Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it...
Psalm 127:1 NKJV
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
Ephesians 2:20-21 NLT
And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.
1st Peter 2:5a NLT
You've heard it all your Christian life. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. John 15:4 NKJV, Jesus said, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. When we ask Jesus into our hearts, He moves in.
So... what kind of house do we offer? A palace fit for a king? Or a shack? Deuteronomy 28 is very clear in telling us that the blessings of God come when we follow His plan... and it's also very clear what happens when we don't.
When the Israelites were instructed to build the Temple, God gave very explicit instructions - minute details - and He expected every detail of His instructions to be followed implicitly. He is explicit in telling us how to build the temple. He shows up after they do what He told them to do. God NEVER lives in a house He did not build. He is not obligated to come to church just because we build a building. Think about that for a minute.
So... do you need a remodel? A makeover? An extreme makeover? Whose blueprints will we use to build His dwelling place? His or ...?
Prayer:
Father,
How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for Your courts, Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near Your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You. Build our house, O God. Make us a place where You want to live. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Saturday, November 28, 2020
The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions
Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
1st Timothy 4:12b, 16 NLT
I like this tale of a wayward traveler...
The traveler never got to Los Angeles even though he kept saying that's where he was going.
The point is that it doesn't matter that his intention was to go to Los Angeles. He never made preparation or a reservation or even a true determination to ensure his arrival there.
And in our walk on earth, we tell everyone we're going to Heaven... Is that our intention or our determination? Which "tion" is it? And what will we shun to make sure we get there?
Prayer:
Father,
It is written that Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We cannot lose our way when the Light of Your Son directs our path. Help us to read and understand the map of life that You've given us in Scripture. Let our lives be a living epistle according to Your Word so we can lead others to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
1st Timothy 4:12b, 16 NLT
I like this tale of a wayward traveler...
I'm leaving Houston, and I'm going to Los Angeles. I arrive in Florida.
Someone asks, "Where are you going?" and I tell them, "I'm going to Los Angeles."
"Well, this is not Los Angeles."
"I know, but I'm going to Los Angeles." and so I leave. I arrive in New York City.
Someone asks, "Where are you going?" and I tell them, "I'm going to Los Angeles." "Well, this is not Los Angeles."
"I know, but I'm going to Los Angeles." and so I leave. I arrive in Tennessee.
Someone asks, "Where are you going?" and I tell them, "I'm going to Los Angeles." "Well, this is not Los Angeles." "I know, but that's where I'm going." and so I leave...
The point is that it doesn't matter that his intention was to go to Los Angeles. He never made preparation or a reservation or even a true determination to ensure his arrival there.
And in our walk on earth, we tell everyone we're going to Heaven... Is that our intention or our determination? Which "tion" is it? And what will we shun to make sure we get there?
Prayer:
Father,
It is written that Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We cannot lose our way when the Light of Your Son directs our path. Help us to read and understand the map of life that You've given us in Scripture. Let our lives be a living epistle according to Your Word so we can lead others to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Friday, November 27, 2020
Do You Know...?
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.
1st John 1:1 NLT
A friend mentioned she was in line with someone who knew me, but my friend couldn't remember her name. She used to go to church with me - well, that's several hundred or several thousand that I know of, depending in which state we went to church together. She and her husband are singers - I know lots of couples who sing. That narrowed it a little, but I still had more names than I knew what to do with. Then my friend mentioned the other lady worked at a bank - definitely a shorter list, but I still knew about a handful of names who qualified. She recently had a baby. We have a winner! I knew exactly who it was then.
The lady and her husband are actually friends first with my son and daughter-in-love, and I met her through them while I still lived in Missouri. She has a great laugh and a slightly warped sense of humor (takes one to know one). Prior to the birth of their beautiful daughter, she managed a branch of a well-known bank, and really stepped up to the plate for me during a time when I hadn't been in town very long and I was trying to get a check cashed.
We know OF lots of people, including very famous people. We know OF Abraham Lincoln, but we don't know him. We know OF well-known personalities such as Albert Einstein, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Christiaan Barnard, but we don't know them. However, we act like we do because we know something about them... but it's not the same as knowing them.
We know the people who have been in life with us and been there for us. We know what motivates them to do the things they do, why they act a certain way. We know their hearts, not just their dos and don'ts.
Do you know Jesus? I don't mean do you know OF Him, I mean, do you KNOW Him? Has He been alongside of you in the trenches of your life? Do you laugh together? Do you remember good times? Does He have your back in the tough times? Do you look back and remember when you were first getting acquainted? Do you sing going down the road together? Do you talk together every day? Do you know His heart? Do you want to?
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for loving us and for sending Your Son so we could know You in all Your glory. As we get closer to You, reveal Yourself to us even more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
1st John 1:1 NLT
A friend mentioned she was in line with someone who knew me, but my friend couldn't remember her name. She used to go to church with me - well, that's several hundred or several thousand that I know of, depending in which state we went to church together. She and her husband are singers - I know lots of couples who sing. That narrowed it a little, but I still had more names than I knew what to do with. Then my friend mentioned the other lady worked at a bank - definitely a shorter list, but I still knew about a handful of names who qualified. She recently had a baby. We have a winner! I knew exactly who it was then.
The lady and her husband are actually friends first with my son and daughter-in-love, and I met her through them while I still lived in Missouri. She has a great laugh and a slightly warped sense of humor (takes one to know one). Prior to the birth of their beautiful daughter, she managed a branch of a well-known bank, and really stepped up to the plate for me during a time when I hadn't been in town very long and I was trying to get a check cashed.
We know OF lots of people, including very famous people. We know OF Abraham Lincoln, but we don't know him. We know OF well-known personalities such as Albert Einstein, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Christiaan Barnard, but we don't know them. However, we act like we do because we know something about them... but it's not the same as knowing them.
We know the people who have been in life with us and been there for us. We know what motivates them to do the things they do, why they act a certain way. We know their hearts, not just their dos and don'ts.
Do you know Jesus? I don't mean do you know OF Him, I mean, do you KNOW Him? Has He been alongside of you in the trenches of your life? Do you laugh together? Do you remember good times? Does He have your back in the tough times? Do you look back and remember when you were first getting acquainted? Do you sing going down the road together? Do you talk together every day? Do you know His heart? Do you want to?
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for loving us and for sending Your Son so we could know You in all Your glory. As we get closer to You, reveal Yourself to us even more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Thursday, November 26, 2020
No Less Love
And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
Luke 11:9-12 NLT
You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
Luke 11:9-12 NLT
I spent the entire day with my youngest granddaughter, Abby. They call it
babysitting, daycare, whatever. I call it love in its purest form. It was the
best day on several counts, but the two most important are; One - I love being
with her. I don't care where it is or what we're doing, I just love being with
Abby. And two - God illustrated some real truths for me.
On this particular day when Abby was a toddler, I discovered that my perfect
little granddaughter was not perfect. She has a temper and
a very strong will. That does NOT make me love her less. If anything,
it allows me to love her more and to prove it by guiding her in the right
direction. She cannot purchase or prepare her own food or drink. She could only
feed herself finger food snacks (if I got them from the pantry and doled them
out for her). She made a mess in her diapers and needed to be changed frequently. That
does NOT make me love her less. She was still crawling. She could pull herself
up on anything and could climb well. She had learned how to stand but would
stumble or fall when she tried to walk alone.
I had to appoint times for her to rest and isolate her from distractions and
the noise and cares of this world so she could. I comforted her even when it
was me she was angry with (because I didn't answer her plea the way she wanted
it to be answered). That did not and does NOT make me love her less.
She needs supervision because she will get into everything - and some of it
even AFTER she's been told 'no'. That does NOT make me love her less,
either. Nor does any of it make me want to spend less time with her.
And if I - being sinful - know how to do these things for my granddaughter and
still love her with a love that defies description, HOW MUCH MORE will our
heavenly Father do all this and more for each of His children?
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for all
those times we didn't recognize Your love in action. Open our eyes to see, our
ears to hear and our hearts to receive and believe Your love for us. In Jesus'
Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Travel Advisory
Do this and you will never ever be lost. In this way you will receive a rich welcome into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2nd Peter 1:10b-11 CEB
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Lots of food. A long weekend. What’s not to love? Lots of people travelling. Regardless of your mode of travel, I hope you have great directions for your final destination.
As one who can get lost so frequently that all roads look familiar, I am thrilled to find today's promise - Do this and you will never ever be lost. Since our destination is the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it would behoove us to follow the trip advisory that God has laid out for us. If we go back a few verses in our text for today, we find this vital information:
These are the things we must do so that we will never be lost.
Peter goes on to tell us, Whoever lacks these things is shortsighted and blind, forgetting that they were cleansed from their past sins.
Let's not get lost. God has given us the directions for our journey - His Word. It has all the vital information we need. The route is clearly highlighted. Use it! Don't take one step without it.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for the ultimate travel guide. We are so grateful that You have paid the way for us to get to You. We want to be around Your banqueting table on the day You call us home. Keep us ever mindful of the trip advisories in Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
2nd Peter 1:10b-11 CEB
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Lots of food. A long weekend. What’s not to love? Lots of people travelling. Regardless of your mode of travel, I hope you have great directions for your final destination.
As one who can get lost so frequently that all roads look familiar, I am thrilled to find today's promise - Do this and you will never ever be lost. Since our destination is the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it would behoove us to follow the trip advisory that God has laid out for us. If we go back a few verses in our text for today, we find this vital information:
By his divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory. Through his honor and glory he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, that you may share the divine nature and escape from the world’s immorality that sinful craving produces.
This is why you must make every effort to add moral excellence to your faith; and to moral excellence, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness; and to godliness, affection for others; and to affection for others, love. If all these are yours and they are growing in you, they’ll keep you from becoming inactive and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These are the things we must do so that we will never be lost.
Peter goes on to tell us, Whoever lacks these things is shortsighted and blind, forgetting that they were cleansed from their past sins.
Let's not get lost. God has given us the directions for our journey - His Word. It has all the vital information we need. The route is clearly highlighted. Use it! Don't take one step without it.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for the ultimate travel guide. We are so grateful that You have paid the way for us to get to You. We want to be around Your banqueting table on the day You call us home. Keep us ever mindful of the trip advisories in Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
To Die For
And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.
Matthew 12:36 NLT
I can’t get away from our text for today. It scares me to think about all the idle words I’ve spoken in my lifetime. With that Scripture in mind, I am amazed at how many times a day I hear, “Oh, it’s to die for!” usually referring to some great recipe or a scrumptious dessert. To be completely honest with you - as much as I love to eat - I hate that phrase!
I cringe inside every time I hear someone say that about food or some insipid situation. I think about every person who ever served in the armed forces. What about the police force and the firefighters? These are people who daily put their lives on the line, ready to die for my safety and/or freedom, and then there are others who think a shrimp or pie is something to die for.
Personally, outside of my family, there’s very little I would die for. I’m not trying to be the word police or Sister Super Spiritual, but when someone uses that phrase in that manner, I have to bite my tongue to not make some smart-aleck remark like, “Really? You would die for that? Actually, lay down your life just so you could eat that?”
I think about this Scripture in Romans 5:6-8 NLT, When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
He died for us so that we can live forever in eternity with him. He loved us so much He deemed US worthy to die for. Now THAT’S something to get excited about and to share with everyone!
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us when we lose sight of what is truly worthy of honor and glory and praise. Only You, Father. Only You. Keep us ever mindful of this truth. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
Matthew 12:36 NLT
I can’t get away from our text for today. It scares me to think about all the idle words I’ve spoken in my lifetime. With that Scripture in mind, I am amazed at how many times a day I hear, “Oh, it’s to die for!” usually referring to some great recipe or a scrumptious dessert. To be completely honest with you - as much as I love to eat - I hate that phrase!
I cringe inside every time I hear someone say that about food or some insipid situation. I think about every person who ever served in the armed forces. What about the police force and the firefighters? These are people who daily put their lives on the line, ready to die for my safety and/or freedom, and then there are others who think a shrimp or pie is something to die for.
Personally, outside of my family, there’s very little I would die for. I’m not trying to be the word police or Sister Super Spiritual, but when someone uses that phrase in that manner, I have to bite my tongue to not make some smart-aleck remark like, “Really? You would die for that? Actually, lay down your life just so you could eat that?”
I think about this Scripture in Romans 5:6-8 NLT, When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
He died for us so that we can live forever in eternity with him. He loved us so much He deemed US worthy to die for. Now THAT’S something to get excited about and to share with everyone!
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us when we lose sight of what is truly worthy of honor and glory and praise. Only You, Father. Only You. Keep us ever mindful of this truth. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
Monday, November 23, 2020
A Place to Stand
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.
Isaiah 28:16 NLT
Archimedes - a mathematician and inventor of ancient Greece - is purported to have said, "Give me a place to stand and a lever long enough and I will move the world." Scientifically speaking, with the working principle of the lever, that could be true...but we also know, he had no such place to stand. It's easy to make such grandiose remarks when you don't have to prove anything.
That's what I love about God - His Word is good! His Word is true. And He backs it up. If He said it, it's a done deal. The Earth is proof. The sun is proof. The moon is proof. The oceans, the trees, the birds, the sky, every living, breathing element of life. Proof.
What else did He say? Maybe you'd better open the Book. You need to know how it's going to end or you won't have a leg to stand on.
Prayer:
Father,
Open Your Word to us - let us see more clearly. Teach us what You would have us to know. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Isaiah 28:16 NLT
Archimedes - a mathematician and inventor of ancient Greece - is purported to have said, "Give me a place to stand and a lever long enough and I will move the world." Scientifically speaking, with the working principle of the lever, that could be true...but we also know, he had no such place to stand. It's easy to make such grandiose remarks when you don't have to prove anything.
That's what I love about God - His Word is good! His Word is true. And He backs it up. If He said it, it's a done deal. The Earth is proof. The sun is proof. The moon is proof. The oceans, the trees, the birds, the sky, every living, breathing element of life. Proof.
What else did He say? Maybe you'd better open the Book. You need to know how it's going to end or you won't have a leg to stand on.
Prayer:
Father,
Open Your Word to us - let us see more clearly. Teach us what You would have us to know. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Sunday, November 22, 2020
On the Daily Menu
So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
1st Peter 2:1-3 NLT
It's the beginning of Thanksgiving week in the US. I love reading the thankful/gratitude/blessing posts on social media that are plentiful during the month of November. And I wonder why we can't be grateful and not hateful the other 11 months of the year.
Speaking of Thanksgiving, people are talking about their favorite recipes and planning their menus. I like learning people's thoughts on what makes a certain food THE recipe for their holiday meal. And I wonder if we like them so much and we drool like Pavlov's dogs when we think of them, why is it we only fix those dishes on specific holidays? Would it not taste as good on say, any given Tuesday? Just wondering why they're not on the daily menu.
Have you ever tasted a better recipe for a favorite food and decided from that one taste that you would never go back to the old way of doing it? Never settle for anything less? In fact, anything less is such a disappointment that you'd almost rather do without than settle.
What does this have to do with our Promise for Today? Well, as I see it, God has offered us His salvation, a better recipe for living this life. Do we only serve Him on Easter and Christmas? Only when we attend a church service? If we've tasted of the Lord's kindness, don't we want it on our daily menu?
Prayer:
Father,
Change our hearts and our desires, O Lord. Help us to get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Help us to walk in forgiveness and develop a lifestyle of forgiveness. Strongly, remind us of the taste of the Lord's kindness, so that we settle for nothing less than the best. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Saturday, November 21, 2020
Singing a Love Song
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100 KJV
We love music. We may not like the same kind or style (or volume) of music, but I've never met anyone who didn't like music of some kind. We listen to our favorite playlists on anything that will allow us to download to it. You can't go anywhere without seeing earbuds stuck in people's ears, while they listen to whatever digital form of music is coming from their phones.
We love it - it's part of our make up. It can lift our mood, calm our souls. Music soothes the savage... well, you know. We put our favorite music on - whatever it may be - and sing along even when we can't carry a tune in a bucket with handles and help. But you know what? That's perfectly okay. Sing your heart out! The Scripture reads, Make a joyful NOISE...! It doesn't say anything about singing on key.
God loves music. According to Scripture, that's how we get into His presence - with singing. A song of praise from our hearts beats any GPS for getting us into the throne room of heaven. Ephesians 5:18b-20 in the New Living Translation reads ...be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I especially love how that last part reads in The Message Bible - Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Yes, any excuse for a song... When was the last time you sang God a love song?
Prayer:
Father,
Today, we lift our voices to worship You in Spirit and in Truth and in song. ♪♫Take joy, my King, in what You hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.♪♫ In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Psalm 100 KJV
We love music. We may not like the same kind or style (or volume) of music, but I've never met anyone who didn't like music of some kind. We listen to our favorite playlists on anything that will allow us to download to it. You can't go anywhere without seeing earbuds stuck in people's ears, while they listen to whatever digital form of music is coming from their phones.
We love it - it's part of our make up. It can lift our mood, calm our souls. Music soothes the savage... well, you know. We put our favorite music on - whatever it may be - and sing along even when we can't carry a tune in a bucket with handles and help. But you know what? That's perfectly okay. Sing your heart out! The Scripture reads, Make a joyful NOISE...! It doesn't say anything about singing on key.
God loves music. According to Scripture, that's how we get into His presence - with singing. A song of praise from our hearts beats any GPS for getting us into the throne room of heaven. Ephesians 5:18b-20 in the New Living Translation reads ...be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I especially love how that last part reads in The Message Bible - Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Yes, any excuse for a song... When was the last time you sang God a love song?
Prayer:
Father,
Today, we lift our voices to worship You in Spirit and in Truth and in song. ♪♫Take joy, my King, in what You hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.♪♫ In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Friday, November 20, 2020
Into His Presence
On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
Psalm 100:1-2 The Message
Today, I attended a Homegoing Celebration for Diane Marquis. For as long as I'd known her, she was intensely passionate about pointing people to Jesus, at every opportunity and in every situation. Diane had such a heart for the lost and downtrodden! One time, she disguised herself as a homeless person, unkempt AND unwashed, then entered her church on a Sunday morning to see how the people would react. She was very happy to report afterward that they passed the love test with flying colors!
Diane was demonstrative in her love for the Lord. I don't know quite how to explain it, but she seemed to be perpetually in His presence. I remember one time during deep worship, watching her literally go to her knees before the Lord. She was in her late seventies and I wondered how she was going to get back up. The point is I don't think it ever crossed HER mind to wonder how she was going to get back up. Her only conscious thought was to bow before the King of kings and worship at the feet of Jesus. That's who she was... What a legacy!
Prayer:
Father,
Comfort Diane's family as only You can. Help us to let our life light so shine to those around us that they may recognize You and glorify You! We pray according to Your Word in the Psalms, Teach us Your ways, O Lord, that we may live according to Your truth! Grant us purity of heart, so that we may honor You. With all our hearts, we will praise You, O Lord our God. We will give glory to Your Name forever, for Your love for us is very great. You have rescued us from the depths of death. Create in us a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Thursday, November 19, 2020
What Matters
For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.
Galatians 5:6 The Message
Galatians 5:6 The Message
What does it mean to express our faith in love? To me, it is the full expression of our professed Christianity. Think about this. What were you like before coming to Christ? Were you charitable? Compassionate? Selfless? Did you think of others' needs before your own AND attempt to meet those needs? Did you look outside your four walls? Were you able to see and discern through God's eyes? Did you even want to?
Faith makes us look outside ourselves and see others. Faith in a God who loved us enough to send His only Son to pay the ultimate price for our own rebellious hearts causes us to want to be like Him, to help a lost and dying world. Faith expressed in love...
We can reach great heights of success in the world's view, but if we don't have love, it's worthless. 1st Corinthians 13:2 NLT tells us, If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. What does any of it matter without faith expressed in love?
Prayer:
Father,
Open our eyes to love. Increase our faith and thereby, our love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
What Level of Peace
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.
Fathomless - defined as 'very deep and impossible to measure'. When was the last time you felt peace even remotely close to that? Is it possible? Absolutely! Nothing is impossible through Christ. It's HIS peace that He's given to us. It's ours for the taking.
Can we fathom that level of peace?
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word tells us that Your perfect love casts out fear. Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, in fathomless billows of love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
John 14:26-28a NLT
The world is in turmoil - some things so awful we can't bear to think about them. But Jesus told us to not be troubled or afraid. So do we walk by faith in this or by what we see? Jesus left us a gift - peace of mind and spirit. Do we have it?
I love the words of the old hymn "Wonderful Peace".
The world is in turmoil - some things so awful we can't bear to think about them. But Jesus told us to not be troubled or afraid. So do we walk by faith in this or by what we see? Jesus left us a gift - peace of mind and spirit. Do we have it?
I love the words of the old hymn "Wonderful Peace".
♪♫ Peace! Peace! Wonderful peace coming down from the Father above! Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, in fathomless billows of love.♪♫
Fathomless - defined as 'very deep and impossible to measure'. When was the last time you felt peace even remotely close to that? Is it possible? Absolutely! Nothing is impossible through Christ. It's HIS peace that He's given to us. It's ours for the taking.
Can we fathom that level of peace?
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word tells us that Your perfect love casts out fear. Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, in fathomless billows of love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Team Effort
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
I realized that the longer we have to deal with the CoVID virus, the more I leaned toward becoming a recluse. A common ploy of any enemy - Divide and Conquer. I had to ask God to forgive me and to shine His light of truth in EVERY area of my life.
The simple truth is that we are not called to do this life alone. I'm not talking about being married, I'm talking about trying to live a Christian life apart from other people. It's hard to reach out, difficult to comfort, nigh on impossible to lend a helping hand, and we certainly can't be an effective witness living apart. (It can still be accomplished with the mandated masks and 6 feet of social distancing. See Romans 13:1-2.)
Thankfully, we live in a time where staying in touch is easier, but I have to say that texting and email are not the relationship-builders we think they are. How many times have you misinterpreted the tenor of a text or email message? I know I've done it dozens of times. There's no warmth in the voice. No camaraderie. No facial expression to lend weight or value to your words. No feeling like you are connected.
God wants us to love one another and live it so that others can see and feel our love. Don't just take my word for it. I encourage you to look up Scriptures for staying connected. There are dozens of them. The Christian life is better as a team. Make the effort.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for loving us enough to correct us. Thank You for the people You have lovingly placed into our lives to help us grow in You and in our relationships. Help us to see them and to love them as You do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Monday, November 16, 2020
Mere Gold
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1st Peter 1:6-7 NLT
One thing about Texas with its hundreds of thousands of miles of roads, there is always road work going on. It's annoying. It slows us down. There are detours and dead stops. Sometimes, it's just plain scary! Do you think there is road work in Heaven? Nah... the streets are made of pure gold - gold that's been through the fire and purified. Do you realize one of Earth's most precious metals is just pavement in Heaven?
Think about that for a moment.
If we traded all our stuff for its equivalent in gold would we be able to even lay a block of sidewalk, let alone a stretch of highway? Just FYI, a standard block of sidewalk measures 2 feet by 2 feet and is 4 inches thick. It weighs about 200 pounds. As of this date, the current rate for gold in the US is $1,890 dollars per ounce. Multiply that by 16 ounces to the pound and it's equal to $30,240 dollars. Multiply that by the 200 lbs and we find that the monetary worth of a standard block of sidewalk in gold is six MILLION, forty-eight thousand dollars ($6,048,000). And Peter tells us that our faith is far more precious than mere gold...
Is your faith being tried and tested? Don't give up! 1st Peter 1:9 tells us, The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls. PRICELESS!
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for placing such a high value on our lives and for providing the Way to pay for our salvation. Help us to hold tightly to our faith and to recognize its worth - the salvation of our souls. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Up and About
For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight.
Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!
Romans 13:9-10 NLT
You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!
You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!
God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight.
Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!
Romans 13:10-14 The Message
Prayer:
Father,
Don't let us slumber and laze away these last days. Cause us to be aware and not oblivious! Help us to be proactive instead of reactive, and to do it all in and through and for Christ our Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Don't let us slumber and laze away these last days. Cause us to be aware and not oblivious! Help us to be proactive instead of reactive, and to do it all in and through and for Christ our Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Saturday, November 14, 2020
Lessons Learned
But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive our foolish pride and pathetic attempts at greatness. Teach us how to humble ourselves - to throw ourselves on the rock before we are crushed by it! It is only through You that we have life at all. All talents and gifts were given to us in our mother's womb when You created us and numbered our days. All glory and honor and praise to You, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Daniel 5:22-23 NIV
Nebuchadnezzar was the king who God caused to lose his mind because of his pride and arrogance. He lost his kingship and lived like a wild beast in the field after declaring the mighty works of his kingdom were his - done by his own hands - and did not glorify God. He was also Belshazzar's ancestor, so Belshazzar knew all this and still didn't humble his heart. The breath God gave them, they used to deny God and renounce Him. So he, like his ancestor before him, lost everything, too.
Nebuchadnezzar was the king who God caused to lose his mind because of his pride and arrogance. He lost his kingship and lived like a wild beast in the field after declaring the mighty works of his kingdom were his - done by his own hands - and did not glorify God. He was also Belshazzar's ancestor, so Belshazzar knew all this and still didn't humble his heart. The breath God gave them, they used to deny God and renounce Him. So he, like his ancestor before him, lost everything, too.
You'd think they would learn, wouldn't you? But before we judge their actions, we have to ask ourselves, have we learned the lesson?
Do we still insist that we don't want to do (or go or be) what the Holy Spirit is leading us to? Do we acknowledge and glorify God for the strength and the wisdom and the abilities He alone has given us or do we take the credit for any accomplishments?
...and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Let's learn the lesson before it's too late.
Do we still insist that we don't want to do (or go or be) what the Holy Spirit is leading us to? Do we acknowledge and glorify God for the strength and the wisdom and the abilities He alone has given us or do we take the credit for any accomplishments?
...and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Let's learn the lesson before it's too late.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive our foolish pride and pathetic attempts at greatness. Teach us how to humble ourselves - to throw ourselves on the rock before we are crushed by it! It is only through You that we have life at all. All talents and gifts were given to us in our mother's womb when You created us and numbered our days. All glory and honor and praise to You, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Friday, November 13, 2020
How to Get There
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
1st John 2:6 NLT
Where are you headed? Have you figured out where you want to go? Once you decide the destination, you can plot the necessary steps to get there. Do we have attainable goals set to keep us on track? What's your first milestone? Any idea? We need something to motivate us. Something that will cause us to reach up. Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without a vision, the people perish.
I want to make Heaven. That's my goal. How do I get there? First, I must accept that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, that He died to pay for my sins, and that He rose from the dead on the third day. But if I want to live in God, I'm supposed to live my life as Jesus did.
So, how DID Jesus live? Specifically speaking? He was prayerful and full of the Holy Spirit. He was loving and forgiving, unselfish and giving, and He was purposeful and destined. EVERY day.
I know I am not all of those every day. However, the Word of God states that we are to DAILY pick up our cross and follow Him. We cannot do that without His help and grace.
We cannot live a Christian life by our own standard - it has to be God's standard. You see, when God raised His standard - Jesus, His Son - then He raised our standard, too.
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word tells us when the enemy comes in like a flood, You will lift the standard against him. You are righteous and holy. Let Your Truth prevail in our lives, as we endeavor to live by Your standard. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Where are you headed? Have you figured out where you want to go? Once you decide the destination, you can plot the necessary steps to get there. Do we have attainable goals set to keep us on track? What's your first milestone? Any idea? We need something to motivate us. Something that will cause us to reach up. Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without a vision, the people perish.
I want to make Heaven. That's my goal. How do I get there? First, I must accept that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, that He died to pay for my sins, and that He rose from the dead on the third day. But if I want to live in God, I'm supposed to live my life as Jesus did.
So, how DID Jesus live? Specifically speaking? He was prayerful and full of the Holy Spirit. He was loving and forgiving, unselfish and giving, and He was purposeful and destined. EVERY day.
I know I am not all of those every day. However, the Word of God states that we are to DAILY pick up our cross and follow Him. We cannot do that without His help and grace.
We cannot live a Christian life by our own standard - it has to be God's standard. You see, when God raised His standard - Jesus, His Son - then He raised our standard, too.
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word tells us when the enemy comes in like a flood, You will lift the standard against him. You are righteous and holy. Let Your Truth prevail in our lives, as we endeavor to live by Your standard. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
The Shape I'm In
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.
Romans 8:29 The Message Bible
What shape are you in? You know - a healthy lifestyle, getting into shape. I tell people I am in shape. (It's true - round is a shape...)
In all honesty, I am making better choices when it comes to what I put in my body, but more important to me (and to God) is what I put in my heart. What do I need to do to shape my life like the life of Christ? Just as in physical exercise, when we become disciplined in it, we will see results. How genuinely and consistently do I exercise the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Am I seeing results? Are those around me benefiting from the results?
Is God being glorified by the results?
If we're not getting the results we want or need, we have to go back to the plan - God's plan. He has given us His Son as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the original - and intended - shape of our lives. We need to daily commit to getting into His shape.
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to reach past the desires of our flesh to the prize that is set before us in You. We want to attain the shape You have fashioned for us in Christ. Give us the courage to correct our choices by the conviction of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Romans 8:29 The Message Bible
What shape are you in? You know - a healthy lifestyle, getting into shape. I tell people I am in shape. (It's true - round is a shape...)
In all honesty, I am making better choices when it comes to what I put in my body, but more important to me (and to God) is what I put in my heart. What do I need to do to shape my life like the life of Christ? Just as in physical exercise, when we become disciplined in it, we will see results. How genuinely and consistently do I exercise the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Am I seeing results? Are those around me benefiting from the results?
Is God being glorified by the results?
If we're not getting the results we want or need, we have to go back to the plan - God's plan. He has given us His Son as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the original - and intended - shape of our lives. We need to daily commit to getting into His shape.
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to reach past the desires of our flesh to the prize that is set before us in You. We want to attain the shape You have fashioned for us in Christ. Give us the courage to correct our choices by the conviction of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
What'd He Say
Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.
Luke 4:31-32 NLT
I used to try to attend at least one conference or seminar per year to aid in my personal or professional growth. There isn't one that I can say changed my life forever, but I did learn a lot of little things along the way. I don't even remember the name of one presenter or the title of one conference. However, there was one I attended that stayed in my mind for a different reason.
I was so excited because a friend was going to attend with me - someone I held in high esteem because of her intelligence and wisdom. And it was one of the better seminars with regard to first-class style and presentation. When the speaker was introduced, his stage presence was palpable and understanding the rudiments of public speaking, within minutes he had connected to his audience with a few personal laugh-inducing anecdotes to break the ice. However, for me, it was downhill from there.
Once he got into his subject, he was a walking anthem of He Said, She Said. He could have been the catalog for Wheel of Fortune, full of famous (and not so famous) quotes and phrases. All.Morning.Long.
He regaled us with a complete inventory of facts he had memorized from books, volumes 1 through 50. She says this and he says that and this one says the other, and the other agrees with that one. There was not one illustration of a personal application for any of it. I was not impressed.
For years, I have used two questions to define events of daily life. What was the best thing about it? What was the worst? My friend knew this and during the lunch break asked what was the best thing so far. My answer was, "The bacon at breakfast..." It was clearly not the answer she expected.
When I expressed my opinion of the speaker and his method, she patiently explained that it was how one learned, by reading the works of others who had gone before, rather like reading the Bible. She found the speaker to be quite knowledgeable. She said it lent credence to his job as a motivational speaker that he knew so many facts and quotes from other speakers on the subject. She was sure he had been laying the foundation of knowledge during the morning session and that after lunch, he would begin the practical application. At that point, I felt truly ignorant. So with renewed resolve to learn, I followed my friend back to the seminar.
The afternoon was worse. His sources by that time could have been his second cousin twice removed from his mother's brother's wife for all I know, but not one practical application. He did not speak with authority of what he knew. Being southern, we could not walk out in the middle of his litany, but by the mid-afternoon break, even my friend was ready to leave, so we did.
I have nothing against famous quotes or people who have written extensively about certain subjects. Quite the contrary! I love learning, and I collect quotes, but what good is it; what purpose does it serve unless there is some practical application?
Christ spoke with authority. It was obvious that He knew what He was talking about. When He said He spoke only what His Father spoke, He had lived it. He was the Word. He IS the Word.
When we speak of Christ or speak His Word, do we know that we know it, or is it just something someone else said? You may not remember one famous name or quote, but that which you KNOW - that which has changed your life - can't be taken from you. No matter who says or does what...
Prayer:
Father,
According to Your Word in Psalm 119:37, Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your Word. Keep me from vain sayings and useless knowledge. Let my life not be a trivial pursuit. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
Luke 4:31-32 NLT
I used to try to attend at least one conference or seminar per year to aid in my personal or professional growth. There isn't one that I can say changed my life forever, but I did learn a lot of little things along the way. I don't even remember the name of one presenter or the title of one conference. However, there was one I attended that stayed in my mind for a different reason.
I was so excited because a friend was going to attend with me - someone I held in high esteem because of her intelligence and wisdom. And it was one of the better seminars with regard to first-class style and presentation. When the speaker was introduced, his stage presence was palpable and understanding the rudiments of public speaking, within minutes he had connected to his audience with a few personal laugh-inducing anecdotes to break the ice. However, for me, it was downhill from there.
Once he got into his subject, he was a walking anthem of He Said, She Said. He could have been the catalog for Wheel of Fortune, full of famous (and not so famous) quotes and phrases. All.Morning.Long.
He regaled us with a complete inventory of facts he had memorized from books, volumes 1 through 50. She says this and he says that and this one says the other, and the other agrees with that one. There was not one illustration of a personal application for any of it. I was not impressed.
For years, I have used two questions to define events of daily life. What was the best thing about it? What was the worst? My friend knew this and during the lunch break asked what was the best thing so far. My answer was, "The bacon at breakfast..." It was clearly not the answer she expected.
When I expressed my opinion of the speaker and his method, she patiently explained that it was how one learned, by reading the works of others who had gone before, rather like reading the Bible. She found the speaker to be quite knowledgeable. She said it lent credence to his job as a motivational speaker that he knew so many facts and quotes from other speakers on the subject. She was sure he had been laying the foundation of knowledge during the morning session and that after lunch, he would begin the practical application. At that point, I felt truly ignorant. So with renewed resolve to learn, I followed my friend back to the seminar.
The afternoon was worse. His sources by that time could have been his second cousin twice removed from his mother's brother's wife for all I know, but not one practical application. He did not speak with authority of what he knew. Being southern, we could not walk out in the middle of his litany, but by the mid-afternoon break, even my friend was ready to leave, so we did.
I have nothing against famous quotes or people who have written extensively about certain subjects. Quite the contrary! I love learning, and I collect quotes, but what good is it; what purpose does it serve unless there is some practical application?
Christ spoke with authority. It was obvious that He knew what He was talking about. When He said He spoke only what His Father spoke, He had lived it. He was the Word. He IS the Word.
When we speak of Christ or speak His Word, do we know that we know it, or is it just something someone else said? You may not remember one famous name or quote, but that which you KNOW - that which has changed your life - can't be taken from you. No matter who says or does what...
Prayer:
Father,
According to Your Word in Psalm 119:37, Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your Word. Keep me from vain sayings and useless knowledge. Let my life not be a trivial pursuit. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
Monday, November 9, 2020
Finding Peace
[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.
John 14:27 NLT
We live in stressful times. I'm relatively certain that every generation since the beginning of time has uttered or written those words... Psalm 34:19 reads, The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. In 2nd Timothy 3:11-12 NLT, Paul writes, You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Hmmmm...Doesn't exactly give you warm fuzzies, does it?
We think we could have peace if we could just get away or "veg" for a while - not have to think about anything - or at least think about a lesser number of things. Zone out on mindless pursuits of amusement, but the Truth is that's not real peace. And when we're done trying to do it our own way, we find that peace is fleeting. It won't carry us through the storms of life and yet we keep looking for it in those things.
If I'm going to hunt seashells, I'm not going to look for them by the side of a road (unless I live in Louisiana or Biloxi, Mississippi). If I'm looking for a reliable car, I'm not going to a flea market to get one. If I'm in the market for a house, I'm not going to find it in an aisle at Wal-Mart. So why would we try to find peace where God is not? The Good News is God gave us a way to deal with the stresses of life. Christ went to the Cross to deliver us out of all our struggles. Isaiah 53:5 in the Amplified Bible reads, But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
When I feel most overwhelmed - totally stressed out by the things life throws at me - is when I'm trying to do it on my own. In my own strength - in what I believe to be my own ability...when I forget that any ability I have has been given to me by God. I cannot produce peace on my own. I cannot give out peace that I don't have... so why do I think I can find peace that passes understanding anywhere apart from the presence of the Lord?
And to get in His presence, I look for Him. I come before His presence with singing and I hunt His Word. John 16:33 NKJV, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Prayer:
Father,
According to Your Word in 1st Peter 5, we will humble ourselves under Your mighty power, and at the right time, You will lift us up. Father, we give You all our worries and cares, because You care for us. We will stay alert and watch out for the enemy. We will not be devoured by him. Help us to see past the roar to Your peace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
John 14:27 NLT
We live in stressful times. I'm relatively certain that every generation since the beginning of time has uttered or written those words... Psalm 34:19 reads, The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. In 2nd Timothy 3:11-12 NLT, Paul writes, You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Hmmmm...Doesn't exactly give you warm fuzzies, does it?
We think we could have peace if we could just get away or "veg" for a while - not have to think about anything - or at least think about a lesser number of things. Zone out on mindless pursuits of amusement, but the Truth is that's not real peace. And when we're done trying to do it our own way, we find that peace is fleeting. It won't carry us through the storms of life and yet we keep looking for it in those things.
If I'm going to hunt seashells, I'm not going to look for them by the side of a road (unless I live in Louisiana or Biloxi, Mississippi). If I'm looking for a reliable car, I'm not going to a flea market to get one. If I'm in the market for a house, I'm not going to find it in an aisle at Wal-Mart. So why would we try to find peace where God is not? The Good News is God gave us a way to deal with the stresses of life. Christ went to the Cross to deliver us out of all our struggles. Isaiah 53:5 in the Amplified Bible reads, But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
When I feel most overwhelmed - totally stressed out by the things life throws at me - is when I'm trying to do it on my own. In my own strength - in what I believe to be my own ability...when I forget that any ability I have has been given to me by God. I cannot produce peace on my own. I cannot give out peace that I don't have... so why do I think I can find peace that passes understanding anywhere apart from the presence of the Lord?
And to get in His presence, I look for Him. I come before His presence with singing and I hunt His Word. John 16:33 NKJV, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Prayer:
Father,
According to Your Word in 1st Peter 5, we will humble ourselves under Your mighty power, and at the right time, You will lift us up. Father, we give You all our worries and cares, because You care for us. We will stay alert and watch out for the enemy. We will not be devoured by him. Help us to see past the roar to Your peace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Unemployed by Choice
Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
Luke 5:27-28 NLT
Levi (also called Matthew - see Matthew 9) was a tax collector; despised by those from whom he collected money. Jesus knew this, yet called him anyway... To me, the wild thing is Matthew just got up, left everything (the Word says) and followed Him.
Think about that for a moment. We hate to see the taxman coming. And I've heard enough grumbling about taxes to believe that tax collectors are as unpopular today as they were in Jesus' time.
Matthew's next recorded act? He threw a party (held a banquet) and invited Jesus to meet all his former co-workers and friends. This from a man who had become instantly unemployed the moment he made the choice to follow Jesus.
You know Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fishermen. If they bombed as disciples, they could always go back to the fishing industry. When Matthew made the choice, there was no going back. AND he was immediately unemployed. We tend to panic when we even think our job may be on the chopping block.
What I find most fascinating about this story are the gifts God had given Matthew when He created him in his mother's womb. Record-keeping, organization, the mighty pen. And Matthew had used them in a way that was not pleasing to God. However, when God called Levi, all that changed.
The mighty pen wrote the gospel of Matthew. His organizational skill was able by God's grace to keep it all straight. What a testimony!! Want to take a guess of how many people have been ministered to by Matthew's Gospel?
Even when we start out bad, when we make the decision to follow Christ, our gifts are washed white as snow, too. Levi left everything and followed Him. Would you if He asked?
Luke 5:27-28 NLT
Levi (also called Matthew - see Matthew 9) was a tax collector; despised by those from whom he collected money. Jesus knew this, yet called him anyway... To me, the wild thing is Matthew just got up, left everything (the Word says) and followed Him.
Think about that for a moment. We hate to see the taxman coming. And I've heard enough grumbling about taxes to believe that tax collectors are as unpopular today as they were in Jesus' time.
Matthew's next recorded act? He threw a party (held a banquet) and invited Jesus to meet all his former co-workers and friends. This from a man who had become instantly unemployed the moment he made the choice to follow Jesus.
You know Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fishermen. If they bombed as disciples, they could always go back to the fishing industry. When Matthew made the choice, there was no going back. AND he was immediately unemployed. We tend to panic when we even think our job may be on the chopping block.
What I find most fascinating about this story are the gifts God had given Matthew when He created him in his mother's womb. Record-keeping, organization, the mighty pen. And Matthew had used them in a way that was not pleasing to God. However, when God called Levi, all that changed.
The mighty pen wrote the gospel of Matthew. His organizational skill was able by God's grace to keep it all straight. What a testimony!! Want to take a guess of how many people have been ministered to by Matthew's Gospel?
Even when we start out bad, when we make the decision to follow Christ, our gifts are washed white as snow, too. Levi left everything and followed Him. Would you if He asked?
He's asking.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for Your Word that gives us the comfort of knowing You have a plan for us, that You have gifted us to fulfill Your purpose and plan for each of us. Give us Your perspective on our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for Your Word that gives us the comfort of knowing You have a plan for us, that You have gifted us to fulfill Your purpose and plan for each of us. Give us Your perspective on our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Saturday, November 7, 2020
A New Name
And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Exodus 17:7 NIV
For so many different reasons, I really like reading the book of Exodus. Every time I read through it, I catch something else I didn't actually see before. I love how God's Word is alive and always so relevant.
In our text for today, it's the part of the story regarding the provision of manna and water from the rock. One would think in a desert, the Israelites would have been thrilled to have provision, but they'd already been complaining about literally everything since they began their exodus from Egypt. (However, if you remember, they complained about everything while they were in Egypt, too.)
It was the custom to name a place or landmark by the major events that occurred there. As in today's text, Massah means testing and Meribah means quarreling. They demanded of Moses, "Is the Lord among us or not?" because they weren't seeing results they thought they should be seeing. Ouch...
Don't we do the very same thing? We petition the Lord and then expect it to be accomplished the way we think it should be done. Well, perhaps I shouldn't answer for you, but I know I do exactly that. And when it's not done on my preconceived schedule or in the way I would do it, I even have the nerve to ask God where He is... Oh, Father, forgive me.
What will be the name of the places where we have met with God? Think about that for a moment. If you don't like what you think it might be called, ask God to change it. With our proper response to HIS calling, God has no problem giving us a new Name.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for testing You and quarreling and complaining when things don't go as we have planned. In our hearts, Lord, we want to follow Your plan. Help us, O God, to learn Your ways and to trust them. Give us wisdom and understanding, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Exodus 17:7 NIV
For so many different reasons, I really like reading the book of Exodus. Every time I read through it, I catch something else I didn't actually see before. I love how God's Word is alive and always so relevant.
In our text for today, it's the part of the story regarding the provision of manna and water from the rock. One would think in a desert, the Israelites would have been thrilled to have provision, but they'd already been complaining about literally everything since they began their exodus from Egypt. (However, if you remember, they complained about everything while they were in Egypt, too.)
It was the custom to name a place or landmark by the major events that occurred there. As in today's text, Massah means testing and Meribah means quarreling. They demanded of Moses, "Is the Lord among us or not?" because they weren't seeing results they thought they should be seeing. Ouch...
Don't we do the very same thing? We petition the Lord and then expect it to be accomplished the way we think it should be done. Well, perhaps I shouldn't answer for you, but I know I do exactly that. And when it's not done on my preconceived schedule or in the way I would do it, I even have the nerve to ask God where He is... Oh, Father, forgive me.
What will be the name of the places where we have met with God? Think about that for a moment. If you don't like what you think it might be called, ask God to change it. With our proper response to HIS calling, God has no problem giving us a new Name.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for testing You and quarreling and complaining when things don't go as we have planned. In our hearts, Lord, we want to follow Your plan. Help us, O God, to learn Your ways and to trust them. Give us wisdom and understanding, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Friday, November 6, 2020
How to Fight
Come before His presence with singing!
Psalm 100:2b KJV
As a follower of Christ, where would you most want to be at any time, but especially when life is hard? In His presence, right? Wrapped up in His arms, yes? Held close to His chest? Our Promise for Today tells us to come before His presence with singing. And in a previous Psalm, we find that God inhabits the praises of His people. So there's never a reason not to praise our God.
From "The Desert Song" by Hillsong
"All of my life - In every season, You are still God! I have a reason to sing! I have a reason to worship."
Prayer:
Father,
We come to You washed in the Blood of the Lamb and singing Your praises. We want and need more of You, Lord! More of Your resident presence in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Psalm 100:2b KJV
As a follower of Christ, where would you most want to be at any time, but especially when life is hard? In His presence, right? Wrapped up in His arms, yes? Held close to His chest? Our Promise for Today tells us to come before His presence with singing. And in a previous Psalm, we find that God inhabits the praises of His people. So there's never a reason not to praise our God.
King Jehoshaphat faced combined armies that were there to wipe out the nation of Israel. He went before the Lord and worshiped, pleading for God to stop them. The whole of Israel stood before the Lord and they received the word to march out against the armies on the morrow. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 tells us, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!” At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. If you've read the story, you know that the enemy armies fought and killed each other. There were no enemy survivors. King Jehoshaphat and his people fought that battle with praise and worship and WON! There's a lesson to be learned here.
When we're happy and doing well, we, His people, naturally want to thank and praise Him. What about during a global pandemic? Political unrest? It's in the tough times that we are tempted to whine and complain and even indict God because of our circumstances, and yet that is the very time we need Him the most. Come before His presence with singing! Isaiah 61:3 NKJV tells us Christ comes to give us a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. And don't worry, God knows what size you wear. So, let's do it! This is how we fight our battles...
From "The Desert Song" by Hillsong
"All of my life - In every season, You are still God! I have a reason to sing! I have a reason to worship."
Prayer:
Father,
We come to You washed in the Blood of the Lamb and singing Your praises. We want and need more of You, Lord! More of Your resident presence in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Regarding False Prophets
Instead you should say, “Our tomorrows are in the Lord’s hands and if he is willing we will live life to its fullest and do this or that.”
James 4:15 TPT
Americans are waiting with bated breath for the final results of the presidential election. And all over the social media platforms, there are people claiming to be prophets who say God told them who will ultimately emerge victorious. The sad thing is they don't all agree. So, some will prove to be false prophets.
It doesn't matter if they're partly right. satan is the author of confusion and he will speak just enough of God's Word to twist it like he did with Jesus in the wilderness. Know this - God is NOT EVER partly right. God does NOT operate in maybe. If a word is from God, it will be Truth and it WILL come to pass.
Make note of the ones who prove to be false, and have nothing more to do with them. Seriously! God tells us in Ezekiel 13:8-9b ERV, So now, the Lord God really will speak. He says, “You told lies. You saw visions that were not true. So now I am against you!” This is what the Lord God said. “I will punish those prophets whose visions are false and who lie about the future. I will remove them from my people."
Guard your heart. Be careful whose truth you embrace. And remember, regardless of who wins the US presidential election, Our tomorrows are in the Lord’s hands and if he is willing we will live life to its fullest and do this or that.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for Your peace that passes all understanding brought about by knowing we are in Your hands. Thank You for Your promise to never leave us or forsake us. We pray Your will be done here on Earth, as it is in Heaven. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Call It Like It is
We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.
1st Corinthians 10:13 TPT
1st Corinthians 10:13 TPT
Oftentimes, we use euphemisms when referring to something harsh or offensive or particularly unpleasant. One of the most common we use - 'passed' or 'passed away' in place of 'died', as if that makes it easier. Or 'let go' instead of 'fired'. My oldest brother and I had a conversation last week that included a couple euphemisms for someone who lies; one was 'stretching the truth', the other was 'enhanced communication'.
We do it in our Christian walk, too. We talk about our struggles quite a bit. Some may be legitimate, but some are definitely not. If we are honest, some of our struggles are just an innocuous phrasing for rebellion. We get tempted and we give in, knowing it's wrong, and then confess our 'struggle'. The truth (as I see it) is that it was a choice. I chose my will over God's will for my life. That's not a struggle. That's sin. The Word says in James 4:17 NLT, Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
God IS merciful. He is forgiving. He is faithful. He understands our weaknesses and loves us so much that He has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.
Prayer:
Father,
Open our eyes to see the Truth of our actions. Open our hearts to receive Your Word that we might live victorious lives through Christ our Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Monday, November 2, 2020
Get Up
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 NIV
I've mentioned before how I like to read quotes and one of my favorites is from American inventor, Thomas Alva Edison. In response to someone's statement that he (Thomas) had failed so many times in trying to invent the light bulb, Edison replied, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
I love his attitude, but it's one of the reasons I could never be a scientist or inventor. They have to keep record of how many unsuccessful attempts they've made so that they don't make the same mistake twice. I'll just tell you - if it had been left up to me to invent the lightbulb, we'd all still be using candles. I wouldn't want to know that I'd been unsuccessful 10,000 times about anything, let alone keep a record for the world to know...
How many times have you tried to do something and not been successful? For me, it's too many times to count. That can be very discouraging. Often we interpret 'unsuccessful' as a nicer way of phrasing 'failure;' however, being unsuccessful is not the same as having failed. Have you ever been so tired of trying that you just quit? The truth is we only fail when we actually give up or quit trying.
Worse than that would be to not even attempt or try to do something because you don't know if you will succeed. That's fear of failure. It can be crippling. You know what I'm talking about.
How many times have you heard someone say, "I can't be a Christian. I've tried. It's too hard." How many times have you heard the words, "I've tried. I can't. There's no hope for that..." Whatever 'that' is, you can be sure it is a stumbling block put there by the enemy of your soul to discourage you. To make you quit.
Let me give you some hope today. It does NOT matter what the facts are. The TRUTH is found in the Word of God. And God's Truth overwrites the facts.
...for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again... Proverbs 24:16a NIV
Proverbs 13:12 NIV
I've mentioned before how I like to read quotes and one of my favorites is from American inventor, Thomas Alva Edison. In response to someone's statement that he (Thomas) had failed so many times in trying to invent the light bulb, Edison replied, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
I love his attitude, but it's one of the reasons I could never be a scientist or inventor. They have to keep record of how many unsuccessful attempts they've made so that they don't make the same mistake twice. I'll just tell you - if it had been left up to me to invent the lightbulb, we'd all still be using candles. I wouldn't want to know that I'd been unsuccessful 10,000 times about anything, let alone keep a record for the world to know...
How many times have you tried to do something and not been successful? For me, it's too many times to count. That can be very discouraging. Often we interpret 'unsuccessful' as a nicer way of phrasing 'failure;' however, being unsuccessful is not the same as having failed. Have you ever been so tired of trying that you just quit? The truth is we only fail when we actually give up or quit trying.
Worse than that would be to not even attempt or try to do something because you don't know if you will succeed. That's fear of failure. It can be crippling. You know what I'm talking about.
How many times have you heard someone say, "I can't be a Christian. I've tried. It's too hard." How many times have you heard the words, "I've tried. I can't. There's no hope for that..." Whatever 'that' is, you can be sure it is a stumbling block put there by the enemy of your soul to discourage you. To make you quit.
Let me give you some hope today. It does NOT matter what the facts are. The TRUTH is found in the Word of God. And God's Truth overwrites the facts.
...for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again... Proverbs 24:16a NIV
So, get up...
Prayer:
Father,
Open our hearts to see and know the Truth - and Triumph - of Your Word over every situation in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
Prayer:
Father,
Open our hearts to see and know the Truth - and Triumph - of Your Word over every situation in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
Sunday, November 1, 2020
On Purpose
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13 NIV
A little of this, some of this, a LOT of that, and a little more of the other - throw in a breath and voilà ! There you are. God made you. He designed who you would look like. He laid the groundwork for your personality. He formed you - gave you all the parts you would need - lined up your days and set it all in motion.
Psalm 139, verse 16 reads, All my days were ordained before one of them even came to be. There are days that thought is a cause for tremendous celebration. There are other days when it's not exactly a warm fuzzy. Keeping in mind that God's ways are NOT our ways and His thoughts are NOT our thoughts, let's shed a little light on some things.
Let's try a new way of thinking to provide an opportunity to give God praise in everything... even if you have your father's wide feet and Aunt Bertha's hinder part.
Have you ever noticed how we seem to have no problem finding and then focusing on the negative in ourselves, in another person, or in a situation? Look for the good in how God has made you. Does that make sense? Look for the strength and ability instead of what could be conceived as the downside to your attributes. For instance: That child is so strong-willed! It can be very trying for the one trying to raise such a child. However, if a strong will is properly trained, that child can become a great leader!
How about this one? You have the audacity to speak to me like that? Properly trained, raised in Christ - it is the ability to speak before kings and leaders.
Or Why are you crying over that...? A tender heart, full of compassion.
You are SO bull-headed!! Properly guided - it's the ability to focus on a goal and get it done!
Ephesians 4:15-16 - Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
It is beyond our finite minds to intelligently question an infinite God.
Psalm 139:13 NIV
A little of this, some of this, a LOT of that, and a little more of the other - throw in a breath and voilà ! There you are. God made you. He designed who you would look like. He laid the groundwork for your personality. He formed you - gave you all the parts you would need - lined up your days and set it all in motion.
Psalm 139, verse 16 reads, All my days were ordained before one of them even came to be. There are days that thought is a cause for tremendous celebration. There are other days when it's not exactly a warm fuzzy. Keeping in mind that God's ways are NOT our ways and His thoughts are NOT our thoughts, let's shed a little light on some things.
Let's try a new way of thinking to provide an opportunity to give God praise in everything... even if you have your father's wide feet and Aunt Bertha's hinder part.
Have you ever noticed how we seem to have no problem finding and then focusing on the negative in ourselves, in another person, or in a situation? Look for the good in how God has made you. Does that make sense? Look for the strength and ability instead of what could be conceived as the downside to your attributes. For instance: That child is so strong-willed! It can be very trying for the one trying to raise such a child. However, if a strong will is properly trained, that child can become a great leader!
How about this one? You have the audacity to speak to me like that? Properly trained, raised in Christ - it is the ability to speak before kings and leaders.
Or Why are you crying over that...? A tender heart, full of compassion.
You are SO bull-headed!! Properly guided - it's the ability to focus on a goal and get it done!
Ephesians 4:15-16 - Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
It is beyond our finite minds to intelligently question an infinite God.
You did this on purpose? Oh, yes! I see You did! Thank You!
Prayer:
Father,
Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Help us to see it and to give You praise because You did this on purpose. Cause us to fulfill Your purpose - what You've equipped us to be able to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Prayer:
Father,
Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Help us to see it and to give You praise because You did this on purpose. Cause us to fulfill Your purpose - what You've equipped us to be able to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)