Through Every Storm

But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
Psalm 77:11 NLT

Today, my life was the living epistle of Psalm 77. I was mad that Hurricane Laura is projected to be a Category 3 before landfall in my part of the world. I had great concern for all the tasks that had to be completed today in preparation and I had no idea how I was going to get it all done. My daughter and son-in-love were expected home today from seeing his children, but not until late this evening. There were things at the office that needed to be done, too, and those who normally would have been part of the task force have been laid off during the pandemic. We also needed to evacuate...

Midway through my tirade, the Holy Spirit reminded me that God has gotten me through EVERY storm that has come my way. EVERY storm. Every hurricane, every tornado, every physical storm, every emotional cyclone... I may have lost some stuff along the way, but it's just stuff. I am alive, my children are alive, my grandchildren are alive. My Redeemer LIVES!

So right there, I stopped and began to thank God for all the times He has brought me through. All the times He has rescued my family. I acknowledged ALL the provision He has made during my life and the lives of my subsequent generations. And I praised Him for all His mighty works.

Within the hour, my son and daughter-in-love showed up to prep the house, and several guys from work volunteered to take care of the office needs. Not to mention, I was able to find a hotel that was pet-friendly, affordable and available, and I had the funds for it. My needs were met yet again and all I did was thank Him for what He'd already done. Children, pay attention! Through EVERY storm...

Prayer:

Father, 

           I cannot stop thinking about Your mighty works. O God, Your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as You? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate Your awesome power among the nations. By Your strong arm, You redeem Your people. And we are so grateful! Continue to remind us of Your mercy and grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Literally

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 

Mark 4:35-36 NLT

Few people speak literally. Have you ever noticed that? It can quickly become confusing when trying to make a decision to act, based on what someone has said. Did they mean it literally? Was there a veiled message in it? Did you notice any innuendos? Double entendres? 

Jesus spoke literally. (Yes, He told parables and other stories, but when He did, He always let you know that's what it was.) We're never left guessing when it comes to the spoken Word. And Jesus said He speaks only what the Father tells Him. The same God the Father who spoke the world into existence, "Let there be light." And there was light!  That Jesus said,"Let's cross to the other side of the lake."

Jesus did not say, "Let's go drown in the middle of the lake because of the storm that's coming."  They heard Him, they got in the boat and started out - heading to the other side. Then circumstances changed and they lost all hope of living to see the other side! And what was Jesus doing? Jesus was sleeping on a pillow...not moved by tossing waves, stormy seas. Why? Because He'd already spoken it. 

We would do well to remember that circumstances may change. God’s Word never does.

Can we believe the literal Word of God? Yes, I know we can, but DO we?

Prayer:

Father,

         Forgive us for allowing the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, to crowd out the words You have spoken to us. Let Your Word and Your Word alone be the bread of life to us.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Yes and No

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Matthew 5:37 NKJV

"Let me be perfectly honest with you..." Wait - does this mean you haven't been being honest with me?!? 

"In all honesty..." as opposed to NOT in all honesty? Wouldn't that be lying? 

"Truth be told..." And here I thought you've been telling me the truth all along...

These are some of the goofy phrases people use to try to convince others that whatever they're saying is more honest than what they've said before. How is that supposed to make them appear more trustworthy? If you want to be trustworthy, it's simple. Tell the truth. 

And don't use empty words to try to make yourself look good. If you say you're going to pray for someone, then pray for them. Do it! ...let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’  

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray as David prayed in Psalm 19, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Focus

Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well:
2nd Kings 4:26 KJV

How many of us would be able to proclaim what the Shunammite woman did? And what about Job? In the book of Job, chapter 1 - Job, a very wealthy man, loses all of his children and all his possessions in one day. Scripture tells us at the end of the chapter, Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Some of us get a hangnail and we want to blame God. Get stuck in traffic and "God, you could move this, if you wanted to..."  Go to bed late because we get caught up in YouTube or Facebook, and when the alarm goes off, instead of 'Good morning, Lord', we're groaning, 'Good Lord, it's morning!' as though it's His fault we're tired...

Let's take a little time to think about the good things God has done for each of us. The times He's brought us through, pulled us up and lifted us out, covered us, delivered, redeemed, and set us free. Just to name a few... Is your focus - your heart - toward the circumstance or toward God?

Prayer:

Father, 

           Forgive us for the petty things in life that we allow to steal our focus away from you. Let us ALWAYS think of what You've already done, what You're doing, and what You're going to do. Keep our hearts, minds, and souls ever toward You, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

To Keep Your Hope

And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.

Psalm 39:7

What is your hope? What is it anchored in? When the storms of life come (and they will!), do you lose hope or is your foundation sure? 

♪♫ My anchor holds and grips the solid Rock... His Name is Jesus... yes, He's the One... ♪♫

I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 NASB. When it's blowing and going with gale-force winds, what do you have to hold onto that is secure? Where will you 'hide' from the storms of life, and yet maintain your hope?

When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

Psalm 61:2b-4 NKJV

Do you have any guarantee for your hope? Anything that will back it up? What about the following?

God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

Hebrews 6:17-19 NLT

We have Word upon Word, promised forever. So in the principle of sowing and reaping, what are YOU sowing? I've just given you a page of encouragement to keep your hope!

Prayer:

           

Father,

           Let everything we sow be pleasing unto you. Let it bring forth fruit, according to Your Word. Encourage those around the world who are reading this. Multiply their hope in You. In Jesus' Name we pray.

What to Say

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.

Isaiah 40:28-29 NASB

Have you ever had those days that feel like all you do is go from one fire to the next without any lasting results? It's like trying to run a marathon with one foot nailed to the floor. You're giving it all you've got, but you're not getting anywhere. 

I've been so much busier that at first, I didn't recognize what was going on. Then through the hustle and bustle, I heard Him whisper, "Come away. Come spend time with Me. Make more time for Me - I will help you." More time spent on something means less time for everything else when it can feel like we don't have enough time as it is to get everything done in a day. In our finite minds, that doesn't make sense. What do you say to that?

However, we're talking about the Creator of the universe. The God of multiplying, not dividing. The One Who always gives more! I was reminded of that when I read Proverbs 21:21, He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor. We pursue righteousness and loyalty and He gives us LIFE. God gives so much more than we could think or ask. So what do you say to a God like that?

You say, "Yes, Lord."

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for always loving us. Thank You for always having the right answer and providing it for us. Thank You for knowing what we have need of before we even ask and for being patient and kind enough to allow us to come into Your presence where all our needs are met. Father, let our heart's desire be always toward You. We want to know You more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Light

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:2-4 KJV

Light is a very powerful force. Movie fans are fascinated by light sabers and in the real world, laser surgery is considered the latest and greatest. The world is fascinated by lights. Electronic games and pinball machines and shoes that light up! Even Sin City is known for its lights! Every picture or postcard of Las Vegas I've ever seen was taken with its lights glittering. Why? Because light attracts.

Light is God's idea - His first words on record. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good... And it was so good, that He used it in the New Covenant as well. The Light appears in Matthew, chapter one, and again in chapter four. Later in John 8:12, Jesus announces, I am the light of the world... David told us in Psalm 119 that the Word is a lamp and light to guide our way so that we may see clearly.

Directly following the Beatitudes given by Christ and in the same sermon, He says in Matthew 5:14-16, You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

HIS light in you. Let YOUR light shine... Let there be light!

Prayer:

Father,
         Cause us to seek after the Truth of Your Word. Let us soak up so much of Your Truth that we reflect Your true light - Life-giving light - to a world that is dying in darkness. Help us to be purposeful in living and reflecting Your light, so that others will be drawn to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It's What's Inside that Counts

Then Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
Acts 3:6 KJV

What an amazing story – our Scripture text for today! Peter ministering miraculous healing on his way into the temple. A few chapters later, Scripture tells us that people brought the sick and diseased into the street so that Peter's shadow would fall on them and as a result, they would be healed. His shadow! That's amazing!!

What's more amazing to me in all of it is that this took place AFTER Peter had denied Christ three times... ♪♫ Grace... Grace... God's Grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within...♪♫

Have you ever given serious thought about what took place in the heart of Peter to get him to that place in his walk where his shadow held enough of God's power to heal? It’s available to all of us. Selah. Here’s the Promise: I don’t have silver or gold, but what I DO have I give you: In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and… 

What’s inside of us? Because whatever it is, THAT'S what we’re giving people today and every day.

Prayer:

Father,         
             Help us to grasp and embrace the reality that the Spirit who lives inside of us is the exact same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead! Let THAT be what we give to those You have given us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

For My Good

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. 
Genesis 50:20a NLT

We're familiar with the story of Joseph and how his brothers threw him into the pit. His brothers intended harm. However, he went from the pit to Potiphar's house to prison (after being falsely accused) and then to the palace. But we all know the story's redemption. How Joseph was actually put in place to be able to save his family from extinction. In Genesis chapters 37 through 50, it is truly an incredible story.

One of promise. One of hope. One of beauty from ashes. 

We would do well to remember it and look for similarities in our own lives so we can give God praise. How many do you have? 

Look back with your spiritual eyes over the hard times in your life. What virtues were cultivated in the piling on of life's fertilizers?  Is it too soon to look back? Are you still in the middle of it all? Be encouraged! Take hope! Choose to thank God now in the midst of it all, KNOWING that He will put it all in place to make it work for your good.

Can you believe it?

Prayer:

Father,
          We know Your Word promises that You cause everything to work together for the good of those of us who love You and are called according to Your purpose for us. Help us always to recognize and give thanks for the opportunities to grow in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR-WF7J6Sf8

Weary

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:9-10 NIV

We live in an age of instant gratification. People don't like to wait for anything. I know I don't need to belabor the point with a list of examples. We're all aware of it. 

Unfortunately, many times that same impatience is carried over into our relationship with the Lord. We've all heard the humorous prayer, "Lord, I need patience and I need it right now!" We've forgotten that we are to wait on the Lord. We've allowed ourselves to get weary in well-doing. We've taken our eyes off God and His purpose in our lives and have begun to look only at what WE are doing; at what it is costing US in time and energy or resources. 

It's easy enough to do. I'm not here to accuse, but to encourage. If you are weary and just want to quit, let me remind you where we find the strength to continue. It is ONLY in the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 tells us,  But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Psalm 37:7-9 instructs us to Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

Choose to trust the Lord and His Word MORE than the trials and circumstances in your life ...at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray Your Word in Psalm 27, We are confident that we will see Your goodness while we are here in the land of the living. We will wait patiently for You. We will be brave and courageous. Yes, Lord, we will wait patiently for You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Obey AND Follow

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV

Anyone can believe - Scripture tells us even the demons believe and tremble - but not everyone will FOLLOW Christ as He follows God's leading. The way is hard, but the Word says He makes our crooked ways straight. 

Our text for today encourages us to look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He did not tell us, "Go get started. Run the race. Let Me know how you do." No, He wrote the story and He'll finish it. Our job is to follow and be obedient. Not fix it on our own, not finish on our own, nor flounder along the way. 

We are to obey and follow. Not question, not quit, nor quake in fear at what we cannot possibly do without God's help. Obey and follow. Follow in His footsteps. He goes before us and makes the crooked path straight. Our job is to trust, obey and follow.

He finishes. We will finish with Him. We will win because He has already won.

Prayer:

Father,

        Teach us to trust and obey and to follow You instead of trying to lead You all over our wilderness-in-the-making. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

To the Uttermost

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.
Hebrews 7:25 The Amplified Bible

One of the most frustrating things in life to me is to start a long-term process in great detail with one person and then, before it’s completed, have to pick up the process with someone new because the first person left. Details get lost in the process of bringing someone else up to speed. After the 2nd or 3rd time, one tends to take the short road, no matter how bumpy. You have all the history, you may even take all the files, but you don’t know if the new person will take the time to read all of that or if they'll even want to. Sometimes, it’s a project that has taken several years to define, only to be put on hold because of a change in management or leadership...

Sometimes, our lives are like that. If you've ever changed jobs or moved to a new town or did a combination of the two, it can feel a little crazy – okay, a LOT crazy – because it takes us out of our comfort zone, and we feel as though we have to start over finding those comfortable spots again. New mechanic, hairdresser, doctor, etc. However, our Scripture for today gives me hope. You see, as NOT perfect as I am at this point in my life, trust me when I tell you that through the Grace of God, there has been MUCH progress made overall. And no matter where His will takes me, no matter how many new people or systems come into my life, no matter how many are 'left behind' - the One Constant in my life is Him.

He is eternal. He knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. All of my days were numbered before I drew my first breath. There isn’t anything about me, good, bad or otherwise, that He doesn’t already know and has taken into account. I don’t have to worry about what He may find out that may color His opinion of me, He knows it all and loves me in spite of it. There isn’t anything in my present or my future that He doesn’t already know about and He has already made the way for me.

He might get angry with me, but with great mercies will He gather me unto Himself. (Isaiah 54:8)

He will never leave me, nor forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5)

His banner over me is love. (Song of Solomon 2:4)

He rejoices over me with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

I am safe in Him for all time. (Psalm 144:2)

Jesus is able to save me to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) because He is alive forever. He has risen indeed – Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Father,
           Lift our eyes to see the eternal, so that we don’t get stuck in the muck of today. You are our God, our Deliverer, Redeemer, Restorer, Refiner… Keep working in us, O Lord, so we come through the fire as pure gold; Fit to do Your will. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Whipped Together

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Today, I was reminded of one of the stories that makes its way around the Internet two or three times a year. I'm sure you've read this particular story. It's the one about the mother and daughter - the daughter is having a really tough day and doesn't understand why she has to go through so many trials. So the mom suggests making a cake together and the daughter is all for it.  In the process, the mother offers her daughter a taste of each of the ingredients by itself, and of course, the daughter refuses and is repulsed by the idea. After all, who wants to eat flour or baking powder, raw eggs, oil or vanilla extract, or even cocoa powder by itself? Yuck... but when you whip all that together - leaving nothing out - and combine it into a confined space with plenty of heat, you WILL want the end result.

Well, we all want to walk in love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. However, just like you can't be victorious without a battle, or be an overcomer without having something to overcome, how are we going to know peace unless we experience turmoil? How will we know long-suffering (the King James version for forbearance) unless we have suffered long and still walked in His peace? We cannot possibly know faithfulness unless we have been tempted to be unfaithful. 1st Corinthians 10:13 NLT reads,  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

I don't like battles. I don't like struggling or fighting to overcome. I abhor unfaithfulness. I hate turmoil, but I love God's peace. I love the compassion for my fellow man but that has come only by adversity and long-suffering and overcoming... You get the picture, right? These kinds of things are why David could write, Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!  And why Paul writes in Romans 8, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
      “ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
       We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So, when God whips all of it together - leaving nothing out - and then confines us and applies the heat, we WILL rise to the occasion... and the end result WILL be worth it.

Prayer:

Father,

         I want accomplished in me what You want to accomplish. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Did Anyone See That?

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
1st Corinthians 10:31-11:1 NLT

A friend sent me a poem that reminded me of this Scripture passage. I've seen the poem at least a dozen times, but it's a great reminder every time I read it. It's not about performing to the best of our ability for performance's sake. It's about doing and being the best we can be because someone - in this case, a child - is watching... and learning. (The poem is included at the end.) 

Our Christian walk is under the same scrutiny on a daily basis. Somebody somewhere is watching, is listening, is waiting to see what we will do in any given situation. Sometimes it can be about judging us, but mostly it's about silently observing and learning.

What will they learn if they watch you and me? Will they come to know the Christ of Calvary? Will they learn of His love or only of His Law? Will they know mercy or misery? Will they see patience or pouting? Hear praise or prattle?

What do we WANT them to learn from watching us?

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word, let me so live my life in Your Light, that You will be glorified. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
*****************************************************************************
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I looked at you and wanted to say, ‘Thanks for all the things I learned while I watched you, when you thought I wasn’t looking.'

Lasting

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.
Hebrews 11:24-26 NLT

We all remember stories that involve treasure chests. As children, we dreamed of finding one filled with gold coins or an abundance of jewels. Truth now - how many of us have ever kicked at a discarded bag or box on the off chance that there might be money in it? Have you ever allowed yourself to daydream of what you would do or buy or where you would go if you suddenly had a windfall of money?

Moses had it. He went from being a basket case to being the grandson of the richest man in Egypt (Exodus 2). They had the wealth and the best of everything. Money to burn and slaves to do their bidding for whatever they wanted. Someone to serve them hand and foot, do the cooking and the cleaning and fetching. Build a grand manor, etc. I would say, that could be pleasurable. However, it wasn't holy. 

Pharaoh's household were idolaters. They did not worship the true and living God. They worshiped gods of their flesh - sexually immoral, lascivious, gluttonous for the pleasures of sin. Yes, sin is pleasurable, but it's not lasting.

Pleasure is not eternal. However, the effect of sinful pleasure - the payoff - IS eternal. Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Matthew 6:20-21 instructs us to ...lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. So, where will we be?  In a season or everlasting? We must choose.  

Prayer:

Father,
         Open our eyes to see the true treasure - the everlasting, eternal treasure of following You. Give us the wisdom, strength and courage to choose life - the life we can find only in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It's Time

Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.
Revelation 14:14-16

Within one seed is the potential for a plantation. Can you cultivate and nourish what you've already sown or is it time to dig up and replant? Hosea 10:12 reads, I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’

There is some time left, not a lot, but enough if you start now. The time is coming. You want to be ready.

Prayer:

Father,
           You are the Author and Finisher of our faith. Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End. You knew the end from the beginning and made provision for our salvation in spite of our wicked ways. We do not want the harvest described in Hosea 10:13-14 for those who chose not to plant good seed. Open our hearts and minds to heed Your Word, Father. Shine Your light on us so we can see exactly what needs to be dug up and replanted. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Impossible Love

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Colossians 1:9-12 NKJV

Sometimes, life is hard. That's not surprising news to any of you who may be reading this. It's in the day-to-day doing of it that we are provided with ample opportunities to love as Christ loved us and gave Himself. Sometimes, we get tired of doing. Sometimes, we get tired of giving. Sometimes, we get tired of loving. What do we do then?

We go to our Source of life's blood and get more so that we can continue to do and to give and to love. Why? Because He has called us to love as He loved and He gave Himself for us. And just so we're clear, it's PEOPLE He called us to love, not inanimate things. It's easy to "love" things - they don't have mood swings, bad attitudes and they don't demand our time when we don't feel like it. Don't be confused - that's not love.

Paul prayed that we might be filled with the knowledge of God's will - wisdom, understanding (there's that word again). The commandment we are given is to love one another. That's hard. Sometimes, it's seemingly impossible, but... but for Christ. 

I've heard people remark, "Oh, yeah, it was easy for Him - God was His Father - He's part of the Triune God - He IS love."  I hear you, but do you hear God? I'll tell you, it wouldn't have been MY first choice to leave Heaven in all its glory where I walked in all authority to come to Earth as mere man, to be crucified for an ungrateful lot who - even after the sacrifice - would not recognize what had been done for them. His love prevailed. And that's the point. HIS strong love. HIS power to love.

Paul prayed it - that we would be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy... Strengthened with ALL might - by HIS power...patient and longsuffering...with joy. Yes, it's hard, but it's not impossible. 

Christ said it Himself as recorded in Matthew 19, ...with God all things are possible.

Prayer:

Father,
         We pray as Champ Traylor once prayed, 'Cleanse us of everything that would sap our strength for togetherness...Let us be Your alleluia in a joyless, fragmented world'. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Focus Challenge

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. 

Psalm 103:1-5a NLT

When life is this challenging, it can become all too easy to see only what's wrong in the world, in your town, in your life. I challenge you to look for what is good. That's it. Just a thought. Actively, intentionally look for what is good in your life. Need help getting started?

If nothing else, you're still breathing. That means you have another opportunity to DO something good for someone else or to do something to change YOUR life (especially if you can't seem to think of anything good in your life). If you're reading this, you still have a functioning brain. You still have your eyesight. You have a phone or computer to read it on, which means you have electricity or at least money to purchase batteries... See how easy this is?!?  

I challenge you to change your current focus to finding what is good, according to God's Word. Philippians 4:8, KJV. ...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Prayer:

Father,

          With my whole heart, I will praise Your holy Name. Let all that I am praise You, Lord; may I never forget the good things You have done, are doing and will do for me. I want to come into Your presence with thanksgiving and praise. Help me to keep my focus on You and Your faithfulness to me all the days of my life. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

God Knows

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."  And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel..."

Acts 9:10-15 NASB

Our text follows the account of Saul's - who later became Paul - Damascus road experience where he was blinded by the light of his encounter with Christ while Saul/Paul was on a mission to imprison every follower of Christ. I find it extremely amusing that he winds up on a street called Straight, that he had to have help to find...

Ananias answers immediately when God calls him, but then starts to argue, giving God all the reasons why he shouldn't do what God has asked. Do You know who this guy is? 
Do You realize what he did to Your saints in Jerusalem?  
Do you know he has the authority... 
Have you checked his credentials? 
Have you done a thorough background check on him?
 ...You're sending me to this guy?"   
And God's immediate response is "Go! I have chosen him..." And he sets Ananias on course to a street called Straight.

We do the same thing today. We want to tell God all the reasons why we can't do something He's called us to DO. God already knows. He's the One who intercepted you on that road with all the twists and bends, and now He's leading you to the one called Straight. 

Go. God knows where.

Prayer:

Father,

        Forgive our finite minds that cannot believe You could use something or someone less than perfect. Make our hearts obedient to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Blind Trust

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2nd Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

It's human nature to want to be able to see where you're going and what's going on. We don't even like it when someone sits in front of us and we can't see over them or around them. We like to be able to see what's coming at us or being thrown at us - whether it's life or a party game. I find it particularly interesting to note that adults who are normally very boisterous and outgoing become very quiet and still when blindfolded. Have you ever noticed that? What would be your reaction to being blindfolded?

I once attended a day retreat where one of the exercises was to be blindfolded while standing outside the building. Participants were divided into two groups. One group was led around the property by a friend or spouse and those in the other group were led around by someone they did not know. I watched adults break down and cry and refuse to move. If you'll excuse the pun, it was an eye-opening experience...

It really was all about trust and how well the blindfolded person knew the one who was leading. The people led by someone they didn't know were actually more pulled than led. There was no trust that the one leading them would safely guide them - even in the parking area. Friends leading friends were a little different - they were more led than pulled. Married couples - especially those I knew whose relationships were strong - it was almost as though the one wasn't blindfolded at all.

Relate that to our Christian walk. If we are to walk by faith and not by sight, do we trust the One who is leading us? It's not a matter of CAN we trust Him - God is trustworthy - even if we can't see where He's leading us. It truly is a matter of DO we trust Him? Do we trust Him to get us over - to get us through - to keep us - no matter what? No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in? No matter the trials and the struggles and the rough terrain? Do we trust Him? 

Faith is not about seeing your way clear, it's about knowing God will make a way - even when you can't see how. It's about trusting God even when what you see is NOT what you WANT to see. Do you know Him well enough to walk by faith at His leading and not by sight?

Prayer:

Father,
          You are Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End. You are Almighty, Sovereign, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Creator of the universe. You are our Provider, our Healer, our Deliverer, and Redeemer. You are our Savior who takes our sin-stained lives and makes us holy and righteous unto You. We choose to trust You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

On the Rocks

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.
Psalm 61:2 NKJV

Wouldn't it be great if you lived at the beach with the sun shining, and no humidity, and life was full of Tastycake chocolate cupcakes, and broiled lobster with drawn butter and neither one had any calories or fat grams and...  and... okay, reality check.

Sometimes life is a quarantine with no end in sight, no cream for your coffee, rain that starts Friday night and stops Monday morning, a water main break in the middle of your shower, and worse... All you have to do is read the headlines on any given day. It can be SO much worse.

Sometimes it's a result of wrong choices. Sometimes, it's an attack from the enemy of our soul. Sometimes it's just life. But always - ALWAYS - God stands ready as the Rock of our salvation. The solid Rock. Our firm foundation. Our Shelter. Our Shield. Our Deliverer. Our Strength. When life feels like we've been thrown on the rocks, Christ is the Rock on which we can stand.

Prayer:

Father,
         We want to follow Your will for our lives. You are our faithful Friend. According to Your Word, we know You hear us when we call. And we are thankful. Help us to remember that You are our ever-present help in time of trouble. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Doing it Right

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Galatians 6:7-8 NLT

The story goes that there was once a Christian farmer who vowed to do everything right so he would get a bumper crop. He tilled the ground and prepared the soil. The rows were laid out perfectly straight. He provided water for irrigation to combat the heat and drought conditions. He went to church. He prayed. He fasted. He BELIEVED for that bumper crop. And even though he did all those right things, it didn't happen. Why? Because he never planted the seed...

What is it that we're waiting for God to produce? We're praying. We're fasting. We're believing... Have we sown the seed? Let's ask God what we should be planting...  

Prayer:

Father,

           Open our eyes of understanding to give what we need in order to reap the harvest that YOU desire in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

You're a Pro...

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
2nd Peter 1:4 NLT

Let's think about that for a moment. There is a lot of corruption in the world that causes lots of problems for people. We don't need to name the problems because odds are we've either been in those problems caused by our human desires or have been part of those problems in someone else's life.

The good news is - just as His Word states - we have been given great and precious promises that enable us to share God's divine nature and escape sin. Who wouldn't want to be free from the world's corruption?

We can be PROs! We can either be the PROblem or we can live His PROmise. It's our choice...

Prayer:

Father,
            Help us to walk in the light and truth of Your promises that enable us to share in Your divine nature. We want to be more and more like You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What You Need

[Jesus speaking] "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

Matthew 6:31-33 NLT

I'm going back to one of my landmarks to give God praise yet again, to testify to you who I know God to be, and to remind myself of what I know. 

I had a bill come in that was totally unexpected. I was not happy. I talked about it to several of my friends. You know, complaining,  ‘Oh Woe is me... Wah Wah! Call the Wahmbulance...’ 

Then God talked to ME about it.

I don't mean physically came down and talked to me. I mean Scripture that I've read popped into my head or I was reminded by something I heard or read elsewhere. Till finally, I asked God to forgive me for not trusting Him in all things. I'm ashamed about how quickly I'd forgotten His provision for me. I slapped myself like a V-8 commercial and said aloud, "God, You are my Provider. You have always been and You always will be. I choose You. I don't know how You will, but I know YOU and I know You will."

The next day, in going through some files at the office, I found an expense report that was six months old. It had no marking that it had been processed, so I called and asked about it. It had not been processed. It was a little less than one-third of the unexpected bill, but I thanked God for it. Unexpected provision. Then I got a check in the mail from an insurance company to inform me that in closing a case, they discovered they had underpaid me... an amount that, combined with the expense report, paid in full the unexpected bill.

...but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs... I'm not talking about prosperity or a Gimme God. He's not a good luck charm. He knows what we NEED. It's as true today as it was then.

What do you need? Do you need a Savior? You need peace? You need wisdom? You need healing? His Word promises that He will give us everything we need. Maybe it's not always the way we plan or think, but when we go to Him, when we trust Him, God supplies what we need for the demands on our lives. 

Prayer:

Father,

          You are all I need. Thank You for always being there for me in spite of myself. Help me to get me out of the way of what You want to do in my life. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

About Heaven

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

What do you hope for? What are your dreams? On what have you set your sights? Is it the new house - the new car? The raise or a new job? Getting the kids through school? Being healthy? Retirement?

If it's true that our direction determines our destiny, where are we striving to be? Are any of your hopes, dreams or goals set primarily with the idea of moving you further along on your way to Heaven? There is a reason I ask. I had fallen into the abyss of "If I can just get through this... If I can make it to that... or till then..." I'd lost sight of our true goal, and I'm wondering if maybe you had, too.

Paul warns us in Philippians 3:19-20, that those who think only about this life here on earth are headed for destruction. And then he reminds us that we are citizens of Heaven. I had to ask myself, "Am I as homesick for Heaven as I was for Texas when I was working in another state?" I hate to admit that I'd never thought of it in that way.

For me, I need to refocus. I must stop judging people's actions and pray for their salvation. I have stopped looking at the bad that's happening in the world and set my sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ our Saviour sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.

Prayer:

Father,
            We do not want to be enemies of the Cross. Change my heart, O God, to think about the things of heaven, and not the things of earth. Forgive me for losing sight of the goal. Help me to remember that my real life is hidden with Christ in You. And when Christ is revealed to the whole world, we as Your children, will share in all His glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen