The Added Benefits

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
Ephesians 1:18 NLT

Have you ever received a gift that came with an instruction manual, but figured you knew enough about it that you didn't have to read it? Or you had listened to enough people who knew about it that you figured there was no need to waste time reading the manual? After all, the print is small and sometimes they're difficult to understand, right? Yeah, and then later you find out there are all sorts of added features and benefits to the gift - designed to make your life easier - if you had only known...

In our Promise for Today, Paul prays that our hearts will be flooded with light so that we can see and understand all the added features and benefits of the greatest Gift we have ever received. We need to read the instruction manual (the Bible) God wrote for us so we can best understand who He is and how His plan for salvation fully works in and for our lives.

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for getting it all written down for us. Open our eyes of understanding to see You. Open our hearts to receive all that You have planned for us to do. Give us the wisdom and strength to carry out Your plan. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen

I Wonder

[Jesus speaking] I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.

John 15:1-3

A few years back, while doing a little landscaping clean up, I had the illustrated sermon of this Scripture passage in front of me.

As I clipped and trimmed and shaped and removed sucker growth, I thought about God being our gardener. I wondered at His patience when we resist His tending. I wonder at His ability to see past all the unruly growth to get to the heart of who we are and then to create a clean heart in us. I also wonder at His great love to remove the suckers from our lives, so that we may be pure and exhibit true, healthy growth.

And I wonder if He kicks back when the work is done, knowing He's done right by us - and for us - and waits for us to bloom exactly as He planned in the spot He has planted us or transplanted us. And then I wonder how long He'll have to wait...

Prayer:

Father,
           Cultivate our hearts. Don't let them become stony and hard through inactivity or misuse. Regenerate and wash us with Your Word as You have promised. We want to be and do what You have planned for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lesser Summer

[ Judgment for Disobedience ] “My people bend their tongues like bows to shoot out lies. They refuse to stand up for the truth. They only go from bad to worse. They do not know me,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:3 NLT

At the end of August, I'm thinking about Fall. It's my favorite season. However, here in Texas, we don't really call it Fall. Here it's known as Lesser Summer... and we are grateful for it. However, people love to mark the seasons. In the U.S., Fall is most appreciated on the East Coast and in the Midwest. The trees are extraordinary with colors you have to see to believe. The pictures - no matter how good they are - just can't quite capture the first-hand experience. It is worth every penny to make that trip at least once in your lifetime.

As the news was abuzz with the change of seasons, I just kept thinking about Fall, which led me to thinking about The Fall. You know, Mankind's fall. There's an old song from the 80's we used to sing that part of the lyric was, "If you don't stand up for what is right, you're going to fall for anything." As I contemplated that line, I realized the depth of the Truth in it.

When we make a stand for or against something, there is a determination in our stance. Our feet are planted more squarely, our body braced, our muscles tensed for action to combat the opposition. If we don't stand up for what we know to be right - what we know to be Truth, then we have no courage or strength born of conviction to withstand the onslaught against us and so we will fall... again.

I love Ephesians 6:13-14a in the King James or the New King James:
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth... We will not fall if we take up the whole armor of God.

It's our choice: Stand up or fall.

Prayer:

Father,
          I don't want to be knocked down to make me look up. I look to You now for strength born of conviction to walk in Your Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and we want to follow Him and worship You in Truth. Help us, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Without Christ

In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:12-13 NLT

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5 NLT

Without Christ, not only can I not DO anything, I am nothing. When I first came back to Christ a long time ago (longer than I care to admit, but it almost qualifies for Once upon a time…) someone taught me an illustration using the title Christian. He said, "We who follow Christ are called Christian. However, if you remove Christ from Christian, all you have left are the letters I A N - an acronym for I Am Nothing…because without Christ, I am nothing." I have found that to be an eternal Truth.

If you are an active follower of Jesus Christ, do you remember the days BEFORE Him? Maybe you weren’t so bad. Maybe you were a “good” person but just didn’t have Christ as the Savior of your life. Me? I was an unholy terror. More often than not, I wish I and everyone who knew me then could have a partial lobotomy to remove the memories of the garbage details of my life. 

You might ask yourself where I’m going with this, or why I’m bringing it up. After all, it’s all forgiven through Christ and He promises to never remember it. Well, it's because it's so shocking for me to think that a perfect and holy God would want to use me. And I want you to know that He wants you, too.

Is there something that God has allowed in your life, some type of beauty-for-ashes miracle He has allowed, the sight of which causes you to simply stand back, mouth agape in wonder, and stare? How can we not take time to relish the wonder of God’s mercy? Today is our chance to celebrate the mystery of divine second chances.

Scripture tells us that everything we go through and He brings us out of, is all redeemed to accomplish His purpose for our lives. Any grace, any Truth, any redemptive word of wisdom, any tidbit of comfort or mercy that you receive from this Promise for Today is all because of Jesus Christ – the Author and Finisher of my faith and yours. Today, I am publicly reaffirming that Truth to you. You see, without Christ, I Am Nothing.

Prayer:

Father,
           Your Word tells us in Ephesians 2:10 that we are Your masterpiece. You created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things You planned for us long ago. Thank You, Father, for not throwing us away, for not leaving us in our sin. Keep us on the path forward to accomplish those things You have planned for us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Never

1. Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. 

2 For he loves us with unfailing love; the Lord's faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 177 NLT

In the King James Bible, verse 2 reads, for his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. At first, I wondered how could this short chapter - only two verses - be translated so differently? And then I realized it's only worded differently. It really says the same thing. After all, what is God? The TRUTH is that God IS love. He is unfailing, therefore His love is unfailing. Unfailing love IS faithful love, so that Truth endures forever.

In the good times, His love never fails.
In the bad times, His love never fails.
In times of war AND times of peace, His love never fails.
In life AND in death, His love never fails.

I'm just paraphrasing a few lines of the psalms, but the Truth remains. The love of God does not fail. 

It NEVER fails.

When we can see it and when we can't.
When we can feel it and when we can't.
When we understand why and when we can't.

In and of Himself, God is love. He loves us when we can't. And when we can't do anything or change anything or see how it all works, He can. And we will praise Him.

Prayer:

Father,
            There is so much we don't understand. There are many, many hard times, but You, O God, are faithful. Your Word tells us that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but YOU, O Lord, deliver us out of them all! You see the end from the beginning. You saw our need and gave us a Savior. Blessed be Your Name, O Lord, our Redeemer. Giving You all praise and honor and glory for Your love never fails. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

'Cause I Gotta Have Faith, Faith, Faith. I Gotta Have Faith!

Guest author tonight - my daughter, Valerie 💓

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3 NLT

Ever have one of those days (weeks, months, years) where you find yourself facing unfamiliar territory? Perhaps standing in the middle of some crossroads filled with complete uncertainty? Or maybe you've come to a fork in the road, unsure if you should take the left or the right road. Then to top it all off, you're completely alone (or so you're convinced). Then, right at THAT exact moment, Satan "finishes" you off with a barrage of lies. How everyone close to you has gone away (they had better things to do - sound familiar?), abandoned you (if they really cared or loved you, where are they? - one of Satan's favorite lies, I'm sure), they left you to face this (trial/tribulation/battle/next chapter) alone. 

In reality, the truth of the matter is YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You have God and your faith and trust in God. And God will honor your faith and trust by NEVER failing you! He may not do it the way you want Him to but He will NEVER fail you, that's His promise to you. Like it says, in Philippians 4:12 NKJV-  I can do all things through Christ who STRENGTHENS me.

Dear Lord, we thank you for lifting us out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire produced from Satan's lies. We ask that You continue to steady us and guide us. Help us to keep our eyes solely on You, Lord, and keep our feet on Your steady ground. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Pointing the Way or Providing It?

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.

Psalm 37:23 NKJV

When people give directions, I get a mental picture of them standing and pointing in the right direction. And it dawned on me tonight that I tend to think of the Lord doing exactly that same thing while He's directing my path. That is until I read this particular verse in the Amplified Bible. It reads differently.

The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord, and He delights in his way [and blesses his path].

Think about that for a minute. Pointing the way to go is one thing. Establishing my steps is a whole 'nother story (Texan for completely different)! God may be pointing me down a rough path, one with twists and turns, steep hills and lots of obstacles. My first inclination would be to find a go-around. How in the world will I walk that path?!? How? The only way possible - with Him.

His Word tells us in Isaiah 45:2 that He goes before us and makes the crooked places straight, levels the uneven places, flattens the mountains and hills. Not only that but according to our Promise for Today, HE ESTABLISHES our steps. He's right there to make certain that our steps are sure. The next verse (Psalm 37:24) promises that even if we fall, the Lord holds our hand and we won't be utterly cast down.

If God is pointing you to it, trust Him. His Word promises there is nowhere we can go that He isn't already there (Psalm 139:8-12). And truthfully, wouldn't we rather be on a rough road WITH God than a smooth road WITHOUT Him?

Prayer:

Father,
           Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

A Generous Spirit

As the Scriptures say, 

 “They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
2nd Corinthians 9:9-11 NLT

People get nervous when you talk about Christianity. They fidget when you start talking about money. But if you want to really see them squirm, talk about money and Jesus in the same breath! However, truth is Truth. Now, before you get upset, I'm not talking about prospering for the sake of prosperity, so don't leave me yet.

Scripture tells us to share freely and give generously to the poor. If we do, according to the Word of God, He will both provide and increase our resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in us. The increased resources are NOT for us to keep, but to give away to others. It's not about making us rich. It's about a harvest of generosity. It's about reaping a generous spirit. It's about giving to others so that it opens the gate for them to come into the presence of God because they're giving thanks for what they have received.

Our text for today is the basis for the Law of Reciprocity. BIG buzzword in recent years. However, I'm not talking about transactional reciprocity - value given for value received. Author Wayne Baker has this to say about the power of reciprocity, "The lesson is that we cannot pursue the power of reciprocity. When we try to invoke reciprocity directly, we lose sight of the reason for it: helping others. Paradoxically, it is in helping others without expecting reciprocity in return that we invoke the power of reciprocity. The deliberate pursuit of reciprocity fails..." Mr. Baker paraphrased what the Scripture has to say and got himself another best seller.

What is our motivation behind giving? Is it obligational reciprocity? Yuck... Is it transactional reciprocity – value given for value received? Or is it - according to His Word - from a great harvest of generosity? If we continue in today's text, verse 13 reads, As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. Oh, please let it be that we are found obedient to the Good News of Christ!

Prayer:

Father,
             You love a cheerful giver, and You set the ultimate example of giving by giving us Your Son, Jesus. Provide and increase our resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in us, Lord, according to Your Word. Enrich us in every way so that we may always be generous. Help us especially to be generous with Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Generous to meet the needs of those around us so they will seek You out and thank You and give You glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Someone Who Will

 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 

1st Thessalonians 5:16-18

I used to be so intimidated to pray aloud. I was afraid of what people would think. I was afraid I would somehow misspeak. And then one day, Steve Fender, in San Antonio - a man who could pray the roof right off a building - preached the most liberating message about prayer. He said, "Stop worrying about what the person next to you thinks about your prayer...unless, of course, you're praying to them. And if you're not praying to them, what does it matter what they think?"

God judges our heart - the inside of us - not the outside.

There's a story about a preacher who was walking out of church one day and noticed a little boy kneeling down behind one of the bushes on the church property. Suspecting foul play, the preacher began to sneak up behind him. As he got closer, he heard the boy reciting, "A B C D... A B C D... A B C D... "

The preacher stood up and demanded with a booming voice, "Boy, what do you think you're doing?"

The little boy looked up from his kneeling position, then stammered, "I...I...I'm praying, sir."

With a snort of derision, the preacher declared, "That's not praying - all you're doing is reciting letters."

"Yes, sir, I know, but didn't you tell us that God knows everything?"

"Of course He does!"  the preacher pontificated.

"Well," began the boy in his explanation, "If God knows everything, He knows what I need to say, but I don't. So, I figured I'd give Him the letters and He could put them together to make the right words."

If ever in your life you've had a conversation with anyone, then you have the necessary rudiments to prayer. Someone to talk to. Someone who will listen. Someone who understands. Someone who will answer.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for establishing an open line of communication. Thank You that You hear our prayers. Thank You that there isn't anything...anything...that is taboo when it comes to talking with You. Keep us ever mindful to include You in all our conversations. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Wielding the Weapons

Therefore, put on EVERY piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then AFTER the battle you will still be standing firm. [emphasis mine]
Ephesians 6:13 NLT

Our associate pastor taught yesterday about being prepared for the struggles in life - to not just face them willy-nilly but to strategically plan how to deal with them. It got me thinking about how my nephews are training (one in the Marines, one in the US Army). 

Zane and Preston didn't sign up and immediately get thrown into combat. They had months of basic training, and then more months of additional training, and review and practice of all the training, constantly honing their skills, and preparing, disciplining themselves to be at the ready. As US servicemen, they are prepared to wield their weapons.

As soldiers of the Cross, shouldn't we be just as prepared? Shouldn't we be building up our most holy faith so our shield is long and strong enough to quench all the fiery darts of satan and his minions? Shouldn't we be sharpening our skills with our sword (the Bible) and learning how to slice and dice the wiles of the enemy with the Truth of God's Word? Are we training, honing our skills? Do we review and practice? Are we disciplining ourselves to be ready? Are we prepared to wield our weapons?

Prayer:

Father, 

           Help us to learn to fight in Your power and might. Give us the mind of Christ so we are able to wield our spiritual sword effectively to pull down strongholds. Remind us to praise You in all circumstances, giving thanks for those trials that serve to only make us stronger in You. Give us clean hands and a pure heart before You, O God! We want to still be standing firm with You after the battle. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

All That

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 1:5-8 NLT

This jumped out at me tonight. When we do random acts of kindness, we feel blessed being able to give; the recipient feels blessed to receive. It's a good thing surely, but it pales in comparison to the kindnesses of God. There is nothing random about God's acts of kindness. From the beginning of time, His are all very intentional. 

The passage goes on to say that God showered His kindness on us. When I think shower, I think totally wet. Covered in it. Soaked. 

However, the translation of the Greek word for 'showered' is more than that. It is primarily "to have abundance, more than enough, overflow, to have an excessive amount of something, ranging from moderate excess to a very great degree of excess". Not only God's kindness but His wisdom and understanding, too! Are we able to wrap our heads around all that?

Prayer:

Father,

           It is with an overflowing, grateful heart that we give You praise and glory and honor for the excessive kindnesses You have showered on us. Open our eyes of understanding so that we are able to grasp the greatness of it all and use it to complete Your purpose and plan for our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Praying the Word

Praying the Word of God

Father,

         We pray as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, For this reason I bow my knees to You, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that You would grant us, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that we may be filled with all the fullness of You, O God.
            Now to You who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to You be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

They Were Not Willing

What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice...
1st Samuel 15:22 NLT

This was the prophet Samuel speaking to King Saul right before he pronounced God's rejection of Saul as king. Why? Because Saul had taken matters into his own hands and did not follow God's command. It seemed to Saul that it would be okay because he said he was going to use what he kept to sacrifice to the Lord, but that's not what God had said to do. Saul was disobedient.  In this particular passage, I can almost hear Saul ask Samuel, "What's the big deal?"

In verse 9 (AMP), it reads, Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and everything that was good, and they were not willing to destroy them entirely; but everything that was undesirable or worthless they destroyed completely. But God had told them to destroy everything. In verse 23, Samuel told Saul, Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 14:12, There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:23-24, NLT, All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.

It's about obedience. Obeying the voice of the Lord God. Pastor Alan Neel made the statement, "We're not responsible for the results; just the obedience." Oftentimes, we go through life doing "good enough" - not our best effort, not our whole-hearted attempt, but what we consider good enough. Close enough. And the world accepts that. However in the Word, we're taught, Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT

Good and pleasing and perfect. Obedience. Anything less is not good enough.

Prayer:

Father,
            As we delve into Your Word, wash us with it. Renew a right spirit within us. Transform our hearts and minds. It is our heart's desire to fully follow You in obedience, to be good and pleasing and perfectly in Your will. Help us, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

All

And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

Mark 12:16-17 ESV

Many are the discussions I have heard centered around this text - especially those who are passionate about taxes! However, that's not what leapt out at me in this verse today.

Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” How did they know what belonged to Caesar - what they were to give to him? They knew by the likeness and inscription on the coin.

By the same token then, how do we know what is God's? Exodus 19:5, God speaks to us, Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. In 1st Samuel 2:8c, it reads, For all the earth is the Lord’s, and he has set the world in order.

Do we know? Is there an inscription? Yes, there is! In Hebrews 8:10, the writer reiterates the promise of God from the prophet Jeremiah, For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people...

A little further down in our text for today, vvs 29-30, Jesus said this is the greatest commandment, 'The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'  With everything - ALL that we are! Have we rendered ourselves to God? ALL of it?

Prayer:

Father,
            We are guilty of holding back and rendering unto ourselves what belongs only to You. Forgive us, O God! We don't want our love for You and our service to and for You to be only partially given. We want to love You as You demand - with ALL our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. Break off the blinders we have so willingly kept in place. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

No Piece of Cake

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:10-12 KJV

Jesus never said Life would be easy. He said His YOKE would be easy. Yokes are for pairing up animals to do hard work. And Jesus is in the yoke with us.

God never led us to believe that following Him would be a piece of cake. And anyone who has told you that has lied to you. However, He made you an overcomer - He provided the Blood of the Lamb and has given us the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). You know it's been said before, you cannot be an overcomer unless you're overcoming something!

We're encouraged to fight the good fight of faith (1st Timothy 6:12). Jesus said in this world we SHALL have tribulations (John 16:33). However, He also said He would never leave us nor forsake us. He DID say we shall wear the victor's crown. Joshua said it well, “Don’t hold back. Don’t be timid. Be strong! Be confident! This is what God will do to all your enemies when you fight them.”

David tells us power and might are in His hand, and at His discretion, people are made great and given strength. He never said that it would get easier as we go along, either, but we WILL become stronger! Every battle sharpens our strength and our skills to fight - when we fight in HIS strength.

Prayer:

Father,
          We pray as David prayed: Blessed are You, God of Israel, our father from of old and forever. To You, O God, belong the greatness and the might, the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor; Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth; the kingdom all Yours! You’ve raised Yourself high over all. Riches and glory come from You, You’re ruler over all; You hold strength and power in the palm of Your hand to build up and strengthen all. And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to You, praising Your splendid Name. It is in Jesus' Name we pray, Amen

Give and Take

"Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”  In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

Job 1:21-22 NKJV

We have heard it said that life is all about the give and take. I'm inclined to agree with that. While we may think that being given something all the time may sound like living a blessed life, it's wrong. Have you ever been in a relationship where it was all one-sided? If it's you doing all the giving - time, energy, etc - it gets old pretty quick. By the same token, if you're on the receiving end all the time without the opportunity to give back, that doesn't work either. It is give AND take. That's what makes a relationship.

We've all heard numerous sermons about being a blessing to others. However, there is the danger of becoming the Bless ME generation - believing the teaching that propagates the untruth that God is there just to bless us. How many people do you know who have fallen away from following the Lord because something bad happened or they didn't get what they wanted and they believed God should have, would have, could have done something? Therein lies the danger. We accuse God of wronging us when we don't get what we want.

We were / are created for worship. We are to worship God. We are to bless Him. And while it IS true that God will bless us, Hebrews 11:6 assures us He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. It also says that without faith it is impossible to please God and that those who come to God must believe that He IS. Does God withhold from us? Yes, He does. Does He withhold from us just to be mean or just because He can? No, absolutely not! He is our Father - a true Father. One who is all about caring for His children, loving us, raising us up to be the best that we can be...and that means training AND discipline. That's REAL love. That's TRUE love.

Scripture tells us He delights in us. It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32). According to His good pleasure, He laid out the plan for our salvation so we could be adopted by Him (Ephesians 1:5), revealing to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself (Ephesians 1:9).

God gives us freedom (Psalm 146:7). He gives us wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). The Lord gives rest from our sorrow and from our fear and from our hard bondages... and even though that Scripture (Isaiah 14:3) is in reference to the fall of the Babylonian king, the Word also tells us in Acts 10:34-35, that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.

God so loved the world that He GAVE His Son to die on the Cross for OUR sins (John 3:16). Behold the Lamb of God who TAKES away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Let us learn the lesson from Job. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.

Prayer:

Father,

          You are holy and You are righteous and You are God and we are not. We acknowledge Your lordship and submit ourselves to You. We give our lives to You and ask that You take away everything in our heart that does not please You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Say It Again

 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 NLT

2nd Chronicles 7:14 reads, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. I mentioned that the other day and someone who professed Christianity responded with, "Yeah, fat chance. You'll never get this nation to pray." Hmmm. That's why we're supposed to READ it. It doesn't say get the nation or all the heathen on their knees to pray. It says, If MY people who are called by MY name... God is talking to His people - Christians...

In the meantime, let’s live our lives and fight our battles with the plan God has laid out before us. Ephesians 6:10-13 KJV reads, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Prayer:

Father,

          Keep us ever mindful of Your Word in John 3, that You loved us so much, You gave Your Son so no one should perish or be destroyed; and that by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. He came to help, to put the world right again. Let us be ever aware that darkness is always overcome by the Light. Renew our minds. Change our lives. Give us divine appointments to introduce others to You. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

So Let's...

But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
Psalm 33:11 NLT

What a promise from the Lord!! In a world that is physically, politically and spiritually shaken, we need - we must have - His solid foundation. Something that doesn't change, that is absolute in its truth. Immutable, immovable. We have that in the Word of God. Psalm 33, verse 4 reads, For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. So let's do that.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray Your Word - We put our hope in You, Lord. You are our help and our shield. In You our hearts rejoice, for we trust in Your holy Name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorite - Connecting

You are to redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you don’t redeem it, you are to break its neck. 

Exodus 13:13a ISV

When they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples on ahead and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them, and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and that person will send them at once.”   

Matthew 21:1-3 ISV

If you know me, you know that one of my most favorite stories in the Bible is in Numbers 22, where the donkey speaks to the prophet... because for me, it is a story of hope. If God will use a donkey to talk to a prophet, He can even use me to talk to you. J

Back to our Scripture passages, I find it most telling that a donkey had to be redeemed with a lamb or have its neck broken, and later, that the Lamb of God rode a donkey for His Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Sometimes, I'm a little slow in connecting the obvious, but this one got my attention. 

You know, there are all kinds of history and background information  on donkeys, and especially how differently they were perceived in Christ's day compared to now. However, I'm no expert, and I'll leave you to do your own study on that, if you like. 

The fact remains, the beast of burden was considered unclean and had to be redeemed with a lamb to be able to live. Does that story sound familiar? Are you making the connection?

Prayer:

Father,

          I love how You waste absolutely nothing. Help us to connect everything to the threads of love that You weave so beautifully throughout the Bible. Give us understanding, O God! We want to know You more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Loyal Faction

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

2nd Corinthians 4:1-2 NLT 

Have you ever met anyone who was hardcore about something? For the most part, it has a negative connotation. It is usually used when referring to someone who seems to be too far gone and will never change. However, the first dictionary definition is; The most dedicated, unfailingly loyal faction of a group.  Roget's Thesaurus lists dedicated, faithful, intense as interchangeable options for hardcore.

Oh, that we would be hardcore for Christ!

Excerpts from further in the chapter where our text for today begins:

 ⁵ You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

 ⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

 ⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

 ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

¹⁰ Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

¹³ But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”

¹⁴ We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 

¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. ¹⁷ 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!

¹⁸ 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.

Oh, that we would be the most dedicated, unfailingly loyal faction for Christ - that He would return and find us dedicated, faithful, and intense for Him.

Prayer:

Father,

          Let us not confuse hardened hearts with being hardcore for Christ. Instead help us to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work You have prepared for us, Lord, knowing that in You our labor is not in vain. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Burden-Bearing

Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].
Galatians 6:2 The Amplified Bible

It can be so hard to find a balance between the trials and tragedies of life while trying to keep hope and faith in God - especially if we're going through a season like an extended Indian summer of it. Harder still if we're doing the balancing act and trying to bolster family members or friends who are going through tough times, too.

How do we effectively, lovingly, carry each other's burdens? Listen. We must listen to what they're saying and even to what they're not saying. Tears are uncomfortable for lots of people, yet tears are a gift from God, Why won't we just follow Romans 12:1 and weep with those who weep?

Too often, I am guilty of trying to "fix it". Too often, people offer misguided Christian clichés and platitudes, however well-intentioned they may be. Too often, we turn to things other than God to find or offer comfort. How about holding a hand, an arm around the shoulder, a hug, a cup of tea even, and God's promises, His written Word to restore the hope that is lost?

In Romans 15:13 NIV, Paul prays over those without hope, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Father,
            So let it be written. So let it be done! Please give us the discernment to see and the wisdom to know how to carry each other's burdens. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It Boggles the Mind

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT

My desk faces the window on purpose - I love watching the evanescent fluttering of the butterflies' air ballet in my yard. Truly a beautiful sight to see. Seemingly carefree, but with a definite purpose in their dance. 

To think that an ugly caterpillar wraps itself into a chrysalis and then after a struggle emerges as a thing of beauty and elegance... well, that kind of transformation just boggles the mind. 

More so, I think it boggles our minds as Christians to comprehend that's what God - through Christ - does for us when we receive His gift of salvation - His deepest love. If we could ever fully embrace His forgiveness paid for with His love, humbling wearing and bearing the beauty of His robe of righteousness for our filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)... we, too, could soar through this life with His peace, carefree in our purpose. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Your Word tells us in Ephesians 2:10 that we are Your masterpiece, that You created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things You planned for us long ago. Open our eyes to see it. Open our hearts to receive it. Open our hands and strengthen them to do the good things You have planned for us to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

This Little Light of Mine

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

♪♫ This little light of mine - I'm gonna let it shine ♪♫ If you went to church as a child, you more than likely sang this song based on our Promise for Today, including verses about not hiding it under a bushel, not letting satan blow it out, shining all over city, state and country. As children, we were quite enthusiastic about letting our light shine. 

Are we still? 

Prayer:

Father,

          We want to shine for You, not for bragging rights, but so that others may see and glorify You by the way we live. If we are not burning brightly, Holy Spirit please come and blow on the embers so that we may light up the world with God's love and goodness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Basics

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:1-20 NIV

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to be like You. Holy Spirit, shine Your light of Truth on our lives and reveal those things which don't line up with the Word of God. Give us Your wisdom and strength to be true disciples, following Your Word and Your way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Greatest of These

Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love.

1st Corinthians 13:13 NLT

I find it interesting to discover what standard Christians use to "measure" their Christianity. Their faith, their giving, their good works, (even though we know Scripture tells us one is not good without the other - James 2:14). This chapter tells us explicitly what is the measure of our walk. Love. Without love, NOTHING else has value. 

Read on in vvs. 2 - 8.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. 

It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 

Prayer:

Father, 

          We pray Your Word as it is written in the Message - We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about You is always incomplete. But when Jesus the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled. What a glorious promise!  But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in You, hope unswervingly, and love extravagantly. Help us to love as extravagantly as You love, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Study Partners

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2nd Timothy 2:22 NKJV

It's 'Back to School' time across the US. Here in the South, the children's summer is officially over. It's back to age-appropriate levels of study for such subjects as Language Arts, Math, Science, and History. With regard to actual subject matter, there are very few choices given to little ones. In middle school, there are a few extra options from which to choose: band, choir, orchestra, sports, depending on interest and preference. When the child gets to be around age 14 or 15, the curriculum counselors endeavor to guide the child toward a particular field of interest of the child's choice. There are additional class choices, but the basics remain the same: Language Arts, Math, Science, and History.

Some children, at 15, absolutely know what they want to be when they grow up, and they pursue a course of study that ultimately will lead them to their goal. However, most 15-year-olds I know want to be whatever their best friend or boyfriend/girlfriend wants to be - or at least something that will complement whatever their best friend or boyfriend/girlfriend wants to be.

When they reach college age, it all changes. There the courses are completely goal-specific, and they must be taken in a particular order. Most are prerequisites for the next level or class in the chosen course of study. You won't find nursing students taking chemical engineering courses or vice-versa. In pursuit of a higher education - one that will get them to their desired goal - they study together with students pursuing the same courses. They hang out together. They are together - of one mind - in their pursuit of higher education.

And so it should be with us as Christians. Just like a nursing student is not going to hang out with the chemical engineering class, we should not be hanging out with idolators - and for the same reasons. They're not pursuing the same thing we are. It's not our course of study. It won't enable us to achieve our goal. The instruction is clear - pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, and then He tells us HOW to do it - with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Who are you studying with? In pursuit of truly Higher Education, read the Book.

Prayer:

Father,
          Help us to receive and act upon Your Word and Your instruction. Thank You for providing it. Help us to focus on what is important and to gather with those in the same pursuit. In Jesus' Name we pray Amen.

My Favorite - Words

It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.

Matthew 12:34b-37 The Message

You know it's easier to clean when you don't drop stuff all over the place. You might be thinking to yourself, 'What does that have to do with our text for today?' Well, lots actually, depending on who you are.

Have you ever been flippant with someone in spite of the fact that you knew you should have kept your mouth shut? I hate it when that happens! No sooner than the words leave our mouth and in our mind, we can almost hear the imaginary PA system blaring, "Clean up in Aisle 6. Bring the bucket."

Tonight, as I sat here reflecting on the day, I got a mental picture of all my words in this day being gathered in a huge bowl and offered up to the Lord. What will be His reaction? Will He breathe deeply of the beautiful essence of love and care, encouragement and edification, hope and life contained in my spoken words? Or will He gag and hold His nose, turning away from the stench of hurt and hate, discouragement and insult, despair and death?

Words are powerful; take them seriously.

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in Psalm 19:14, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Titanic's Life Saver

My Internet is out. Please accept this bit of history that I am able to cut and paste with my phone.  

The night the Titanic sank in 1912 on April 14th, 1,528 people went into the frigid waters. John Harper, after putting his only daughter on a lifeboat, was seen swimming frantically to people in the water leading them to Jesus before the hypothermia became fatal. Rev. Harper swam up to one young man who had climbed up on a piece of debris. Rev. Harper asked him between breaths, "Are you saved?" The young man replied that he was not. 

Harper then tried to lead him to Christ only to have the young man who was near shock, reply no. John Harper then took off his life jacket and threw it to the man and said "Here then, you need this more than I do..." and swam away to other people. A few minutes later Harper swam back to the young man and succeeded in leading him to salvation. Of the 1,528 people that went into the water that night, six were rescued by the lifeboats. One of them was the young man on the debris. 

Four years later, at a survivors meeting, this young man stood up and in tears recounted how John Harper had led him to Christ. Rev. Harper had tried to swim back to help other people, yet because of the intense cold, had grown too weak to swim. His last words before going under in the frigid waters were "Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." 

Does Hollywood remember this man? No. Oh well, no matter. This servant of God did what he had to do. While other people were trying to buy their way onto the lifeboats and were selfishly trying to save their own lives, John Harper gave up his life so that others could be saved.

John Harper knew what it meant to live life with urgency.

†*********************

Prayer:

Father,

            Birth in us the fire and desire to lead others to You. Remove the scales of complacency from our eyes and from our hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Our Daily Bread

Meanwhile, the disciples were finding fault with each other because they had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus overheard and said, "Why are you fussing because you forgot bread? Don't you see the point of all this? Don't you get it at all? Remember the five loaves I broke for the five thousand? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?"
They said, "Twelve."
"And the seven loaves for the four thousand—how many bags full of leftovers did you get?"
"Seven."
He said, "Do you still not get it?"
Mark 8:16-21 The Message

I know quite a few people who won't have anything to do with eating leftovers. They just refuse. I don't always understand that, but to each his own, I guess. I don't have a problem with most leftovers. In fact, some things I'll fix just so they will be leftover because they taste better the second time around. Other things, I won't eat after the first round of it. Funny thing is, I've discovered God is the same way about that.

God cares about the leftovers. Scripture tells us that when partaking of the Passover Feast, one is never to eat the leftovers. And in Leviticus, the Israelites were never to eat leftovers from an offering made for thanksgiving. On the other hand, God made provision for the priests and their families from the leftovers of other offerings and He described the leftovers as "most holy."

We all know the stories of how Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish, with twelve baskets leftover (Matthew 14). And how He fed the 4,000 with 7 loaves and a few fish, and had seven sacks of leftovers (Matthew 15). But did you know there's another story involving Elisha and twenty loaves of bread?

Here, read it for yourself - 2nd Kings 4:42-44 The Message.
One day a man arrived from Baal Shalishah. He brought the man of God twenty loaves of fresh-baked bread from the early harvest, along with a few apples from the orchard.
Elisha said, “Pass it around to the people to eat.”
His servant said, “For a hundred men? There’s not nearly enough!”
Elisha said, “Just go ahead and do it. God says there’s plenty.”
And sure enough, there was. He passed around what he had—they not only ate, but had leftovers.

Old testament, new testament, it doesn't much matter when we're dealing with God's ability to multiply. When it comes to the Bread of Life Himself, I'll take the loaf, the leftovers, or even any crumbs.

It's all good.

Prayer:

Father,
           We will gladly eat from the table You set before us in the presence of our enemies and we are more than grateful for it. Give us this day, Lord, our daily bread. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Arguing with God

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2nd Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

You can't believe everything you read. You can't believe everything you hear. And with all the advanced technology, you can't even believe all the "pictures" that you see. What can you believe? 

The Word of God.

However, there are those who would argue that the Bible contradicts itself. I disagree. For the Bible to contradict itself would mean that God is capable of errors... and He is NOT. The example referenced by most is that of the demise of Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Matthew tells us in 27:5 that Judas hanged himself.  Luke tells us in Acts 1:18 that Judas fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Which is it? Actually, both are accurate.

Do you remember the movie in 2008 called Vantage Point? It was about different people telling completely different perspectives of the same assassination attempt. Sam principle for Judas's end. How did Judas die? Matthew, the tax collector, tells the fact - he hung himself. Luke, the physician, describes the death in detail as to what happened when they cut the body down after he'd hung there for at least 24-36 hours in the hot sun and the stomach lining had started to decompose and become bloated, so when the body hit the ground, it burst open in the middle. Same story. 

The Word of God is TRUTH. It is the standard by which we as Christians live. It is trustworthy. It does not contradict itself because God cannot contradict Himself. Don't argue with Him. You will lose.

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our spiritual eyes to see You. Open our ears to hear You. Open our hearts to receive Your Truth. Birth it deep within us, Father, and let it take root and bring forth a harvest to prepare us to complete Your purpose in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen