A Favorite Reminder - Not to God

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
1st Corinthians 13:12 NLT

It doesn't take any faith to believe for something you know you can afford. It doesn't require a concerted effort of faith to remove a splinter. However, if you lose your job or get a bad report from the doctor, it's a different story, right? Not to God...

This is a great Truth that we must come to understand. Our faith - or lack thereof - does not make God greater nor diminish Him in any way. Everything WE know now as partial and incomplete is NOT partial and incomplete to God.

In Hebrews, the Word tells us He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We look back on the events in the Bible - think about parting the sea and crossing on dry land or Peter walking on the water - and we find it almost unbelievable! Not to God...

Jesus said in John 14:12 (NLT), I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. Greater works than Jesus did?!? Or even doing the same works?!? Like raising people from the dead?!? Authority over evil spirits and casting them out?!? Doesn't that seem impossible??  Not to God...

Prayer:

Father,
           You have given each of us the measure of faith and we are so grateful. Thank You for the tests and trials that provide the opportunity to exercise and to grow our faith. Forgive us for those times when we haven't walked in faith. We want to please You, Father. Help us to keep Your commandments and to love one another so that we may be pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Receive the Gift

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
Proverbs 14:30 NLT

The Word tells us that Christ came so that we would have life and it more abundantly. What good is life if it's not peaceful? How healthy can we be physically or spiritually if we're in constant turmoil? At the very least, our blood pressure will be high. There'll be all kinds of wear and tear on our physical bodies if we are not abiding in God's gift.

Jesus tells us in John 14:27 NLT, I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Receive the gift of peace. Receive the gift of health.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for the many, many gifts You have bestowed on and in our lives. Thank You most of all for salvation so that we can be made right with You, and secondly, for Your peace that passes ALL understanding. We want to follow in Your footsteps because Your way is life and light. Help us to help others see You for who You are. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Don't Say You Weren't Warned

   "Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

   "Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you'll know he's at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.
   "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.
Matt 24:30-36 The Message

I remember several years ago, they started forecasting a winter storm to hit Texas and issued dire warnings - Wrap your pipes. Cover your plants. Make provision for your livestock!

We found it hard to believe with temperatures in the low to mid-60s for a week leading up to the forecast; sun shining, clear skies, no precipitation... almost balmy. However, all weather station indications were that there would be an arctic blast, possibly mixed with freezing rain and snow showers. People weren't buying it. The odds were against it. It had already snowed twice in the previous two years...for a total of three times in the last 5, when it normally only snows once every 15-20 years in our part of the country. When I got up that particular morning, it was 52 degrees. There was a beautiful sunrise. Definitely no indication or sign of any winter storm... but I hate cold, so I wanted to be prepared. After all, they warned us it was coming.

And right before I left for work, it started to rain. By the time I pulled into the office parking lot, only 15 minutes later, the temperature had already dropped 13 degrees. The wind whipped in from the north with gusts up to 20mph. By lunchtime, it was miserably cold. Thank God, it did not snow... I was surprised by the number of people who weren't prepared - they didn't wear or even bring a coat - because they did not believe the warning, although it was quite clear and had also been reinforced by our company's chief operations officer.

Sad to say, it's going to be like that when Jesus returns to take us home... only with eternally, damning ramifications. Scripture warns us what it will be like prior to His return. Are you ready for it? Have you prepared? What will you wear? Will you be wearing indifference to the warnings given in Scripture or be ready, wrapped in His robe of righteousness? Because He IS coming... Don't say I didn't warn you.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for giving us everything we need in order to survive the climate changes, both physically and spiritually. Cause Your Word to be alive in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

To Achieve

The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;
Proverbs 11:30a NLT

We all want a better life and generally work toward obtaining one for our family and ourselves. How do we go about that? Work harder? Longer? Striving to reach the top? That's what the world expects, isn't it? What are we expected to compromise in order to achieve that? 

It doesn't matter. As Christians, we're to imitate Christ. He never compromised. He came to give us life and it more abundantly, and He never compromised anything to achieve that goal. Everything He did, everywhere He went, He did good deeds - healing, delivering ALL - always for others (Acts 10:38). However, He knew how to rest. He knew to get alone with God for instruction, strength and restoration. Do we?

The seeds of good deeds that we plant in this world become a tree of life for us. Can we achieve that?

Prayer:

Father,

           Open our spiritual eyes to see the landscape around us that needs the seeds of good deeds. Fill our hearts with Christ's compassion to see those who need... and give us wisdom and strength in how to achieve what You have planned for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

You're Gonna Get It

What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Proverbs 10:24 ESV

Do you remember when we were children, if we did something wrong, someone was usually quick to yell, "I'm telling! You're gonna get it!" And "It" was some sort of dreaded correction - a spanking, being grounded, or both. If it happened enough times, did you learn to walk in fear of the what-ifs and what might happen? Proverbs 23:7 tells us that what we think about, and what we dwell on is who we are and determines how we act. 

Are we fearful (which is a sincere lack of faith and trust in God)? It's time to change our perspective and our expectations. We must grasp hold of God's unchanging, unfailing Nature. God is Love. He is Holy, Merciful, Forgiving, an all-consuming God. He said if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts. He's not a man that He should lie. 

What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. Oh, we're gonna get it - but our choices can determine what "it" will be.

Prayer:

Father,

            Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be aligned with each other and with Your Word. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight. For You Lord are my Rock and my Redeemer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Wisdom Calls for a Hearing

Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!

Proverbs 8:1 NLT

On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.

You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.

Nothing you desire can compare with it. Proverbs 8:2-11 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

          Your Word instructs us in an earlier chapter that Wisdom is the principal thing; that we are to therefore get wisdom: and with all our getting to get understanding. Show us how, Father. We want wisdom and according to James, all we have to do is ask and You will give it to us liberally. Please, Father, give us Your wisdom. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Faith Over Fear

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

Almost every day we face situations that compel us to respond in faith or react in fear. Thankfully, Jesus warned us and also made provision for us to be able to walk in faith and experience His peace. In John 16:33 NKJV, He tells us, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. 

"Faith over fear" became very popular during the pandemic, and yet that's been God's message since the beginning. How many "Fear not" Scriptures can you recall? God included so many to build our faith. Romans 10:17, So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 

Listen, this world may be full of fearful and fear-inducing situations, but our hearts don't have to be full of them. It is written, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for the times we try to control everything because of fear, thereby excluding You from the solution. We lay it all down, Father. We never want to exclude You from anything in our lives. We recognize and acknowledge that You are the answer to everything. Help us to see You more clearly, more perfectly in every situation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

I Want to Be...

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Ephesians 5:2 NLT

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Are you there yet? Did you recognize the talents born within you that led you on a predictable path? Or are you worlds apart from what you thought you would be? Think about it for a moment...

While being formed in our mothers' wombs, God put within us every gift and talent we would need to fulfill His plan for our lives. Are we working with Him or fighting against Him? 

Ultimately, we are to strive to be like Christ. To love and to serve. How are we doing?

Prayer:

Father, 

          Keep us ever mindful to follow in Your footsteps - to walk only where You have gone before us - to know that every step we take either puts us one step closer to You or one step further away. In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen

No More Tears

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
Revelation 21:4 NLT

What an indescribably incredible Promise! I write this not because I'm sad or overwhelmed with grief, but rather because my heart is full of hope and joy at the promise of Heaven.

I attended a Retirement Celebration for one of my friends - a former boss. When telling another friend about the joy of seeing those I hadn't seen in years, hugging necks, visiting, she teared up and said, "I believe that's what it's going to be like in Heaven..."  Me, too... and no more tears...

What a day that will be!

U.S. Senate Chaplain, Reverend Peter Marshall once said in reference to Heaven, "Those we love are with the Lord and the Lord has promised to be with us. If they are with Him and He is with us, they can't be far away."

No, not far away, and not too long till we'll all be reunited face to face. And then God will wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Prayer:

Father,

          According to Your Word, we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, You will bring back with Him the believers who have died. Together, we will meet You in the air. In Jesus' Name, we thank and praise You for the hope that springs eternal. Amen

I Can Read

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2nd Peter 1:3-8 NLT

I really don't like to cook. Never have... except for Thanksgiving or holidays. People I have worked with over the years hear me say that and they think I'm kidding. I'm not. I really don't like to cook, but I really do like people and people like to eat. They are worth the effort. So, while I don't have any particular talent for cooking, and I don't always know what to do, I can read and I try to find recipes with ingredients that people like.

Have you ever followed a recipe and missed an ingredient? You had it, but you overlooked it because you didn't read it in detail. Or you've made it so often, that you think you don't need to read the recipe. That's happened to me - I get in a hurry - or get distracted and the next thing I know it comes out wrong. If I've done it ahead of time, I can start over. If not, I end up either buying at the store or they do without.

Over the years, I've learned that the Christian walk can be much the same way. If we take the time to read the recipe for the Christian life (Bible) and follow the directions, it comes out alright and we can offer people the Bread of Life. If we get in a hurry or get distracted, there is NO going to buy it at the store... those precious people whom God has given to us wind up doing without. Can we afford that?

2nd Peter 1:19b-21 NLT, tells us this about the written Word of God...You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. 

So while WE may not know the answer to whatever's going on in our lives or in the lives of those we care about, we CAN read the words of the One who knows all things.

Prayer:

Father, 

             Birth in us a new desire to read Your Word and please give us a fresh anointing to be able to rightly divide and understand it. And the wisdom and courage to properly apply it and share it with others. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Those Anxious Moments

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
Luke 12:25-26 NLT

It seems to be in the human nature to worry. And there are those who worry about everything - big and small. You and I both know people who worry about the stupidest things... But what IS worry? The dictionary defines it as giving way to anxiety or unease; allowing one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. So then, by definition, worry is a sin. Yes, a sin. 

Worry is directly opposed to God's Word. Philippians 4:6 NKJV reads, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God... Worry is NOT trusting that Jesus is always with you, like He said He would be. Read Matthew 28:20b, And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. If Jesus is with us - and we place our trust in Him - is there any cause to worry?

Prayer:

Father,

           Open our eyes of understanding to recognize and know that You are always with us, and as such, there is no need to worry or be anxious. We CHOOSE to trust You in all things, in all situations, with every breath we breathe. Help us, Father, to always choose Your Truth over what we see or hear. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Judge for Yourself

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. 

Luke 6:37-38a NLT

So often, we want to be the judge of what we want and or need from life. We want to make our own decisions about those things that concern us. Well, what DO we want out of life? Peace. To love and be loved. Make a decent living. Have people like us and not be judged by them. Maybe not necessarily in that order.

What do we need out of life? Security, Love, Forgiveness... Also, maybe not necessarily in that order.

Want and need are actually two very different criteria; yet, if we follow God's instruction, we find both. If we don't judge, we won't be judged. (Love) If we forgive, we will be forgiven. (Forgiveness) If we give, we will receive. (Security) It's rather straightforward. It really is as simple as our Promise for Today lays it out for us. Judge for yourself.

Prayer:

Father,
          Open our eyes of understanding and soften our hearts to receive Your Word. Give us wisdom, O God. Help us to know and understand Your will for us. We want to live as You would have us to live, holy and acceptable unto You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Psalm 111 The Good Life

Hallelujah!I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got - Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.

Psalm 111:1 The Message

God’s works are so great, worth a lifetime of study—endless enjoyment! Splendor and beauty mark his craft; His generosity never gives out. His miracles are his memorial - This God of Grace, this God of Love.

He gave food to those who fear him, He remembered to keep his ancient promise. He proved to his people that he could do what he said: Hand them the nations on a platter - a gift!
He manufactures truth and justice; All his products are guaranteed to last - Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.

All that he makes and does is honest and true: He paid the ransom for his people, He ordered his Covenant kept forever. He’s so personal and holy, worthy of our respect. The good life begins in the fear of God - Do that and you’ll know the blessing of God.

His Hallelujah lasts forever! (Psalm 111:2-10 The Message)

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You that everything You make and do is honest and true. Everything You are is more than we can think or imagine and totally pure and holy! We cannot begin to plumb the depths of Your measureless Love and Grace. Keep us ever mindful of it all. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Favorite - In All Your Ways

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

We all like a little recognition now and then for a job well done or for going the extra mile or doing something special. It’s not why we do the things we do, or at least it’s not supposed to be, but have you ever noticed that satan will come in with his little jabs, such as Why do you do that? They’re just taking advantage of you. Or something equally as ugly. Sometimes it’s an errant thought passing through your mind. Sometimes it’s satan trying to imitate God (Numbers 22:28) by using another donkey (two-legged, usually) to talk to you; but it’s all for the same reason – to try to keep us from doing what God has taught us to do…prefer one another in love (Romans 12:10 KJV).

God continues to teach me to acknowledge Him in everything – to recognize His touch in my daily living, both large and small. I’m getting better at it, although I lose sight of it sometimes. It’s all in conditioning myself to look for Him and training my eyes and heart to see. You might think with the world flying at us in breakneck speed from so many different angles, how could we possibly condition ourselves? How do we train our eyes and hearts to see?  It’s quite simple actually. You just have to know what to look for. Don’t roll your eyes…

Think about this. It’s all about the relationship. Think of someone in your life who you really care for. Would you know them anywhere? Do you know their walk? Without seeing them, do you know their voice? If you know someone well enough, you can hear footsteps and know who it is. You can hear a cough and know who’s coughing. 

How about this? Before the world became so infected with being politically correct, luxury cars were quite distinctive. You could spot a Jaguar a mile away. Mercedes, BMWs, Lincolns, Cadillacs. Why, even the lowly Nash Rambler and Corvair couldn’t be confused with anything else, because nothing had their distinctive shape. Or did you ever play 'Slug Bug?' Maybe you called it 'Punch Buggy.' Looking for VW Beetles and smacking whoever was playing with you when you spotted one first and called it? You knew what to look for then, didn’t you? 

James 1 tells us that every good and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights. There is a distinctive mark on those. Some are very easy to see – the raise or promotion at work. The car that does NOT break down. You stay healthy while everyone else is catching something. The IRS actually INCREASES your refund. (Don’t laugh – it happened to me before.)  Some may be a little less obvious. The car DOES break down, but you actually have the money to pay for it to be fixed because of some mandatory overtime or a “surprise” blessing you got in the mail. The tires that are on sale just when you need new tires. The friend of a friend who will come put Freon in your air conditioning unit because they owed your friend a favor and your friend wanted you to receive it. That’s all God’s touch.

Harder ones to immediately recognize might be that accident that did NOT happen when the 2 trucks in front of you almost collided with each other as you were driving 65 mph down the road directly behind them. Or something like losing a job that you love through no fault of your own, but while you’re out of work, you learn how to fully trust God as your source. How about when you’ve given a repeat performance of messing up - yet again­ -  and you don’t even know how God can forgive you, let alone not be mad at you? But the next morning, you get a sweet note from someone who acknowledges the evidence of God’s gift in your life even though they’ve never mentioned it before and you've known them a long time. Can you recognize Him now?  Then give Him the recognition and praise He deserves. Better late than never.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive us for all the times we failed to recognize Your acts of love and care. Give us Your understanding, Lord. We want to acknowledge You in all our ways because we need You to direct our every step. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Are You Looking for Validation?

Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.

Psalm 37:5-6 The Message

Tonight, I can't get away from the word "validation" - I didn't think I'd find it in Scripture, but I actually did in The Message. If you're looking for it, then this is for you. Sometimes it's hard to carry on when you think you've done so much but get very little back in terms of validating your actions or choices. I would lovingly offer that you ask God to change your perspective - go for God's but not man's. 

God's Word has the answer to all our needs. Read what Psalm 37:1-9 has to say in the New Living Translation. You will find God's grace and favor.

Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper - it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

Prayer:

Father,

          We pray as David prayed, When we consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is mankind that You are mindful of us...? And yet, You have crowned us with glory and honor. You have made us to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under our feet. Forgive us for seeking man's approval when You have given all FOR us and TO us. Father, give us clean hands and pure hearts. Help us to be - and stay - focused on and live for only what is pure and holy and Your TRUTH. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Remembering Kevin Kinchen - The One and Only Thing

We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 

(1 John 1:3 MSG)

Tonight, I am sharing a post from Pastor Kevin Kinchen - who was diagnosed with ALS a decade or more ago. He beat more odds of death than anyone I know, but in January of this year, he passed into eternity. This post of his from 8 years ago has a soul-piercing message of encouragement. Take it to heart.

Kevin wrote:
So, you probably already know, I do everything from typing to building websites on my iPad…WITH MY FEET. This morning, my granddaughter Jade, jumped up in my lap to sit with me (aka ‘Pops’). I’m scrolling through a bunch of pictures Margie took of her, pausing when she likes one, all with my feet. After a while, she puts HER FEET out and begins scrolling and pausing perfectly, just like me. She didn’t ask “why” I used my feet or “how” I came up with the idea of using my feet. She didn't even ask me “how” to do it. She just did it.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, it hit me, and even brought me to tears. Jade was sitting in her Grandfather’s lap enjoying the comfort, the security, the peace, and even the view. She was sitting in her Grandfather’s lap as HE showed her what she really looks like, who she is, and how wonderful she is. No complaining, no to-do list, and no agenda; just sitting in the presence of her Grandfather. Spiritually speaking, I would call that, THE SECRET PLACE. And what was the result? She became just like me, her Grandfather, doing what I was doing even though she had never done it before. The ONE AND ONLY THING she did was crawl up into her Grandfather’s lap. I am pretty sure you get what I’m saying.

When is the last time you did the ONE AND ONLY THING of crawling up into your Heavenly Father’s lap? You will love the results as He shows you who you are and as you do what only He can do.

In Him,
Pastor Kevin Kinchen

Prayer:

Father,
It is common knowledge that who or what we hang out with greatly influences how and what we think and do. We want to hang out with You. Give us the courage of Your convictions in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Believe It

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

Romans 8:14-17b NLT

I was chatting with a friend and told her a story about my daughter when she was preschool age. Valerie was a Daddy's Girl to the Nth degree. If I got on to her about something and she didn't like it, she would turn to me and say emphatically, I'm gonna tell my Daddy on you!  In fact, pretty much any time something wasn't going her way, no matter who or what it was, she would spout off with, I'm gonna tell my Daddy!  Despite the fact that she usually wound up in time out or in the corner for mouthing off, I loved that she believed her Daddy would take care of business for her. All children need to believe that.

As I was telling that story, I got a mental picture of her stance and the absolute confidence on her little face that her Daddy would fix it... whatever it was. And then almost immediately, I realized something for the very first time. As many times as I've told that story over the years, I never saw it for the spiritual Truth that it is.

What if we did the same thing now? Do you need something to be fixed? Tell your Father. You don't like what's going on in your life? Tell your Father. Do you need something to change? Tell your Father.  

Do you believe that your Abba Father will take care of business for you? All God's children need to believe that...

Prayer:

Father,

          We know who You are and who we are to You. You have called us by Your Name, we are Yours. According to Your Word in Psalm 100, we will serve You, LORD, with gladness. We will come before Your presence with singing.  We know that You, LORD, are God; It is You who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture. We will enter into Your gates with thanksgiving, And into Your courts with praise. We will be thankful to You, and bless Your Name. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

How Long to Stand

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
Hebrews 12:14-15 NLT

When we run into difficult times, we know to pray. We know to ask others to stand in faith with us. We know that God promised to never leave us or forsake us. The question is - how long do we know it? How long do we believe it?

When troubles and trials come as they will and often do (Jesus said they would), do we have the foundation of God's Word laid well enough to be able to stand against the storms? Friends and prayer partners who will help us to stand? What if it lasts days or weeks? Months? Even years? God forbid! No one wants to think about storms that last that long. 

It is in those times that we must rigorously guard our hearts and minds with the Word of God. We must stand in the gap for and with our brothers and sisters and be mindful that we don't build up resentment toward God. Especially since it's never confined to just ourselves. Resentment and bitterness multiply and affect everyone within our sphere of influence. Hebrews 3:12-13 tells us, 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. 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. 

How long should we know it? The answer is found in verse 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. To the end...

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your Word at all times, but especially for those times that are harder than others. Your Word gives us a firm foundation to stand on when everything around us seems like sinking sand. Help us to stand firm and to have a heart of compassion to help those around us, as well. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 91 God's Faithfulness

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

If It's Not Working...

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV

How many times have you heard or even said, "I've done everything I know to do. All I can do is pray..."? Think about that for a moment. In my mind, that relegates prayer to the status of a spare part, something we've thrown in the boot of the car to only be used as a last-ditch effort. 

We have to ask ourselves the Faith question. Is God first in our lives? Are His Kingdom priorities our priorities? Oh, we may think He is. The standard Christian response to that is, "God IS first in my life." One way to know for sure is when we face a difficult decision and we need guidance. Do we ask our friends first for their input on the situation before we pray about it (before we ask and wait on God for His input)? 

This is what I believe. If we don't do our part - seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness - then God is not bound to do His part - and all these things shall be added to you. It's the same principle that Jesus taught about the conditions of forgiveness in verses 14-15 of this same, very rich chapter, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

If it's not working, we need to check the Book. Did we miss doing our part? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Please forgive us for any time and every time we relegated the honor and privilege of communication with You, our Creator, behind anyone or anything else. How dare we? Change our hearts, Father. Remove the stubbornness and pride in our hearts and minds. Make us holy before You. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

A Reckoning

Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment. For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning.
Isaiah 2:11-12a

Have you ever done something you knew wasn't probably the best thing to do, but you did it anyway...because on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst, it was only a 1?  At first, you have that twinge of conscience, but after a while, nothing really happens, so you think maybe it wasn't that bad...

It's kind of like when to floss your teeth. Well, I brushed good, I don't need to floss...or I didn't really eat anything that got stuck between my teeth...or I used a toothpick... And before you know it, the only time you floss is when you DO have something stuck between your teeth or on the day of your appointment with the dentist. But not flossing can lead to gum disease which can lead to illness, not to mention the loss of teeth. THEN try eating that corn on the cob that made you floss the last time you ate it.

The same thing happens in our Christian walk. We know we should study the Word, but we got home late, we're tired, we'll do it in the morning, or on our lunch break or as soon as we get home... and before you know it, Wednesday night rolls around and you're trying to remember where you put your Bible on Sunday when you came home from church... just like flossing, except the consequences are eternal.

You know, we go along in our lives, doing the same things over and over, until we no longer have that twinge of conscience... and that should be scary to us because there will be a day of reckoning, and it's closer now than it was yesterday.

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive our prideful ways, thinking we know enough to get along without Your daily guidance and intervention. Keep us ever mindful of You and all that You do in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Trouble Ahead?

 But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you’ll ever get. And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games.

Luke 6:24-25 The Message

    There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it. “There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

“Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

Luke 6:24-38 The Message

Prayer:

Father,

        Help us to remember that our task is to be true, not popular. Give us the courage to stand up for what is true and not popular. Remind us that it's not all about us and what we want, when we want it. Cause us to give away our lives as You gave Yours for us. Show us the way, Lord, and help us to walk in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Looking for...

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

John 4:23 NKJV

It used to be that in order to work for the company, you had to know someone who was already an employee in good standing, and that person had to vouch for your character and your ability. Not so much anymore - we do background checks and drug and alcohol screening like most companies, but we've laid aside the prerequisite of sponsorship. Weekly, I get lots of calls and dozens of emails from people who are looking for work. Some are so desperate, it seems as though they are just going down the phone list of every and any company in the area. They don't know anything about what we do - they don't know any of the requirements or prerequisites - and some of them don't care. They don't care what the position is or what it requires. They want to be hired because they just want in. Well, it doesn't work that way in the business world.

It doesn't work that way in Heaven, either, and yet people are trying the same tactics to get in there, too. They tell you they're a good person, they haven't killed anyone, they pay their taxes. They make donations to reputable charities and they want in. They don't know anything about anything, but "How hard can it be?"

Well, actually, there is an element of truth in that question. It's not that hard because Jesus has already made the way for us. But if we think we can come in on our own, we're sadly mistaken. We must have our backgrounds cleared by the Cross, and we must learn what the position requires in order to be able to stay. No lip service, no faking it, no pretending. We can only enter through Christ's sponsorship. And that's not subject to change - no matter if the ACLU likes it or not. It's Christ's way or the highway! There is NO other way in. John 14:6, NKJV, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

And if we avail ourselves of His sponsorship, then we'd better dig into His Book and learn about the Holy Spirit who will bring us into all Truth. And that's the position God wants to be filled. True worshipers - those who will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

That's who the Father is looking for. Will He be able to find You?

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to delve deeper into Your Word and be stronger in Your ways. Send the Light of Your Truth to rightly divide between soul and spirit, as it is written. We're not looking for unemployment handouts. We want to rightly fill the positions You are seeking to fill. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Bacon

And you must love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your mind, and ALL your strength. [emphasis mine]
Mark 12:30 NLT

I heard a good message today about what it means to be all in with God. Have you ever fully thought about what it means to be "all in" with God? Calvin gave a couple good illustrations.

One was how people will get into a pool of cold water. Some will dip their toes first, shudder and draw back. Then they'll step in till their ankles acclimate, then move in up to mid-calf and repeat the acclimation process. A little bit at a time, maybe making it up to the neck but rarely do they make it all the way in. The other will come running from the sideline and dive in head first. All in. Big difference. 

The second was Elisha going all in to follow Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21). As Elisha was plowing his father's field, Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha and walked away. Elisha ran after him and asked permission to kiss his parents goodbye. This was not a temporary call. It was a life-changer. Elisha went back to the oxen, slaughtered them, burned the yoke to roast the meat, and served it to the people. He destroyed his personal livelihood. He was all in. There was no going back.

Think again about what it means in your own life to be ALL in or perhaps what it would take to have that kind of commitment. Do we love the Lord our God with ALL - with everything? 

The story that brought it home for me was one I heard years ago. I'll bottom-line it for you. Think about a breakfast of eggs and bacon. For the chicken, it is a day's work. For the pig, it's his life. He gave it all.

Likewise, Jesus tells us in Luke 14:33... those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Prayer:

Father, 

           Help us to remember the Truth of Your Whole Word. You did not ask us to be only partly committed, but to be ALL in. It comes at a great price - one You paid for in full. Give us strength and wisdom to walk wholly holy. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Eyes Have It

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:2-3

Sometimes, we lose focus. We lose sight of our goals and it can wear us out. Two things we have to ask ourselves. 1 - Are our goals the same as God's goals for us? and 2 - What is our focus?

If our goals line up with the Word of God and we have peace about them (in spite of any opposition we face), then we must do as Christ did - look beyond the here and now to see our joyous reward awaiting us in Heaven. We faithfully carry on, daily fulfilling God's calling and purpose in our lives.

What are we focused on? Are our eyes fixed on the problems and challenges that we face? Have we focused all our concentration and energy on trying to solve the issues? Diverting our attention is one of satan's subtle strategies. Let's NOT get in league with him. We all know that whatever we focus on always becomes more dominant. Let us rather fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... 

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your Word that always teaches and trains us, enabling us to more faithfully follow You. Thank You for the answers to everything we could think to ask You. Help us to lead others to Your Word and Your Way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen