Advent - 4th Sunday is Peace

Excerpts from Crosswalk.com regarding the final (4th) Sunday of Advent 2021

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV

Advent is the season in which believers eagerly anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth. Reading, prayer, and reflection are ways we can cultivate a sense of holy anticipation this Advent. On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we meditate on the peace that Jesus brings to our hearts and our world. Scripture is the place we can find the promises of God. Let us meditate on these truths and allow them to comfort our hearts this Advent season!

The fourth candle of Advent is called the “Angel Candle” and symbolizes peace. This name comes from the fact that the angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace (Luke 2:14). This week we are reminded that Jesus came to bring peace to our hearts and to our world! We will focus our hearts on the “Lord of peace” who came down from heaven in the form of a baby. God knows that we are in a constant battle against fear! Fear wants to cripple us, to push us to react rather than carefully respond, and fear steals our joy. God has given us the gift of peace so we can live joy-filled lives!

Over this Advent, will you pray that God’s unexplainable peace would be evident in your heart and home? This year we all have faced so much chaos and uncertainty. God’s peace is something we need to grab onto tightly now more than ever. May God’s spirit transform the days leading up to Christmas into a time to joyfully await our King!

Isaiah 9:6
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Prayer:

Father,
           Please bring Your strength and peace to Your people! We pray that Your presence is felt by all who seek You in a powerful way in this Advent season. Turn the hearts of mankind towards You. We pray that the lost turn to You and find an unshakable peace that nothing else in this world can offer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Needing a Boost

 I did not write this one. It is from the Advent prayers posted on ibelieve.com.

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Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.

Luke 2:15

In their travels to see Jesus, the shepherds spread the word of what had happened. We are called to “go and tell” of the good news of Jesus. Just like the shepherds on the night of our Savior’s birth, we are called to go shine light in dark places by speaking of Jesus, and living in such a way that our lives reflect His glory at work in us. 

Father,
           It costs us to follow Christ, and we often lack courage. Give us a boost of bravery when we need it, to remember the shepherds' awe and how they couldn’t help but spread the good news of Christ’s birth. Let us be so full of Your love that we cannot contain it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Silent Nights

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God...
Luke 2:13 NKJV

Tonight, I went to the performance of The Singing Christmas Tree at First Baptist Pasadena. I am so grateful that my daughter-in-love bought me a ticket. They had between 130 and 140 singers just in the tree alone. What a sound! They filled the auditorium with reverberating swells of musical praise! It was very moving!

Throughout the evening, I kept coming back to our verse for today. You know, a multitude is generally defined as more than 100. The NIV reads, "a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel". A company of soldiers is somewhere between 130 and 150. Other versions read "vast host" or "vast number" which is a great many. More than 100 voices... Based on tonight's experience, I couldn't help but wonder how silent could that night have been if a "multitude of the heavenly host" were praising God?

It HAD been silent before that. In fact, there had been 400 years of silent nights from Heaven... From the last words of Malachi until Gabriel spoke to Zechariah, no prophetic words from God the Father. One hundred forty-six THOUSAND silent nights... 

And when Jesus is born, the Passion Translation reads, Then all at once in the night sky, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing... 

No more silent nights!

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for music and laughter and voices swelled in songs of praise to You. Thank You for speaking to our hearts and for hearing our prayers and praise back to You. We are ever grateful for the birth of Your Son to redeem us from our sins - giving us something to sing about! In the words of the song, "All my life You have been faithful! All my life You have been so SO good! With every breath that I am able, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God!" We will not be silent. Help us to stay true in our praise and thanksgiving to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Getting Prepared

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
1st Peter 1:13 NLT

People are now in full swing, trying to get ready for Christmas. Decorating the tree, shopping for gifts, last-minute home preparations for any guests who may be coming to visit. We want it to be perfect... whatever that is in our minds. And we don't know how we're going to get it all done. 

Let me help you. 

The perfect Gift has already been given, the perfect tree lifted Him high, making it possible to cleanse our hearts to be His home - to be fit for Jesus to come live in us (Ephesians 3:17). 

The MOST important thing to remember about Christmas is the advent of Christ - the time of preparation marking the celebration of Jesus' birth over 2,000 years ago, and also for the preparation of His second coming. Are you getting prepared? 

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray Ephesians 3:20-21, Now all glory to You, God, who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Closet Hoarders

Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value.

Matthew 6:19-20 TPT

It's December and like most people in first-world countries, we are pulling out boxes, tubs, and/or crates of holiday decorations and lights. Lights typically represent something pleasant. As a whole, we're tired of Covid and lockdowns and vax/no-vax debates and just long for something good. The evidence is that for weeks, we have seen posts on social media of people who decorated their homes for Christmas long before Thanksgiving. 

As we finish putting away our Fall/Thanksgiving decor and bring out the Christmas/New Year/Winter boxes, I am struck with the reality of closet hoarding and what is my purpose in all this. Am I giving greater value to earthly treasures than to heavenly treasures?  Do I find my identity in Christ or is my identity found in how good everything looks for the holidays? I'm not in any way saying it's wrong to decorate, we just need to make sure our priorities in life are in the proper order. Is our first order Jesus?

As I was digging through a closet today, I wondered, "Are there closets in Heaven?" I'm inclined to think there are not. After all, what would we store there? What are heavenly treasures? I think they are things like the times we share the Gospel with a lost soul or extend the love of Jesus to a hurting heart or make provision for the least of these. How do you put those things in a closet? And what are we stuffing our closets with now - past hurts? Unforgiveness? It's time to clear out the junk and make room for those things that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value.

Prayer:

Father,

           Open our eyes to see and our ears to hear what You would have us do for others in Your Name. Soften our hearts and clear our minds from the clamor and call of this world so that we only live and move and have our being in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Because You Love

Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.

Isaiah 58:7-11 NLT

The following is from the NKJV Max Lucado Encouraging Word Bible:

Seek God with pure motives. Do good works because you love God, not because others expect them.

I have a feeling that most people who defy and deny God do so more out of fear than conviction. For all our chest pumping and braggadocio, we are anxious folk—can’t see a step into the future, can’t hear the one who owns us. No wonder we try to gum the hand that feeds us.

But God reaches and touches. He speaks through the immensity of the Russian plain and the density of the Amazon rain forest. Through a physician’s touch in Africa, a bowl of rice in India. Through a Japanese bow or a South American abraço. He’s even been known to touch people through paragraphs like the ones you are reading. If he is touching you, let him.

Mark it down: God loves you with an unearthly love. You can’t win it by being winsome. You can’t lose it by being a loser.

But you can be blind enough to resist it.

Don’t. For heaven’s sake, don’t. For your sake, don’t.

“Take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God” (Eph 3:18–19 MSG). Others demote you. God claims you. Let the definitive voice of the universe say, “You’re still a part of my plan.”

The next time you sing at church...ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? Why am I here? Why am I singing? Why did I bring my Bible?” Examine your motives! Be sure that you are doing those acts to thank God for his great love for you! Copyright © 2020 by Thomas Nelson.

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our eyes and hearts to see and hear You, and give us the strength and wisdom to follow all Your instructions. Move upon our hearts to make us givers like You - the One who gave it all. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Following the Plan

 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Yeah, I know I've used that particular Scripture too many times to count. But I figure if God puts it in my face to remind me, then maybe you are in need of the reminder, too. We don't always understand His plan, and I don't know about you, but when I don't understand something, I need to keep going back to it until I do.

God has a plan. He's had it from the beginning and He's working it every day. And He had writers, too, and they wrote it down for us. And He knows He has some serious variables...for instance, me... or you. At any rate, that's irrelevant. The Truth is the Father's plan is the only plan that works for our eternal good.

I know you wanna tell me, "Yeah, but this is real life." That's right, it is and God gave us this real life - with real struggles and real trials and hard times and unknowns. And He gave us this real life with the ability to breathe and to think and to reason and to choose His Plan - the one that includes salvation and redemption.

You see, we don't have to know how the whole thing works, we just have to know Him. And we know it will work, because of who He is...as long as we follow the plan. And we just need to do our part of it, not anyone else's and certainly, not God's part. We only need to do what He's given us to do. That's all. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing...you do your part. God will do His. And it will all come out right in the end and He will say, "Well done..."

And we will love it - and celebrate - when the plan comes together.

Prayer:

Father,
         Help us to focus on what is in front of us to do while keeping our eyes on You. One day at a time. One part at a time. One foot placed in the print You've left in front of us as You go before us and make the crooked way straight. We won't look to the right or left. We won't be distracted by those things that are happening that don't look like part of the plan. We will follow Your plan, Father, and we're grateful for it. Help us to understand and adhere to the instructions You've given us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Keep Walking

 [The Lord God said] Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.

Jeremiah 7:23 NIV

The Word of God has much to say about our walking - especially for those who choose to walk blameless and in obedience to His Word. Lots of promises with regard to walking in His ways. He promises long life (1 Kings 3:14), to prosper us in all we do (Psalm 128:1-2) and to be with us (1 Kings 11:38). 

When it comes to walking in His ways, are we intentional, committed, and on purpose with our walk? We definitely should be. Keep walking.

Prayer:

Father,
          According to Your Word - we want to walk in the light, as You are in the light, so we may have fellowship with one another. Purify us from our sin, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Thanks and Praise

Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.

Psalm 111:1 NLT

2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.

3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.

4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

5 He gives food to those who fear him;
he always remembers his covenant.

6 He has shown his great power to his people
by giving them the lands of other nations.

7 All he does is just and good,
and all his commandments are trustworthy.

8 They are forever true,
to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.

9 He has paid a full ransom for his people.
He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Praise him forever!  Psalm 111:2-10 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for everything You have done for us, salvation, redemption, Your great love, all Your provision. We can never thank You enough or praise You enough! Help us to walk steadfastly with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Lesson Learned in Making Coffee

 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Colossians 3:12-14 NKJV

To everyone who has ever gone to get a cup of coffee and found the community pot not exactly empty (letter of the law), but not enough coffee left in the pot to extinguish the fire on a pregnant ant – this one’s for you.

I have found that an office coffee pot can be a great witness/indicator of one’s true Christianity. I can see you rolling your eyes, so let me just tell you a story or two and you tell me if you can find anything that’s familiar…

Let’s say you’re the first person in the office, so being the nice person you are, you put on the first pot of coffee. Rather than waste time, you go back to your office to turn on your computer, line out your task list, etc. By the time you get back to the coffee pot, it’s got one-eighth of an inch of coffee left in it. There are pre-measured packs of coffee that only have to be slipped in the dispenser, but someone else could not figure out how to do that. Their rationale? There was coffee left in the pot...technically, at least.

You start another pot of coffee. This time you hang around and if you’re fortunate enough to have a multi-pot brewer, you wait and you start the next pot, too, then go back to your desk. You go back about an hour later and there are TWO pots with so little coffee remaining that even if you combined them, there wouldn’t be enough for half a cup of coffee. You grumble under your breath, but you start another pot for whoever else will be drinking coffee before lunch.

That afternoon, you’re sitting at your desk and you smell something burning. Following your nose, you wind up in front of the coffee pot to discover the one-sixteenth of an inch of coffee that was left on the burner to bubble and char and burn into the bottom of the pot. You go back to your desk and make a sign...Any of this sound familiar?

The first day the sign was posted, and even part of the next day, when I’d gone in there a few times and there was no coffee, I thought to myself, “Fine –what will they do when there’s no coffee made?” And then I thought about what if a friend or co-maker was the next person in there – would I want that person to go without? And as I was standing there in front of the coffee pot, God reminded me that HE makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust and conviction pierced my soul.

The truth is there are always going to be people who choose to care about other people and people who don’t – or won’t. And we have to decide for ourselves whether our caring is self-LESS or motivated by what it will bring us in return…which would make it selfish. Scripture clearly states that the world will know us by our love, not our grumbling.

If someone else benefits from me making coffee - even though they’re a drinker not a maker - maybe eventually they’ll learn to care…after all, I believe in miracles. But, even if that never happens, what kind of witness am I? How am I representing Christ? Aren’t I to be like Him? He gave Himself for EVERY one of us.

As a Christian, I am to be motivated by self-LESS and too often, I fail. So, even in making a simple pot of coffee, God can teach me a lesson.

This cup’s for you.

Prayer:

Father,

            Help me to love as You love. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

I Know This...

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

Hebrews 3:12-14 NIV

I want to go on record declaring that I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ and His gospel. I have a strong faith. I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the standard by which we are to live. I believe that we will live eternally somewhere and that both heaven and hell are real.

So, I have hope in the Lord. It's hope - not born of desperation, but rather of relationship, knowing in Whom I have believed and having been witness to His mighty works and amazing grace. I truly believe that God is good even when I don't understand the dark times. Let the believers say "Amen!"

It's been a hard year. I have lost dear friends and my oldest brother - 9 people - this does not count the number of people who have died who I know OF, but didn't know personally. I am doing better now than I was 6 months ago, but deep in my heart, I am sad beyond words. I feel as though a part of me has died, too, and in a way, it has. Following my brother's death, and the passing of several close friends, a part of my heart seems to have gone dormant. But that's okay; it's just a season. Please know that I am not writing this for your sympathy. I am writing to reiterate these truths. Do not confuse my grief with lack of faith. Do not interpret my tears as signs of unbelief. Here's what I know that I know. Jesus tells us in John 12:24 that unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. There IS coming a time of rebirth. These 9 all had accepted Christ as their Saviour. The good news is, as much as I miss these loved ones, I know I will see them again. I know this because it's written in God's Word.

1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT, And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.

May you be encouraged today.

Prayer:

Father,
The heavens declare Your glory and I? I can only attempt to echo their praise. Thank You for Your grace and for salvation and for Your mercy, and help us to try to fathom the depth of Your great love...even in the dark times. May the many seeds bring about a great harvest, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It's a Beautiful Thing

Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God’s presence.
Proverbs 27:9 TPT

Tonight, we celebrated the end of our Life Groups for 2021. What a joyous time to come together with all the Life Groups of our church! Looking around the room, it was overwhelming to see the people and remember all the circumstances that have been overcome this year by the grace of God and the help of faithful friends! 

What a roomful of precious testimonies of friends who celebrated life together, who rejoiced with one another, or held each other up as their broken hearts streamed down their faces. Strength lent, love received, holding one another accountable to God and to each other. It's a beautiful thing friendship, not to be taken for granted.

Prayer:

Father,

            Thank You for those You've ordained to cross our life paths, for those who have stayed and for those who were only here for a brief time because we've learned from all of them. ThankYou for loving us so much that You cause our hearts to respond in kind. Thank You for friends of all kinds. Teach us how to value them properly. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What is Your Motivation?

Remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage. Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do.
1st Corinthians 16:13-14 The Passion Translation

These were the last instructions from Paul, and as such, should carry great weight. So we need to ask ourselves, "What motivates us?" Is it to have better things - job, car, home?  Is it self-serving, tit for tat? Do we choose our actions based on what will most benefit our own personal goals or desires?

The Apostle Paul instructs us to Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that [we] do.  Are they? Let's check our hearts. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal our motivation(s).

Prayer:

Father,

We humbly come before You and ask You to reveal our motivations. Change anything and everything that is not founded in Your love and kindness within us. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Teach us Your ways, O God. Restore a right spirit within us. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Weekend Word

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The Lord gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!
19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne;
from there he rules over everything.
20 Praise the Lord, you angels,
you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels
who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created,
everything in all his kingdom.
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
Psalm 103

Friends

Now, this means that when we come together and are side by side, something wonderful will be released. We can expect to be co-encouraged and co-comforted by each other’s faith!
Romans 1:12 The Passion Translation

We went to school together as kids but didn't really run in the same circles. About 10 years ago, there was a high school reunion event that produced a huge response on Facebook. It was then that Hope and I connected on FB when we discovered we had both grown to be followers of Christ. In the 10 years since then, we have shared our faith, our struggles, fought battles together, prayed earnestly for each other, and rejoiced in the many blessings God has bestowed on us!

I had the blessed opportunity to visit with Hope and Dave who I had not seen in almost 50 years! And yet, it was as though we had just had lunch together last week! Not one awkward moment. It was so lovely and loving and a precious time of catching up, with hearts connected as only Jesus can do! 

I am so grateful that they carved out the time on their trip so we could visit face-to-face and heart to heart. I keep thinking about the line from the old song by Michael W. Smith, "And friends are friends forever if the Lord's the lord of them..."  Our promise bears repeating, Now, this means that when we come together and are side by side, something wonderful will be released. We can expect to be co-encouraged and co-comforted by each other’s faith!  

And we were!

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for the gift of friendships that stand the test of time and distance because there is no separation in You. We pray rich blessings on our friends and ask that You continue to keep Your arms wrapped around them. Keep them safe, loving You and loving each other. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

God Days

On a good day, enjoy yourself;
On a bad day, examine your conscience.
God arranges for both kinds of days
So that we won’t take anything for granted.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 The Message

No, I didn't miss the other O... We all like good days. Days of calm and no conflict. Days without struggles and stress. Days that are pleasant and peaceful; full of laughter and love. These we tend to think of as God-ordained days...

And bad days? We tend to think that all bad days come straight from the pit of hell. Some days are just life. Life is hard. Some happen to test our faith and trust in God. It's easy to be a Christian when everything is going well. It's a matter of building faith when life batters you on the rocks in a storm-tossed ocean. When you pray and pray for healing that doesn't come. When someone you love and have prayed for so desperately dies anyway.

Where is God in all that? Still on the throne. Still loving us. That which rocks our world does not shake God off His throne of Grace. The mercy seat is still there. His Grace is enough, according to 2nd Corinthians 12:9. However, it's found only IN His presence. We have to face Him and not turn our backs on Him. We have to run TO Him and not away. We have to CHOOSE to trust Him. To believe His Word, God arranges for both kinds of days... And in Psalm 139:16 NIV, it reads, Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

All of our days are God days, for He has ordained all of them. And He can be trusted in each and every one.

Prayer:

Father,
We pray Your Word in Psalm 31, But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You...In Jesus' Name. Amen

Have Mercy - A Word

A Psalm of David

Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
The Lord protects them and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies.
The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.

“O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
“How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.
They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while they gather gossip,
and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
All who hate me whisper about me, imagining the worst.
 “He has some fatal disease,” they say. “He will never get out of that bed!” 

Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

Lord, have mercy on me. Make me well again, so I can pay them back! I know you are pleased with me, for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
You have preserved my life because I am innocent; you have brought me into your presence forever.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen! Psalm 41 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

            Thank You for Your Word that never changes - the Truth that shines through so ABSOLUTELY and guides us on our path for all eternity. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see, in Jesus' Name. Amen

What is First?

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3rd John 2 NKJV

We all want to prosper and be healthy. We work at it. It's why we have a job. We spend the time it takes to learn how to do it right. We research and study and then train and apply what we've learned so that we might be successful in what we do.

Ask yourself this. Is your soul prospering? Is it expanding in faith and love? Is it at peace? Is your soul satisfied in your relationship with the Lord? If not, why not? Do we work at it? Do we spend the time it takes to learn how to do it right? Do we search His Word and study and train and apply what we've learned in our lives? What is our priority? What is first? Just FYI - God does not do second place.

Answer this. If we prosper in all things and are in health based on how our soul prospers, are we struggling or solvent? Bankrupt or booming? Failing or flourishing? 

Prayer:

Father, 

          Open our eyes to see the reality of our choices and where we place You as a priority. Forgive us for every time we don't make You our first priority. Help us to see every choice we make for selfishness and what we want instead of following Your Word and Your way. Give us clean hands and purify our hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Get It In

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.
1st John 4:7-17a NLT

Have you ever watched a baby try to eat when he's just learning to feed himself? It's comical to watch. He gets more ON himself (and the high chair and everything else) than he gets IN his mouth and he's trying to get it ALL. Sometimes, there's such a mess that you have to wonder if he's getting enough in to provide the nourishment he needs. But a watchful parent is usually there to make sure enough actually gets in. Then there's the clean-up. What a mess! You might be covered in it, but unless you got some in your mouth, you're still hungry, maybe even borderline starving.

We all know that getting something all over you is WAY different than getting it IN you. It's rather like that when we first come to the Lord. We try to get it all in - as much as we can - because we're so hungry for Him! But in the beginning, we make lots of messes. Don't be discouraged! Don't give up! God's Word tells us in Ephesians 5: 25 that He sanctifies and cleanses us with the washing of water by the word. And then we start to hit the mark, taking in the richness of His Word, digesting it and putting it to use in the body.

Don't be confused. Getting it all over you is NOT the same as getting it in you. Physically or spiritually. Pray to know the difference.

Prayer:

Father,
           Don't let us be confused. Teach us what is proper nutrition to produce good fruit in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What Will You Believe?

And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
1st John 5:5 NLT

This world is fast becoming one we do not recognize. Nothing is "normal". Life, as we knew it just ten years ago, no longer exists. And the speed at which it has happened can be overwhelming and downright scary. However, if you follow Jesus and walk with Him, you should quickly recognize fear as a ploy of satan. It is his greatest tool in trying to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).

To not be afraid is the most repeated instruction we receive in the Word of God. In order to not be afraid, we must trust the One who promises peace as only He can provide. Peace in the midst of the storm, peace that passes all understanding. Jesus gave us His own peace. He said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

Jesus was very clear about what people could expect from being His followers. The picture He presented on this Earth was not warm and fuzzy, but He gave them - and all of us - this assurance. [Jesus speaking], I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NLT). You'll notice He said many trials and sorrows...

And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. So, what will you believe?

Prayer:

Father,

          We believe and do declare that Jesus is Your Son. We are forgiven because He laid down His life for the remission of our sins, He was buried and rose to life the third day, and even now sits at Your right hand, interceding for us. And it is because we believe in Jesus that we will not be afraid. In Him, we can win this battle against the world. Help us to stay focused and to not be distracted. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Anything and Everything

So, little children, guard yourselves from worshiping anything but Him. 

1st John 5:21 TPT

We live in a society of opinions and influencers and haters and idols and selfies and binge-watching and then wonder why we can't hear from Heaven. Little children (believers, dear ones), guard yourselves from idols—[false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart].
1st John 5:21 The Amplified Bible

They say we've earned the right to serve our own needs first, that we should provide for our four and no more, to basically hoard instead of share under the guise and lies of keeping ourselves safe. Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles. 1st John 5:21 The Message. Romans 12:2 in The Passion Translation tells us to Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

God's Word tells us we are to serve OTHERS, that if we see someone with a need we should meet it, that we are to love as He loved and lay down our lives for others just as He did for us all. The New Living Translation writes our promise for today this way, Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to guard our hearts and minds against everything that the world throws at us. According to Your Word in Ephesians 6, we will actively put on our armor to fight against all the wiles of the enemy of our souls. We submit ourselves to You. Open our eyes to see anything and everything that would seek to take Your place in our hearts. Root out those things that should have no place in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

How Do You Spell LOVE?

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
1st John 3:18 NLT

God is serious about love - that's because He doesn't just love us. He IS love. Of the 10 Commandments, six of them address how we are to be in our relationships with other people. The other four? Our relationship with God Himself.

If you've ever fallen in love, you know that the only thing you want is to be with that person. You can't wait to get out of work or school, chores are done in record time so that nothing interferes with being with that person.

How do you spell LOVE?  W-O-R-K? M-O-N-E-Y? M-O-R-E M-O-N-E-Y?

Are we guilty of trying to squeeze love and our relationships into our busy schedules? That should be a BIG hint.

How do you spell LOVE? T-I-M-E

Pr. Warren writes, "The most desired gift of love is...focused attention...Whenever you give your time, you are making a sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of love." He finishes that truth with these three statements.

"The best use of life is love.
The best expression of love is time.
The best time to love is now."

So...what are we waiting for?

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to see what is MOST important in life is not work, tasks, projects, things, but people. Imperfect people, at that. Teach us to love as You love - holy and wholly. And to give of ourselves as You did and do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Score Keeper

 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

1st John 3:16a NIV

I've lived long enough to know and understand the rules of good sportsmanship, but I'll just tell you... I don't like to lose. When I play, I play to win. I don't go into a game to lose. 

As much I dislike losing, I absolutely HATE it if someone lets me win. Where's the challenge in that? In my opinion, a win I didn't earn is a bigger loss than actually losing. But the challenge in all of that is Christ. I can't earn my salvation and yet, that's the biggest win of all.

Have you ever found yourself keeping score on your life? I have. If you know me personally, you've heard me say something like, "I should get points for not smacking that person (when I really want to...)" "I should get points for not saying ___________(something smart alecky, I'm sure)." "I want points for not ripping their wagging tongue right outta their mouth and hanging them with it."   

In all reality, that's like keeping score on the sin in my life. The more I keep score, the more I realize, it's a heart issue. And then I think, if Jesus laid down His life for us and that's how we know what love is (according to our text for today), then, in return, I should lay down my life for Him, right? After all, He died to save me. Sure, I can lay my life down for Him.  Sounds good...okay...but it's not Scriptural. We're instructed to lay down our lives for others... 

The entire verse of 1st John 3:16 reads, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. Mark 12:28-31 reads, One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."  John 15:13 tells us, Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 

You wanna keep score? yeah...me, neither...

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for sending Your Son to die on the Cross for the remission of our sins. Help us to grow in love and when we are faced with those opportunities to love the unloveable, please help us to see them for what they are. An opportunity to show Your love through us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

An Evening Prayer - Psalm 141

Please, Lord, come close and come quickly to help me! Listen to my prayer as I call out to you. Let my prayer be as the evening sacrifice that burns like fragrant incense, rising as my offering to you as I lift up my hands in surrendered worship!

God, give me grace to guard my lips from speaking what is wrong. Guide me away from temptation and doing evil. Save me from sinful habits and from keeping company with those who are experts in evil. Help me not to share in their sin in any way!

When one of your godly ones corrects me or one of your faithful ones rebukes me, I will accept it like an honor I cannot refuse. It will be as healing medicine that I swallow without an offended heart. Even if they are mistaken, I will continue to pray. When the leaders and judges are condemned, falling upon the rocks of justice, then they’ll know my words to them were true!

Like an earthquake splits open the earth, so the world of hell will open its mouth to swallow their scattered bones. But you are my Lord and my God; I only have eyes for you! I hide myself in you, so don’t leave me defenseless. Protect me! Keep me from the traps of wickedness they set for me. Let them all stumble into their own traps while I escape without a scratch!

Psalm 141:1-10 TPT

Raise the Standard

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

1st John 2:6 NLT

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.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I might be able to manage to be most of those on a given day, with reminders. However, the Word of God states that we are to DAILY pick up our cross and follow Him. I cannot do that by myself.

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

Determined

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.
Isaiah 50:7 NLT

I have come to the conclusion that I really can do nothing apart from God. Any skill I have, He gave me. Any ability to learn and to be proficient, He supplied. So why would I try to tackle the wiles of the enemy on my own? What would make me think that apart from God I had any power at all to overcome an onslaught?

Scripture declares we are overcomers by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. The Blood was shed at Calvary - that part's done - and here's the word of my testimony. I have set my face like a stone... determined to do His will. I will not be moved by what I see or hear or feel if it is the opposite of what I find to be the Truth of God's Word.

Prayer:

Father,
           I don't care what the facts are. I know Your Truth. Your Word declares the Truth over and above facts. As Jesus proclaimed, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. And it is by Your Truth that we are set free. Help us to walk in these Truths. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Not Random

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1st Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

Do we trust God in all things or only the good things? Do we pay Him lip service or do we praise Him with grateful hearts that are spilling over with His goodness toward us no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in? Do we believe the Word of God to be our absolute Truth? Do we hasten to do His bidding? Are we truly trusting Him Who sees the end from the beginning?

God doesn't do anything randomly. He always has a plan. It may not seem like it sometimes, but that's because His thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours. And it is because of these truths that we CAN be thankful in all circumstances. Like they say, "If God brings us to it, He will get us through it" and in the course of getting us through, He will work some Christ-like character deep into our hearts or cross our paths with someone who needs to hear our story or we need to hear theirs. Remember, God works ALL things for our good and we should be grateful.

Prayer:

Father,
             Thank You for Your goodness and grace, Your faithfulness and favor, for loving us enough to trust us to walk with You through the valleys, however dark they may seem. We offer our thanks, our love and our trust in You knowing it is Your Will for us. Help us to remain focused. Gvie us clean hands and purify our hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Great Provider

He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
1st Samuel 17:40 NLT

You know the story. The whole of Israel's army would not volunteer to fight Goliath - including King Saul - who (according to 1st Samuel 9) stood head and shoulders above any man in Israel. But David, a teenaged shepherd boy armed only with his shepherd staff and a sling and 5 smooth stones, faced Goliath a giant of Gath. Why 5?

There's a lot of conjecture about why a certain number of stones and none of them proven or specifically spelled out. The two that make the most sense to me are 5 being the number to represent grace and that there were 4 other giants related to Goliath for a total of 5 giants. 

Let's face it - to defeat Goliath would require the unparalleled grace of God for any one fully grown soldier, let alone a teenaged boy untried in military battle. However, truly David walked in faith and favor and God's grace. That we DO know. We also know that later when David was king, he and his warriors killed the remaining 4 giants. He didn't do it again with a sling and a stone but to me, it seems as though God was already making the promise of provision for victory from the beginning.

God's provision is clear through every situation. He calls us to it, then gives us what we need in order to accomplish what He has called us to do, and then He sends us to do it. What excuse can we possibly use when He has made every provision for victory from the beginning?

Prayer:

Father, 

           Forgive us for thinking we have ever accomplished anything good in our own power and might. Everything - EVERYTHING is by Your Spirit working in us. Thank You for the plans and provision You have made for our lives. We want to fulfill Your plan and purpose for us. Help us, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Today's Timeless Task by David Jackson

David Jackson is one of the most Godly men I've ever had the honor and privilege to know. About once a month or so, he sends out an email of encouragement. I needed this reminder and encouragement today. You may, too.

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“I have finished the work which You have given me to do.” John 17.4b

When I think about the massive Messianic task that constituted Jesus’ divine calling, His short lifespan (not to mention the even briefer period of full-time ministry), and the limited number of people He engaged (not to mention the few He actually discipled), I marvel at this comment in His conversation with God. His work is finished? Really? The work to redeem a broken, lost world enslaved by evil? The work to establish a worldwide kingdom of righteousness and peace? How could His work be finished? Yet this enigmatic phrase provides us with clues for living a life fully pleasing to God, with Jesus as our pattern. Jesus was task-focused and time-conscious. You can hear that in His conversations, including such statements as: “you go up to this feast, I am not yet going…for My time has not yet fully come” (John 7.8). He was fully aware of the tasks given to Him by the Father and of the time allotted to accomplish those tasks during His first coming.

We, too, have been equipped by God with a specific calling and a timeframe. We must be careful to avoid an unhealthy focus on the overwhelming needs of a fallen world or the swift seconds ticking off the moments of our brief lives. The world is a huge mess. It needs a major overhaul at virtually every level of individual and community existence. We can’t begin to comprehend, never mind accomplish, the work required to move humanity toward the healing it so desperately needs. Jesus referred to us as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. But when I consider my life, it is at best a single grain of salt that has been dropped into a vast vat of corruption. It is a single candle immersed in a deep sea of darkness. My potential impact seems so minuscule as to be completely irrelevant.

It is the mysterious and miraculous nature of God’s ways that He somehow accomplishes His eternal will through temporal vessels. His power to heal a seriously sinful world flows through small, sinful people. His everlasting kingdom comes in moment-by-moment increments, using frail, inadequate individuals. The information technology that provides an ever-open window into the local, national and global evils in our world can easily overwhelm us with the impossibility of our redemptive calling. Yet Jesus shows us by practice and parable that saving the world is done one little task at a time. Our job is to know and do that next task, which is typically right in front of us and not that hard to discern. This truth seems apparent in Jesus’ reference to Elijah’s ministry when He reminds us that of the thousands of widows in Israel who needed help in the days of Elijah, the roving prophet was tasked with helping just one of them. This appears to be Elijah’s chief focus for over a year…a year in a period of ministry that rivaled Jesus’ for brevity. Perhaps one of the key lessons gleaned from this snippet of Elijah’s life is that we each need to focus on that individual we are tasked with helping today. Despite the frequent message in many superhero movies, no one person can save the world. But you may be able to save the spiritual, emotional or even physical life of a needy person God has sovereignly placed in your path today.

At the conclusion of Jesus’ three-and-a-half-year ministry, He had but 12 men discipled and equipped as leaders for carrying on the work of the Kingdom. By almost any standard of measure, a first-century historian would have had a hard time finding evidence that the kingdom of God had indeed arrived. But the parables Jesus left us provide insightful clues as to the nature of the kingdom. It’s like a crop: you plant a few seeds, add water, nutrition and time, and you can reap a bountiful harvest. You put a little leaven in the dough and, given the allotted time, the whole lump is leavened. It can be debilitating to focus on the number of people in the world that need to be fed. But planting a single seed in the soil under your feet and tending the resulting plant as it grows is a simple, do-able assignment. I don’t have to fret about whether or not the seed will multiply as it should, for Scripture assures me that it is God who makes it grow (1 Corinthians 3.7). The growth, the final crop and the harvest are in His sovereign hands. My job is to take the seed He provided me, plant it in that portion of the ground where He placed me, water it from His inexhaustible watering source that wells up within me, pull the threatening weeds with the strength He gives me, and then watch the miracle of growth take place.

Jesus planted the seed of the gospel into the hearts of 12 disciples at His first coming and then empowered them to go into the world bearing that precious seed. Before He left, He gave them a key sign signaling His second coming: “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24.14). From twelve humble men to the four corners of the earth. Given the tools of communication and the means of travel in their first-century world, was there ever a more impossible task assigned to a handful of fishermen and tax collectors? But this is how the Kingdom works: cell by cell, task by task, using the seemingly magical method of relational multiplication. His promise to return ripens into reality when those initial 12 bits of leaven expand to penetrate the whole doughy globe. Given the penetrating extent of the leaven in our current generation, we should be watching the skies with joyous anticipation!

The question you must ask yourself as you are confronted each morning with the staggering needs of our world, is simply “which need do I tend to today?” Out of 7 billion hurting people on the planet, which person do I weep with today? In the vast sea of sickness before me, where do I throw my net today? On which wound do I apply the healing balm of God’s love and truth today? To find the work He gave YOU to do TODAY, you don’t need to look far. As previously mentioned, our ability to know what’s going on in virtually every nation of the world at any given moment easily overwhelms our sense of mission. But the soil where your seed needs to be planted is typically right underneath your feet. Your calling is within earshot. Your task is on the whiteboard hanging in your home or office. As it was with Jesus, your work is to do the will of the Father and His will is wrapped up in a unique time and place package that is delivered to your doorstep each new day. It is best unwrapped in your early time alone with Him through prayer and meditation on His Word. As you prayerfully ponder and perform each assignment, you’ll eventually begin to perceive His Spirit working out His will through your life, expanding His kingdom one stone, one task, one day at a time. And when your time is through, you should be able to say, “I finished the work You gave me to do”, in anticipation of His response “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

YES!

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Zechariah 13:9 KJV

[God speaking] “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:1b-3a

Would we ask to be burned, boiled or pressed beyond our endurance? No! Yet, it is in the fire that steel is forged. It is in the fire that impurities are burned out. It is in the heat of the rolling boil that the water becomes purified. It is in the intense, sustained pressure that the simple, ugly lump of coal becomes a diamond.

Do we want to be strong? Do we desire to have the garbage burned out of our lives? Do we want to be purified? Do we want to be one of the jewels He comes to gather? Yes, yes, yes, and yes!

Prayer:

Father,
You never said we could or would be able to do it alone. Forgive us for the times we try to do so. You promised to walk with us every step of the way. We cannot do it without You. Stick closer than a brother, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

My Daughter-in-Love Said

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:2-4 NLT

My daughter-in-love, Donna, wrote this devotion:

When you are at a restaurant, you can expect to overhear conversations about what is good or not so good on the menu. When you are at church, you can expect to overhear conversations about how someone has been blessed or how you can pray for someone. When you are at a football game, you can expect to overhear conversations about how the defense is doing or what call the refs missed. What you don’t expect to overhear when you’re yelling “DEFENSE!” is someone nearby asking “Are you a Christian?” or “Do you know God loves you?”

Wait. What? Who’d she just ask that? Or better yet. Why didn’t I think to ask that?

God has instructed us as Christians to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. (Mark‬ ‭16:15‬). So I shouldn’t be surprised when nearly every conversation my daughter has with a stranger includes “Do you believe in God?” Instead, I should be encouraged and challenged to do likewise. 

My dad modeled the same mission before me. “Go and make disciples of all the nations..." (Matthew‬ ‭28:19). What would start as a simple “Hey there!” or “How’re you doing?” usually ended with “Do you know God as your Savior?” and “How can I pray for you today?” At a restaurant, at church, at a football game, in a grocery store, at the park, the setting didn’t matter. What mattered was that before walking away from the conversation a sharing of God’s love for that person happened. 

Too often I hang back and listen as people talk or I share a smile or a wave as I continue on my way to finish my to-do list, but there’s something more important than my to-do list. God has called us to a purpose - to go and share His love and salvation with others. May my conversations include His purpose. May I make another’s soul a priority to me and be the one who asks “Are you a Christian?”

God has given each of us the greatest gift we could ever receive - salvation. May we each share His gift in the conversations we have with others.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for sending Your Son to die on the cross for our salvation. Thank You for a daughter-in-love whose heart is after You and together with her husband is raising their child in the nurture and admonition of You, Lord. We pray for continued opportunities to share the Good News. Let us be bold in bringing Your Gospel to a lost and dying world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

When In Doubt

How I love you, Lord! You are my defender.  The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. I call to the Lord, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 18:1-3 Good News Translation

The enemy of our souls is always trying to defeat us, demean us, distract us, trying to get us to be disappointed in God our Lord. And when we try to be strong, fighting in our own strength, we lose. And when we lose, it just seems to reaffirm satan's lies. 

We've talked before about what standards we use to conduct ourselves. For Christians, the ultimate standard IS the Word of God, the Bible. It is applicable for every situation, every circumstance, in other words, for EVERYTHING.

If you find yourself in tough circumstances right now, you can praise your way out of them by praying His Word back to Him. Isaiah 61:3 tells us to put on the garment of praise to overcome the spirit of heaviness. Charge the atmosphere proclaiming His goodness to you and for you. A plethora of declarations is readily available in David's psalms. Avail yourself of them. His Truth wins out every time.

Prayer:

Father,
           I will sing to You as long as I live; I will sing praise to You while I have my being. I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress. You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings, I sing for joy. You, Lord, are my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in You, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song, I shall thank You and lift You higher. In Jesus' Name

Requested - A Bout with Doubt

I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works.In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger, remember your mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2 NLT

The Book of Habakkuk is about the questions of man and the answers of God. This prophet is the one who asked why the wicked prosper when the righteous stand to lose it all, and God basically tells him to just wait... Habakkuk was a prophet and yet he questioned God.

Zechariah - who was he? Luke 1:5-7 tells us, When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. He was a priest and both he and his wife were righteous in God's eyes! But when the angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah to tell him that they would have a son, Zechariah doubted him.

Zechariah's son, John, cousin to Jesus, chosen forerunner of the Messiah, sent to prepare the way of the Lord, suffered a bout with doubt. The only prophet to actually see the Messiah in the flesh, and yet when overwhelmed with the circumstances of life, he questioned Christ. Read Luke 7:19, "Are you the one..."

We all have times when we struggle with the overwhelming odds of life. The times where it feels like God is not doing what He said, or not answering our prayers. However, the Truth is that God's time is not measured the same as ours. Don't be discouraged. Don't turn away from God in your most desperate times. The common thread in these mighty men of God is they ran TO God, not away from Him. And THAT is how to win the bout with doubt.

Prayer:

Father,
We thank You for including examples of human frailty in Your Word - to teach us, to encourage us, to get us through. You have truly provided for our every need. What an amazing God You are! Help us to see You and trust You for who You truly are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Words of Hope

Words straight from His Word to reaffirm and build your hope, to give a solid place on which to stand...

Psalm 71:5-6, 14
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. 6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you. 

14 As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Psalm 62:5-6
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

Psalm 33:18, 20-22
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. 

20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 5:1-3
1 Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. 2 Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 143:8
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Psalm 42:5
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 39:7
7 But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

Psalm 9:18
18 But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Psalm 30:5
5 Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 130:7
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Psalm 31:24
24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 126:5-6
5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Psalm 119:49-50
49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Prayer:

Father,

          Let Your Word come alive in us this night. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen