A Hard Read

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”

Matthew 24:3-51 NLT

4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

15 “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) 16 “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. 18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. 19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. 20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.

23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.

26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.

29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days,

the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.

42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Prayer:

Father, 

           We praise You for Your Truth. We thank You for giving us the advance warning. Help us to see and understand what You are saying to us. Help us to rightly divide Your Word, according to Scripture. Give us divine appointments to lead others to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Prepared

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

Do you believe God is good? Do you believe He created you with a purpose in mind? Do you believe that an omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing) God would prepare things for you to do and NOT give you what you needed to do them? 

Even if you're not fully aware of what that purpose might yet be? He tells us in this verse - we are created in Christ Jesus for good works. God has already prepared the works and He has prepared us to be able to do them. Understand this. Within us - placed by God - is everything we need, to do what we need to do, when we need to do it. In God's timing. 

God has created you to be uniquely you made in His image. Do what He has prepared for you to do. Be who He prepared you to be. Not your best friend. Not your parent. You. He has prepared YOU for such a time as this.

Prayer:

Father,

           Your Word tells us in Psalm 139:15-16 NLT that You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. If it was laid out, we know You prepared it for us and prepared us for it. Help us to acknowledge the Truth of Your Word and to walk accordingly. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Bearing Hardship

All these people didn't receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith. God provided something better for us so they wouldn't be made perfect without us.

So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne.

Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up. In your struggle against sin, you haven’t resisted yet to the point of shedding blood, and you have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons and daughters:

My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline
or give up when you are corrected by him,
because the Lord disciplines whomever he loves,
and he punishes every son or daughter whom he accepts.

Bear hardship for the sake of discipline. God is treating you like sons and daughters! What child isn't disciplined by his or her father? But if you don’t experience discipline, which happens to all children, then you are illegitimate and not real sons and daughters... Our human parents disciplined us for a little while, as it seemed best to them, but God does it for our benefit so that we can share his holiness.

No discipline is fun while it lasts, but it seems painful at the time. Later, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.

So strengthen your drooping hands and weak knees! Make straight paths for your feet so that if any part is lame, it will be healed rather than injured more seriously.
Hebrews 11:29 thru 12:13 Common English Bible

Prayer:

Father,
          Let us grasp and hold the Truth of Your Words here tonight. Lord, we desire the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Help us to apply ourselves to training for it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Jesus with Skin On

Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 CEB

You've heard someone say it - maybe even you've said it. "Yes, I know Jesus is always there for me, but right now,  I just need somebody with skin on." 

It's true. We all come to a place where we just want someone to be Jesus HERE. In the flesh. 

It's us. We're to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Compassionate. Caring. Providing what we can. Taking the time to just be there. Loving. Forgiving. 

Who do you know that you could step in and help meet their needs - even when it's not comfortable for you? As they say now... to put some skin in the game? 

Prayer:

Father,

            Open our eyes to see the needs of those around us. Open our hearts to be moved with compassion to help meet those needs. Make it even better if we can join together with other like-minded believers to surround them with Your love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Menu Change

He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a person from the outside can defile him? For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated” (thus he declared all foods clean). And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”
Mark 7:18-23 CSB

On a personal level, I am so glad these verses are included in the New Testament - especially declaring all foods clean. In the Daily Audio Bible, the Old Testament reading is in Leviticus. That's a tough book. Chew the cud, split hooves, not split hooves, divided hooves, scales, fins, swarming things...  Goodness gracious - who could keep up with all that?!?  And NO BACON?!?!?

There is much that we are thankful for, to be in the generations AFTER the crucifixion. The menu change is just one. If you go back and read all the different sacrifices that had to be made for all the different sins and sicknesses and maybes, you will be EXTREMELY grateful. Is there a better work? I told some friends this evening - if we were still under the Leviticus laws, I would be ever standing in the doorway of the tent of meeting doing one sacrifice or another. Thank God, we're not!

Prayer:

           Thank You for taking our sin upon the Cross and dealing with it, for setting us free. For doing Your death, burial, and resurrection and making us part of its total victory. I don't know how people do this life without You. Thank You for all of it - especially our salvation. Keep us ever mindful of what all this cost. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

To Do Today

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.

Psalm 39:6-7 NLT

Do you sometimes feel as though you are in a rut? Get up. Go to work. Come home. Fix supper. Clean up from supper. Get ready for the morning... when you will Get up. Go to work. Come home. Fix supper. Clean up from supper. Get ready for the morning... 

The Truth is it only feels like a rut to me when I am not spending time with God - when my main focus in life is NOT Him. His plan is eternal and has been in place since before we were ever born. Ephesians 2:10 the Living Bible tells us, It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others. And just like God's mercies (though eternal) are new to us every morning, I believe His plan (though eternal) for our daily lives is also new to us every morning. So then, how will we know what He has planned for us to do TODAY if we don't talk to Him?

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You that Your steadfast love never ceases and Your mercies are new every morning! We acknowledge our need for both in abundance. Thank You for making provision for us and for planning the good things You want us to do. We love You, Lord. Help us to keep our focus on You so we can accomplish all that You have planned. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Who Said What?

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Are you sick and tired of hearing about CoVID? I know I am. So much has changed in the last two years that I don't think we will ever go back to what we used to consider normal. The only thing we know for certain will come back is Jesus... when the Father sends Him to get us. 

Meanwhile, we're still here trying to move forward and yet, still stuck in some semblance of limbo - can we or can't we? It seems the worst is trying to figure out who you can believe with regard to the so-called facts about the virus, its prevention, and its treatment. That is enough to wear you out. The more people we lose, the more there is such a heightened sense of fear and distress... but for God.

I have determined as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. The ONLY unchanging Truth in all of this is God. The only One who never changes His story, the only One who has had it right from the very beginning is Almighty God. And HE says, Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank You that You never change. You are always good. You are always right. You are always with us, Immanuel. Thank You for never leaving us, never forsaking us, for never lying to us. Thank You for being the Rock on which we can stand when the storms of life rage all around us. Help us to keep our focus on You and the promises of Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Deadliest Catch

 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.

Matthew 13:18-19 KJV

If you’re familiar with the Discovery Channel, today’s title for the Promise might have you thinking, “What does crab fishing have to do with the Promise for Today?” Absolutely nothing and that’s my point.  Escaping the trials and troubles in our lives by watching TV or getting on the computer is NOT the same as being free from the bondages of life. Only the Word of God can free us from the snares of life and the Word is what satan comes to steal. And although Bering Sea fishermen have the most dangerous job, the true deadliest catch is depicted in Matthew 13, our text for today – when satan comes to steal (catcheth away) God’s Word from our hearts.

How can that be deadly? What can the Word of God do for us? Well, in just one chapter - albeit the longest one - I have found the following. This is not all Psalm 119 has to say about the Word, but you'll get the idea.

Psalm 119:9 - How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
Psalm 119:11 - I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:25-28 - I lie in the dust; revive me by your word. I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your decrees. Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.
Psalm 119:37 - Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
Psalm 119:43 - Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope.
Psalm 119:50 - Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.
Psalm 119:67 - I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.
Psalm 119:81 - I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:114 - You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.
Psalm 119:133 - Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. 
Psalm 119:156 - Lord, how great is your mercy; let me be revived by following your regulations.

Don't go fishing in uncharted territories. Follow the true Fisher of men or you'll be destroyed by the deadliest catch.

Prayer:

Father,
          According to Psalm 119 The Message, You made me; You created me. Now give me the sense to follow Your commands. Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your Word. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Need Some Pigs?

So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

Mark 4:13-17 NLT

They were used to him - the demon-possessed man who wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. They'd rounded up a posse every now and then to capture him and try to chain him up - to no avail. Then Jesus came and set him free. As I was reading through this passage, I noticed something I'd not caught before. The people weren't afraid until AFTER they saw the man sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane. You would think they would have been thrilled that he had been delivered. No...

They were so NOT thrilled that they begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone. We've all expressed surprise at their reaction and yet, I wonder, how many of us do something similar? Do we get so comfortable with the "pet" sins that we don't want Jesus messing with them?

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for the times we post No Trespassing signs in areas of our lives and hearts that need to be changed and can only be changed by You. Help us to freely surrender all we are to You. Be all You are in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Dress Yourself

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.

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!

 
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! from 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

The Unpardonable Sin

“Listen to this carefully. I’m warning you. There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven. But if you persist in your slanders against God’s Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives, sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.” He gave this warning because they were accusing him of being in league with Evil.
Mark 3:28-30 The Message

“I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”
Mark 3:28-30 NLT

What is the unpardonable sin? That question came up in a discussion this week. Let's see what a couple of our study resources have to say about it.

From the NIV Study Bible, copyright 1985,1995, 2002, 2008, 2011 by Zondervan and the fully revised edition of the NIV Study Bible

28-30 Jesus follows this story with a solemn pronouncement: forgiveness is available for all the sins and blasphemies of humans except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What is that sin? Verse 30 suggests an explanation. Jesus had done what any unprejudiced person would have acknowledged as a good thing. He had freed an unfortunate man from the power and bondage of evil through the power of the Holy Spirit, but the teachers of the law ascribed it to the power of Satan. To call light darkness or good evil or Jesus' work satanic because of prejudice in one's heart is the worst sin of all.

The words of v.29 have caused great anxiety and pain in the history of the church. Many have wondered whether they have committed the "unpardonable sin." Surely what Jesus is speaking of here is not an isolated act but a settled condition of the soul—the result of a long history of repeated and willful acts of sin through hardness of heart (cf. 3:5). On the other hand, any who are troubled about this sin give evidence that they have not committed it. If the person involved cannot be forgiven, it is not so much that God refuses to forgive as it is the sinner who refuses to allow him. 

From the fully revised edition:

In Mk 3:29 Jesus says that “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin” (cf. Lk 12:10). Matthew’s account adds that even blasphemy against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:31–32). What is this unforgivable sin and why is it associated with the Holy Spirit (cf. 1Jn 5:16 and note)? Doesn’t the blood of Christ cover every sin?

Mark gives us some help for interpretation by noting that “He said this because they were saying, ‘He has an impure spirit’ ” (3:30). Jesus has been healing the sick and casting out demons in the power of the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:28; Lk 11:20). Yet the religious leaders attribute the work of the Spirit to Satan (Mk 3:22; cf. Mt 12:24; Lk 11:15). In other words, they look right into the light and then turn to the darkness. The key to the unpardonable sin, then, seems to lie in the role of the Holy Spirit, which is to reveal God and draw people to the truth. Anyone who rejects the work of the Spirit in their life is essentially rejecting any hope of salvation (Jn 16:8; 1Co 2:14).

The assumption would seem to be that by directly rejecting the Spirit’s work, the religious leaders have reached the point of no return, since the truth will never be clearer than at this point in time. In this way they have committed a sin that will never be forgiven.

Of course, we as humans are not the all-knowing God and so we don’t know when a person has actually reached this point. We therefore keep proclaiming the gospel and calling for repentance, assuming no one is beyond the opportunity for forgiveness. Furthermore, no one in Scripture who wants to repent is told they cannot. Those who genuinely seek repentance show that they cannot have committed any unforgivable sin. 

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for the Truth of Your Word to shine the light on the scariest of thoughts and to dispel the darkness. We are SO grateful that we are able to find the remedy for everything we face already written for us. Give us hearts of understanding. Holy Spirit, guide us into all Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Psalm 36

This prayer from Psalm 36 speaks to me and for me tonight. I hope it speaks to you, too.

5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.

7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.

8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights.

9 For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts.

11 Don’t let the proud trample me or the wicked push me around.

In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

While You're Waiting...

Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All of God’s people here send you their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:11b-14 NLT

We spend so much time asking God to do this and do that and then sit back to wait and see what He does. Heart check! Are we waiting as in waiting for God to prove Himself to us? Because I'll tell you, He already did. Remember Calvary?  Or are we waiting on the Lord knowing He will deliver us?

Waiting on the Lord takes great faith. However, waiting doesn't mean do nothing. Faith is an action word - it's a verb. I'm not saying jump in and do what only God is supposed to do. (For sure, we don't need any more Ishmaels running around where Isaac is supposed to be.) 

So, what should we be doing? 

Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. These take great faith, too, and lots of action! And when we do these, the Word tells us, Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Teach us how best to wait on You and how to grow our faith in the waiting. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Father's Business

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Titus 2:11-13 NLT

When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7 NLT

His Grace. His kindness. His love. His great mercy. All reasons God saved us. It had nothing to do with anything we had done and everything to do with what He did for us. Why? 

Why did He save us? Was it just so we wouldn't go to hell? Was it just so we could try to be better versions of our original selves minus sin? Why have we been saved? Ephesians 2:9-10 NLT tells us, Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

We are to be about our Father's business - the things He planned for us long ago. Serving others and encouraging them in their relationship with the Father. Are we tending to business?

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for the detailed job description You have given us. Thank You, too, for the unbelievably generous benefits package that goes with it. As long as we follow in Your footsteps, we cannot fail. In Truth, we will prosper and grow beyond our wildest dreams. We are so grateful for all You've done and all that You're doing. Please forgive us for the mistakes we make. Help us to stay the course. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

His Eye on Us

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. 

Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.

Psalm 33:18-22 NKJV

We who choose to follow the Lord can be assured of having His attention. According to His Word, we who trust Him can know and be confident that He rescues His children. He is our help, our Strength, our Protector, and Provider. 

He has had a plan for our lives before we ever drew our first breath. Plans that include working ALL things for our good, giving beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...  We witnessed this yet again at a devastating funeral we attended this past week. God moments in the midst of it all - hearts reconnected, relationships restored, love overflowing to support and strengthen the broken-hearted. God's moments of mercy and grace for which we are so grateful because His eye is on us.

Prayer:

Father,

          Strengthen our hearts as we wait on You, Lord. We ask You to comfort and console all those who mourn, according to Your Word. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

What Joy!

With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Psalm 84:2b NLT

Ephesians 5:18-20 tells us, Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, 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.

So let me share some excerpts from Psalm 84 with you. It is what's on my heart!

4 What joy for those who can live in Your house,
always singing Your praises. Interlude

5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.

7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

10 A single day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

11 For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in You.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for Your Word! It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, rescuing us from a dark world. Set Your fire in our souls, Father, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Keeping Track

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 56:8 NLT


My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light. Psalm 56:9-13

Prayer:

       Let it be so, Father - to walk in Your presence. To find comfort  - REAL Comfort - to be able to give to others in need. For this, we thank You and give praise.  In Jesus' Name AMEN

Faith and Trust

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!
Malachi 3:10 NLT

Tithing is the only place that God invites us to test or prove Him. And He has been proved time and time again as any tither will tell you!

However, in everything else, we are told to trust God in all things. Much easier said than done, but that's why God provided His Word in written form so we know what to do and how to do it.

All believers have been given the measure of faith (Romans 12:3), but what we do with it determines how our faith grows. Romans 10:17 NKJV tells us, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [emphasis mine]. If we want to be someone who has a strong faith - world-changing faith - then we must spend time reading and studying God's Word. Let's learn Proverbs 3:5a NLT, Trust in the Lord with all your heart;  

Prayer:

Father,

           Let's pray the prayer of Betsy de Cruz of iBelieve.com - 

     "I praise You for the faithfulness You have shown me so many times in the past. Lord Jesus... I will choose to trust You. Help me remind myself today of Your great love and power. Help me identify fearful, anxious thoughts and lay them at the foot of Your cross. Give me the grace and power I need to meditate on truths from Your Word instead. Help me also speak positive words that will inspire others to trust You as well...
      "Lord, You are my strength and my song. I will worship You today and sing Your praises, even if I cannot quite understand what You are doing. Thank You for putting a new song in my heart." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

How Many Thoughts

How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
Psalm 139:17 TLB

Today marks the first anniversary of the death of my oldest brother, Ron. His wife, Mary, just passed away 3 weeks ago. I've been missing them terribly. This morning, as I was thinking about them and feeling quite bereft that I would not see them again here on Earth, a cardinal showed up outside my window and played in the courtyard. We've lived in this house for almost 2 years and I've NEVER seen a cardinal in our yard!

A few minutes later, his mate showed up. She was white, trimmed in red, and just beautiful. They pranced around the squirrel picnic table, picking out the sunflower seeds and playing kissy face. The male then flew to the birdbath to get a drink, then flew to my window and perched on the branch of the photinia, directly at eye level with me. I told him how beautiful he was and thanked him for coming and for bringing his wife, too. He flew back to the table and then a few minutes later, they both flew away. 

I know there's an old saying about a cardinal being a visitor from Heaven. This is not that. I'm not saying the cardinals were my brother and his wife, I'm saying God knew I was thinking about them and missing them so, and He lovingly sent a reminder that He knows exactly where we are and He is with us. What an awesome, loving, faithful God we serve!

Prayer:

Father,

          It boggles the mind to know that the Creator of the universe thinks about us individually and loves us enough to reach down and dry our tears! We are only able to love because You first loved us. Thank You for all the ways You make it personal. Keep our hearts and minds open to You. Help us to continue to see Your fingerprints on everything that touches our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

We Have This Hope

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. 

1st Thessalonians 4:13 NLT

I don't know how non-believers deal with the death of loved ones. I have lost multiple family members and friends in the last 13 months. Words cannot fully convey the depth of loss when someone we love dies. In our case, by God's grace, ALL of them knew Christ and were in relationship with Him when they transitioned to eternity. So, although there are days when I am incredibly sad for being left here to do life without them, I have hope. I WILL see them again. FOREVER.

If we read further in the chapter for today, verses 14 - 18 explain this...

14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 So encourage each other with these words. 1st Thessalonians 4:14-18 NLT

Are you encouraged? I know I am.

Prayer:

Father,
           Your Word tells us it won't be long till You come and bring Your reward to give to everyone according to their work. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! In Your Name we pray. Amen

By Request - What to Wear

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here.

Romans 13:11-12a NLT

Do you ever go through times when your perfectly good clothes no longer seem perfectly good? Especially when there's a special occasion involved. What was your favorite suit or shirt just last week is now totally unacceptable, but you can't seem to find another one that you like. And along that same line of thinking, isn't it funny how your whole attitude changes when you put on something you know looks good or feels good, depending on the occasion? Or the best case scenario - when it looks AND feels good? Ohhhh, that's the best! Especially if you DO have a special event you're planning to attend.

I love invitations that include instruction regarding the expected attire. Those are lifesavers. You know exactly what you should wear, even if you don't currently have it. And generally, those invitations arrive in plenty enough time to make provision for attending. Have you ever NOT gone to an event because you didn't have the right thing to wear? Oh, you could have gone, but you just didn't have the desire to invest the time or money it would take to get what you needed for it. Or you didn't remember until the last minute and then it was too late. Ever done that?

Well, this is your reminder. The biggest event of your life is looming large. The invitation has already been extended - and it's THE event of your lifetime! If you miss this, you miss it all! The only catch is that we don't know the exact day or hour, so you can't wait till the last minute to plan, because we don't know when the last minute is! You need to invest the time NOW to ensure your attendance. You can only get in if you know the right person. And you can't just know OF Him, you really have to KNOW Him and He has to KNOW you. Have you RSVP'd? Do you have the right thing to wear? The instructions regarding attire are very clear. No exceptions. Isaiah 61:10 NLT, I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.

How do we fit into the clothing He requires? Romans 13:12b-14 NLT, So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Are you ready? What are you wearing? Do you know what to wear? Have you taken the time to put on Christ? Are you dressed yet? Do you know how to get there?

Prayer;

Father,
           Our self-righteousness, our selfish choices, our ways are as filthy rags before You and won't get us into the wedding feast of Heaven. Cleanse us, Father, from all unrighteousness. Put Your robe of righteousness on us, Lord, so we don't miss it. We want to be ready when You sound the call. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

His Words, not Mine

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 NKJV

For those days when only His Word will bring life, hope and love. From Psalm 71 in the New Living Translation: Verses 14-21

14...I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.

15 I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words.

16 I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just.

17 O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.

18 Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?

20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.

21 You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.

Prayer:

Father,

          Your Word brings us hope! It is the firm foundation on which we can stand - and withstand - any and all storms of life. We pray Your Word - Search us, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts. Point out anything in us that offends You, and lead us along the path of everlasting life. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Grasping at Straws

[Jesus speaking] Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

Matthew 7:24-27 NLT

Grasping at straws is defined as being willing to do, say, or believe anything that offers even the slightest hope in a desperate situation, even though you think there is almost no chance for success.* When in a drowning situation - real or metaphorically speaking - we will grasp at anything that might provide a way up and out. The question is, will we compromise our Christianity to try to save ourselves? Before you answer, remember that Peter did...

It's not just hearing the teaching, it's obeying that completes it. We need a solid foundation in Christ or we will not be able to withstand the world's onslaught, let alone that from the enemy of our souls. When we stand on the solid Rock of our salvation, the tried and true Cornerstone, we will not collapse. It's in His strength, not ours, that we can withstand the storms of life.

In Isaiah 41:10 NKJV, God says, Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

If you want to grasp at something with a chance to succeed, grasp God. He's solid, He's faithful, and He never fails.

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us when we look to anything else for help besides You. You are our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Let Your Word rise up within us to comfort and to guide us on our journey, to give us wisdom, and to show us which way to go. Father, we walk by faith and not by sight. Lead us in Your Way everlasting. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

*according to Idiomsonline.com

Big Stuff

I will lift up my eyes to the hills - From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV

Oftentimes, we get so caught up in what is going on around us in our day-to-day living that we lose sight of what should be our primary focus. Many times, all we see is going to work and how we're going to pay the bills, and God help us if something major breaks down... and therein lies my point. Do we only call out to God for the "big" stuff? Do we think we are perfectly capable of handling the day-to-day by ourselves? Yeah, how's that working for ya?

When we take our eyes off God all we can see are the circumstances of life. It is then that we get worried and discouraged. Isaiah 26:3 tells us how to turn that around, You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Our primary focus has to be God - choosing to trust Him - to take Him at His Word no matter what happens. When we choose to make Him our primary focus, we have what we need to get through the tough stuff. His presence.

Prayer:

Father,
           With Your help, we choose to take our everyday, ordinary life—our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before You as an offering. Thank You for Your promise to never leave or forsake us, to always be with us. We cannot do this life without You. We don't always understand everything that happens in our lives, but we choose to trust You to see us through. In Jesus' Name we pray and believe. Amen

Make Me

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul...
Psalm 23:1-3a NKJM

Linda Stone is a former Apple and Microsoft executive who identified a specific phenomenon about 25 years ago and called it "continuous partial attention". It is defined as "paying partial attention, continuously". So... how many people came to your mind when you read that? 

We all know someone or several someones or maybe it's us who buzz through life in this hyper-alert mode, trying to stay keyed in to everything that's going on around us. We delude ourselves into thinking that if we know everything that's going on we can better control our environment or be better prepared for perceived disaster or avert it altogether. It's a false sense of security. A lie.

The truth of the matter is that by and large, as a society we have lost the ability to sit quietly. We are constantly interrupted by pings and rings and things that buzz and vibrate to get our attention. We live in a heightened sense of stress from overstimulation and/or of being overwhelmed by the constant barrage of information. 

In Mark 6:31 NLT, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. You know there are numerous verses about Jesus going off into the wilderness to pray and be alone to hear from the Father.

When we don't get away to rest, when we don't take time to clear our minds, we lose our ability to reflect, to make decisions, and to think creatively. We cannot do anything wholeheartedly when our attention is so divided. How often do we sit with pen and paper by our side while praying or reading or worshiping - not to write what the Holy Spirit might say to us - but to jot down what we don't want to forget we have to do later? Selah... What can you turn off? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Make us to lie down in green pastures. Lead us beside the still waters. Restore our souls. Forgive us for all the busyness. Teach us how to rest in You, how to rest with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Remember That?

The whole Israelite community complained against Moses and Aaron in the desert. The Israelites said to them, “Oh, how we wish that the Lord had just put us to death while we were still in the land of Egypt. There we could sit by the pots cooking meat and eat our fill of bread. Instead, you’ve brought us out into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death.”
Exodus 16:2-3 CEB (Common English Bible)

From year to year, I tend to forget just how good Genesis and Exodus are - how dramatic the stories - how simply human the great patriarchs were. I don't read them all the time but In the beginning... is where the reading plan starts in a new year and they are a great reminder.

And reminders are obviously a necessary part of living. In our Promise for Today, the Israelites were wistfully pining for Egypt, There we could sit by the pots cooking meat and eat our fill of bread. Yeah, near the same pots where you had to boil straw and mud to make bricks? Remember that?

Why is it when times get tough that we go into selective memory mode? Why do we blame God for letting it all happen? How do we forget walking across the dry sea bed with great walls of water on either side and then doubt God is looking out for us? How do you daily see the cloud by day and the fire by night and wonder where God is?

Flash forward to our most recent tribulation. Are we whining and crying, 'Why me?' or 'Where are You?' Or are we remembering that God delivered us and got us through every trial and trouble we've ever faced? Oh, we may have had some consequences, but remember that we're still here with another chance, another day to fulfill His purpose and plan for our lives.

Through the years, I have learned that the Bible overflows with countless examples of God's immeasurable love, mercy, and grace. Yes, the Bible certainly does, but so do our own lives. Remember that?

Prayer:

Father,
            Praying Your Word, we give thanks to You, Lord, for You are good; Your love endures forever. We remember when we cried out to You in our trouble, and You delivered us from our distress. Thank You for Your unfailing love and Your wonderful deeds for mankind. You send Your Word to heal. You lift the needy out of their affliction. We pray for wisdom, Father, to be able to see Your hand in everything that touches our lives. Help us to ponder the loving deeds of You and give You glory as we remember that. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

You are There

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Psalm 139:7-10 NLT

Sometimes this journey seems too hard. In and of ourselves, we want to stop, turn around, go a different way - an easier way - and yet, like Moses, in Exodus 33:15, (paraphrased) we recognize our need for God and declare, "If You're not going with us, we're not going." We've come too far to quit now. The good news is that wherever we are, God is with us. Rough road or smooth, good times or bad, happy or sad, joyful or despairing, in life and in death... He IS Immanuel, God with us. 

In those times when we want to scream, "Where are You, God? What are You doing?!?" His Word assures us He is there and we can find comfort in His presence. Verse 10 of Today's Promise in The Passion Translation reads, Wherever I go, Your hand will guide me; Your strength will empower me. This is from the same chapter that gives us full assurance that God orchestrated every day of our lives before one breath was taken. His strength every day.

Whatever part of the journey you are on, wherever you go, He has promised to never leave you, to never forsake you, to be with you always even unto the end of time. He is there.

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray Your Word, O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

          Search us, O God, and know our hearts; Try us, and know all of our thoughts and concerns. See if there is any wicked way in us, cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and lead us in Your way everlasting. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen