calvary for our salvation - so the Blood of the Lamb part is already done. It's the word of our testimony that completes the act of overcoming.

You cannot testify to what you don't know. You would NEVER give a testimony that may cost your life or your freedom, based on hearsay. Do you know Him well enough to testify? To overcome? We're not talking about what your Mama says about Him or even what your grandmother said. Nor what the Sunday School teacher or the preacher told you. Who do YOU say that He is? What is He to your life? Will you - can you testify?

Prayer:

Father,
            We want to know You more - in every fiber of our being. We want to testify about Who and what we know. Give us the courage of Your convicting power. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Divide and Decide

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Hebrews 4:12 NLT

In the Encarta English dictionary, there are 12 different definitions for soul. In Christianity, the soul is generally defined as the part of you which is your mind, your will and your emotions. You know - the parts that can get us in trouble.

We've talked about knowing the difference between fact and Truth. Our soul includes our feelings. Sometimes what we feel is not the Truth. So, are feelings bad? No. God gave those to us as gifts. There's lots of life that would be absolutely worthless and no fun at all without feelings or emotions. Should feelings control our lives? Should we ascribe to the world's philosophy of If it feels good, do it? Not according to the Word of God...and only YOU can determine if God's Word is YOUR standard.

Our soulish part always makes excuses for us. It's easy to be carnal - thinking only of our feelings and our bodies. So often we hear people make the excuse for their actions, Well, that's just how I am. God understands... Or how about this one? That's just the way God made me... Oh, puh-leeeezzzzz...

God sent His Son to die on a cross for all that - for our sins. He created the plan of salvation. He provided every aspect to ensure victory. It's not His will that anyone should die without Him...but it IS our choice. He came to save our souls from destruction.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 107, Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. What part of us got redeemed? Only our Spirit? Only our body? Christ died to save us... We are spirit, soul and body. It was a package deal. Christ paid the FULL price for us. It wasn't a K-Mart blue light or Wal-Mart red light special - Salvation has never been offered at a reduced rate because Jesus didn't skimp on anything. He gave His ALL. What will YOU give for it?

It's like learning the difference between want and need. We need to recognize and discern what is the driving force behind our desires - soul or Spirit. We want a lot of things, but what do we need? Air, water, food, shelter. Isn't it interesting that God describes Himself as all those things? It's in the Word - let it divide and decide your actions.

Prayer:

Father
           According to Your Word in verse 13 of today's text, nothing in all creation is hidden from You. Everything is naked and exposed before Your eyes, and You are the One to whom we are accountable. Shine Your light of Truth on our lives so we may rightly divide soul from Spirit. Let all we think and our subsequent actions be pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* What Do You Expect?

But his joy is in those who reverence him, those who expect him to be loving and kind.
Psalm 147:11 LB

'Expect' is a verb; an action word. It is generally defined one of three ways: 

• To believe with confidence, or to think it most likely that an event will take place in the future, as in, 'That was expected to happen.'
• To wait for an anticipated thing, such as 'I expect a visit soon.'
• To anticipate something as right or duty, for instance, 'Parents expect their children to obey the rules.'

If a child thinks you expect him to fail, he will. If he thinks you expect him to behave badly, he will. By the same token, if you expect him to succeed, he will give it everything he's got. He'll do more than he would typically accomplish simply because you expect it of him. Husbands and wives do the same thing. And statistics prove that if an employee expects to be fired, he will invariably do something that will expedite that very action. People will rise and fall to what is expected of them. Yes, expect is very much an action word.

We are made in the image and likeness of God, according to His Word. We are His children. His love never changes, but His joy or anger with us can be kindled by our actions toward Him and what He expects of us, whether implicitly or explicitly defined. 1st John 3:2-3 tells us, Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.  [emphasis mine]

Having certain expectations is not wrong as long as they line up with God's Word. God's joy is in those of us who reverence Him, those who expect Him to be loving and kind. He expects us to accept Christ's sacrifice for our sin as the gift of mercy and grace that it is. God expects us to be pure as He is pure. These are reasonable expectations. What do you expect?

Prayer:

Father,
         Set our sight on things above and not things on earth. Help us to walk according to Your expectations of us. We want to walk with clean hands and pure hearts. Let us see You for who You are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Pairing Up *

Note: I know I used this same passage of Scripture yesterday, but it's such a good one that it bears repeating. Also, in looking back through some history, I found this one from six years ago. I had just gotten back from having dinner with my brother, Joe, the one who died unexpectedly last June. He was a great one for motivating people to acts of love and good works! What a sweet time it was that night..It was definitely a divine appointment - one that brought us even closer. I miss him so much, but I know I will see him again. Reminisce with me...

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

It never ceases to amaze me how God deals with each of His children uniquely and yet, corporately, speaking strongly to our spirits. I just got back from having dinner with one of my brothers. Even though it's been a while since we've visited, once we're together and chatting for a few minutes, it's as though we've never been apart. Love is like that. And I believe this particular meeting was a divine appointment.

We went to Pappasito's on 610 - a very popular location. Every loud-voiced person in Houston was there this evening, but when we talked about the Lord, it was as though the noise level was just background noise, rather than being something you had to practically yell above to be heard. Our food and inside visit were good, but when we were ready to leave, we weren't done with our conversation, so we decided to stand outside for a few moments more. But then we got to testifying to each other about what the Lord was up to - how He is dealing with our lives - the things He is doing and drawing us to - it was an hour and a half later before we even knew it. The Spirit of the Lord was strong in that parking lot tonight. And the rain that had been off and on all day and forecast to pour down on us this evening - held off until I was in the car and on my way home.

I was amazed at the things God confirmed in us this night. Through giving thanks and acknowledging Him in all areas of our lives, it was as though God stripped the blinders from our eyes regarding the wiles of the enemy, to keep us divided. Scripture tells us in Matthew 18:19-20, Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Two can accomplish much more than one because we were never called to walk alone.

We have to be about our Father's business. Keep in mind, that we will get much more accomplished when we think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

I heard a story this morning about horses. They did a study about how much weight horses can pull on a load. After hooking up the first horse, it was determined that one horse could pull 250 lbs. Figuring that a pair of horses could pull twice as much, they were shocked to discover that a pair working together could actually pull 1,250 lbs.! Jesus said, Come my yoke is easy... Let's pair up with Him!

Prayer:

Father,
           Your Word tells us to be of one mind and one heart and one spirit. We want to yoke up with You so we can accomplish great things for You and in Your Name. Help us to fulfill our purpose in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Motivated

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

A friend posted a phone video that she recorded in her church. It featured four generations of one family - the Ridenours - singing acapella praise of thanksgiving to God. I have watched that video dozens of times. You see, I know them. And I know they not only meant every word they were singing, but they have also lived and are still living it.

As I watched that video over and over, and saw the youngest generation - now young men - I thought about their boyhood and how their father was determined to raise Godly sons. I remember him telling me about reading "Raising a Modern-Day Knight" by Robert Lewis and how motivated he was to instill biblical principles in his boys. (I love to see it coming to fruition!!)

You see, 2004 through 2008, I served with two generations and worshiped with three generations of that family. Sweet people. Salt of the earth. Totally sold out to God. The kind of people who would think of ways to motivate one another and those around them to acts of love and good works. Just a joy to be around and the love remains. That's how God is. Amazing...

Think of the people in your life who motivate you to acts of love and good works. Thank God for them. They are just one more evidence of His unfailing love for us.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for the people You lovingly place in our lives in this journey toward You. Let us be motivated to acts of love and good works and help us to motivate others to do the same. Prod us to remember to make the time to get together and to encourage each other, especially now that the day of Your return is one day closer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Open House

Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 The Message

Hebrews 4:12 tells us, For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. And as I read again the verse in Matthew 5, I am cut with these words - Be generous with your lives...

I know after working all week long and keeping up with all the other commitments, it's hard to find time to be generous with our lives!! And yet, we are called to do just that. 

I think we have to ask ourselves some hard questions and be truthful with the answers. 

You know, we work and we have family and church commitments, and extra-curricular schedules (lessons, sports practices, etc) - we are so busy!! I know some of the people I care about have schedules that are so over-committed that it's exhausting just hearing about them. They're not bad things; there are just too many of them.

Are we over-committed? Are those over-commitments now resulting in less sleep because we lie awake thinking about what we couldn't get done today, and so we'll get up earlier tomorrow to try to get them done? Is it a control thing - we don't want to ask for help? How much stress are we adding to our loved ones when we're in "Hurry up, we have to get to (wherever it is we must be)" mode? Have we taken time to pray about what we should perhaps let go of? Wait - do we even have time to pray about that?

God is interested in relationships. His Word says they'll know we are Christians by our love. We can't show them His love if we're rushing past them to get to the next thing. Today's promise tells it like it is - By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

How do we do that? Keep open house; be generous with your lives...

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for being caught up in the cares of this world. Show us how to prioritize what's important and modify our schedules accordingly. Give us the wisdom and the grace to know when and how to say no to those things that stop us from being generous with our lives. We want to live in such a way that others will open up with You. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Hard Times +

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Matthew 6:34 The Message

Times are tough right now. There is a pervasive undercurrent of fear - not rippling -  it's ripping around the globe. The uncertainty is a breeding ground for fear. There is only one antidote for fear.

Faith. Faith in God. 

The Bible teaches us that He is our Source for everything (Ephesians 4:14-16 The Message). It also teaches us that He is the same - yesterday, today and forever. He does not change. God being God does not change with a pandemic, with the weather, or with the price of oil. If your trust is in God and His Word, it doesn't matter what the circumstances look like. He does not change and He will see you through "whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Prayer:

Father,
         Help us to keep our eyes off our circumstances. In our search for You and Your ways, help us to rise above what may or may not happen tomorrow and see only Your Truth - that You care for us today and every day. And You are our Provider! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Make It Stop

O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude
Psalm 61:1-4 NLT

An interlude is not exactly awe-inspiring in and of itself. Usually, it's a chance for the mind to wander a little, but there's that moment when an interlude can become the main focus - that which causes the before and after of something to be much more meaningful or intense. In the King James Version, it is translated Selah. Basically, it's a pause, a break, stoppage. A ceasing of what we were doing.

We must catch the significance of the placement of this interlude... which according to Google.com is also synonymous with "interval, intermission, break, recess, pause, respite, breathing space" and various others. Let's be real. When our hearts are overwhelmed, we NEED space to breathe. We need a break. Right?

However, you'll notice the Interlude is not placed after 'overwhelmed'; we're not to stop there and dwell on that. It's placed after David declares God is his safe refuge and his place of great safety with God as his covering and shelter. THAT's when David calls for an interlude. Stop - think about a safe refuge. Stop - enjoy a little respite. God's refuge will give us all the breathing room we need! When we get beneath the shelter of His wings and make God our refuge, HE will make it all stop!

Prayer:

Father,
             When our hearts are overwhelmed with life, help us to live only in YOU, O God, our strong tower, our refuge, our strength. Let us cease our struggling and rest in You alone. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Reprinted by Request - here you go!

It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
2nd Corinthians 1:21-22  NLT (New Living Translation)

Shopping in today's world is nothing like it used to be. Once upon a time, you could walk into a merchant’s facility and plop some money on the counter to buy an appliance or other high-dollar item for so much down and so much a month and expect to live happily ever after. Well, not forever, but you could expect the item to last 15 or 20 years. Nowadays, no matter where or what you purchase, or how you purchase - installment or no installment - you’re offered the opportunity to buy an extended warranty with each purchase. Of course, it’s only good for 2 years or 50,000 miles/hours whatever and whichever comes first. You may even be offered the opportunity to purchase an insurance policy on your installment payment and/or balance, in case something bad happens to you.

Despite what the salesperson has to say, I do not see how this is supposed to inspire any kind of confidence in the product or the workmanship that went into it. The only thing it seems to guarantee is that it WILL break down, or if it doesn’t, it probably will after the “free” annual maintenance check-up – you know, the “free” one that comes with your PAID warranty. Well, let me get to the good news.

Yes, there is always good news when it comes to God. In Scripture, we learn that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And the guarantee to fix anything that may break along the way has already been paid for by the Maker on the original Black Friday at Calvary. Not only that, but there are no exceptions, nothing hidden, no black-out dates, no "gotcha" clauses.

Wait! There's more! It’s not a 90-day warranty or 5-year extended warranty – it’s a lifetime guarantee. All we have to do is say Yes to God's offer of salvation and eternal life with Him. That’s included, too. Already paid for by His Son, Jesus. Guaranteed. Same-day delivery. No standing in line. No waiting.

And don’t worry,  He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us. It's a lifetime guarantee that extends to eternity.

Prayer:

Father,
          There is nothing offered here that even remotely compares to what You offer us on a daily basis - that Your Son already paid the price for us to have. Open our eyes to see You, Lord, and to recognize the magnitude of the provision You have made for us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

* The BE Attitudes

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions.
Matthew 5:1-2 The Message

I have no idea how many times I've read this portion of Scripture commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, beginning with the Beatitudes. And strangely enough, until tonight, I'd never read it in The Message Bible. I love the way this reads in that translation. Read for yourself...

This is what he said:

3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your Word! Let the Beatitudes become our BE attitudes. We want all of these characteristics to be evident in our lives as we strive to follow You. Help us to be so. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Love Never Quits

Thank God, who did it all! His love never quits!
Psalm 136:26 The Message Bible

I was a child the first time I read this Psalm in the King James Version. Instead of His love never quits; it was his mercy endureth forever. And yes, it's from the same Hebrew word - Checed - that I've mentioned before.

I really hated reading this one as a child. I couldn't seem to hear the Thank God parts of it because every other line was his mercy endureth forever - or now in the Message, His love never quits. As a child, it obliterated the rest of the psalm for me because of the constant repetition.

As an adult, I can't seem to remember all the other parts, but for a totally different reason. Now, I LOVE this Psalm!! His mercy endures forever!! His love never quits!!! He did it all and through all of it - His mercy endures forever!! His love never quits!!! THINK ABOUT THAT! Let it soak into and manifest in your spirit. His mercy endures forever!! His love never quits!!! Praise His Holy Name!!

1-3 Thank God! He deserves your thanks.
His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits.

4-22 Thank the miracle-working God,
His love never quits.
The God whose skill formed the cosmos,
His love never quits.
The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations,
His love never quits.
The God who filled the skies with light,
His love never quits.
The sun to watch over the day,
His love never quits.
Moon and stars as guardians of the night,
His love never quits.
The God who struck down the Egyptian firstborn,
His love never quits.
And rescued Israel from Egypt’s oppression,
His love never quits.
Took Israel in hand with his powerful hand,
His love never quits.
Split the Red Sea right in half,
His love never quits.
Led Israel right through the middle,
His love never quits.
Dumped Pharaoh and his army in the sea,
His love never quits.
The God who marched his people through the desert,
His love never quits.
Smashed huge kingdoms right and left,
His love never quits.

Struck down the famous kings,
His love never quits.
Struck Sihon the Amorite king,
His love never quits.
Struck Og the Bashanite king,
His love never quits.
Then distributed their land as booty,
His love never quits.
Handed the land over to Israel.
His love never quits.

23-26 God remembered us when we were down,
His love never quits.
Rescued us from the trampling boot,
His love never quits.
Takes care of everyone in time of need.
His love never quits.
Thank God, who did it all!
His love never quits!

Yes!! Thank God, who did it all! His love never quits!

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You that Your mercy endures forever and that Your love never quits, because we are in constant need of both. Let this Rhema Word come alive in us! Thank You for Your Word to us to carry us through. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Heart Check

Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you have it; it’s yours!
Mark 11:24 The Living Bible

This was Jesus' response to Peter's being amazed at the fig tree being withered - the one Christ had cursed the day before. As Christians, we love to quote this Scripture! We like to just jump right in there and pray for anything and think we should get it. After all, isn't that what it says? Actually no, it isn't.

The spoken word is powerful, no doubt, but let's do a heart check on this. Knowing Christ for who He is, we know that everything He says and everything He does are always in the will of God. That's where we start.

What are we praying for? Does it line up with the Word of God? Does it oppose the Word of God in any manner? If whatever we're praying for does NOT line up with the Word of God, it definitely is not the will of God, so it's not happening. It doesn't matter how much you pray or how much you believe... which brings us to the next checkpoint.

Believing. He didn't say, "Pray for anything and think you should get it, and it's yours." He clarified BELIEVE. If it lines up with the Word of God, you pray for it and must believe. Not wait and see if it happens. Not wishing and hoping. Not crossing your fingers. Actually believing in faith that it is done!

That's not the end of it. Verse 24 is taken out of context when just uttered on its own. The whole reference includes verses 22-26 - the before and after factor I've mentioned in previous posts. Let's read it here:

In reply Jesus said to the disciples, “If you only have faith in God—this is the absolute truth—you can say to this Mount of Olives, ‘Rise up and fall into the Mediterranean,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and have no doubt! Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you have it; it’s yours! But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too.”

Our faith must be in God. We must not doubt. Okay, so our petition lines up with the Word of God. We truly believe. Our faith is in God... what about verse 26? But when you are praying, first forgive... Heart check! Are we holding a grudge against anyone?

Unforgiveness is a deal-breaker. Not only are our prayers not answered, but we can't be forgiven of our sins, either. I don't know about you, but I need forgiveness on a daily basis. Dear Ones, let's check our hearts.

Father,
           Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for always making clear what it is You want us to know. Please give us wisdom, according to Your Word, so that we may understand You and all that You would have us do. Check our hearts, Father. Reveal to us the error of our ways. Remove that which alienates us from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Love and Mercy, Mercy and Grace *

I'm gonna start with Scripture a little differently this time. I am captivated by the varied interpretations and yet the same interpretation of this passage in the selected Bible versions below.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. 
Proverbs 33:18-22 English Standard Version

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Proverbs 33:18-22 King James Version

18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Proverbs 33:18-22 New International Version

18 But Adonai’s eyes watch over those who fear him, over those who wait for his grace
19 to rescue them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 We are waiting for Adonai; he is our help and shield.
21 For in him our hearts rejoice, because we trust in his holy name.
22 May your mercy, Adonai, be over us, because we put our hope in you.

Proverbs 33:18-22 Complete Jewish Bible

I read it first in the English Standard Version, and decided to look up "steadfast" of  "steadfast love." When I started to read it in the different versions, I realized how widely the Hebrew word - Checed - was translated, and yet they all define God's character and who He is to us and what He has done for us! 

Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. 

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

May your mercy, Adonai, be over us, because we put our hope in you.

The Truth of the matter is He is ALL those things and the ONLY reason we can put our hope in Him.

Prayer:

Father,

          Let Your Name be glorified!! May Your steadfast love and mercy, Your unfailing love, Your grace and Your mercy be over us, O God, because we put our hope in YOU.  In Jesus' Name we pray.

Watching and Waiting *

Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.

Proverbs 8:34 NKJV

Every time I read this verse, I think of Joshua, son of Nun. I know I've mentioned it before - how he waited at the entrance every time Moses went to meet with God. Always serving Moses, obedient and attentive to his every directive. Joshua knew his place, his position and his purpose. And he served in each with excellence.

There is no record of Joshua moaning and groaning about his position. He did NOT bring back a bad report or commiserate with the other ten spies who said they were like grasshoppers in their own eyes. He aligned himself with what the Lord had declared, and would profess nothing less. 

Do we serve God the same way? Do we align ourselves to be in His presence at every opportunity? Do we align our mouths to say only what God has to say about any given situation? Do we align our spirits to say "Yes, Lord!" at His every expectation of us?  If not, why not? These are not rhetorical questions. Stop and think about how you will answer.

Prayer:

Father,

          O that it would be said of us that we listen, watching daily at Your gates, waiting at the posts of Your doors. What wisdom we would glean! Help us, Father, to make it be so! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

It's a Set Up *

The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 

Exodus 31:1-6 ESV

When God first told Moses to go to Pharaoh, Moses kept spouting excuses as to why he couldn't do that. Who am I to do that? Who are you? I have a speech impediment, I can't speak to Pharaoh or the elders. God assured Moses He made the mouth, He would make it work. Even though Moses couldn’t get past his own inefficiencies, God equipped Aaron to go with Moses. (You can read that part of the story in Exodus, chapters 3 - 4.)

So, here we are in chapter 31, and God has laid out all the instructions for making the mobile Tabernacle, and He has commanded many minute details of Moses and Aaron – neither of whom were capable to do all that He commanded. Moses didn't have the background or ability to create what God had given him to do. So what did God do?  And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you...

How many times has God asked us to do something and we say no because we don't know how? What is God thinking? Doesn't He know my background? Is He setting me up to fail? No! No! And No!

God in His greatness, in His goodness, in His faithfulness, knows what we can and cannot do. However, He doesn’t leave us in our inabilities. If we are obedient to Him, He gives to us everything we need to carry out His plan and purpose for our lives – be it ability in us or the ability of those He puts in our lives.

People fail, that's true. People’s plans fail; but God’s plan never fails. The Word assures us God can NOT fail. No matter what you see; no matter what you hear; no matter who is in leadership on the earth. Even when you don't understand it. God is in control. He has the plan and He HAS set us up! 

To succeed! 

Prayer:

Father,
          Too often, we believe our shortcomings and what we see more than we believe Your Word. Forgive us, O God. Forgive us for doubting You and for questioning Your every move. Lord, we surrender our will and our way to Yours. Help us to remember our walk is a walk of faith, and that faith is in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

* Dream Come True

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.  James 2:17-22 NLT [underline emphasis is mine]

This passage is about living out our Christian walk. We can't just say we're a Christian. The testimony - the witness - is what people observe in our walk. Just saying it and not living out the tenets of true Christianity is wasting the air it takes for us to say it. 

I also believe this same principle applies to the God-placed dreams and desires in our hearts. What is your dream? What is it you want to do or accomplish while on this earth? Are you just wishing it would happen? Are you praying? In addition to praying, what are you doing about it? Yes, I said 'doing'! 

Okay, first we have to be sure it lines up with the Word of God. We can't expect God to honor anything that opposes or compromises His Word. Make sure the dream coming true would honor God. Stay true to its holy intent. 

Second, follow Scripture. To start, read Psalm 37, and NOT just verse 4, (Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart). Notice the word 'also' in that verse, then when we read the chapter, we find it means 'in addition to' delighting ourselves, there is also trusting God, committing to Him, not fretting, not envying, etc.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: There is a huge difference between asking for something and actively seeking it. What are YOU doing toward making it happen? You have to do something - you have to be an active part in it. If you want to be a motivational speaker, an executive, a parent, a teacher, a musician, a writer, a singer - are you doing something about it EVERY day? Are you learning? Are you actively seeking to build your skillset for whatever it is? If and when the opportunity arises, will you be ready? Are you making preparation - all the while trusting God?

You may think too much time has passed and you're too old now. Just as a reminder: Abraham was 100 years old; Sarah was 90 and past the age of child-bearing. That didn't stop Isaac from being born. Why? Because Abraham believed God and kept planting seed. 

What is YOUR dream? What are YOU doing about it?

Prayer:

Father,
         Ignite us again! Blow on the dying embers of our dreams and desires. Fan into flames those with holy purpose. Burn off the ones born only of human desire. Fit us for the purpose that You have placed deep within hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Every Last Detail

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

There are passages in the Old Testament where I tend to struggle to stay focused. In the early years, especially, I thought, "Why is this in here? What relevance does it have to now?" All the strange names of fathers and sons I couldn't pronounce, all the generations and how many there were... Did you ever wonder?

I've read about the Tabernacle in the wilderness with all the minute details of each piece and post, and the linen ephod, and the outerwear, and even the underwear for the priests. Without meaning any disrespect, my observation was that it seems somehow tedious. However, now instead of wondering what relevance it has, I want to know WHY it is relevant. And I find myself asking, "Father, what is it You want me to learn in this?"

Let's face it. I'm not going to build a mobile tabernacle in the wilderness. I'm not going to sew linen ephods and add precious stones for the twelve tribes of Israel, but God chose to include all those details in His Word. And knowing that God wastes nothing, what is the purpose of all the details? And then I got it...

It is relevant because of the details. He is I AM - the God of everything. The God of details. Every little thing matters to Him. He has a plan for everything and He wants it done according to HIS standard. He wants the best. He wants perfection. And His way is exactly that.

When He planned our salvation before the foundation of the world, He chose perfection. He planned every last detail. Yes, He provides us mercy and grace, but those are not to excuse our sin. Christ's death and resurrection did not make excuses for us; He made restitution for our debt of sin. Christ gave His WHOLE self for us. We, in turn, owe Him our life. All of it. Every last detail.

Prayer:

Father,
            As we come before You, help us to be open and give You all the details of our lives. Help us to understand that we must bring everything - our whole self - as an offering to You so that You can make us new. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* A Servant's Heart

But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with all his heart and always did whatever I wanted.
1st Kings 14:8b NLT

This Scripture is an excerpt, albeit taken out of context from a prophecy against Jeroboam, but it hits me right between the eyes. As does Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ That one scares me.

There is a HUGE difference between serving and actually having a servant's heart toward the Master. They are not even close to being the same thing. I can serve because I feel it is the right thing to do, but still not have a servant's heart.

We want Him as Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, Provider, etc, but if we've ever argued with God about something we did not want to do or something we did not want to change, then we have not always done whatever He wanted. We have not made Him Lord. Luke 6:46 NLT, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?"

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive me of my foolish, self-centered focus in life. Change my heart, O God! Make it pure. Give me a servant's heart, one whose only desire is to serve You as Lord and Master. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

*Nothing More, Nothing Less

Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
Exodus 24:3 NLT

They'd been freed from the slavery of Egypt. They'd been rescued from their enemies at the Red Sea. They'd been saved from hunger by food that fell from Heaven, and from dying of thirst by water pouring out of a rock. They were kept warm by fire at night and shaded from the desert sun with the cloud by day. God was making EVERY provision for them, despite their whining and complaining...

Finally, FINALLY, they respond in one voice, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded." Music to God's ears, I'm sure. Moses carefully writes it all down and reads it to them the very next morning and they respond the same way, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”

Then God tells Moses to come on up so He can give Moses the explicit instructions about His plan and how it's to be done. And in about a month and a half - 47 days - the people forget all about their escape from Egypt, and walking through the Red Sea on dry land, and the Book of the Covenant and their response; “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” They want something hands-on to satisfy their immediate desires and Moses' brother, Aaron, their spiritual leader, goes along with THEIR plan, and then tries to combine their idol worship with a festival to the Lord. Unbelievable... or is it?

God provides for us on a daily basis. And it's all well and good while we're seeing His active intervention in our lives, but what about when we are waiting for an answer or an instruction for what to do next? His Word instructs us to wait, to listen and to obey. Do we? Or do we go with what WE think will work and then try to incorporate that (our will) into what should be His worship, His way? Unbelievable... or is it? If we stop looking at what we can't do, what we don't have, we might be able to see what we CAN do through Christ, and what we DO have because of God's hand of provision.

God's instructions are for our good. We each have a part. He hasn't asked me to do your part - or you to do my part, but He does expect us to do everything He has commanded us. Nothing more. NOTHING less.

Prayer:

Father,
          Your Word says You give power to the weak and strength to the powerless. It also assures us that we can be confident that we will see the Lord’s goodness while we are here in the land of the living. Help us to wait patiently for You, Lord. Cause us to be brave and courageous, so we may do all that You have commanded us. Nothing more. NOTHING less. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Always an Opportunity *

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 NLT

"Consider it an opportunity for great joy" was NOT the first thought in my head when earlier today, I spilled an entire bowl of steaming potato soup down the front of myself and down the right side of my desk (drawer side) and ultimately, all over the floor. As if that mess was not enough, it was compounded by the fact that I'm recovering from a full hip replacement and cannot kneel down, nor bend more than a 90° angle. I was both angry and frustrated. Yes, I could have called one of several people, but in the heat of the moment... no pun intended. It was the third challenge of the day and only midday.

It was about 10 minutes of trying to figure out how I was going to clean it up before this Scripture in James made its way into a conscious thought. My first response was, "Seriously?!? I'm having a hard time seeing this as an opportunity for great joy." But within seconds, I began to see and acknowledge that there were MANY opportunities for joy.

• This morning, it was a little chilly here (and being a Texas girl, I was not thankful for that initially), but because it was chilly, I was wearing sweatpants, so I was not burned by the soup. 
• All the desk drawers were closed and no soup got in my papers.
• It was thick potato soup and not Tex-Mex Potato Soup, so it didn't flow too far.
• Because it was thick, I was able to sweep a lot of it into a dust pan, discovering that I have developed some real skill in using the "Grip & Grab" tool to finagle the dust pan into the dry bucket, and being able to grip the paper towels, etc.
• I'm thankful for Swiffer© products that I had in stock to clean it well.
• I'm even thankful for the generic brand refills that didn't work before, but worked well today to actually dry the floor so I wouldn't slip and fall - even down to being thin enough to slide under the desk to remove any minute traces of spillage.
• And last, but certainly not least - There was more potato soup. (smiling!)

At first, all I could see was what was wrong and what I couldn't do, but in my mind's eye, I flashed back to my son asking me, "Does your eyebrow hurt?"

I know - in the big scheme of life and all that is going on in the world today, what's a spilled bowl of soup? For me, it was an opportunity to acknowledge God's hand of provision and protection in everything. An opportunity to give thanks in every situation. An opportunity for great joy - For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. And an opportunity for me to encourage you that there is ALWAYS an opportunity to give thanks in all things. 
(1st Thessalonians 5:18)

Prayer:

Father, 
         As You well know, oftentimes, it can be the little things in life that derail us. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us into all truth. Thank You for loving us so much. Help us to see only what YOU want us to see. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Make Sure You Hear

The Lord said to Moses, “Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”
Exodus 17:14 God's Word Translation

This particular battle (where Joshua defeated the Amalekites while Moses was on the mountain with Aaron and Hur holding up his hands) took place about 1446 BC; 40 years before the death of Moses and the subsequent transition to Joshua's leadership. There was no mention of Joshua being the next in line to inherit Moses' position with the Israelites; there was no defined rite of passage.

One particular phrase of this verse leapt out at me this morning. I remembered the part about writing it down and erasing any memory of the Amalekites, but I didn't remember the part about making sure that Joshua would hear it, too. I researched in several translations and it was in all of them - to be certain, to tell it in the ear, to rehearse it, to make sure Joshua heard it, too.

Moses may not have known, Joshua may not have had any inkling, but God's plan was already set in motion. He knew the faithfulness of Joshua. His level of obedience to the letter. Joshua's passion to believe and act on whatever He said without question. Forty years beforehand - 40 years being the symbolism of a time of trial and testing, a type of probationary period. However, Joshua did not know it was a probationary period. It was Joshua's daily choices that allowed him to fulfill God's purpose in and for his life. Joshua CHOSE a lifestyle of faithfulness, obedience and faith.

What is God saying to us in our seemingly insignificant (to us) times that have great bearing on our eternal purpose? Know this - God does not waste words. There is absolutely NOTHING insignificant when it comes to God's plan. Are we listening? We better make sure we hear - and obey!

Prayer:

Father,
            We love Your Word. Remove from our lives the people, places and things that distract us and detract from Your plan and purpose for us. We want to be faithful and obedient like Joshua. We want to fulfill our purpose for You. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Name the Place

And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Exodus 17:7 NIV

For so many different reasons, I really like reading the book of Exodus. Every time I read through it, I catch something else I didn't actually see before. I love how God's Word is alive and always so relevant. 

In our text for today, it's the part of the story regarding the provision of manna and water from the rock. One would think in a desert, the Israelites would have been thrilled to have provision, but they'd already been complaining about literally everything since they began their exodus from Egypt. (However, if you remember, they complained about everything while they were in Egypt, too.)  

It was the custom to name a place or landmark by the major events that occurred there. As in today's text, Massah means testing and Meribah means quarreling. They demanded of Moses, "Is the Lord among us or not?" because they weren't seeing results they thought they should be seeing. Ouch...

Don't we do the very same thing?  We petition the Lord and then expect it to be accomplished the way we think it should be done. Well, perhaps I shouldn't answer for you, but I know I do exactly that. And when it's not done on my preconceived schedule or in the way I would do it, I even have the nerve to ask God where He is... Oh, Father, forgive me.

What will be the name of the places where we have met with God? Think about that for a moment. If you don't like what you think it might be called, ask God to change it. With our proper response to HIS calling, God has no problem giving us a new Name.

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for testing You and quarreling and complaining when things don't go as we have planned. In our hearts, Lord, we want to follow Your plan. Help us, O God, to learn Your ways and to trust them. Give us wisdom and understanding, in Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen