Psalm 62 - A Calm Resolve to Wait for the Salvation of God

Only in God do I find rest; my salvation comes from Him.
Only God is my Rock and my Salvation— my Stronghold!—I won’t be shaken anymore.

How long will all of you attack others; how long will you tear them down as if they were leaning walls or broken-down fences? The only desire of this people is to bring others down low; they delight in deception.  With their mouths they bless, but inside they are cursing. Selah

Oh, I must find rest in God only, because my hope comes from Him! Only God is my Rock and my Salvation — my Stronghold! — I will not be shaken.

My deliverance and glory depend on God. God is my strong rock. My refuge is in God. All you people: Trust in Him at all times! Pour out your hearts before Him! God is our refuge! Selah

Human beings are nothing but a breath. Human beings are nothing but lies. They don’t even register on a scale; taken all together they are lighter than a breath! Don’t trust in violence; don’t set false hopes in robbery. When wealth bears fruit, don’t set your heart on it.

God has spoken one thing— make it two things— that I myself have heard: that strength belongs to God, and faithful love comes from You, my Lord— and that You will repay everyone according to their deeds. Psalm 62 Common English Bible

Prayer:

Father,

          So let it be written. So let it be done. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Revisiting the Purpose of Faith

So do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. For in a very short time, "The One who is coming will come and will not be delayed. Those who are right with me will live by faith. But if they turn back with fear, I will not be pleased with them."  (references Habakkuk 2:3–4) 

But we are not those who turn back and are lost. We are people who have faith and are saved.

Hebrews 32:35-39 New Century Version

The purpose of our faith is to please God.

Hebrews 11:5-6 tells us, By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I want God to be pleased with me. In plain English, I do not want the Creator of the Universe ticked off at me. Do you? How unintelligent would that be? Life can be difficult and very complex, but faith in God is simple. It is. Truly. The Word tells us that God gives to everyone a measure of faith. So He gives us what we need - we just need to hold on to it, and use it. If God gave you money, you'd use it, wouldn't you? I'd say that's pretty simple.

Jim Mackey preached a great message a while back. For those of you who didn't hear it, let me give you the gist of it in this little paragraph. Faith can change a situation. Faith can change lives. Will we let faith change us? It definitely should change us, but it should also do much more than that. Faith should define our lives.

Yes, our lives should be lived to please God - that is the defining purpose of faith. Going back to our text, So do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. For in a very short time, "The One who is coming will come and will not be delayed. Those who are right with me will live by faith. But if they turn back with fear, I will not be pleased with them." (references Habakkuk 2:3–4)  

But we are not those who turn back and are lost. We are people who have faith and are saved. Amen?

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for the measure of faith that You have given to each of us. Help us to use it wisely, Lord. We want to please You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

I Knew It

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 
1st Peter 1:6 NLT

Yes, that IS where I finished yesterday's Promise... but it seemed like a "heads up" alert when I first became conscious this morning. Plus, I woke up with strains from Zach Williams' Old Church Choir, 'There ain't nothin' gonna steal my joy...' Then a quick, two-phrase email sent this morning from a friend and former Bible study leader, his last phrase was "keep pressing on in His joy..." Sometimes, it's like listening to the radio - you can be tuned in, but not really listening. But all three within minutes of awakening lent a whole new meaning to "out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, shall everything be established" 😊 I knew I was being warned and fortified for the day and sure enough, within moments, it began. An onslaught diabolically designed to steal my joy. 

The truth is, I have had 10 straight days of diabolically designed, and I haven't been winning as much as I'd like, but this morning, thankfully, I was tuned in AND paying attention. I am pleased to report that when the opportunity came to be ugly, by the overwhelming Grace of God, I was able to count it all joy because He had created a right spirit within me. By His grace and all for His glory! 

Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for preparing me and equipping me for the day's battle. Thank You for making it a day of sweet surprises, full of Your overwhelming Grace. I pray again as I prayed this morning, please put Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth... In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Let It Grow! Let It Grow!

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

You know it's easy to serve the Lord when everything is going well. It's easy to be kind. It's easy to be loving. It's easy to be patient - in the good times. It's really easy to have great joy when everything's good. Would you agree?  

We've talked about it before - there are times I still struggle with considering troubles as opportunities for great joy. I can lose sight of the joy when the mountains of obstacles overwhelm me on every side. That is the test of our faith - the opportunity for our endurance to grow. (Some translations read patience for endurance.) So, how important is that, anyway, to let our endurance grow?

In Matthew 24:13, Jesus tells us just how important, But the one who endures to the end will be saved. I don't want to have made it this far only to give up when we're so close to the end, do you? As the writer of Hebrews exhorts us in 12:1, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

So let's join with James, and Jesus, and the great cloud of witnesses, and do as Peter says, So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. (1st Peter 1:6 NLT)

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for the opportunities for great joy! Thank You for the faith-building endurance training. Thank You for strengthening us to to be able to endure to the end, just as You have said, so that we will be saved. Let us be found faithful to the end. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

And We Were Slinging...

There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
Luke 15:13-16 The Message

When we think of mud-slinging, we usually think politics. Who can find the dirt - who can sling it with the most effect. It gets ugly real fast! And it would seem logical to me that those who want to sling the mud don't want me to look at them too closely. Could be part of their ploy. If I'm busy looking at the mud, I might miss the obvious about the mud slinger...which could be worse than the mud slingee. Slinger wants to make himself look good by making Slingee look bad.

When I was a kid, I remember one time seeing my father slinging mud at the back of our car. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing, so I wandered closer and asked. He told me the tags were out on the car and he didn’t have the money to get them renewed so he was covering up the sticker with a little mud, but wanted to make it look as “natural” as possible. "That way," he said, "I don't look like a lawbreaker, I just look like someone who doesn't wash his car." I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone all the reasons that was wrong...I can't even go there, but it's typical of a compromised life.

We run into those same kinds of people who have known who Christ is, who have walked with Him but then have decided - for whatever reason - that they want to live their life the way THEY want to. So they start justifying - slinging mud - that way they don't look so bad when compared to the mud. After all, a pigsty is a great place for finding mud to sling. We need to pray that - like the prodigal son - they will wake up to the Truth that they are living in the equivalent of pig slop and waste.

But God has called us to be holy. To be pure and undefiled. Christ is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. You CAN get there - even if you come from the pigsty. 2nd Corinthians 6:17 tells us, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 

Come on out and sling off that mud.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for Your Word that instructs us in detail regarding our walk with You. Help us to write Your instructions on our hearts. Let any mud in our lives be what is used to heal our blinded eyes. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Why Is It Always "The Bible Says..."?

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

Revelation 21:4 NLT

What if the last words you spoke or wrote could be the last words a person would ever hear or read? My opinions are not answers to life's challenges. I don't understand the why or the wherefore of things. You ask me why is it always "the Bible says..."? Because the Bible is Truth. It's Light in the darkness. It's the Way out and up. You speak the Word of God - you speak LIFE! That's why! 

For those facing overwhelming issues, I PROMISE YOU, God is still God and He is still on the Throne.

Psalm 61:

¹ Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.
 ² From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  
 ³ For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
 ⁴ I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.  Selah  

Psalm 23:

 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
 ³ He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
 ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
    For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Romans 5:18-21 The Message

Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person [Jesus] did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right. All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.

Prayer:

Father,

         I personally haven't the right words to say or pray tonight or any night, but I am so grateful for Your Words and I thank You for them and for the opportunity to share them with one more person. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Among the Thorns

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Matthew 13:22 NIV

I can't say I've ever been thankful for thorns. They are inherent hindrances to keep you from the obvious - the rose, but you may not know they are also on a variety of citrus fruit trees; oranges, grapefruits, lemon, limes. I grew up never knowing there were vicious thorns on orange trees. I have learned there are thorn-less varieties available, but they typically produce less fruit. I thought that was interesting especially when considering our Promise for Today.

Sometimes, it seems we have to be among the thorns in order to gather the fruit in our lives. According to God's Word, it is in the midst of affliction where we learn about and experience God's comfort and compassion. The same comfort that we are to offer to others in their afflictions. However, the Truth is we can't offer what we've never had... For the heart of compassion for others grows in us among the thorns (the afflictions of life), but only if and when we hear His Word and we don't let the thorns choke it out of us. That's how and where we find the ability to give thanks in the thorns.

2nd Corinthians 1:3-4, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. And we receive it there among the thorns...

Prayer:

Father,

           As long as You are with us, it is what is best for our lives... even in the thorns. Open our eyes to see the Truth of Your Word and to give thanks in ALL things. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Believing Prayer

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

People who don't believe they're going to get an answer when they pray are right. The Bible says, "Whatsoever you believe..." And if we say, "Well, I don't believe that will happen." We're right; it won't. If we declare, "Oh, woe is me..." and list all our reasons why we don't believe, the Word declares, "As your faith is, so be it unto you..."

Now you know I'm not talking about praying Blab-it-Grab-it kinds of prayers. I'm talking about faith-filled, cancer-curing, sight-restoring, gimp-be-gone kind of praying. BELIEVING prayer! Trusting God no matter what you see or don't see. No matter what the doctor says. 2nd Corinthians 10:4-5, For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...

William Barclay's Study Bible Notes on Paul's letter to the Philippians addresses believing prayer, and since he writes so well, I'd like to share a few excerpts from his book.

Barclay writes:

Paul lays it down that "thanksgiving must be the universal accompaniment of prayer." ...Paul insists that we must give thanks in everything, in laughter and in tears, in sorrows and in joys alike. That implies two things. It implies gratitude, but it also implies perfect submission to the will of God. It is only when we are fully convinced that God is working all things together for good that we can really feel the perfect gratitude which believing prayer demands.

When we pray, we must always remember three things...
1. the love of God, which ever seeks and desires only what is best for us.
2. the wisdom of God, which alone knows what is best for us.
3. the power of God, which alone can bring to pass that which is best for us.

He who prays with a perfect belief and trust in the love, the wisdom and the power of God will find God's peace. [God's peace] is utterly and entirely beyond man's ability to obtain by himself...The way to peace is to take ourselves and all whom we hold dear, to take all life, and to place them and it trustingly in prayer in the hands of God.

Peace is the result of believing prayer.

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for not believing when we pray - for not believing You hear us, for not believing that You care enough about us. Let faith rise up and take the place of doubt. Breathe on us and cause Your Word to come alive in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Prepared to Go

The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”

Matthew 3:3 NLT

Hurricane Season is three weeks old. Since Harvey last year, everywhere I look, there are signs advertising this for hurricane preparedness and that for hurricane preparedness and the other for hurricane preparedness. Our corporate safety minutes for the month of June all have to do with hurricane preparedness. For three weeks, we've listened to the experts tell us all the tell-tale signs and what to expect to the point that I'm already tired of the hype. 

The truth is, if another hurricane should head this way (God forbid), I'll be looking for all that information. However, I'll be looking more for the way out of here. It's wisdom to be prepared, so, I'm prepared. I've got what I need: my car has a full tank of gas, new tires aired and checked, new oil change in the car - checklist of what needs to go and enough PTO that I can avoid the evacuation rush. If it happens, we're ready and we'll just go.

However, on my way home today, I was reminded of that same attitude of the world, regarding the end times of the world as we know it. I got to thinking about 2nd Peter 3: 3-4 where it reads, Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”  And they ignore the tell-tale signs of the times, and the warnings and the love message that they MUST be born again - because they're tired of hearing it.

They've had plenty of warning - centuries to prepare - and when our Father sends His Son to come get His bride, the only thing the news stations will be reporting will be after the event, when they're wondering where thousands of people went who just disappeared off the face of the Earth. Those of us who have prepared - who have repented of our sin and asked God to forgive us - who acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, the only Way to the Father by His Blood that was shed on Calvary, and who believe that His death, burial and resurrection were all about redeeming us from our sin - that's who will go. There won't be any hurricane tracking charts to let you know how much time is left before the Evacuation, no immediate advance warning - other than a trumpet blast - and that will be too late to be already prepared. If it happened now, are you ready to go?

If not, I'll be happy to tell you how. 

Prayer:

Father,

       For that one who is lost, or the ones who have slipped away from their relationship with You and mistakenly think You won't take them back this many times later, release them from their fear, Father, or whatever it is that holds them back from the one True salvation. All roads don't lead to You, but I know You can find us and draw us to You from wherever we are. Please, Father. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen  

Give What?

However, Peter said to him, “I don’t have any money, but I’ll give you what I do have. Through the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, walk!” Peter took hold of the man’s right hand and began to help him up. Immediately, the man’s feet and ankles became strong. Springing to his feet, he stood up and started to walk. He went with Peter and John into the temple courtyard. The man was walking, jumping, and praising God.
Acts 3:6-8 GWT

This is a man who had been carried to the gate Beautiful...every day...so he could beg. Just think about that for a moment. Try to put yourself in that position. Every day, carried by others to the Temple courtyard. Every day - all day - being left there to beg alms from the same people who showed up - every day - at the 3 o'clock prayer meeting... (if you read down to verse 10 - they all knew the beggar, too!) Every day - calling out "Alms for the poor!" "Alms for the poor!" 

What've you got to give? I'm certain after not too long, people avoided eye contact - wouldn't look at him - didn't "see" him. We've all been guilty of it - especially if we've got something to give, but we're choosing to buy the burger and fries or the grande at the coffee shop.

Pay attention - what've you got? Are you free to give it? If not, GET free! Peter did and told him so! "Look here! I don't have what you're asking for, but I'll give you everything I've got which is everything you'll ever need!" Is that what YOU'VE got? Is that what you'll give?

Prayer:

Father,
Birth a new desire for Your Word in our hearts and the understanding to know how to apply it, and where and when to share it! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

How Long?

The LORD said to Moses, How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?
Numbers 14:11

We think we have all the time in the world. We think because God is a loving God that He won't really mind if we keep putting Him off - pushing Him to the back burner. After all, we're going to get to Him eventually, right? It's not really rebellion... or is it?

Let's think about that for a moment. Last time I checked not doing what you were asked to do - expected to do - was a definition of rebellion. The Bible puts it this way:

What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.

Does that change the time frame at all? How long now?

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for sinning against You. Forgive us for our rebellious ways. Deliver us from them. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

To Boldly Go... *

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Ephesians 3:20 The Message Bible

When we know that we are in right-standing with God, doing our best to follow Him and His path for our lives, we have no problem getting our message across, do we? The Truth about doing something with boldness is to know that you are absolutely in the right. I think one of the boldest people in Scripture is Paul.

Paul writes in Ephesians 3,

The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus.

The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board. This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.

And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!

All this is proceeding along lines planned all along by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. When we trust in Him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go.

Peter comes in a very close second for being one of the boldest. I tend to love Peter just a little more because I can SO identify with his ability to mess up… but can you in your wildest dreams imagine walking outside in the middle of a city-wide event and preaching the Message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and 3,000 people get saved?!? That's what it's like to boldly go...

Prayer:

Father,
          In Paul’s words, my response is to get down on my knees before You, the magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask You to strengthen us by Your Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in us as we open the door and invite Him in. And I ask You that with both feet planted firmly on love, we’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, in Your fullness, O God. So we can boldly go wherever we need to go to say whatever needs to be said. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Believe Whatever

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
Romans 4:18-25 NLT

In the 21st Century, whatever has taken on a very negative connotation. A one-word response of Whatever in the course of a conversation is the equivalent of I'm not even going to discuss this with you any further because it's pointless to argue with anyone who is that (arrogant, opinionated, stupid, etc). In the same way, it can also mean, I don't believe a word you're saying, and I'm not wasting any more energy to talk to you.

No matter its use, whatever is a one-word phrase that speaks volumes. And it always has, or at least as far back as my dictionaries go (1884). It's emphatic. Why, whatever do you mean? In at least one point, it encompasses anything and everything. Whatever gave you that idea? Whatever did we do before cars, air-conditioners... etc. But to bring it back to the Promise - These days, more often than not, if you expound on certain beliefs, society has become increasingly swift to respond with "Believe whatever you want..." And many, when asked point-blank what they believe will respond with an airy, Whatever...

Can you imagine what Abraham would (NOT) have received if he'd chosen to believe whatever in today's vernacular? Instead, he chose the full promise of it. Our Promise text tells us, Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Anything and everything. We can believe whatever He promises.

Prayer:

Father,
           We believe You will also count us as righteous if we believe in You, the One who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with You. And we choose to believe that whatever You promised Your children, You are able to do. Help us to walk in faith, believing. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Last night, I was reading some of the previous Promises and this one - Cloudy, with a Glimpse of Son - witnessed to me, so I thought I would post it again. I hope you don't mind.

*************************************

I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord. “In that day, I will answer,” says the Lord. “I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds. And the sky will answer the earth with rain. Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries of the grain, the grapevines, and the olive trees."
Hosea 2:20-22a NLT

When I was a kid, I hated the rain. It got dark. You couldn't go outside. And if my mother saw even the slightest flash of lightning, the TV was unplugged and we couldn't talk on the phone, either... But I loved rainbows! And you can't have a rainbow, unless there is some rain. Amen?

This morning, I took a detour to Sylvan Beach to watch the sunrise. The clouds were thick, yet they caught the glimmering pink of the sun before it peeked over the horizon. The dull grey of the water took on a pearlized beauty as it mirrored the coral color caught in the clouds... the same clouds that promised rain at some point during the day... And as much as we need the rain, for the briefest of moments, I did not want to be rained on while doing the errands I had on my list for today.

As I watched the morning dawn, the clouds thickened, and as they did, the sun continued its unhurried, yet constant ascent to break over the horizon, hurling its colors across those clouds. While the morning dawned on me, it also dawned on me that without the clouds, there would be nothing to reflect the light that causes the color to be so breathtaking. Some people may hate to see clouds in the sky, but no clouds equals no incredible colors sponged in streaks across the sky. And it was then I caught the parallel to our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.

If our lives were perfect, no dark times, we could be a light that people might notice if we were gone, but rarely do they stop to look at a clear sky. However, when the clouds of discouragement or distress bluster in and billow around us, if we will reflect the Son as HE lights our way, the breathtaking beauty of HIS reflection will cause those who witness it to pull over, stop and drink it all in.

The sky pleads for clouds to answer the earth with rain to provide water for the thirsty cries of those living things that would die without the evidence of rain... His latter rain.

Prayer:

Father,
        You know what we need to make us grow in You and to effectively touch the lives of those around us. We trust You, Lord. Bring on the sun and the rain as You see fit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Not Enough Time

But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
Galatians 6:8b-10 The Message

We live in a fast and furious world. This highway sure seems to have a lot of potholes, detours and roadblocks, but there doesn't seem to be any speed limit signs or designated pit stops. We work crazy hours, the A/C is on the fritz, the car's making a weird noise, kids, grandkids, elderly parents, veterinary bills, health issues, funerals... I don't know where the time goes. We get up early and go to bed later than we wanted to and every minute in between seems to clamor for attention from something or somebody. At this point you might be thinking, "This is your Promise for Today? Is this supposed to make me feel better?"

No, those are the facts. Life. Things that are actually happening. For those of you who have been on this journey with me for awhile, you know about facts vs. Truth. The best illustration is the story of my life. Facts are: A drunk, drug abuse, and the garbage that goes with it. The TRUTH is: Born again child of the Most High God, walking in His righteousness - in right standing with the Father, my Redeemer, Deliverer. You see, God's Truth always - ALWAYS - overcomes the facts of life.

Fast and furious world, no time - those are the facts, but the Truth is found in Matthew 11:28-29 NLT, Then Jesus said,“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

In the midst of our hurry-scurry world, that's our Promise for Today and every day. If we will take the time to spend part of our day with Him, He will give us rest and we will be strengthened for the rest of our day.

Be encouraged, Dear Ones. God is a faithful God. Look above the circumstances! Look above the cares and trials of this world to the Author AND the Finisher of our faith. If He started it, He WILL finish it. In a world where there is too much going on, I offer you Truth over the facts of your life. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11).

Prayer:

Father,
             Thank You for Your Truth. In these crazy times we live in, help us to keep our focus on You, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In the tough times, Father, when it's hard to see and understand, cover us with Your wings of mercy and grace when we come to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Like a Radio Station

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:11-13 NKJV

Bob Hamp excels at providing 21st Century parables pertaining to the kingdom of God. The latest one I heard begins, The Kingdom of God is like a radio station... Bob was giving a word picture of how the Kingdom of God is "at hand" - not as in imminently coming sometime in the near future, but all around us, like sound waves.

We know that radio stations broadcast all the time. The programming is on the air waves all around us, but we don't hear them unless we're set up with the right receiver. It's the same way with the Holy Spirit. He's always speaking, but we don't hear Him unless we're set up to receive.

Things to think about:

• Are we plugged in?
• Do we have the right Source of power?
• Are we turned on?
• What are we seeking first? Matthew 6:33 tells us to Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness
• Are we tuned in?
• Are we daily staying connected to God?

It takes a daily connection. Jesus knew that. His Word tells us to daily pick up the Cross. EVERY day, we're receiving signal (hearing stuff). EVERY day, we're broadcasting (speaking) something. So, what is it? Are we broadcasting love? Are we broadcasting LIFE? Or are we broadcasting discontent, despair, death? We are going to broadcast what we receive.

What is God saying? Are we tuned in to God's frequency? That's what we need to receive and that's what we need to broadcast. Who or what is your station manager? Check your programming guide.

Prayer:

Father,
Teach us to tune in to Your voice. Whether on the mountain top or in the valley, fine-tune our hearts to be able to receive You. Help us to know and understand that to keep the connection and not lose power takes daily plugging in to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It Makes Me Want to Shout

We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead. From such terrible dangers of death he saved us, and will save us; and we have placed our hope in him that he will save us again, as you help us by means of your prayers for us.
2nd Corinthians 1:9-11a Good News Translation

We've all gone through those times where the battle truly is in our minds - the voice of the accuser running down the list of our past failures, reminding us of each and every one. How do you fight that? The only effective weapon is the Word of God, sharper than any two-edged sword...

Who we are is based on the Truth of God's Word, not the voice of the accuser - the father of all lies. So when the list runs, I CHOOSE to be grateful because I am reminded of all that God has brought me out of; how He has delivered me; how He has saved me, is saving me now and will save me, according to His Truth.  And that makes me start singing the old song, ♪♫ When I think about the Lord... It makes me want to shout, Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus!♪♫ The battle is the Lord's and the victory is ours!

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray from Hebrews 6 - We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. Right into Your very presence, O God, our Strength, our Deliverer! We want to be with You! Help us, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Eating Light

O taste and see that the LORD is good...
Psalm 34:8a

I love summertime foods! Ice-cold watermelon, straight-from-the-garden fruits and vegetables, Yum!! It's a season of just naturally eating lighter fare. Summer seems to be so much healthier for our physical bodies!

However, summer is also the time when people tend to slack off spiritually. They're out of town more on the weekends and they tend to not go to church when they're not at home. Oftentimes, they don't pack their Bible (and somehow forget that it's available on their phone via Google or an app).

Here's the thing - we eat every day to sustain our physical life, right? How often do we eat to sustain and grow our spiritual life? Are you a little hungry or are you starving? Cry out for nourishment - 1st Peter 2:2-3 NLT reads, Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. 

Psalm 119:103 declares, How sweet Your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. 

In John 1:14 we are told, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

 And a few chapters later, Jesus Himself declares He is the Light of the world. So eating Light spiritually, also sounds like good eating to me. It's summertime - Help yourself to more!

Prayer:

Father,

           Jeremiah said, When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, Lord God Almighty. Help us to remember that our best nourishment comes only from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Helping Hand

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Luke 22:31-32 NKJV

I am often surprised that we (myself included) allow ourselves to be deluded into believing that since we are Christians, nothing is supposed to touch us. That we can be shocked and confused when something less than wonderful comes our way… or when we fall down… Let me encourage you in the Word because after all, we are supposed to encourage one another while it is called Today.

Proverbs 24:16a - The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.

Job 5:19 - From six troubles He will deliver you, Even in seven evil will not touch you.

Selections from Psalm 37:
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.

34 Put your hope in the Lord.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.

39 The Lord rescues the godly;
He is their fortress in times of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them,
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they find shelter in Him.

Jesus said, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.

Prayer:

Father,
          I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that we will be strong in the power of YOUR might – that we will lean on Your arms and not trust the strength of mere man. Let that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead and that now resides in every follower of Christ RISE UP and cause us to be the overcomers You intend for us to be! You’ve done Your part – the shed Blood of the Lamb. Give us Your strength to do what You have planned for us to do. I pray for everyone reading this, whether on the Promise list or forwarded by a friend, for a renewing and a reviving of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Pour in, Father. We need more of You. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Lest I Forget - Reminding Myself

We love each other because he loved us first.

1^st John 4:19 NLT

I have come to the conclusion that left to my own devices, I would be THE most selfish… because I know how selfish I am now and that’s with me trying to follow Christ. However, I have GREAT hope!

You see, since following Christ, there are things I won’t do now because I know the selfish act would hurt someone. But I sure used to and didn’t think twice about it…  There are things I say now that pierce my heart as soon as they’re out of my mouth, but they’re fewer and farther between. And even at that, I’m encouraged because they DO pierce my heart whereas before I would have heedlessly used them to slice and dice. Because of Christ, I’m quicker to apologize and seek forgiveness.

Before Christ, I used to pride myself about how fiercely I loved those I considered mine. Now I know I didn’t have a clue. The only way I can love others – the ONLY way they can love me – is because He loved us first.

In our sin… In our selfishness… In the absence of all things holy… When we were unlovable by any standard, He loved us.

You’ve seen it lots of times in e-mails. Let me share it again.

I asked Jesus, How much do You love me?

This much! He replied.

Then He stretched out His arms and died… because He loved us.

Prayer:

Father,

           Lest I forget Gethsemane; Lest I forget Thine agony; Lest I forget Thy love for me – lead me to Calvary!  In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen

The Heart Knows

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.
1st Thessalonians 4:16-18 NLT

Do you ever watch the YouTube videos of the soldiers returning to their families? From the youngest to the oldest, the depth of honesty in their response is overwhelming. All pretense, any pride for-the-sake-of-appearances, and all self-consciousness are thrown aside and what you experience is the intense integrity of the love and the long-anticipated reunion... and I cry every time with the overwhelming emotion of it.

In every situation imaginable, people are going on with their day-to-day living, doing whatever they need to do to cross one more day off the calendar toward that homecoming, but inside is that deep longing, the on-the-edge gnawing awareness that a part of you is missing and will soon be coming back. And the closer the day looms, even when you don't know the exact date, the more you feel it. The heart knows...But it's very clear in those videos whose hearts are involved and who are just observers...

Are we anticipating the return of Christ in that same manner? Are we crossing off the days that make it one day closer to His return? We don't have the exact date, but we know it's soon. Can't you feel it? The heart knows... Is your heart involved or are you just an observer? Will it be a grand reunion or grave regret? The choice is still yours. He loves you. Give Him your heart today.

Prayer:

Father,
            Our hearts are responding to Your most famous act of love - You loved us so much that You gave Your only Son, so that whoever would believe in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. How extraordinary that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and we believe in our heart that You raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. We can hardly stand to wait much longer. I know You're the only One who knows when You will send Jesus so we can be reunited. Even so, come quickly, Lord! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

More Than > Less Than

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:37 NKJV

What is the first word to come to your mind when you make a mistake or forget something? What is your perception of yourself as a human being - Is your focus on strengths first or weaknesses?

I have noticed that generally, the first word out of someone's mouth when they make a mistake or forget something is one of three in their self-talk: Dummy. Stupid. Idiot. On top of that, self-perception usually focuses on inadequacies, flaws, weaknesses. Bottom line. We're human. We have all of those and often it makes us feel 'less than'.

Although, if we're purposefully following Christ, our identity should be in Him. However, I can count on one hand the number of people I know who can look in a mirror and see the 'fearfully and wonderfully made' person in their reflection. (King David, Psalm 139:14)

It's perfectly okay to be honest with ourselves about our weaknesses, as long as we recognize and walk in the grace of God and His love which enable us to overcome. But in being that honest about weaknesses, let's not buy into the subtleties of the enemy of our soul whose goal it is to keep our focus on our 'less thans'. Remember, he wants to kill, steal and destroy our lives and purpose.

The point I want to make is this - let's be sure when we experience those weaknesses that we remember (or seek out) the Truths that are written in His Word. For starters - in our weakness, God is strength (see 2nd Corinthians 12). (If you want/need more examples, Google "We say God says".)

If God is in it, we will win it! He makes us more than our less thans... because He is.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for making provision for our every need - spiritual, physical, financial. Your love is overwhelming and overwhelmingly good. Teach us to trust You in ALL things and help us to get our Truths from Your Word only. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Turn It Off - by request

My sister, Michelle, asked me to re-post this one today. She said somebody needs this again... 

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But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 

Matthew 6:6 

I remember being in my early twenties when I read the first article about how much more I could get done if I would multi-task. Oh, I thought it was marvelous! Today, the ability to multi-task is highly regarded - both in the business world and socially. But it's become a Frankenstein of sorts.

Thirty years ago, multi-tasking meant making lists or catching a few paragraphs of a good book while you were waiting in inevitable lines. Now, it's checking e-mails while you're talking or texting to someone on your phone, and IM-ing in another window, with YouTube playing in the other window, and Facebook notifications in yet another window, and perusing what's available on Amazon in still another, while checking your bank balance in the final window to see if you can afford to purchase what's on Craig's List in the window that's in the far right corner of your monitor... unless of course, you have a dual monitor, in which case you can add a lot more...

It's the constant state of partial attention that makes me crazy. With all this technology, we supposedly accomplish all that much more. However, the fact of the matter is, we do not. And lest you think I have finally reached the age of being an old fogey, out of touch with today, let me tell you that even Intel "sees information overload as a serious problem" in its own company. Balex Research has estimated that the corporate world lost an average of $900 BILLION dollars in revenue due to time inefficiencies having to do with "information overload." ¹ 

And while I will agree that the next generation coming of age has unbelievable technical ability and more intelligence at the literal tips of their fingers, I also find an overwhelming number of techies - no matter what age they are - have very little ability for sustained attention, have absolutely no patience, they cannot and will not tolerate anything or anyone that slows them down, and they are most uncomfortable with silence. And you can flat forget about being still, so it is not only the corporate world that has lost...

In Psalm 46, God challenges us to Be still and now that I am God. When was the last time you remember being absolutely still before God? When was the last time you turned off everything - music, cell phones, TV in the background - EVERYTHING - and got before the Lord with your total attention on Him (and not with one eye on the clock)? Just asking, not accusing.

We complain that we cannot hear the voice of God. Scripture describes it as a still, small voice. Listen, He's speaking... If we can't hear it, then let's turn something off.
Prayer:

Father,
Forgive us for not being fully in the moment with You, while always expecting You to be fully in the moment with us. Help us to focus our whole heart, our whole mind, our whole strength on You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

1 http://www.basexblog.com/2008/12/19/information-overload-now-900-billion-what-is-your-organizations-exposure/

Need Your Help Breaking it Down

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2nd Corinthians 4:1-6 NIV

Need Your Help Breaking it Down - no, I'm not talking about furniture or heavy trash pick up or dancing. I'm talking about verse 6.

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

What is "the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ"? Seriously, I'm asking for your help...

Work Ethic

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Colossians 3:23 NLT

Ethics moments are becoming a hot business topic these days. Some of them have to do with what is the legality of the defining line of gift or bribe. It also has much to do with personal integrity - what you will or won't do that affects the business bottom line. In my mind, how you choose to live your life on a daily basis determines your work ethic. If the standards you've chosen are good, your work ethic will be a good one.

So, it's surprising to me every time I hear someone say, "Yeah, but that's just what I do at work" Or "That's the spiritual part of my life..." As though there are two different parts of their life. But the Truth is everything we do is supposed to be as unto the Lord, so doesn't that make our whole life spiritual, if we're following Christ?

I'm sure I've used this verse before, but I think Romans 12:1 in the Message says it best, So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.

And Paul even talks about eating again the same way in 1st Corinthians 10:31, So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

So if we Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people, shouldn't we, as Christians, have the highest standards for our work ethic?

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for setting the standards for our lives and for giving us the grace to be able to implement them in our everyday, ordinary life—our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life. We want to place our lives before You as an offering - holy and acceptable to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Are You With Me?

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2nd Kings 6:15-17 NIV

Now and again, in the tough times of life (which everyone has experienced), we tend to feel outnumbered and often, alone. Looking at the circumstances, we begin to believe that LIE. Nobody cares. Nobody's there. We're all alone. Lies, lies and more lies!

The Truth is found (always!) in God's Word. In Hebrews 13:5, God promises to never leave us nor forsake us (the writer of Hebrews is actually quoting Deuteronomy). And Jesus declared in Matthew 28:20 that He will always be with us - even to the end of the age. The age hasn't ended... So, you are not abandoned. No! You are not alone.

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray as Elisha prayed that You would open the eyes of everyone who can only see the circumstances that surround them. Light up their lives with Your Presence and holy fire. Shine the Light of Your Truth to dispel the darkness of satan's lies. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Business Casual

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist...
Ephesians 6:13-14a NIV

Some people LOVE to dress up. They have to get just the right outfit to wear for whatever event or party they're going to next. And the question is usually, "What are you wearing?" Sometimes, even if it's for a meeting! (Actually, that one I can relate to.) The thing is, I'm not a "Big Event" kind of person. Business casual is more my style, at work and at home.

However, my daughter's getting married in July. I have clothes that I could wear to "A Wedding" - that is, someone else's wedding. Someone who is not related to me in the first person. I don't have anything that is suitable as the mother of the bride. Oh, I've looked at a few dresses in a moment here or a moment there online, but nothing's hit me as "this is it". At least, nothing I'm willing to pay the price for ...yet. However, in the back of my mind, I know I have to be dressed for the occasion, and dressed appropriately.

Believe it or not, thinking about it today, made me think about the armor of God and how it is the perfect example of being dressed appropriately. Putting it on should be a daily event in our lives because of what we face every day. Battles decide who is victorious and who is enslaved. You don't go into battle against the enemy of your soul in business casual!

There's nothing casual about the schemes of satan to enslave and destroy our lives, so we must be suitably dressed. If you think about it, it is quite marvelous that God provides us with every weapon suitable to rise to every occasion, but please note - He starts with the belt of Truth. You see, if we go in knowing the Truth, we will not become enslaved to any of satan's lies! So, what are you wearing to this big event?

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for providing the perfect things to wear for every occasion. As it reads in the Message, Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. They are the armor by which we win. Cause us to be ever mindful of what we should be wearing. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Who'd You Say You Are

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
Micah 7:8 NIV

When it comes to who we are, do we believe the lies of the enemy of our souls, or do we believe what the Word of God declares about who we are? We already know the enemy's lies because we hear them every day. How often do we hear or read the Truth of God's Word over the facts of our lives? Find out who you are. Start here.

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.

It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life...

...All this energy issues from Christ: God raised Him from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which He speaks and acts, by which He fills everything with His presence. Ephesians 1:11-14, 20-23 The Message 

So, When it comes to who we are, do we believe the lies of the enemy of our souls, or do we believe what the Word of God declares about who we are?

Prayer:

Father, 

         I ask You - the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make us intelligent and discerning in knowing You personally, our eyes focused and clear, so that we can see exactly what it is You are calling us to do, that we may grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life You have for Your followers. Fill us with a fresh and overwhelming desire to read Your Word - to know You. We give You praise for the utter extravagance of Your work in us who trust You.  Father, give us endless energy and boundless strength! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen