The Risen Savior

    But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
    Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
    She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
    Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
John 20:11-16 NKJV

Jesus knew Mary, even though she didn't recognize Him. As I pondered these verses about the Risen Savior, I kept wondering - Why didn't Mary know Him? Had grief blinded her? I can certainly understand that - or was it that she knew Him so well as the promised Savior that she wasn't able to see the Risen Savior?

And then I wondered, do we do that? Do we accept the written plan and promise and then not receive the actual execution - the reality of it? It's one thing to believe it in black and white, but it can be quite another to walk it out in faith... something to think about.

Prayer:

Father,
          Your Word tells us And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. We want to receive You and all that You have promised. Help us, O God, to believe the fulfillment of Your Plan and Promise and embrace it all! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Authority Issues

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”
Exodus 4:10-13 NLT

We know Moses as a friend of God. The great leader who led the Israelites out of Egypt. The man who spoke face to face with God and lived... but he was a coward to start with. He didn't say, "Send someone else." Moses said, "Send ANYONE else." When we pick up his story in our text for today, he's already spent the last 20 verses trying to get out of God's assignment for his life.

Moses had authority issues - coming and going. Can you relate to any of that? I know I can.

It's a complex issue, stemming from two things that really boil down to one: how well do you know your authority? God tells you what He wants you to do, then all of a sudden, YOU are the complete authority on every bad thing you've ever done in your life, or even thought about doing. You are flamingly aware of every weakness in your character, every flaw of any kind, and suddenly your chronic lack of focus becomes zeroed in and these failings are all that you can see. That's what Moses was doing. "No, God, I can't do what You just said. Oh, I can herd sheep, but not people. Sheep don't care if I stutter or mess up my words and besides, I'm out here on the back side of the mountain, nobody can hear me or see me. But go to Pharaoh? The wealthiest man in the country - the most powerful man? The one that wants to kill me? You want me to go talk to him?"

How many excuses do you think were on Moses' list of why he couldn't do what God told him to do? (I wonder how it compares to my list of excuses... or perhaps, yours?)

The other side of that is this - At the beginning, Moses did not know his authority (God) well enough. If he had understood God for who God really is - would Moses have argued or would he have immediately told Jethro, "I have to go. I have to lead God's people out of Egypt"? If he knew God well enough to know that God is indeed trustworthy and able to do whatever He says He will do, would Moses have recognized that he had the whole authority of Heaven and marched right out of that valley?

We must recognize and understand that OUR own limitations in NO WAY limit or prevent God's ability. He is well able to fulfill His purpose for our lives, if we'll take time to know Him and by faith, believe His Word. If we don't know God as our Authority, and know Him well enough to know that His words are trustworthy and true, then we will never know or recognize the authority given to us by His Word.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT tells us, 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. [emphasis mine] That's the authority we have to walk in to accomplish what He has assigned to us.

Prayer:

Father:
           Help us to recognize the absolute power of You and to walk in the power of Your might, so that we will fulfill Your purpose for our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

For My Good

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Proverbs 19:21 NLT

We made plans. The event was going to be one way, then it was going to be another, so we adjusted and proceeded to plan the rest of it based on the change. No problem. Just waiting for the kickoff date to implement the plan. Then... surprise! It's the night before, and it's all changed again. 

That one threw me. I'd like to say only for a quick minute, but that's not the truth. I'm still fretting a little. What was supposed to be laid back and casual is no longer chill. It's like instead of your good friend coming over to relax and share a meal, it's company coming, dinner and a show. Instead of running the dust mop over, it's polish and shine. 

I didn't plan for that. Not accommodations. Not the meal, and certainly not the difference in the time it takes to prepare... And then I remembered, this didn't shock God. Christ has not been knocked off His throne. His crown did not fall off. He knew my plans yet made His own and we know enough to know that His are better. Always.

So in the midst of it all, I will look for whatever it is that God wants to teach me, or whatever way He may want to use me, and I will trust Him to work all things for my good. It's what He does.

Prayer:

Father, 

         Thank You for loving us enough to make plans for us that are better than we can imagine. Thank You for giving us the wisdom and strength to carry out Your plans. Help us to follow You in faith, trusting You every step of the way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

See the Eternal

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2nd Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

We are dying from the moment we are born. That statement could easily be misconstrued as pessimistic or a very dismal viewpoint of life but that's not it. It's just a reality of the life cycle that we don't like. In truth, it's just the first part. The temporary part. The temporary part of life where the choices we make determine our eternal, forever part. 

So, do we let the small present troubles that are temporary hinder our eternity or can we give God thanks for them since they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever? Life, as we know it here, will soon be over. Are we able to fix our eyes and our hearts on Heaven - that which is eternal? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Help us to understand the connection between the temporary and the eternal parts of life. Thank You for being the omniscient and omnipotent, eternal God. Help us to see and grasp that losses here are only temporary when we are found in You. Bring all of our unsaved loved ones to the knowledge, understanding and acceptance of Your saving grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

T.H.E. Thing Refresher Course

The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!

Deuteronomy 30:6 NLT

In the engineering realm, acronyms are used for everything - more so than even IT people. Some of the acronyms make sense because the thing to which they refer would take 5 minutes to say. Some of them are silly or misleading. For instance, 'lb' - To most people, that refers to pounds, but to my company, it means, 'lay barge.' Fortunately, I used to be quite good at solving acronyms. In fact, I find them to be a lot of fun, and on occasion, try to create them - mostly for a laugh.

I think I've mentioned before the one created as a result of learning the rules of driving for the state of Missouri. In most of the country, a stop sign is literal. It means stop. In Missouri, it's an acronym for S.low T.o O.bvious P.ause. BIG difference. In engineering, STOP is an acronym for Safety Training Observation Program. It's all about what you're used to and where you are…and remembering where you’re supposed to be and what you’re supposed to be doing. That’s T.H.E. thing.

Sometimes in life, we get into a situation that becomes a habit. Sometimes, they're not good habits. And in the course of it, we get lazy and we gain weight or become unhealthy. Sometimes, a season in life seems to last so long that we get tunnel vision and can't see life or God from any other angle. So we stay there because that is what we have allowed ourselves to become used to. We say, 'Well, this is where I am.' Sometimes we even go so far as to say, 'This is where God has me.' because we only look inward instead of up and around and we lose sight.

So what is T.H.E. thing to do that can change it? What if you really can't change the circumstances of where you are? What if it really IS where God has you for the time being? And what if you really don't like it? What can change? What is T.H.E. thing YOU can do to change it?

Psalm 107:8, Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! We can thank God for something - for anything. Sometimes when I mention that to a person, their response will be, 'What for? What do I have in my life to thank God for? I have nothing. I am nothing.' Hmmm, how about that He lets you live and breathe and doesn't just strike you dead for whining? Or thank Him because He's changed MY heart so that I don't have the inclination to just smack you for whining? Just kidding...

This isn't a new concept. We've talked about this before. Finding one thing to be thankful for – You want to be heart-whole? You want heart health? Develop that muscle to be strong! I have created a form called T.H.E. Thing To Do list. T.H.E. is the acronym for T.hankful H.eart E.xercise. I think it’s self-explanatory. Try it for one week. Make it T.H.E. Thing to do.

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us when we don’t recognize Your faithfulness and goodness to us. We do know that You are God and every good and perfect gift comes from You, even when they’re not packaged quite as we would like. Thank You, Father, for loving us enough to give us what we need. Give us grateful hearts to recognize Your love. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Into His Presence

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Life can seem overwhelming at times. There are those days when we feel like we're facing the world alone. That's scary! It's also a lie from satan himself. We must remember it is written in God's Word that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. We can always choose to be in His presence.

Nothing can stand against us in His presence.
The fullness of joy is found in His presence. 

We enter His gates with thanksgiving; we go into His courts with praise. Into His presence... where we are safe; where we can rest. Where there is peace. Wanna go there?

Psalm 95:6-7b NLT reads, Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.

Prayer:

Father,
            According to Your Word in Psalm 62, Let all that I am wait quietly before You, God, for my hope is in You. You alone are my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. So let it be written, so let it be done. We will not be shaken in Jesus' Name. Amen

Predesigned Parts

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 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.
Hebrews 11:13-16 NLT

I paid for my higher education by being an assembler for Walmart. I put together bikes and furniture and lawn mowers and barbecue grills... At Christmas time, I built bikes for 3 different stores. For the most part, I liked doing it. One of the incentives was getting to the end of a workday and being able to actually see what had been done. 

The items came in a box with predesigned parts and (sometimes) directions for how to put them together. The challenging ones were those boxes that had too many parts or worse - not enough parts. Too many meant I had to go back over everything to make sure I hadn't missed any connections. Not enough meant trips to the hardware department to see if I could find the missing parts. 

Those boxes messed up my workday. I got paid piecework - so much per item - and when I had to go over an item twice or go find hardware, I didn't get paid for that extra time. Sometimes, the store didn't carry the missing part and we'd have to file the paperwork to order the part(s) that should have been in the box. Early on, I learned to look for all the hardware. I knew which ones were most likely to be missing parts, etc. The expectation was that boxes from certain makers were not going to have what was needed for the finished project. 

I was thinking about that today in relation to our walk with God. What is our expectation at this stage in life? Have our life experiences caused us to think that there are parts missing in our lives and we may never get it right?  Or maybe we've had too many of some parts of life thrown into our path so that now we expect to trip and fall... 

Let me tell you something I know to be true. God predesigned you to be part of His perfect plan. He put all your parts together. He knew what you would need to be able to accomplish His purpose for your life. Think about it. Maybe you needed the strength to be an overcomer. I would remind you that you can't be an overcomer unless you've had something to overcome... You don't know the joy of winning until you've known the pain of losing. All sunshine sounds good, but no rain leaves us in a drought with no flowers and a dried-up lawn. So, yes, even pain and rain are parts of His plan. It's perfect. Exactly what you need for the big finish.

Prayer:

Father,

           As hard as it is, and as crazy as it sounds, we thank You and praise You for all the parts we consider to be too much, for all the parts we perceive as missing, for the pain and the rain. Build us into Your perfect plan in Your perfect timing. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Come! Let Us Worship and Give Thanks

 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:16-17 NLT

Come! Let us give thanks and worship together! If you click on the link below each song title, it should provide a "go to" link to click on to take you to the song.

Thank You, Jesus, for the Blood - Charity Gayle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhU-Omwg2rU&list=RDMM&start_radio=1&rv=tNk_xCa7zaQ 

Worthy of It All - CeCe Winans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzZSrOPeolc

Goodness of God - CeCe Winans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y81yIo1_3o8&list=RDEMzhASihgNCQlIDoaWO0tgaA&index=9

Firm Foundation (He Won't) - Cody Carnes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9ndiD0_qNk&list=PLmuDBsCaNGBWHb40u1CXfOJVonDMzxq57&index=7

I Speak Jesus - Charity Gayle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmqSfr1ENY&list=RDMM&index=2

Father God,
                 Thank You for music! Thank You for hearing the songs of our hearts as we worship You. Receive our praise. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Plenty of Time

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

I know we've been in Ecclesiastes 3 on several occasions this month. There's something about time that we need to understand. As we hurtle headlong into the end of time, it's the dichotomy of not having enough time to do everything we need/want to do and having all the time in the world. 

God tells us there is time for everything. He created time measurements for us; there is no time pressure or constraint on Him. He tells us in Isaiah 46:9 and 10, that He is God and there is no other like Him, making known end-times things from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that have not yet happened, saying, My counsel, purpose, plan shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure... 

Notice He says HIS plan and purpose and He will do all HIS pleasure, not ours. HE has plenty of time to accomplish His will. Do we? What will we do with the time we have remaining?

Prayer:

Father,

          We know that all things can change in the twinkling of an eye. Help us to understand the reality of that. Help us to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work, Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain in You. Give us wisdom and understanding in how we are to redeem the time. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

No Apology Necessary

Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.

Proverbs 13:3 NLT

Have you ever mouthed off in anger and immediately wished you hadn't? Then you have to apologize and ask forgiveness. There's a lot to be said for self-control. However, the world today is all about expressing one's own opinions, propagated by Facebook and Twitter, etc, seemingly with no self-control. More and more, I see hateful words with no regard as to who they might hurt. 

There are many Scriptures about holding our tongue, watching our words, and preferring one another. One that brings deep conviction is Matthew 12:36, And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. Every idle word... 

A wise man once said, "You will never have to apologize for what you did NOT say." The choice is ours.

How can we encourage a bumper crop of the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Stay in the Word. Strive to stay in the presence of the Lord. The Bible tells us if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts - the evil actions - of the flesh. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to put a guard over our mouths. Help us to choose our words carefully so we don't have to apologize for what we've said. Forgive us, O God, for every idle word. Help us to live according to Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The First Time

Come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel in front of the Lord, our maker, because he is our God and we are the people in his care, the flock that he leads. If only you would listen to him today!
Psalm 95:6-7 God's Word Translation (GWT)

It was later than usual when I finally got to bed. I planned to sleep a little later to make up for it, knowing some things I normally would do in the morning would not get done. But I couldn't see how I could succeed in my day with just a few hours of sleep. (I can be a real grump if I don't get enough sleep...) So, as I said good night to God, I mentioned, "If You want me up early in the morning, You're gonna have to wake me up and have me be wide awake, too, or I'm sleeping in."

In the morning, my eyes popped open like a kid on Christmas morning. It was still dark outside... I looked at the clock. 4:30.The conversation in my spirit went something like this. My first response was...

"Are you kidding me? Thirty minutes earlier than usual?"

"You said if I wanted you up to wake you, so I did."

"Yeah, but 4:30?"

"Are you going to get up?"

"Five minutes, Father. Five more minutes."

"Why won't you respond to Me the FIRST time I speak?"

Immediate conviction. I got up, asked forgiveness, and thanked Him for waking me... For the rest of the day, I was not able to get away from this Truth: We always demand to be heard and are the first to whine when we think He's not listening.

And yet, when was the last time we heard Him tell us something the FIRST time and responded immediately? I want to be a first responder to Him.

Prayer:

Father,
             Forgive us for our selfish ways. Rid us of our willful disobedience. Change our hearts, O God, to be first responders. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

To Know God

 But you belong to God, my dear children.

1st John 4:4a NLT

Tonight, I want to send this to you and remind you the Spirit of God is greater than anything adverse that we will ever face. 

Adversity will come, no matter how well we plan our escape routes... But know this - in Romans 8:38-39, Paul assures us, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is 1st John 4 - Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

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. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.

Prayer:

Father,

         We want to know Your perfect love and to walk in it with our brothers and sisters in You. Help us, Father, to become ever wiser in overcoming our flesh. and anything that would raise its ugly head to try to prevent us from loving as You love. Keep us ever close to You, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It Ain't Easy

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:7-9 The Message Bible

Since we reap what we sow (and we do!), do we really want to reap the harvest of our bad attitudes? Think about it for a moment. That would equate to a lot less profit on our return, and a lot of extra work trying to remove the garbage thrown out there.

John, chapter 3, verses 17 & 18, read, Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

Jesus never said it would be easy. In truth, He told us it would be hard...but it's not impossible.

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word, O Lord, set a guard at my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips. And my heart, too, Father. We want to love as You love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

For the Choir Director - according to...

 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. 

Jude 24-25 NKJV

• Matthew 5:1-3
  Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Psalm 73:26
  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
• John 11:25-26
  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
• 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
  So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; and it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
• 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
• 2 Corinthians 5:8
  We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
• Romans 14:8
  If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
• John 14:27
  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
• Psalm 48:14
  For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
• Isaiah 57:1-2
  The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.
• Isaiah 41:10
  Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
  who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
• Genesis 24:67
  Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
• Lamentations 3:31-32
  For the Lord will not reject forever, For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness.
• John 16:22
  “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
• Psalm 9:9
  The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble;
• Psalm 46:1
  God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
• Isaiah 57:1-2
  The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.
• 1 Corinthians 15:55
  “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
• Revelation 14:13
  Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
• John 14:1-2
  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
• 1 John 3:2
  2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
• Romans 8:18
  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
• Luke 20:36
  For they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your Word. Help us to hide it deep in our hearts! In Jesus' Name we pray.

The Perfect Love

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.
1st John 4:18-19 NLT

What if there really was such a thing as a perfect love? A perfect mate? A perfect relationship? Someone who was perfect for real, but at the same time would overlook your imperfections? Someone who could see past any physical flaws or your neediness or your inabilities. Someone who would love you no matter what you did, no matter what you said, no matter what you looked like. Someone who spoke the love language of your heart. Someone who knew exactly what it would take to love you and make you feel that love all the way inside. Someone who never leaves, is always there. Someone whose whole goal is relationship with you. Someone who wants what is best for your life - to promote you and the abilities you have and who will do and has done everything necessary to make that happen. Someone who has proven to be steadfast and true through the test of time and for all eternity.

Let me arrange the introduction. His Name is Adonai. God the Lord. Your ultimate perfection is guaranteed through His perfect love gift - His Son, Jesus Christ. God doesn't just love. He IS love and He commands us to love.

Prayer:

Father,
♪♫ O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, this is my constant longing and prayer. Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art. Come in Thy sweetness. Come in Thy fullness. Plant Thine own image deep on my heart. ♪♫* Help us to love as You love, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen


* hymn "O To Be Like Thee" by Thomas Chisholm and William Kirkpatrick

Woe is...

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6 NLT

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1st Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20 NLT

Oh, Woes upon woes! Inflation! Gas prices, food shortages, supply chain problems a-plenty! And everywhere I look, I find Christians singing the blues - complaining about all of it - leading the charge loud and long!! And yet James 3"10 tells us, Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Have you thought about how every time you make a comment like "I just don't know what we're gonna do! The price of gas... the food...", it's like spitting at God. You're saying He's not trustworthy. That He's NOT Jehovah Jireh, your Provider, your Strength, your Shield. He's not the Father that owns the cattle on a thousand hills. 

BUT HE IS! Woe is an insult to God Almighty. 

Father, 

          According to Your Word in Colossians 4:2, let us devote ourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Help us to overcome the tendency to murmur and complain. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It's Our Duty

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,7b NLT

There was a big discussion on the radio about communication; who speaks and who listens, and who does it well and who doesn’t, verbal and non-verbal. Of course, the basis of the discussion was male versus female forms of communication. So, we can all recall jokes or stories we’ve heard about miscommunication, some good, some just plain awful – and it really isn’t predicated on male/female indicators…mostly it’s just our human nature.

I confess there are times when I have a hard time knowing if I should speak or if I should just be silent. Of course, that’s no great surprise if you know me personally and know that I tend to have flare-ups of a chronic condition known as WSS, better known as Wet Sock Syndrome, derived from sticking my foot in my mouth. There’s an old quote that touts the virtue of twice as much listening as talking based on the two ears/one mouth equation. The older I get, the more I value the wisdom in that.

Thoreau once said, "It takes two to speak the truth - one to speak and another to hear", which brings me to the point of this topic for today’s Promise. Someone once asked the question, 'What is the opposite of talking?' Contrary to what most thought, the answer is waiting, not listening.

We can only hear if we’re waiting to hear, instead of being so busy formulating our own response that we aren’t listening. We all know people who do that, or they don’t wait for an answer. They spew and then go. That does not qualify as relationship, and yet we are called to be in relationship with our Lord.

Paul Tillich, one of the most well-known theologians of the 20th Century said, "The first duty of love is to listen." So, how many times are we guilty of talking to God and not waiting for a reply? Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk…amen. And off we go, wondering why we don’t “hear from God.” 

How much do we love Him? Are we waiting to hear what He has to say? It's true - "The first duty of love is to listen."

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for the times we have treated You as though You were there to take our dictation. Please speak, Father. We choose now to follow in Christ’s footsteps to speak and do only what we hear You say. Help us to fulfill our first duty of love. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

The Light of Men

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness...
John 1:1-5a NKJV

How many times in our lives have we gotten up in the middle of the night - in familiar territory, where we know the lay of the land - and stubbed our toe because we didn't turn on the light? Of course, something might have been out of place - that happens at times - but more often than not, we smack it on something that's been in the same place for a long time. (Can I get an Amen? or perhaps a commiserative Ouch!) If we'd turned on the light, or had a nightlight, or used a flashlight, our chance of walking into something because we didn't see it would be virtually non-existent.

On a larger scale, there are so many obstacles in our path as we wend our way through life. If it's silly (and hazardous) for us to walk around in the dark in our own homes, why then, do we try to walk through life without any Light? How many obstacles trip us up and cause us to fall because we didn't see them? Psalm 119:105 NLT reads, Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Wouldn't we like to see where we're going? And if we know where we're going, wouldn't it be best to be sure the way is lighted? We could avoid a lot of pitfalls and problems with the proper Light.

Spend time in His Word, the Light of the world - a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness...

The Light to see where we're going AND to make sure we get there.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for providing everything and the Only thing we'll ever need to see our way clear to You. Give us understanding. Open our spiritual eyes so that we may see. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

At Our Fingertips

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:29-32 NIV

I never cease to be amazed at the vitriolic diatribe attached to most any posting on the Internet these days. What might begin with a simple news report is often open to public comments that quickly turn judgmental and vile. And how easy it can become to get sucked into reading them.

However, 2nd Corinthians 10:3-6 in The Message reads, The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

Throughout Scripture, we are cautioned to guard our hearts, control our tongues, to bring every thought into obedience to Christ, and to walk in self-control. The self-control to NOT read, write, copy, or forward ugly, judgmental words. The self-control to stop clicking on that which is not edifying to God, ourselves and others. The self-control that extends to our fingertips at the keyboard. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for the times we have chosen to respond in our flesh rather than walk in the Spirit. Help us to quickly recognize when it is happening and to exercise self-control. We want to live and walk in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Help us to grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

How We Do It

Doing it all through Christ who gives me strength...
Philippians 4:13 NLT

So, how do we do it - this life to which we've been called? Philippians 2:14-16, the Apostle Paul writing from prison to the church at Philippi, tells us - Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.

Colossians 3:15-17 instructs us to, Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Or as I learned it from the King James... whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...

Prayer:

Father,
            Help us to recognize and understand that You did not call us to do everything because we can't do everything. But You did call us and You did line out the work that we are to do. And we're to do all that You've given us to do with the strength You provide us, with the wisdom You've given us and without murmuring and complaining. Help us to do it all in the Name of our Lord Jesus. Amen

Regrets

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

How many of us get caught up in our past - unable to forget? I'm not talking about what's been done to us for which we must forgive others. I refer to those things we've done - hurting others, hurting ourselves. Or those things we didn't do that we should have. Regrets...

Regret is the emotion of wishing we'd made different decisions... better decisions. Where we can make restitution, we must. If we can't, we need to lay it on the altar of forgiveness as part of our living sacrifice. The challenge of putting a living sacrifice on the altar is that a living sacrifice can crawl off... 

The Good News is that God our Father understands our weaknesses and has already made provision for us. His Word assures us that in our weakness, He is our Strength. God's Word tells us in the Old Testament and in the New Testament to forget the past. He has made all things new. It is satan who is the accuser of God's children. What may have been true of your former life is not the TRUTH of your life in Christ. 

2nd Corinthians 5:17, NKJV, tells us, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. God's Truth overcomes the facts of our bad decisions. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for making provision for every aspect of our life. Thank You for loving us so honestly, so completely, so unconditionally. We pray from Your Word in Ephesians that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit. That Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in You. That our roots will grow down into Your love and keep us strong. May we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You. Help us to comprehend and grow in this great love, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

God Don't Make Mistakes!!

Tonight's Promise was written by my daughter, Valerie.

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world."

Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

Right here is proof that none of us are mistakes. God is flat out telling all of us that there has NEVER been a baby mistakenly born. Regardless of the circumstances, no matter how ugly or how beautiful or how boring or how exciting or how natural or how lab-created the circumstances - EVERY single one of us is meant to be! Period. Parents may give birth BUT GOD GIVES LIFE!!!

ANYONE who says you're a mistake is a liar, regardless of who they are! Period. He says it plainly, "I knew you BEFORE I formed you in your mother's womb." Get it? God has known each and every one of us, living or dead, since the very beginning. He has ALWAYS known us! Doesn't this just make you smile your biggest, cheesiest smile? I know it does me! 

We are all supposed to be here, we all are called by God for specific work here on earth. Not sure what your purpose is? Ask God, He always answers, you just have to listen. We may not receive proclamations the way Jeremiah did, but we all have duties to fulfill. We can go to the Bible and read God's words for us. We can find our spiritual gifts. We know that some duties are not magnificent and noble. Some are difficult. Some are torturously sluggish in producing results. But when we strive to live out our purpose/calling, we will find God's blessings in all aspects of our lives. 

PRAYER:

Dear Heavenly Father,

                                    We come to You right now, Father, asking that You let Your love wash over us and fill our hearts, giving us the confidence to KNOW beyond the shadow of a doubt that we all are meant to be and that we all are Your children. We ask that You wrap Your peace around us, hugging us. We ask, Father, that You guide each of us, opening our eyes to our purpose and showing us the direction in which we are to go. We ask that You give us knowledge and wisdom, so that when the opportunity arises or the door opens, we may share all You have taught us with everyone we meet. We thank You, Father, for the beautiful gift of life You have given each and every one of us. We thank You, Father, for Your love and understanding and wisdom. In Jesus' Name, we pray. AMEN.

It Is Well

Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ ”
And she answered, “It is well.”

2nd Kings 4:26 NKJV

In the natural realm, it was not well. Her son was dead. However, she had set her face like flint - with unwavering determination to accomplish the task of reaching the prophet, prophesying over her situation, "It is well." And God made it so.

Fast-forward to our 19th Century Job - Mr. Horatio Spafford - who lost his fortune and his 4-year-old son to fever and a year later, his four daughters to shipwreck. He couldn't fly to be with his bereft wife within a day, but rather had to board another ship that would take a minimum of 3 weeks before reaching his wife's side. In the middle of the weight of his grief and sorrow, he penned the words to one of the most well-known hymns, "It is well." 

One lived. One died. Both wrought the same response, "It is well." How can that be? Relationship. You have to KNOW Who your Savior is: beyond the superficial, way down DEEP. Then when life overwhelms you, you can say with conviction, "It is well with my soul."

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray a part of Shelly Duffer's prayer - It is the assurance that You see and know and regard my estate that controls my fear. It is in the knowing that You shed Your blood for my sins. My sins. My numerous, numerous sins. You provide specific consideration. You consider my helplessness. My need for Your sacrifice. My inability to ever pay the debt that I owe. And this is blessed assurance. This is confidence. God, please. Grant me the grace of confidence that I am Yours. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lyrics in full:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvq3pYsHidA

By Request - A Keeper

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
Jude 1:1-2 NIV

I have several friends who are avid fishermen. Not only do they love to go fishing - they're good at it. All I can say about that is it's a good thing we all love the Lord, otherwise, we'd have nothing in common. That's not to say that I haven't been fishing - I have. But I'm not going out in the boat or going deeper than my knees, so, therefore, I don't get too many keepers. Even if you're not a fisherman, pretty much everyone knows what a keeper is when it comes to fishing or friendship. It's one you don't throw away.

Jesus promised that He would make us fishers of men. In John 10, Jesus makes the declaration that no one can remove all the people God has given to Him. Christ understands catching and keeping. The only catch and release He does involves raising up the ones He's caught and releasing them to go get others who need to be caught and kept. Scripture tells us that those who endure till the end will inherit the Kingdom of God. There may be times when following Christ is difficult. We fight against what seem to be restrictions, but are in reality, opportunities to put ourselves into submission to His will for us.

He didn't ask you to complete it on your own - under your own ability - in fact, you can't. He holds you in the palm of His hand and no one - NO ONE can pluck you out. Don't flop around in the net, either. You'll just get tired and want to give up. Don't. Jesus will keep you. His Word assures us...

If we finish Jude's letter, it reads, Remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 

Remember this is not catch and release, unless it's release to catch others.

And finally - To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Able to keep you... God our Savior thinks you're a keeper.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for loving us and keeping us from falling. We look forward to being able to stand in Your presence - without fault and with great joy - because of Your great mercy and provision toward us. Keep us close to You, Father, In Jesus' Name we pray

Living the New Life

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:1-17 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for sending Your Son to pay the death penalty for our sin. Teach us how to live more fully in Your way. Holy Spirit, remind us always to make the choices to walk in mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, love, and forgiveness as we live out our role as Christ's ambassadors. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Acknowledging the Times

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

          Help us to recognize the times we are in and to respond accordingly. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends Together

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 

Romans 12:10 NLT

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 

1st Thessalonians 5:11

Hearts that have known and shared good times and bad, though separated by years or distance, meld together in love and friendship all over again when reunited. It is only because of the perfect love of Jesus gifted to imperfect beings. And what a blessing it is! Let's not ever take it for granted.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for the people You place in our lives to love us and to teach us to love. Thank You for melding our hearts together with bonds that are not easily broken. Thank You for those who walk beside and strengthen us in the tough times and who rejoice with us in victory. Open our spiritual eyes so that we never miss an opportunity to share You and Your love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

To Shine

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 The Message


I love decorating for events. One of my favorite things I've discovered is water crystal beads now known as Orbeez. They make for the most creative centerpieces. They come in all colors but using the clear provides multiple options to create centerpieces that border on magical. Using a vase or glass, you can pour in the clear Orbeez then add pearls or tiny items of any kind, then more Orbeez, and when the glass is full, add water. The clear Orbeez "disappear" and all you see are the pearls or items that you placed that appear to be hanging in mid-air within the glass. If you put a waterproof tea light in the bottom before you start adding things, the light reflects beautifully throughout. And if the light is placed at the top facing downward, it adds a totally different effect of reflection.

Okay, I know this is not a crafting blog. What does this have to do with our Promise for Today?

This became an illustrated sermon for me of our text while recently creating centerpieces. See, you have to build a few prototypes before settling on the template for the event. They can be attractive without a light, but the light adds a whole new dimension, bringing out the best aspects and also revealing what might need to be changed. If we're here to be the light, bringing out the God-colors in the world, what or Who are we reflecting? Do we shine reflecting Jesus, the Light of the World? Do we spend time in His presence so that we are able to catch the light He shines upon those things in us that might need to be changed?

Prayer:

Father, 

          According to Your Word, help us to let our light so shine before mankind that they may see our good works and glorify You. Help us to reflect the best of Your love and light to those You've placed within our sphere of influence. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Coming Out of the Darkness

Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
Micah 7:8 NLT

There are those times in life that are so dark and grievous. Left to our own devices, we might never find our way out of the darkness. But praise God! We are not left to our own devices! In John 8:12, Jesus Himself tells us that He is the light of the world. 

There is NO darkness that can completely obliterate the Light and there is NO darkness that can stop the Light from shining. I've used the illustration before about the former Astrodome. With every light off and the whole of the building being as black as pitch, if you stood on the baseball field and struck one match, the light from that one little match would be visible from anywhere in the 18-story high stadium. 

The Son of God is SO much more than one match. 1st Peter 2:9 NKJV tells us, But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...  He called us out of darkness - you coming?

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You that in everything You make the way clear and bright for us. Your Word is a lamp for our feet and light for our path. Thank You for calling us out of the darkness of this world into Your marvelous light. Holy Spirit, keep us ever mindful to keep looking to the Light that shines even brighter as the Day gets closer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen