Plans for the New Year

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.
Romans 12:1-2 The Message

Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

3 I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

6-8 If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11-13 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

17-19 Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

20-21 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

And if we will daily choose to live by this epistle, it will truly be a Happy New Year.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for everything You have done for us in this year. Thank You that we are still on the upside of the dirt and able to affect lives for eternal choices. Broaden our sphere of influence so that we may touch more lives with Your love and for Your glory. According to Your Word, we take our everyday, ordinary life—our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before You as an offering. Help us, O God, to fulfill Your will. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

What's your 20?

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

It seems like the older I get, the faster the years go by. And here we are - getting ready to head into a new year. So many times we hear people say, "I'm so ready for this year to be over!" You may have even said it yourself. 

As we make plans for the new year, perhaps listing resolutions, we have to ask ourselves this question: Where are we in life? Have we been sidelined by a physical illness or emotional injury? Did we decide to take a shortcut along the way and then miss our turn? Were we distracted from our directions and then had to detour?  Did we promote someone in our lives to traffic control who had no business blowing a whistle and telling us where to go? How about this - are we only focusing on the tough things that happened this past year?

Today's Promise is one of Paul's greatest teachings - I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead...  Let's not focus on what we've lost. Rather, let's thank God for what we had for as long as we had it. If you're going to look back, I challenge you to look for the good because there's plenty of it. Square one - God is still on His throne. You're still breathing. He still has a plan and purpose for your life - plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray this prayer from Guideposts, make our new year a happy one. Not by shielding us from sorrow and pain, but by strengthening us to bear it if it comes. Not by making our path easy, but by making us sturdy enough to tread any path. Not by taking hardship from us, but by taking all cowardice and fear from our hearts as we meet hardships. Not by granting us unbroken sunshine, but by keeping our face bright even in the shadows. Not by making our life always pleasant, but by showing us where men and His cause need us most and by making us zealous to be there and to help. God, make our year a happy one. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Situational Salvation

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 
Hebrews 5:7 NLT

When bad things happen in life, people often demand to know why and they tend to accuse God. Why would God allow this to happen? Why didn't God stop this? Why wasn't He there? Romans 8:35b reads, Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? Verse 38 emphatically declares No! Nothing can separate us from God's love. And yet, that's what we tend to believe. Or oftentimes, we think if we'd only known what was going to happen, that somehow we could have been prepared and it would be easier, or we could have found a different way around it. 

I find it interesting to note that in today's choice of Scripture, it says God heard Jesus's prayers when He was in the garden, praying to be rescued from death. Jesus KNEW what was coming. I find it even more interesting to know that God did NOT rescue Jesus from the situation. There was nothing lessened or made easier. Even though He prayed earnestly and fervently, Jesus was still scourged and beaten unrecognizable and then crucified.

He would have liked to have had a way around it, but Jesus chose to be obedient (Nevertheless, Thy will be done), based solely on what the Father had told Him. Hebrews 5:8 reads, Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In Matthew 26:53-54, Jesus confirms His choice to obey, Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now? As the Son of God, Jesus could do whatever He wanted. As a man, He had to walk in obedience or we would have no hope for salvation. 

Verse 9 of today's passage reads, In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Our source of eternal salvation, not situational salvation. Not based on the situations in our lives, but based on the foundational Truth of God's Word. Can we stand in obedience to God even in our situations?

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for the Truth of Your Word. Help us to be as David, Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee... We choose to walk in obedience to You, regardless of the situations in our lives. Like the old song says, Father, "Lift me up above the shadows..." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Forever

Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

Psalm 112:6b-7

Trust in him at all times, oh people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 62:8

Today has been a hard day. The granddaughter of a dear friend of mine passed away (due to illness), and an older friend of mine died today, as well. I have cried a lot even though I know without a doubt where both of them will spend eternity. It is beyond sad when we lose loved ones. 

I am also moved to tears for the family members and beloved friends who are left bereft in their loss. We want to comfort them with word and deed, but the truth is there are no words spoken to them that will make it okay. However, words breathed in prayer to God on behalf of those in sorrow will bring both the comfort and the peace that passes understanding. We don't have to know how that works, we just need to trust God at all times that it will. 

We mourn, but not as the world mourns without hope. We trust a God who has promised us eternity with Him. This loss is not forever. 

Jesus is forever. Heaven is forever. This separation is not.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your peace in the midst of the storms of life. Thank You for Your promise of no tears in Heaven. Thank You for the foundation and stability of Your Word that comforts us and holds us above the floodwaters of life. Wrap Your loving presence around us as we weep with those who weep, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

On An Even Keel

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 
Hebrews 13:8 NLT

The frantic hoopla and the preparation and the parties. It's over... well, almost. The after-Christmas sales have started - where they mark them up so they can mark them down and we take our gift cards and buy, buy, buy! And then what? How do we balance the adrenaline rush of Christmas with the rest of winter? It's so anticlimatic...

That tends to happen when we live our life and have our expectation based on what's going on around us, rather than in us. When we ask Jesus to be our Savior and invite Him into our lives, we have a constant, a balance, a solid Rock. 

In Malachi 3, God tells us, I am the LORD, I change not. That's how we know we can count on God, lean on Him, rest in Him and according to Scripture, in Him live, move and have our being. It doesn't matter how many laws are written to allow or justify sin, God doesn't change to adjust to society's demands or the latest trends. He doesn't change His mind in the midst of the storms of life, in the swells of life or in the depths.

We all know life is made up of change. Life as we know it changes so quickly and sometimes so violently, it's hard to keep an even keel. What does that mean? Even keel is a nautical term and it refers to the boat staying steady and not being tossed about. The reason is that it draws the same amount of water abaft as forward. Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the Living Water. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If we steadily draw from Him, His Word, we will always be on an even keel.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for being the One thing we can count on to keep us anchored and steady. Let Your light guide us through the storms, in the swells and in the depths. Keep us on an even keel, Lord. Draw us ever closer to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

No Argument There

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.
Mark 5:18-20 NLT

Have you noticed that more and more people like to argue - and sometimes over the least inconsequential matter? Only now they call it sharing... Some like to argue just for the sake of arguing. I'm half-Italian; we can argue loud and long over just about anything. 

People will argue about the virgin birth, where the wise men first saw Jesus, walking on water, healing, belly buttons, for crying out loud. However, there is one thing people can't possibly argue about and that is your testimony of what God did for you. In the simple telling of how you got saved, there is no room for argument. 

Take a minute and allow yourselves to remember the details of how and when you got saved. You don't need to get into a great theological discussion or debate. Go ahead. Think about it. Rehearse it... Pray for divine appointments, then go tell it. They can't argue with your testimony. 

Prayer:

Father,
          Awaken within us a burning desire to spread the Good News to this lost and dying world. Fan the flame within us so that no one within the sound of our voice spends eternity in hell. Bring peace and confidence - a holy boldness, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Non-Threatening

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
Luke 2:10-12 KJV

Do you ever wonder why God chose to come as a baby to save the world? I don't have any great revelation on it, but when I think of all a new baby represents in my world, I am definitely in awe. There is something so pure, so new beginning, so apolitical. 

There are so many emotions that surround the birth of a child. Awe and wonder. Hope. Fear. Dreams. The promise of continuity. The uncertainty of the unknown. Joy unspeakable. Everyone reacts differently but no one is intimidated by the physical stature of an infant (unless maybe it's their baby and they're not sure of their ability to care and raise for it). Babies are defenseless. Non-threatening. 

Don't misunderstand. Jesus is very much the Lord of all lords. Every bit the Messiah. The Son of El Shaddai. King of the world. And He was all that before He was ever born! Do you suppose He came as a baby so we could feel the promise of all that He represented - all that was spoken of Him before He was born - all so that we could receive Him and not be afraid? 

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for such an incredible expression of Your love for us. Open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, our minds to understand, and our hearts to receive and embrace this precious gift of salvation that You have given us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Worth the Repeat - Are You Ready?

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. 
Luke 2:8-10 NKJV

The most-asked question the last few days, "Are you ready for Christmas?" I want to answer that question with one of my own, "Are you ready for Christ's return?" 

A few years back, I read Twas the Night Before Jesus Came, a pastiche of Twas the Night Before Christmas. It was a sad state of affairs detailing the lack of prayer and care regarding Christ's return. It can be found here: https://bible.org/illustration/twas-night-jesus-came-0 . It was quite sobering. 

I think oftentimes we get caught up in the holiday and all the honey-do lists and gifts, etc, and forget why we celebrate and what we should be looking for.  That's very dangerous. Matthew 24:44 NIV tells us, So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  Are you ready?

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for sending Your Son to a lost and dying world so that we - through Him - might be saved, healed, set free, discipled, equipped, empowered, and serving others. Help us, O God, to walk accordingly.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Reason to Praise

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:1a NKJV

Christmas Eve eve - when my children were young, that's what they called today. The day before - when everything felt like it was in limbo just waiting for the day! The high expectation. Fever pitch anticipation! Barely able to wait another day... Isn't that how we should be looking forward to the SECOND coming of Christ?!?

Praise God in His sanctuary;Praise Him in His mighty firmament!Praise Him for His mighty acts;Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;Praise Him with the lute and harp!Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!Praise Him with loud cymbals;Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for being caught up in the day-to-day of living to the point of not watching and waiting for Your return. Wake us from our daily slumber with an expectation of You and that this could be The Day. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Adoration

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 NKJV

Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
Psalm 95:6 NKJV

Week 4 of Advent. Love and adoration. And perfectly set to music by one of the most popular Christmas carols. In English, it is titled, "O Come All Ye Faithful" or in Latin, "Adeste Fideles", and while its origin may be debatable, its message is not. 

O Come! Let us adore Him! O Come! Let us adore Him!    O Come! Let us adore Him - Christ the Lord!

What does it mean to adore in this sense? It is a call to worship; venerate; to reverence, honor. In this day and age, this notion may be lost on those who have never dealt with royalty. However, it would behoove us to obtain a better understanding of what it truly means. It's NOT just another Christmas song to be sung by rote. O that we would choose to awaken our hearts and minds to love the Lord our God wholly, completely, with all that is in us!

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for being complacent in our worship toward You. Help us to bring down the walls we have erected that separate us from You. We want to worship You in Spirit and in Truth, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Light of Peace

And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.  Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.

Luke 1:76-79

We are a world that is fascinated with light and lights. Those who create imitation light can make the same bulb dim or bright, blink or not blink, by controlling the power that gets to it. And they seem to be obsessed with making lights that are brighter, long-lasting, and that won't overheat. Think about it, we now have a whole generation that has never burned their fingers on a hot lightbulb but may be in danger of being blinded by the headlights on the newest vehicles. 

God in His great mercy has given mankind the wisdom and ability to function and create, and we, in turn, have done our best to try to eradicate our need for God. We want to do it our way, be self-sufficient, independent. At best, everything we have done is simply an imitation. A knock-off. Like the lights... 

We may be able to turn on a light to dispel the darkness in a room, to get rid of shadows, but without Christ, the light will go out. The shadows will creep in again. James 1:17 NKJV tells us, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. With Christ, the darkness may appear, but He is always the Light, shining to guide us to the path of peace.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for the light. Please continue to shine on us to dispel the darkness and reveal Your path for our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Maintaining

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
1st Peter 3:11 NLT

There is often a great misunderstanding about what peace is. Many view it as the cessation of fighting; which is largely the world view. However, rarely is it true peace in that realm. Mostly, that's one side having more power than the other, defeating the warring faction and intimidating them into submission or a ceasefire.

Jesus said the peace that He left for us is not as the world gives it. The peace that passes understanding is being able to not be conflicted in the midst of turmoil; to not be struggling within yourself or with others. Anyone can live in denial. They may act as if there is no conflict, but that's not the same thing as living in peace.

If an issue arises in relationship, we must search out the root and resolve it. Break it down between the parties until we can find a common ground to take it to the Lord together and leave it there. It's working troubles to a place where all involved are released from the conflict of it.

God's peace may require some extra effort, but it is lasting. It won't flare-up in trouble when one side gets "the advantage".I don't feel as though I'm expressing this properly, but I hope you can read through my bumbling on this and catch the difference.

Prayer:

Father,
            As the old saying goes, "No God, No Peace" and "Know God - Know peace". Your Word declares that You will keep us in perfect peace if we keep our minds fixed on You. As we choose to trust You in all things, Father. Help us to always seek Your peace and work to maintain it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Depending on You

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. 

For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. 

Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Romans 12:17-20 NLT

We've all heard it said, "You just can't be nice to some people." Generally, that is understood to mean that no matter how nice you are to them, they will not be nice in return, or no matter how much you give to them, it's never enough and they will not give an inch in return. Does that free us to literally not be nice to some people? No, it doesn't.

In the New King James Version of the Bible, verse 18 reads, If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. You see, as the believer, the Christ-follower, the one walking in Christ's footprints, YOU are instructed to live in peace - to NEVER take revenge - even if they've wronged you. Disney thought they had made it with "Let It Go" - but God told us first, and He said don't take revenge, either, promising that He would take care of it. That gives us the assurance and the confidence to go even further with the peace that God has gifted to us - to extend the hand of Jesus to our enemy, and on top of that to bring the person in and feed them. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. God is depending on you.

Prayer:

Father,

          We cast all our care on You, according to Your Word, knowing that You care for us. Help us to translate that care to those You've placed within our sphere of influence so that we do indeed live peaceably with all men. We want to be someone You can depend on. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Get Real

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NIV

Day 18 of Advent, the week of peace. At work today, we got into a discussion about change and the fact that most of us don't like it. Sure, we'd like to think our jobs will remain secure and not change unless WE want them to, but is that realistic in this day and age? Let's face it, we can stress just thinking about changing jobs or some other life event that we can't control. Let's ask ourselves... How much peace would we have if we didn't worry about our budget? If we could know our family was always going to be okay? That good health would prevail? That our relationships would always make us happy? That seems like an easy answer, doesn't it?

But, let's get real. How much peace would we have if we believed every word of God to be true?  If we believed He still does the miraculous in this day and age? If we truly believed He is who He says He is?

Do we believe God IS El Shaddai - the God who is sufficient for the needs of His people - or that El Shaddai was just a great song sung by Amy Grant over 30 years ago?  Do we believe He IS Jehovah Rophe - our Healer? Jehovah Jireh - our Provider? Do we know His Names - who HE says He is? Do we believe He still is all that? In Malachi 3:6, God tells us specifically that He is the Lord and He doesn't change.

There is a peace that comes in knowing all these things. A peace founded in a God who will never fail, never lie, never leave us. Jehovah Shalom - God our peace. Our God who is the same yesterday and today and forever. It doesn't get more real than that.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your Word. Illuminate it in our hearts and minds. Permeate every fiber of our being, making us alive in Your Truth. Help us to comprehend Your character so we can walk in Your Peace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Ruling Peace

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Colossians 3:14-15 NKJV

In the third chapter of Colossians, we're given a to-do list of what to develop after beginning a new life in Christ. And in verse 14, love is to be above all these things - the bond of perfection - bringing all the previously listed virtues into harmony so that we may be spiritually mature. 

That's good stuff right there, but what I'd like to focus on for a moment is let the peace of God rule in your hearts... It's not just saying 'have peace' or 'walk in peace'. It's not a suggestion, it's a Godly principle with purpose. Our hearts are where we have the most conflict, would you agree? Love and jealousy, trust and mistrust, hopes and fears, just to name a few. 

The translation for this word 'rule' is a verb in the context of umpiring or refereeing. Everyone knows that the umpire or the referee has the final rule on a play. It is that kind of rule that peace is supposed to have in our hearts. That peace calls 'foul' or 'safe'. That peace decides whether to trust or not.  That peace determines we can hope once again...

Does peace have that kind of rule in your heart? If not, check your heart; have you put on love above all else? Peace does not come without love.

Prayer:

Father, 

          We offer our gratitude to You for the gifts You have given us and praise You for all that You are - Redeemer, Healer, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, just to name a few. Teach us how to let Your peace have absolute rule in our hearts as we walk this walk of love with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Don't

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. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:6-8 NLT [emphasis mine]

If we would follow the simple instructions contained in these few verses, we would never be worried again...ever. I'm not kidding. Read it again... And yet, we still have bad mood days caused by worry. Why? Because we worry about the bills. We worry about the kids. We worry about work. We worry about our homes and the government and politics and you name it and we can stress over it. We're good at that. But the first word in our Promise for Today is "Don't..."

Have you ever told a friend, "Don't worry about it. Everything's going to be alright" only to have them reply, "I can't help but worry about it" as if they had no choice. However, Paul tells us not to worry which clearly indicates that we can choose NOT to. The implication in pray about everything is to trust God in all things. Not just believe that He CAN take care of things, but that we know He WILL and thank Him for it like it's a done deal. THEN you will experience God's peace...

Oh, yeah - and that final thing - Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Trust me when I say that does not mean listen to all talk radio or the news station all day. It does not mean to fall prey to all the vidstings in social media designed to get you up in arms. God's peace WILL guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus, but only when we don't worry.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for keeping it simple. Open our eyes and our hearts to catch the revelation of Your Truth and to be able to walk in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Peace On Earth

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:14 NKJV

Week three of Advent. This is actually an excerpt from an article online by Rethink church. I don't attend United Methodist, but this says what I wanted to say this evening. I don't believe in reinventing the wheel, so here it is. 

Peace on earth. Do we reserve it for greeting cards and songs? It might seem as if peace is elusive, especially when you see the daily news. So much pain. So much loss. So much fear. So much hate.

Yet, Advent is a whisper in the chaos. A small flicker of hope that peace might be more than an illusion or a catchy gimmick.

Peace. Peace that truly passes understanding.

This peace is what Advent wants to offer. Advent actually shouts, announcing this peace. Advent is nothing more than peace coming to us. Peace coming into the pain, loss, fear and hate and offering peace.

Christmas brings a peace that we only find because God refuses to stay aloof amid the pain, fear and hurt. God came into the midst of this hurting world. Why? To bring a peace that comes from realizing we are not alone.

Peace.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for peace that does truly pass understanding... In the midst of it all, You are there. You are our Jehovah Shalom, peace everlasting. Help us to remember to cast all our care to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Connecting the Dots

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
Isaiah 9:6-7b NKJV

The Old Testament prophesied the coming of the Christ child. The New Testament connects all the dots of the Old Testament in presenting Christ and fulfilling what God had prepared for us before the foundation of the Earth.  

Day 14 of the Advent season, the end of the week for preparation and the prophetic. When I was a child, I loved completing connect-the-dots puzzles that created pictures. Sometimes, I would study intently before ever connecting any dots to see if I could get an idea of what the picture might become. I figured then I would know if I should make straight-line connections or curved connections. I wanted to do it right. However, sometimes I couldn't figure out the picture no matter how I studied or tried to connect it.

That's one of the things I love so much about the Lord. He already knows what the picture of our lives will be because He planned it ahead of time. He's the ultimate in connecting the dots. We don't always know if it's a straight line to our next goal or if there will be curves required, but God, in His great grace, is there guiding our way. With Him, it will always be right. WITH Him, no worries.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for the measure of faith that You have given us to be able to trust You in this working out of our salvation; knowing that in You it will turn out right. Thank You for wonderfully weaving the tapestry of our lives before we ever drew breath. Holy Spirit, always guide us away from taking any pride in the accomplishments of our lives, recognizing that we could do nothing if God had not given us the abilities. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Getting Ready

[Jesus speaking] But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24:36-39, 44 NKJV

Day 13 - Advent season. Usually, it's the weather that is the conversation starter when people are waiting somewhere together with strangers. However, at this time of year, the question is always, "Are you ready for Christmas?"

In reading verse 44, I now have a different viewpoint. Getting ready is different than being ready. 

Are we getting ready for the world's version of a commercialized holiday or are we ready for the coming of Christ? We can't be in the process of getting ready when He shows up or we'll miss it. Jesus said for us to BE ready. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us if we have been too caught up in the manmade version of Christmas. Align our hearts with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Works

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

Day 12 of Advent in the week of preparation. 

At first glance, this passage seems to contradict itself - not by works and yet created to do good works. Oh, that we could fully grasp the Grace of God! Salvation and even our faith are both gifts from God. We can't earn them. We can't do anything to pay Him back for them. We are, however, changed by them. 

And it is the changing of our hearts, the renewing of our minds just to start with that lead us into good works - acts of service for others and for building God's kingdom. Prepared in advance for us to do because God FIRST planned and prepared the way for our salvation. Thankfully, He will use us to help lead others back into right relationship with Him. God's handiworks.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for salvation and grace and faith and for the opportunities to do good works. Keep us straight with the proper context of why we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, and help us to complete what You have prepared for us to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Leg to Stand On

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...

Ephesians 6:13-18 NKJV

We're in the second week of the Advent season and focused on being prepared. Our Promise for Today is a favorite passage, fully defining what we need to fight in life's battles. One can possess all the latest and greatest weaponry, and still lose if one doesn't have the proper covering and support on one's feet. Can you imagine running into a battle in your bare feet?!?

Everyone knows in the day-to-day mechanics of working that if your feet hurt, you're pretty much finished for the day. If you step on something or get a splinter or stub your toe... it affects your whole body. If you hunt and your feet get cold, it affects your whole body.

I believe it's crucial to acknowledge that Paul recognizes the importance of the proper footwear for battle. For while we are called to fight the good fight of faith, Romans 12:18 instructs us, If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. And the only way to do that is by making sure our feet are shod with the preparation of the good news of peace. The very peace that Christ promised in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Otherwise, our feet will be cut out from underneath us and we won't have a leg to stand on.

Prayer:

Father,

           We add our voices to this prayer uttered in the eleventh century, O Lord, look mercifully on us, and grant that we may choose the way of peace. Rescue us from the captivity of the sins which have oppressed us, that we may attain the dwellings of the heavenly Jerusalem; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Preparing the Way

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”

Matthew 3:1-3 NKJV

How do we prepare the way for something or someone? We can clear obstacles or defeat them. We could provide an introduction to either the person or the subject, thus making the way easier. That is what John did.

How could people be prepared to receive Christ if they didn't recognize their need for Him? How would they know they had a need for Him unless they first acknowledged their sin? One text writes, "John prepared the way for Jesus by preparing others to welcome Him."1

Do we prepare others to welcome Him? Are we preparing the way of the Lord?

Prayer: 

Father,
          We pray as Reverend Charles Halle prayed, O Lord God, at the first coming of your Son Jesus Christ, you sent John the Baptist in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way before Him.
Grant to the ministers of your Word and sacraments the same burning zeal to prepare the way for His coming again; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

1 Tyndale Life Application Bible p 1996

Preparing Hearts

Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him.
And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.
2 Chronicles 12:1, 14

We hear much today in Christiandom about reaching the next generation and how important it is now, especially in these last days. Let me say something here - it's ALWAYS been important!

Deuteronomy 11: 18-21, instructs us in the Message Bible, Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth.

Rehoboam was David's grandson and the son of Solomon. David, the man after God's own heart and Solomon the wisest man who ever lived... The successor to the throne from the line of David. A man of great influence, so much so that when he forsook the law of the Lord, all of Israel did so with him... and why? Because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. 

What are we doing to prepare our own hearts to seek the Lord and the hearts of our children and our children's children? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Help us to be ever mindful of the task before us - to teach Your Words to our children. To talk about You and Your Word wherever we are, sitting at home or walking in the street; to talk about Your Word from the time we get up in the morning until we fall into bed at night. Open the ears of those following after us to hear and embrace Your Words, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Making Preparation

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 13:26 NKJV

Do you have family coming in from out of town? Guests coming for the holidays? If so, you are probably already making preparation for their arrival.

If you celebrate Christmas, you may not yet have begun physically preparing for it, but more than likely you are at least thinking about it. You may have timelines steeped in family tradition like one of my sisters-in-law. She starts baking Christmas cookies after the first snowfall of the season. Her mother did it that way and her mother before that and the generation before them, too. (My question has always been "What if it doesn't snow - do we not get cookies?") The relevant point is that she makes preparation.

She buys all the ingredients ahead of time for every different kind of cookie she bakes. She rarely is missing any of the required items. Talk about making a list and checking it twice! She is always more than prepared and just waiting on that first snowflake! (I'm telling you, this woman bakes such wonderful goodness that she could start her own brand... except that there is already a Little Debbie's line of baked goods.)

The second week of Advent focuses on preparation. As we get further into the Advent season, are we thinking about the preparation that was made for us? Are we checking to see if we are prepared for Who is coming? Have we done what we need to do to be able to receive Him? Are we looking forward to His second coming and watching...waiting...?

Prayer:

Father,
            We pray as Sarah Martin prayed. Just as You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus, help us to clear the path in our hearts, too. Show us the distractions in our lives that block us from all-out worship of You this Advent. Lord, we await Your coming! As we celebrate Advent, we look toward the day where we will see You face to face. Give us a heart, Lord, that looks for Your coming on a daily basis. Help us to live our life where we constantly seek Your presence. Show us today how we need to be refined, purified, forgiven. Give us the strength to ask for forgiveness and to then change our ways. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Nurse and Rehearse

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
Psalm 42:11

Listening to the news, reading social media, perusing the headlines - literally everywhere you look, the news is discouraging. We live in a hurting world and their needs can sometimes feel overwhelming! And when we talk about it repeatedly with others, nursing and rehearsing all the bad, it just drives it deeper into our spirit.

I believe I've mentioned a quote I heard decades ago on a Marilyn Hickey broadcast. She was talking about sharing God with a lost and dying world and said, "If your outgo exceeds your income, your general upkeep will be your downfall." Do we fail to realize that if we continue to pour Christ into others and don't make the refill daily, we will get worn down? It's why we get discouraged; why we are so sad. 

It's too easy to get caught up in all that! We must put our hope in God! We must choose to praise Him again! If you want to nurse and rehearse things - make it the things of the Lord!

Prayer:

Father,

           We are forever grateful for the hope of our salvation in Christ; for the hope of Heaven; for the hope of eternity with You. Thank You for providing all of these things and so much more. Help us to keep our hearts and minds focused on that which is good - that comes from only You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Broken Spirit, Healing Hope

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

Lamentations 3:20-24 NLT

Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet". He was devastated by the fall of Jerusalem. In chapter 2, verse 11, he writes, "I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken. My spirit is poured out in agony..." Ever been there? I have. And the absolute Truth lived and proved out in my life is that the faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease!!

His love is the healing balm poured in and over us to make us whole again. His mercies embrace and envelop us when we could so easily be judged unworthy and left to pay our own consequences. Instead, His faithfulness lifts us above the swelling tide of our sin and grief, in the midst of all life - good and bad - giving us every reason to hope in Him.

Prayer:

Father,

           You are such a good, good Father! Always loving, ever merciful, full of grace and great! Great is Your faithfulness! Lift us up above the shadows to dwell eternally with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!

Pouring Out

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NLT 

Day 5, counting down the Advent. Wouldn't we all love to overflow with confident hope? To overflow, we must first be filled by the source of our hope. Have we properly prepared our hearts to be able to receive from God?

What good is hope if there is no room in our hearts to receive Him? If we are full of regret and harboring ill will against another, if we are nursing old wounds and posing with past mistakes then posting them, how will we embrace the gift of God? Are we ready to let go of the old - to pour it out so that we can be filled with fresh anointing? Will we choose to lay down our lives before the King of all kings? One can hope...

Prayer:

Father, 
          Thank You for Your promises of yes and amen! Thank You for fulfilling all of them with Christ. Give us eyes to see and to understand how to prepare our hearts to receive all that You would have us to do to bring others into Your kingdom. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Promise of Hope

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
Micah 5:2 NLT

Day Four, counting down the Advent. When my children were growing up, I purposed that I would never promise them anything that I wouldn't be able to follow through with. I wanted them to know that if I promised, it was going to happen. 

My youngest caught on at an early age that my yes was yes and my no was no. On several occasions, he said, "Don't say 'no', Mama, say 'we'll see'." He knew there was a glimmer of hope in a 'we'll see'.

I love the light in a child's eyes when hope is shining through, especially around holidays and birthdays. There's the expectation of something good about to happen.

Our Promise for Today - announcing the birthplace of our Messiah - was given 700 years before the birth of Christ, and in Ephesians 1:4, we're told God chose us through Christ before the foundations of the world. He gave us His Word - His promises - long, long ago. And He has made good on all of them.

Numbers 23:19 assures us, God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? I believe our heavenly Father loves the light of hope in His children's eyes because He has given us so much more than a glimmer of hope. He has given us His promise of hope. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for fulfilling the promises through Your Son for our salvation and redemption. Thank You for the Light of the world. Let His light shine through us for all the world to see and be drawn to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Hope Eternal

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:17-18 NIV

Day Three, counting down the Advent. Oftentimes, in the hustle and bustle and demands of the season, we can get stuck in the here-and-now and totally lose sight of Heaven. Be honest, when was the last time you gave Heaven any serious thought? What it would be like to be there - to finally reach our eternal TRUE haven of rest, no more crying, no more dying, no more goodbyes...

So many times I hear people exclaim in exasperation, "There has to be more to life than this!" They're fed up with work, bills, politics, this crazy world, and the list goes on. Let me assure you, there IS more to life than this! But only through Christ...  

There may seem to be no end in sight, no hope for the future, but God's Word clearly promises us both a future and hope. It was His whole reason for coming the first time - to give us that hope of salvation, redemption. Our Kinsman Redeemer. He's the reason we have hope for His second coming. Don't forget about that...

Prayer:

Father,
          We pray according to Your Word - our souls long for Your salvation. We hope in Your Word, knowing that You will renew our strength. Keep us focused, Father. In the midst of it all, cause us to never lose sight of the end goal. We choose to walk in the confidence that You who began the good work within us will continue Your work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus returns. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Gift of Hope

You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:12c-13a NLT

Day Two, counting down the Advent. Celebrating hope this first week. Is there anything more fun than children when coming into the Christmas season? Oh, they are so excited and have such great expectations! The anticipation of all the possibilities of things that could happen... 

One of my granddaughters is autistic and no matter how old she gets, from Thanksgiving on she will unabashedly ask, "Granna, what are you going to give me for Christmas?" just like she has every year since she could talk. Her expectation is that she will get a present from me; her hope is that it will be something she likes. LOL Her absolute delight would be keys of any kind...

I think she is much like how Christ meant for us to be when He said we should be like children - wanting to be with Him, full of expectation, trusting Him to care and provide, delighting that He has given us the keys to His kingdom.

For so long, we lived without God and without hope...  Proverbs 13:12 NLT tells us, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Living without hope can be so devastating, but praise God, He sent His Son into the world so that we could have the hope of glory! It is a glorious thing, hope. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for giving us Jesus and with Him, the gift of hope! Help us to be ever mindful of the price that was paid for our salvation and the redemption of our souls. Help us to walk humbly before You, God, and to be always grateful for all You have provided. Cause our hearts to be moved with compassion for others and to be generous givers in all we lay our hands to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Advent Begins

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John 1:9-14 NLT

The first Sunday of Advent. Loosely translated, it means 'coming'. As a child, my only knowledge of Advent came with a pop-out calendar that counted 24 days until Santa's coming on Christmas Eve. I have since learned that each week of Advent has its own theme. The first week is Hope or the Promise.

The Messiah was coming to Earth for the first time. And although they were looking for Him, He didn't come the way the world expected, so they missed His entrance. They had all their hope built up - waiting...and waiting...and waiting. They just couldn't see it.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. Do we do the same? Wait for Him? Watch for Him? Expect Jesus to show up in a certain way?

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. That is our hope, our promise - to be His children.

Prayer:

Father,
            You are our hope and our trust. According to Your Word, fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in You, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - The Price is Right

[Jesus speaking] I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.
John 14:27-28a NLT

I have to tell you about was this one HUGE gumball machine I saw at the mall. It was one of those new ones - an action gumball machine. No more do you have the put-the-coin-in-twist-the-knob-gumball-drops-out kind of machine. No, now it goes through loops and hoops and entertains you before it ever gets to the dispenser. And by the way, it's not a penny or a nickel, it's a quarter - for one gumball! - but even that wasn't what caught my eye.

The machine advertised "Peace of Mind" for a quarter. Yes, you read that correctly. Peace of mind... Just drop your quarter in, twist the knob, and watch the gumball / jawbreaker / whatever it was, come jumping through the hoops and loops and deliver peace of mind straight into your waiting fingers. In my mind, I just kept hearing Rod Roddy boom out, "This, too, can be yours if the Price is Right!"

I was struck to the very core of my being by the deception of all satan's lies being boiled down to a gumball machine. To think that peace can be obtained by purchasing anything that feeds your senses is a lie. That's counterfeit like every other lie satan sells and marketing has built an entire economy on it. We want it cheaper and faster and we'll swap it all if we can have it now. We don't want to make the commitment for excellence or to wait for those things worth waiting for. And the world wants to sell it to you - for a quarter from a gumball machine at the mall. This, too, can be yours if the Price is Right!

Jesus said, I am leaving you with A GIFT - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give... Jesus paid the price - the highest price - and then He gave it to us as a gift. satan wants you to sell your soul. What price will you pay?

Prayer:

Father,
           Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still! We want Your peace, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Building on Hope

You lived in this world without God and without hope.

Ephesians 2:12c NLT

I have talked with many people lately who have no hope. Many of them ARE without God, so their lack of hope - while very sad to me - is not surprising. There's an old saying that states, "No God - No peace. Know God - Know peace."  The Truth is, if you have no hope, you definitely have no peace. And that happens when we are separated from God - without Christ as our Advocate.

The passage from which our text is taken explains it...

 ¹ Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. ² You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. ³ All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

 ⁴ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) ⁶ For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. ⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
 ⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

 ¹¹ Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. ¹² In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. ¹³ But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Hope is so much more than wishing. We've talked about it before. There's a foundation for our hope. A sure foundation. A tried (and true) stone. A precious cornerstone, according to Isaiah 28:16. In the New Living Translation, it reads, Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
   “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken."

Wishing vanishes into thin air. There's no action to it. Hope - when based on the sure foundation of Christ and His Word - is something we can build on. It's solid. Hope in Christ.

Prayer:

Father,

            Because You are at our right hand we shall not be moved. Therefore our hearts are glad, and our glory rejoices; our flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave our soul in Sheol. And for this, we give You all praise and honor and glory due only to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Feeding Time

A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit. A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash. For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:13-15 NLT

If you want to get people talking, ask them what tradition makes it Thanksgiving for them. Even if they don't have fond memories of childhood gatherings, they usually DO have fond wishes of what they thought should be part of it. And I've never seen it fail that once that conversation starts, it usually progresses into the weirdest recipe ever used to serve turkey leftovers, with everyone in agreement that by the third day, they're done with turkey. They don't want to look at another piece of turkey, let alone eat it again.

I know lots of people who will not eat leftovers - ever - no matter what it is. They're a one-time only eater. As a general rule of thumb, I don't mind leftovers. In fact, some things taste better the next day - pot roast, chili, meatloaf sandwiches - but, I don't want a daily diet of leftovers and I don't know anyone who does. Do you?

And yet, many people eat leftovers every day. You know them. They're the ones who can't, or won't, trust God because they're still chewing on leftover disappointments. Still picking their teeth with sticks and stones from the past. They can't hear the kind words that are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body (Proverbs 16:24) because they're still full from yesterday's generous helpings of bitterness that they're trying to digest. By the same token, many can't take in the goodness of God because they've filled up on garbage.

What are you hungry for? Will you be wise or foolish in your choices? Do you want something fresh from Heaven or something that's been laying around for years? It's feeding time. What will you feed on today?

Prayer:

Father,
Your Word declares that You sent Your Son to set at liberty those who are held captive. It declares that we are new creations in Christ Jesus. Open our eyes and our hearts to understand and embrace the TRUTH of Your Word over the experiences of our lives. We want more of You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Faithful Love

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Hebrews 13:4-6 NLT

So many stories of love gone awry. There are WAY too many stories of unfaithful love in the headlines, and none of them sadder than when it involves someone who is supposed to be a Christian. Let’s just be very clear about this. It was NEVER – and HAS never – and WILL NEVER be in God’s plan for us to be unfaithful because HE is not unfaithful, nor can He be… and we are to be like Him.

Oh, we hear all the excuses…”There are too many temptations out there.” “I couldn’t help myself.” “It’s not my fault…” You can go to work or school and NOT have to be the most popular person. And, if you know the temptations are “out there,” then don’t GO “out there.” You CAN help yourself when you CHOOSE to follow God. One of the fruits of His Holy Spirit is self-control… And I don’t need Webster’s, Oxford’s or Funk & Wagnall’s to tell me that self-control means to control myself. I’m not even going to address “It’s not my fault…” Yes, it is.

What does it mean to be faithful? What does it take to be faithful? If we don’t know the answer to either of those, how can we be faithful? Either way - by whatever means we take - it’s only through God and striving to be like Him. His Word says we are to be like Him.

1st Corinthians 1:9 NKJV, God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1st Thessalonians 5: 23-24 NKJV, Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

2nd Thessalonians 3:2-3 NKJV, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

And while learning the process and in all things, Psalm 107:1 NLT instructs us to Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Prayer:

Father,
           Establish our hearts in You so that our whole spirit, soul, and body may be preserved blameless at the coming of Jesus Christ. You are faithful, Father, who also will do it. Cause us to be faithful to You and to the ones You have placed in our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - The Majority Rules

So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran.

This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!"

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” 

But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”

Numbers 13:3, 27-28, 30-33 NLT

If you've been a Christian for very long, you are more than likely very familiar with this story about the exodus from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea and the trek toward the Promised Land. Twelve men went and upon their return, ten basically said, "No way. No how." And only two - Caleb and Joshua - stood before the assembly and did the B.C. version of Bob the Builder - "Yes, we can!" Well, actually the KJV reads, "We are well able..." But the report was 10 - 2. Ten against, two for. Majority rule...And the report of the 10 swayed the crowd and all assembled there wanted to turn back.

Of the projected 2.5 MILLION people Moses led out of Egypt, only two - Moses and Aaron - fell on their faces before the congregation. When a relative or important leader died, or if there was a great calamity, it was customary for the Hebrews to tear their garments. Rending their clothes is the term used to describe this Hebrew custom which indicated DEEP sorrow. And two - Caleb and Joshua - rent their clothes and pleaded with the people to not rebel. How did they respond to Joshua and Caleb? Of the projected 2.5 million people, approximately 2,499,995 wanted to stone the two of them to death...(and get rid of Moses and Aaron). Would you take those odds? 2,499,995 to four (five, if you count Miriam). Sounds like a majority, doesn't it? That is until God showed up. And then there was a new majority...

You can read the rest of the story beginning in Numbers 14.

The point I want to make is this, if God has told you to do it, it doesn't matter what you see - how big the obstacles are between you and the goal - how many people tell you you can't do it. If God is in it - and it's just you and God - He IS the majority... and the Majority rules.

Prayer:

Father,

         In You, we are WELL able. Deliver us from the Grasshopper complex. BLIND us to the can't and shan't and find us in Your will fulfilled. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen