Offline Until October 1st, 2022

 I hope you will check back in with me on October 1st. Until then, I pray blessings over you and yours, in Jesus' Name.

Eclipsed

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
Ephesians 5:8-9 NLT

We've talked before about how light always overcomes darkness. The illustration I used was the 150,000-square-foot playing field of the former Astrodome. When the lights were out, in all that darkness, you could strike one match and the light of it would be seen from anywhere within that 150,000 sq ft arena... well, as long as you weren't standing behind something or someone. 

When something or someone is in the way, it definitely blocks the light. Think about a lunar eclipse. The world gets between the sun and the moon and the moon can no longer reflect the light of the sun. What does this have to do with living as people of light?

We are to be a reflection of Christ's light and love. If we allow that which is not of God to get in our way, to turn our focus away from Him, we cannot reflect His light. The definition of an eclipse is obscure the light from or to (another celestial body). And even though the world, in general, will stop to observe one, do we really want anything to eclipse the Light of Christ from our lives?

Prayer:

Father,

           As Your Word instructs us in verse 10 of this Scripture passage, we want to carefully determine what pleases You, Lord. We want to live in the light as You are in the light so that we can have fellowship with each other, and so the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all sin, as Your Word says. Help us to keep our lives clear of anything that would eclipse Your light to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen  

Bearing the Load

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
1 John 1:9 NLT

Imagine a man carrying a large backpack. In it are rocks of varying sizes that represent sins he has committed. No one else knows what's inside because he's too ashamed or embarrassed to open the backpack and submit them to the light of God's Truth. So instead, he keeps it zipped and continues to carry the load of guilt. It's heavy. It causes him to stumble at times and the weight of it makes it impossible to attempt to climb higher. 

If only we could fully understand and embrace how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is (Ephesians 3:18)! The love that took Jesus to the Cross and held Him there so that we could be forgiven of ALL our sins. The love that entreats us to stand up and walk worthy of the calling on our lives. The love that allows us to lay our burdens at the foot of the Cross so we can climb up higher with Him.

Empty the backpack! Give it to Jesus! We were not created to bear the load that He already bore for us.

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for making the way so we are able to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Thank You for Christ's precious sacrifice to purchase the forgiveness of our sins. Thank You for love so great that we cannot seem to fully comprehend it. Help us to walk worthy. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Regrets - written by Jeff Hildebrandt (Cowboy for Christ)

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Hebrews 3:12-14 NLT

I came across this poem at Cowboys-4-Christ. I thought it was worth sharing here with you. It was written by Jeff Hildebrandt.

What would you do 
if you only knew
what happens an hour from now?
What would you say 
if you knew that today
would be your last chance somehow?

What would you do
if it came down to you
to witness and gather a stray?
Would you truly confess
if you knew it would bless
some soul that had lost its way?

What would it take
for you to forsake
your cozy and comfortable place?
Who would you tell
to keep them from hell
and show them the way to God’s Grace?

What would you do
if it really were true
God’s harvest would happen today?
So what makes you think,
in the time of a wink
their life won’t be taken away?

What would you feel
if those what-ifs were real
and you never did witness or pray?
Would you always regret
the chance you’ll never get
to help them avoid judgment day?

What will you do
knowing God expects you
to be bold and to speak without fear?
Will you speak up in love,
share the Truth from above?
'Cause the truth is, God’s judgment is near.

Prayer:

Father,
        Thank You for bringing our focus back to what is important. We want to walk holy before You and fulfill Your purpose in our lives. Help us, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What Are You Doing with That?

“The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. ' "
Matthew 25:24-27 The Message

If you knew it was your last day to speak wisdom and truth to those you love, what would you say? What words would you leave with them that would and could and should make the difference in how they live out their days? Have you ever thought about that?

Jesus spent the day teaching from morning until night. He reminded them of His impending death AND His return. He instructed them to be watchful of the signs. He taught about being prepared for the day of His return. And in our Promise for Today passage, He teaches us to use well what God has given us. It's not about how much we have; it's about how we use what He has given us because we will all give an accounting come Judgement Day. Scary, hunh?

Jesus gave it ALL for our salvation. What He asks when we return to Him is that we give Him what HE gave us to begin with - our life. That's not asking too much, is it? And even if it was asking too much, He has the right...

Read what Jesus said at the end of chapter 25, regarding the one man who buried the talent that he'd been given. Matthew 25:28-30, ‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

Prayer:

Father,
            Your Word tells us if we try to hang on to our life, we will lose it, but if we give up our life for Your sake, You will save us. Please save us, O God! Let us learn from Your example and give it ALL to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Keep Moving

     In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. 

     And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. 

     You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same.
Ephesians 4:1-7 The Message

This passage makes me think about running and I got to reminiscing about a couple coworkers who ran the Houston Marathon a few years back. Twenty-six grueling miles... 

Would they have finished the race if they'd wandered off the pathway that was marked before them? Would they have been disqualified for unauthorized shortcuts? Could they have correctly competed in AND completed the race, had they not followed the rules? What if they just quit because they were tired or because they were in pain? What if they had run 25 and nine-tenths miles...and quit? What if they had turned around and gone back the way they'd come?

One's a young man, in his twenties; one is - shall we say seasoned? - in his early fifties. Both ran the same marathon, same road, same direction. Do they have the same style of running? No. Are they built the same? No, not even close. Did they have the same running time? No, but they both started at the beginning. And both had one purpose in mind; finish the race...which they both did.

One was at work on the Monday following the race. One took Monday off to recover. There were people in that race that were in their 70s and older. Two of the ones in their seventies didn't start running until one was in his 50s and the lady was 61 when she ran her first marathon. Never too early. Never too late to start.

That's just like our race. We all have to get to the same starting point... Sinners saved by grace. Then we all run the road to Heaven. Heading in the same direction, albeit at different speeds. Some running, some walking, some marching a straight line, and some limping... Some through intense conditions, but all of them moving forward, be it fast or slow. We must finish the race!

So, let's keep moving...

Prayer:

Father,
           We're not going back. We've got our eye on the prize, but may we also be Your hand extended for those along the way who need encouragement to keep going. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Your Thoughts

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8 KJV

Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.
Proverbs 4:23 ERV

God warns us to guard our hearts and minds. We have to be careful what we feed into ourselves! The Message Bible reads this way in Proverbs 4:23-25, Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.

Keeping company with certain people may be mood-altering. There are some who are so delightful you can hardly wait to see them. And there are those... you know the ones. You feel exhausted just thinking of them because it feels as if they suck the life out of you.

Ephesians 5:15-17 - also The Message reads, So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

Again - our Promise for Today - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. [emphasis mine]

Is your life not going the way you want it to go? Let's read one more time what King Solomon has to say about that. Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life. So... what are you thinking?

Prayer:

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

Friends' Favorite - Busy

 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

1st Peter 4:7 NIV

We are so busy. We work too many hours. We over-commit to outside influences, events, and projects that we, for some reason, believe we must do. We set the alarm because we're afraid we'll oversleep because we didn't get to bed early enough to get enough sleep so we would wake up refreshed and be ready to do the day. 

We text because we don't have time for a regular conversation. We e-mail because it generally takes less time and we don't have to wait for the give-and-take of a conversation that could get deeper than time allows or affords us. We have game apps on everything that isn't nailed down, so that we don't ever have to sit quietly without some form of entertainment.

We are so busy, we don't even want to think about having to cook dinner. Oh, we can get a soft drink and something that sort of resembles the four food groups...well, if you don't look closely... at any given fast food drive-through lane. It's a quick fix - an immediate response to my demand. And the choices are pre-defined, so we don't have to think about it. We just pick from what we're offered, swipe our card and go... and eat going down the road to our next engagement or to home in front of the computer or TV... and we want to make it spiritual by proclaiming, "Thank God for drive-throughs..."

Well, I have discovered that as convenient as they are, I cannot be healthy going through fast food drive-through lanes all the time. I'd like a sit-down meal. Sometimes I like it when others make it and bring it to me. Sometimes I like it when I make it and take it to somebody or invite someone over to sit with me and dine. Sometimes, it's the joy of the preparation. The stopping of the go-go-go long enough to plan a meal, but most of the time we're even too busy to do that. Do you know it's the #1 totally acceptable excuse for 90-plus percent of the things we choose NOT to do? Everybody understands busy...

I've just been in such a fog - I'm so busy...  I can't even think straight - I'm so busy...  Ever heard one of those? Ever uttered one of those? Do you ever flop into bed at night and you're too tired to pray? I'll pray twice as long tomorrow, God, I know you understand... No... The Creator of the universe who keeps all things in perfect balance, including the planet we're spinning on, the King of all kings and Lord of all, who ALWAYS has time for us does NOT understand...

We tend to treat our prayer life like fast-food junkies. We won't sit in the line too long - we throw our prayers at the box - and expect God's answer by the time we get to the window. And if we don't get it, if we have to pull up and wait for any length of time, we have been known to mutter, "This is the last time I'm coming here... I'll go to such-and-such where I don't have to wait."

Can you hear our Father? "Children, wash your hands and face and come sit at the table. Dinner will be ready soon. Just sit here and give Me a few minutes. I've got everything you need and want right here."

Have we prayed yet? The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Prayer:

Father,

         In Colossians 4:2, Your Word tells us to devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Help us to recognize the need to be clear-minded and self-controlled so we can do just that. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lay Up Your Treasure...

But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.
Isaiah 32:8 NLT

I was reminded of this tonight and wanted to share it again. It's a great story of God's blessings and rewards for a generous heart. 

I had lunch with an old friend who I hadn't seen in awhile. We tried to catch up on everything we could, talking non-stop in an extended lunch visit. It was good. My friend told me an amazing story of how their extended family had been lost from them for more than 40 years, and over the years, they had tried to find them without success - but how they were finally able to search out the cousins, the offspring of an aunt who had always been very kind and very generous. I could see love's glow remembered in my friend's eyes and I could tell just how loving the woman had been. It was a wonderful story to hear and I was very excited at all the good news of it.

The cousin who was first found later went to her sibling and said, "You will never guess who called me." To her shock, her brother said my friend's name without hesitation... keeping in mind, it had been 40 years. When asked how he knew, he replied that his cousin had been on his mind for a couple weeks... the same amount of time my friend had been searching this last time around! God has such a sweet way of answering the desires of our hearts.

We talked the rest of the time about all their plans to reunite face to face and as we were standing in the parking lot saying goodbye, my friend said, "Before we go, I want to tell you one more thing about my aunt..."  

It turns out that the aunt and cousins were very poor when they were all growing up, but it never stopped them from giving to others. The woman's life personified generous hospitality, with the emphasis on generous. The daughter of the amazing woman told this story. Her mother used to go to the grocery store and pick up the wooden fruit crates from the trash bin in back. She would then take them home, break them down, and tie them in bundles to sell for firewood to have money to buy coal to heat their home. One Christmas, the woman worked twice as hard to get enough money - not for toys for her children - but to get enough to buy an extra load of coal.

When the coal cart driver came, she pressed that money into his hand and said, "I want you to use this to buy coal for the poorest family on your route. I can't bear to think of anyone being cold on Christmas."

The driver was overcome by emotion and tried to hand back the money, but she insisted. Finally, when he could speak through his tears, he replied, "Missus, you are my poorest family..."

Poorest by the world's standards, but richest in the eyes of God.

Today, all three of her children are very successful in their careers of choice (which involve helping others in one form or another) and all are able to travel to different parts of the world. God's Word has much to say about those who are generous in spirit. Don't you just love it?

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for orchestrating such a wonderful reunion for my friend! Such a loving and generous thing for You to do!! Lord, change our hearts and cause us to be more like You! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Requested by Liz - Family Resemblance

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.
Ephesians 1:5-6 NLT

A long time ago, as the registrar of an elementary school, I was often amazed by the younger siblings who would come to start school and they would be the spitting image of their older sibling at that age. Strong family genes. I'm sure we all know families that look so much alike, you could put them in a room with hundreds of people, and still be able to pick out who were members of the same gene pool.

How strong are our genes? 1st John 3:2 tells us, Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

What will we look like? Or more importantly - Who do we look like? 

I'm reminded of a time, several years ago - it was a gathering of friends at Gringo's with a new waiter who didn't know we'd ever been there. We straggled in, coming from all directions, and when we were finally gathered, the waiter looked at the 7 of us and remarked, "Oh, I get it. It's a family meeting!" We all smiled and replied, "Yup, that's it - a family meeting." 

Proof positive - adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ. That's our common gene pool. And it was strong enough through Christ to see our Family Resemblance.

Praise His Holy Name!

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for adopting us into Your family and making us joint heirs with Your precious Son, Jesus. When we grow up, we want to be just like You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

All the Days

When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2b NKJV

I know that God's Grace is sufficient and I know that goodness and mercy shall follow me ALL the days of my life. And according to His Word, He knew this day would be one of them...

Today has been a tough one. However, what I can tell you at the end of it is this: I don't have to understand the whys and the wherefores, I just have to trust Him. God is good and He knows what is best for our lives. He has the Master Plan, and if we trust Him, He will execute it perfectly.

I haven't trusted Him all the days of my life. But I do trust Him now and I will continue to trust Him for all the rest of my days.

Prayer:

Father,
           I pray healing for all those who need a touch from You. I pray peace for the troubled soul. I pray comfort as only You can give to those who have lost what they have loved. I pray Your provision as Way Maker for those who are lost and without. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Seed Away

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Mark 4:3-8 NLT

So the farmer goes out to plant seed. Jesus makes no distinction about the kinds of seed. It's all the same seed. It's all good seed. The only difference is where it is sown. It is absolutely guaranteed to produce fruit in the right soil... but it has to be planted.

Read on from our text for today...
Mark 4:13-20 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

You can have enough seed to plant the entire Earth, but if you don't actually plant the seed, what good does it do? Is it still seed? Yes! Does it have within it all that is necessary to produce fruit? Yes! Will it all bring forth fruit? Not unless it’s put into fertile ground.

It’s not just about the seed. Are our hearts prepared to receive it?

Prayer:

Father,
            Help us to prepare our hearts to be fertile soil that will hear and receive Your Word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as has been planted. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Approved Plans

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
James 4:14-15 NLT

Fourteen or fifteen years ago, a very dear friend of mine was coming to visit, so I laid out a plan. Things I wanted to accomplish before she arrived. My course of action started as planned for Friday afternoon and into Saturday morning, but it soon blossomed into one of those “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” moments…

Are you familiar with those? The reference is from the children’s book of the same name, but basically, the premise is that giving a mouse a cookie when he asks for one is never all there is to it. You can give him the cookie, but then he’ll want or need a glass of milk and a napkin and on it goes from there. It is quite entertaining as a child’s book, but not so much fun when it happens in real life. It can wreak havoc with your plans.

I put a loveseat in one of the rooms of my house and I loved it, but then the room seemed to be off center and some of the other furniture needed to move to fix it... So I had to take ALL of my books off the bookshelving. (Do you know how many books you can stack on 30 feet of shelving?) In moving the books, I realized that a couple had fallen behind the shelf and on their way down had put a rip in the window covering, and as I went to repair that, I realized it was beyond repair and needed to be replaced before I could reset the shelves and the books. That was not in my time plan.

I had planned pretty much every minute of that Saturday, including breaks and a visit to Linda, another dear friend, who at that time was battling cancer. I was moving right along with my plans Saturday morning when Linda's husband called and I headed to their house. I'd been believing for a miracle - that was my plan - and I realized when I arrived that I needed to re-think my plans. I waited with Linda and her husband until the medical van came to transport her to the hospice hospital.

By Sunday night, I was back on task and on my schedule. On Monday, during lunch, I planned my evening and what I would accomplish on my planned list, when God intervened and after work, I found myself heading to the other side of Houston to visit Linda at the hospital. Ever the multi-tasker, I figured I'd get a visit in with my brother while I was on that side of town. So I planned to stay about an hour with Linda, then meet my brother, and head home from there, but then I heard myself repeating aloud to Linda's family what the Holy Spirit was whispering to me, "I'll be back after I see my brother." Mentally, I was calculating the time left in the evening that I might continue with MY plans... then figuratively speaking, I got hit between the eyes with our Scripture reference for today.

And bless His holy Name, I actually listened. In the eternal weight of life, it will never matter if my bookshelves needed to be moved 8 inches one way or the other because I find absolutely NO Scripture basis or precedence for it. However, I have not yet found the end of the list of Scriptures which command that I love as He loves, that a friend loves at all times, that I treat others as I would want to be treated with lovingkindness, and that what is within my power to give is to be given willingly, cheerfully, lovingly... 

Plans, shmlans...How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What we ought to say is,“If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Then and only then, will we have the opportunity to follow His plan for us to be His hand extended. The hand that holds the hand of the one taking her last breath on this side of forever.

If you're making plans, make a plan to submit them for approval to the Master Planner. He'll find any mistakes and correct them before the errors are set in stone.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for being such a kind and Holy God and Father. Thank You for Your peace and Your miraculous love. Please alter our plans as You see fit as we submit them to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Yes or No

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

Psalm 139:1-3 NLT

There are times in all our lives - at every stage of our lives - when we face decisions about whether we should or should not do something. It doesn't matter how young or old we are.

When my kids were younger, I used to give them this rule of thumb. "If Jesus was standing right next to you and could see what you're doing, would you do it?" You know the Truth is that Jesus IS with us all the time. Numerous Scriptures tell us so. He DOES see what we're facing, and the course of action we choose.

That thing when no one's looking? Where you let your mind wander and stay when no one's around? When you're in the big city and no one knows who you are or what you normally do? And there's no one to tell... He knows it all... Think about it. Choose carefully.

Sometimes we make decisions without thinking at all. Sometimes, we're distracted and don't fully engage to use the sense God gave us. Choose wisely. It could very well be the deciding factor between where you will spend eternity - smoking or non-smoking - or for someone else's eternity who is looking to you as their example to follow Christ. Yes, we are our brother's keeper. What will be your deciding factor?

Prayer:

Father,
           Guide us by Your righteousness, O Lord our God. We want our deciding factor to be You. Let all of our choices be to follow Your will with clean hands and pure hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

By Request - How Quickly We Forget

 So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 NLT

The past week has been one of remembering for me. Labor Day - originally proclaimed to celebrate the legalization of labor unions and the labor movement. My father - he'd have turned 103 this week. And tomorrow: 9-11. Twenty-one years have passed since America united as a country against the evil atrocities perpetrated against our nation, but how quickly we forget.

We remember those who gave their lives trying to save those who had come under attack. We remember those who spent days and weeks and months trying to dig out from under it all. We remember those who have taken a stand against terrorism and have fought and are fighting for our freedoms. All day tomorrow, there will be conversations that begin with, "I remember what I was doing when I heard..." "I remember I couldn't believe..."

We remember facts, but we don't remember the truths that came from it. What I mean is that when the shock wore off, we were no longer divided across party lines, or state lines, or skin color lines. We were Americans who stood arm in arm and waved our flags, and sang our anthem, and burned candles, and filled all the churches for two whole weeks following 9-11. Oh, the flag waving and anthem singing and burning candles lasted a while longer, but by the third Sunday following 9-11-01, most churches were back to their usual Sunday congregation. And twenty-one years later, we're up in arms against each other instead of arm-in-arm with one another. How quickly we forget.

The same thing happened when Jesus took the bread as recorded in Luke 22:19, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. And then later, His body was broken for our sins. We remember the facts, but do we remember the Truth? The atrocities against Him - against God's love personified? Do we remember what it cost Him? He laid His life down for our freedom. He died to save us and to free us from the rubble of our lives.

So many don't remember from twenty-one years ago - is it any wonder that 2,000 years later they've forgotten Christ? We MUST remember...

Prayer:

Father,
          Keep the cost of the Cross ever before us, O Lord. Forgive us for taking it lightly, as just a matter of fact. Bind us together by Your love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Who Do You Look Like?

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:15-16 NKJV

Growing up, I always thought I was adopted... that is until I saw the picture of my maternal grandmother. Then I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I was not. The image of my grandmother at 19 or 20 is uncannily my face at that same age. Isn't it funny - when a baby is first born, friends and family who are not on the scene always ask, "Who does she look like?" Well, in our case, when my youngest granddaughter was a baby, she had her mama's sweet disposition and looked like her daddy. Now that she's older, she will tell you, "I'm my father's daughter." There's no doubt whose child she is.

I love looking back at the pictures documenting her life. I look at the images and I'm mesmerized by the way her "today" face takes me back in time to the face of many yesterdays...

And as is often the case with babies, do you remember how every new thing they do is seen through new eyes for their parents (and grandparents) too. I remember watching her reaction to the ocean and white sand and it was like seeing it all for the first time, and yet the number of times we've been to the beach cannot possibly be tallied. How wondrous it is to experience life anew, wouldn't you agree?

According to Scripture, that's the way it can be - and IS - when we choose to become a new creation in Christ! Old things are passed away and behold, all things have become new! (2nd Corinthians 5:17) And in Romans 8, we're told that we are conformed to the image of the Son (Jesus) who - according to our text for today - is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

So when people look at us, what do they see? Are we the image of our Father? Do we look like Him? Act like Him? Is it easy to spot the resemblance? Is there any doubt about whose child you are?

Prayer:

Father,
            Let our light - Your light inside of us -so shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify You, Father, easily recognizing Whose child we are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Speaking the Language

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7 KJV

Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a best-selling book titled, The 5 Love Languages. The description from the website about his book reads, "Of the countless ways we can show love to one another, five key categories, or five love languages, proved to be universal and comprehensive - everyone has a love language, and we all identify primarily with one of the five love languages:
Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch."

I'm not here to sell you the book, but to borrow from its premise that if we don't know the language, it's hard to make ourselves understood. If your love language is Receiving Gifts and all you're receiving is the language of Quality Time sans gifts, you're probably not very happy. Friends of mine (who are married to each other) experienced this in their marriage. He speaks Acts of Service - he would clean the house, cook dinner, wash laundry, etc, thinking all the while that he was being incredibly loving and romantic. However, she only hears Words of Affirmation. Her question while she sat in a spotless house was, "If he loves me, why doesn't he just say so?"

The Great News is that God speaks ALL languages. He created them AND you. And because God IS love, He can and will communicate with you in ANY love language and can receive your love back to Himself accordingly. No more excuses for not speaking with Him.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for always providing exactly what we need, when we need it and where we need it. Help us to be fluent in our conversations with You and with others about You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Mandatory

This one was written by my pastor, Alan Neel.
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If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6: 14-15

The Kingdom of God has a foundation based entirely upon love. In fact, Heaven is going to be a place eternally filled with love. So, any time we refuse to act in love and forgiveness, we are rejecting God’s Kingdom. Wow! That is startling, but true.

God’s great love that is expressed through grace and mercy should change our hearts to also express grace and mercy. Love is not selfish, love is always giving, that includes forgiveness.

LIVE, LOVE, FORGIVE! REPEAT!

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your love and forgiveness. Forgive us for all the times we have not followed Your example. Give us Your strength to do so from now on. Father, give us clean hands and pure hearts so that we can properly portray You to a lost and dying world. Let them know we are Christians by the love we show and share. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE HONEST & ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH (My apologies...This Promise is for September 6, 2022... My mom asked if I could cover for her last night, I said of course, then proceeded to procrastinate, then completely forgot...)

Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly and shouldn't have taken the census. Please forgive me for doing this foolish thing."

1Chronicles 21:8 NLT

It is better to be poor and honest than to be a fool and dishonest.

Proverbs 19:1 NLT 

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 

John 8:32 NLT

Have you ever put something off, saying to yourself, "I'll do it in a little bit", something that you know you should do immediately? How'd that work out for you? What happened? Let me guess; everything after your decision "to put it off, I'll get to it in a little bit" actually snowballed down a slippery slope to regret, disappointment, and tremendous guilt? Because the thing that you "put off" ended up never getting done at all. 

When this happens the best thing for you to do is to own up to your actions. Just simply tell the truth. Owning up to your mistake and telling the truth may not fix the problem or make people happy. What it will do is help alleviate the regret, disappointment, and tremendous guilt you've been carrying around. 

By making the right choices and decisions, by admitting when we're wrong, by always telling the truth we will be set free from all the burdens that come along with being disobedient/rebellious and dishonest, and lazy. 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, 

                                    We ask that You constantly guide us and help us to make the right choices and the right decisions. That You keep our hearts and minds free from sins of laziness. Only through Your Son, Jesus Christ, will we know the truth and be set free. For all this, we ask and pray, in Jesus' Name. Amen

Come In

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
Ephesians 2:18 NLT

In order to fully understand this verse, we need to understand the significance of Matthew 27:51a, which tells what happened at the moment Jesus uttered, "It is finished." At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 

That curtain (or veil) in the Temple separated mankind from the Holy of Holies - God's presence on Earth. Only the high priest was allowed past it one day a year - The Day of Atonement - and then only after very specific purification rituals. If he missed one or any part of them, he would die when he went past the curtain because sinful man could not stand in the presence of a most holy God. And just so you know, Gentiles (everyone else who isn't Jewish...) were NEVER allowed in.

The high priest's robe had bells on the hem and he went in with a rope attached to his ankle with the express purpose for those on the outside to know if he was alive to perform the atonement. If they could hear the bells tinkling, they knew he lived. If there was no sound, they would pull his dead body out of the Holy of Holies by the cord that was tied around his ankle. 

When Christ, God's perfect Sacrifice, shed His blood on the Cross and gave up His life for us, God tore the veil (from top to bottom) forever removing any semblance of separation from His presence. It should lend a whole new depth of understanding to Hebrews 4:16, So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Yes, Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. [emphasis mine]

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for Your redeeming love that allows us to come boldly to Your throne. Give us a clear understanding of the overwhelming magnitude of Your love to provide access such as this. Help us to better be able to rightly divide Your Word. Holy Spirit, we ask You for wisdom and understanding. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Good Things

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:9-10 NLT

I believe when God created us in the womb, He had already planned the works that we would do for Him as new creations in Christ, and that He had planned the people whose paths would cross with ours.

As our Promise for Today declares, our salvation is not a reward for good things we have done. He had all these good things lined up for us once we would choose to believe. Salvation is God's gift to us. The Truth is that apart from Grace, we would not recognize the good things of God. But praise Him for the awesome opportunity to be partnered with Him in Christ to bless His body of believers!

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for saving us. Thank You for planning good things for us to do with You and for You. Give us even more spiritual insight so we don't miss doing one good thing! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Indispensable

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT

Quick! What are your weapons? Can you identify all the pieces of your armor?

Were you able to do it? No, it's not a competition. It's a battle. And our weapons MUST be God-issued armor if we hope to survive. We cannot do this life without Christ and all the provision He has made for us. So let's go over our checklist. I'm going to use The Message because, in this passage, it reads more like a handbook, and we must wake up to the Truth about the battle that wages for our souls.

So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.

Truth,
Righteousness,
Peace,
Faith, and
Salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life.

God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.
Pray hard and long.
Pray for your brothers and sisters.
Keep your eyes open.
Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:11-18 The Message

Other translations read, "Keep alert..." Are we doing that?

Prayer:

Father,
             We want to successfully fight the good fight! Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; as unto You, Lord. Give us Your Strength. Help us always to remember that it all comes from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Right Influence

   It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. 

   It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-5a, The Message Bible

I don't think I've ever read this passage in The Message Bible before... The crystal-clear picture of Truth created by the bottom line turn of phrase is astounding to me! You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live [emphasis mine]. How often are choices made based on the criteria of what we see in the news, what we read, and what the latest influencer has to say? 

Hopefully, that's in the past. God has made us new creations in Christ. Our choices in life should be made in faith - the evidence of things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1), what we read - namely the Word of God (any and every verse), and what the Greatest Influencer - the Holy Spirit - has to say. It is written in John 16:13 NKJV, However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

Which criteria will you use for your choices?

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for the gift of salvation and for Your grace by which we are saved. Thank You for Your mercies which are new every morning and Your great faithfulness toward us. Holy Spirit, guide us into ALL Truth. Father, let us be influenced only by what we hear and learn from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen