Without Sin

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9 NIV

Who's kidding who? We'd all like to be without sin, but the Truth is we are not. Romans 3:23 tells us, For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard [emphasis mine]. Reading in James yesterday, chapter 2 tells us even if we keep the whole law and only offend in one point, we're guilty of all. 

What hope do we have of making Heaven? Romans 7:25a, Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Only Jesus. Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), but Jesus was and is the sinless, spotless Lamb, the Perfect Sacrifice to free us from the guilt of sin. It's His righteousness that purifies us. Colossians 1:21-22 NLT declares This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. Only Jesus...

Prayer:

Father,

          Are there even words we can utter that could possibly express the magnitude of our gratefulness to You? It is so difficult to grasp the full weight of Your love and grace and mercy toward us. Thank You for Your plan of salvation for all of mankind! Keep us ever mindful of the great price that was paid so we could be brought into right-standing with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Playing Favorites

Playing favorites is always a bad thing; you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.

Proverbs 28:21 The Message

We all have favorite things, right? Coffee, restaurant, snack, favorite pair of jeans... no harm, no foul. But do we have favorite people? Does everyone around us know who they are? 

Playing favorites is never a good thing when it comes to people. Favoritism is always at the expense of others - whether at work or in the home. Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau carried down to the next generation, Joseph and his coat of many colors... All the doors that were opened in that family line to hatred, envy, deceitfulness, and pride. The truth is it's a sin. Yes, sin! 

James discusses it at length in chapter 2, beginning in verse 1 NLT, My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? Verse 9a, the same chapter declares, But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. Romans 2:11 tells us there is no favoritism with God. And we are to be like Him.

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us our sins of looking on the outward appearance of mankind and judging one better than the other, instead of seeing their hearts. Help us to undo any damage that may have been done along the way. Help us to see as You see and to love as You love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Our Source of Hope

You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.
Psalm 119:114 NLT

What do we have within ourselves to offer those who are without hope? Unless we have a store of God's Word hidden in our hearts, we don't have much.

There are many life situations that can steal our hope if we let them. During the holiday season, the number one reason is the loss of loved ones, followed by financial stresses and unrealistic expectations. Chronic pain with no foreseeable hope of relief can also lead to hopelessness... which then leads to depression and loneliness - which in reality is caused by a separation from God which in turn can cause a separation of relationships with those around us. 

And it's not walking away from God entirely, it's walking away from His Word - our source of hope. Billy Graham wrote: "True hope comes by trusting God even when circumstances are difficult. One way to know whether you're trusting God is whether you're obeying His Word. Trust produces obedience, which produces hope, which results in joy and peace; and that is the power of the Holy Spirit." [emphasis mine]

Hope does NOT mean we have everything, (Romans 8:23-24), but that we trust God to provide what we need - that which He promised. And how will we know what He has promised if we don't know His Word? Hope again. God IS faithful.

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for losing sight of Your precious promises. Birth in us a fresh desire to know more of You, more of Your Word. We pray as Paul prayed that You - the Source of our hope - would fill us completely with joy and peace because we trust in You. And that we will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Managing Stress - by request

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1st Peter 5:7 NIV

Recently, I received an email about stress management. It was one I had seen before, but this particular version had been modified from the one I had read previously. It started with an illustration. You may have seen it before, too.

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on...”

I immediately thought of our text for today. Of course, the secular world has all kinds of suggestions on how to make it better, and I thought about doing a comparison of the original suggestions to see how many of them were based on Scripture, but I thought I’d just rather do this.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul...Psalm 23:2-3 KJV

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… Isaiah 53:4a NKJV

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him… Isaiah 53:5c NKJV

The syllabus for our stress management course is called The Bible… Pay close attention to what is written in red.

Prayer:

Father,
          We pray according to Your Word in Psalm 25, Show us the right path, O Lord; point out the road for us to follow. Lead us by Your truth and teach us, for You are the God who saves us. All day long we put our hope in You. Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and unfailing love, which You have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of our youth. Remember us in the light of Your unfailing love, for You are merciful, O Lord. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Make It Clear

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Daniel 3:16-18 NLT

They were captives in Babylon - subject to the king, his edicts, ego, and anger. However, their faith was in only One - God Almighty, the great Jehovah, King of kings and Lord of lords. Their lives were on the line - bow or burn. 

Adhering to the commandments they had been taught all their lives,  the response of their heart, mind, soul, and strength was immediate, "We will never..."  The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’  At the threat of our lives, will we do the same?

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for Your commandments to us that - when obeyed - give and sustain our lives. Help us to always keep our hearts, minds, souls, and strength aligned to serve and worship only You. Let us not be deceived or lured away by what the world offers. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Happy Days

For the Scriptures say, [ref. Psalm 34:12-16]
“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

"The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

1 Peter 3:10-12 NLT

There are many people who don't realize happy days are a matter of choosing self-discipline. It's not a simple matter of kicking back and letting things be, it takes decisive action on our part. Making choices to:

    - not speak evil

    - not tell lies

    - turn away from evil

    - do good

    - search for peace

    - work to maintain it

It's as simple - or as difficult as we choose to make it be.

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for our bad choices. Happy days are what we'd like to have, according to Your Word. Give us Your strength and Your wisdom to be able to walk fully in the fruit of Your Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

So You Know

And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:11-14 NLT

I remember a few years back, several of my co-workers made a point to ask me if I was going to be at work on the following Monday. After about the third one, I finally asked if they knew something I didn't know. It was then they told me about the nutcase who predicted the exact day and time the world would end - and he said it would be over the weekend.

They razzed me pretty good about not knowing what was going on in the news. I told them I didn't bother to get my news from the world. I know about what’s going on in the world today by reading the Book. I let them know that I don’t know exactly when Jesus is coming because even JESUS doesn't know when He’s coming back - but they could best believe it would NOT be on the day or the hour a man predicts – their Saturday night plans were safe…unless of course, God decided to send Jesus on Friday… which begged the question, THEN where would they be?

Our text continues in verse 23 TLB, Jesus speaking…

Then if anyone tells you, ‘The Messiah has arrived at such and such a place, or has appeared here or there,’ don’t believe it. For false Christs shall arise, and false prophets, and will do wonderful miracles so that if it were possible, even God’s chosen ones[a] would be deceived. See, I have warned you.

“So if someone tells you the Messiah has returned and is out in the desert, don’t bother to go and look. Or, that he is hiding at a certain place, don’t believe it! For as the lightning flashes across the sky from east to west, so shall my coming be, when I, the Messiah, return. And wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.

“Immediately after the persecution of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give light, and the stars will seem to fall from the heavens, and the powers overshadowing the earth will be convulsed.

“And then at last the signal of my coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning all around the earth. And the nations of the world will see me arrive in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And I shall send forth my angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they shall gather my chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When her branch is tender and the leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is almost here. Just so, when you see all these things beginning to happen, you can know that my return is near, even at the doors. Then at last this age will come to its close.

“Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words remain forever. But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be—not even the angels. No, nor even God’s Son. 

Only the Father knows.

It’s in the Book. Read it. Believe it. Know what’s going on in the world around you.

Prayer:

Father,

           Guard our hearts and minds to know Your Truth. Let us not be deceived by worldly fears and predictions. Let the light of Your Truth shine brightly as the world grows darker. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Thanksgiving Day - guest writer

Written by Debbie McDaniel of ibelieve.com

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God, it is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise, give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good; his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100:1-5

All across our nation, Thanksgiving is a day that we set aside in order to do one thing.

Be thankful.

And usually what goes along with it, is lots of food, family and friends, laughter and fun, times of giving to others in need, maybe some football, or traditions that you’ve recognized through long years.

And sometimes too, there is also loneliness. And struggle. Or deep loss. Feelings of hurt and painful circumstances that you’re still trying to hurdle over.

Whatever you’re facing this Thanksgiving Day, in the midst of all of it, may we remember again that God gives us the opportunity each and every day, to give worship and thanks to Him. Every morning He gives us breath, which is His invitation to come joyfully into His Presence. He reminds us that He alone is God and we belong to Him. He assures us that His plans in our lives are for good, that His love covers us securely, and His faithfulness extends from generation to generation.

No matter what, He’s given us so many reasons to choose thankfulness and joy this day. Let’s do what the Psalmist of this great chapter says:

- Shout for joy.
- Worship the Lord with gladness.
- Come before Him with joyful songs.
- Know that He is God.
- Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.
- Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
- Recognize His goodness, love, and faithfulness, through all the generations of our family.

Give thanks.

Prayer:

Dear God,

              Thank You for Your goodness and for Your blessings over our lives. Forgive us when we don't thank You enough, for who You are, for all that You do, for all that You've given. We’re so grateful to You for Your amazing love and care, for Your mercy and grace, for always working on our behalf, even behind the scenes when we’re unaware. Thank You that You are always with us and will never leave us, even through loss and the most difficult of times. Thank You for Your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on You afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with Your peace and joy, this Thanksgiving Day and every day. We give You thanks and praise, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Rejoice!

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT

How do we love Christ? 

In every circumstance, choose how we can best bring Him the most honor and glory and do that. 

How do we trust Him?

By believing His every word and obeying. Trust isn't a feeling. To trust Him is a decision - a choice we make (to believe and obey).

What does it mean to rejoice in Christ? 

It means to thank Him and praise Him for the wondrous blessing of our salvation and our secured eternity with Him. When we meditate on that thought alone, our joy can be truly inexpressible. To get to live for God - knowing He ever watches over us - should flood our hearts with pure joy.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your wondrous plan for our salvation since before the foundation of the world. What great love You have for us - incomparable and incomprehensible - too great to fully grasp and understand. Help us, Father, to follow obediently in Your footsteps and to love others as You have loved us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

In Awe of God's Yes

Psalm 128 The Message - A Reward for Faithfulness

All you who fear God, how blessed you are!
How happily you walk on his smooth straight road!
You worked hard and deserve all you’ve got coming.
Enjoy the blessing! Soak in the goodness!

Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes,
your household lush as a vineyard,
The children around your table
as fresh and promising as young olive shoots.
Stand in awe of God’s Yes.
Oh, how he blesses the one who fears God!

Enjoy the good life in Jerusalem every day of your life.
And enjoy your grandchildren.
Peace to Israel!

Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us for the times we forget ALL of Your goodness to us. Keep us ever mindful for we are forever grateful. Give us thankful hearts, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Graffiti

Don’t bad-mouth each other, friends. It’s God’s Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You’re supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it.
James 4:11 The Message

Graffiti is an art form - an illegal one. Some of it is quite extraordinary, but it is still done without permission and defaces public or private property. In other words, it's against the law...  

Sin is like that. Hebrews 11 refers to the temporary pleasure of sin and yet, the full wage of sin is death. Mark 12 tells us to love God and love our neighbor - there are no greater commandments than those two.

James 3:9-10 tells us, With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on. 

It doesn't matter how much Word we have memorized if we're not doers of it, too. Let's love one another. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to remember that what we sow, we also reap. Keep us ever mindful to sow good seed so our harvest is pure. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Works

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

James 2:14-17 NLT

From OpentheBible.org:

The majority of the New Testament is full of language to the tune of Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

But when we get to James 2, we see things like, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,” and, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (vv. 17, 24 respectively).

So which is it? Is faith a gift of grace, alone? Or, do we need good works too? And how in the world do we teach this? The answers to these questions are found in the very important distinction between how faith is demonstrated, and how it is acquired. Salvation and faith are granted to us by the gift of grace. That is how they are acquired. But our faith is demonstrated by works. John 15:8 says, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” Bearing fruit, doing good works that glorify God, are proof of our salvation, not prerequisites for salvation.

In his commentary, Warren Wiersbe offers this helpful clarification on James 2:
"Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration. That kind of faith is dead faith. True saving faith can never be by itself: It always brings life, and life produces good works."

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for taking us from dead faith and dead works to changed hearts and lives that glorify You. Your change in us is what produces the desire to do for others and serve the Body of Christ. Give us Your eyes to see those around us who are in need and how we can best help and serve them. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Listen Much, Obey More

If a person thinks he is religious, but does not keep his tongue from speaking bad things, he is fooling himself. His religion is worth nothing.
James 1:26 NLV (New Life Version)

I was going to expound on this a little, but the Truth is it's very clear. I love this passage in James - it's simple but so rich. Verses 19-27,  My Christian brothers, you know everyone should listen much and speak little. He should be slow to become angry. A man’s anger does not allow him to be right with God. Put out of your life all that is unclean and wrong. Receive with a gentle spirit the Word that was taught. It has the power to save your souls from the punishment of sin.

Obey the Word of God. If you hear only and do not act, you are only fooling yourself. Anyone who hears the Word of God and does not obey is like a man looking at his face in a mirror. After he sees himself and goes away, he forgets what he looks like. But the one who keeps looking into God’s perfect Law and does not forget it will do what it says and be happy as he does it. God’s Word makes men free.

If a person thinks he is religious, but does not keep his tongue from speaking bad things, he is fooling himself. His religion is worth nothing. Religion that is pure and good before God the Father is to help children who have no parents and to care for women whose husbands have died who have troubles. Pure religion is also to keep yourself clean from the sinful things of the world.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for making it very clear about what is pure and good religion in Your eyes. Always, always keep our eyes open to discern the difference between pure religion and religious acts done for the sake of looking "good". Keep our hands clean and our hearts pure before You, Father, so we may stand in Your holy place, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Cleaning House

So don’t turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn’t get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he’s told us this quite plainly—he’ll also rock the heavens: “One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern.” The phrase “one last shaking” means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.

Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!

Hebrews 12:25-29 The Message

It's that time of year - going into the end-of-year holidays - getting the house ready to receive friends and family who are coming home. Getting serious about actively cleaning house. Not just a once-over with a dust rag, we're talking polish and wax! Making it shine. Letting the light shine through. Don't you just love the end result of it?

So does Almighty God, our Father. He's getting ready for us to come home. He's shaking it all out! Anything that can be shaken will fall to the wayside and all that remains will be unshakeable. Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Keep us aligned with Your plan for Your people - that we will be - and will remain steadfast, strong, and immovable. May we follow Your example by doing more than enough in service to You and the Body of Christ. May our roots grow deep in You and Your Truth, firmly establishing our foundation in You. You only are our rock and our salvation: You are our defense; we shall not be moved. You are our salvation. You are the rock of our strength, and our refuge is in You. We will trust in You at all times. Keep us ever mindful, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Training is not Punishment

Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.
Hebrews 11:39-40 The Message

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. 

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,
but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.

God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live?

Hebrews 12:1-9 The Message

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our eyes to see Your Truth. Give us hearts that run to obedience and minds that understand training and discipline are great acts of love and not punishment. Help us, O God, guide and direct us. Lead us in Your ways of understanding. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Portion of Praise

Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.

Psalm 111:1 NLT

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails.

He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

He gives food to those who fear him; he always remembers his covenant. He has shown his great power to his people by giving them the lands of other nations.

All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy. They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.

He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.

What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise him forever!
Psalm 111:1-10 NLT
********************
Prayer:

Father,
           Truly, we give You praise! For everything You've done, for everything You're doing, and for all that we know You have in store for us because of Your promises to us. Cause us to continue to remember Your wonderful works. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

By Example

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.
Hebrews 11:4 NLT

Abel was a righteous man. God approved of Abel's offerings but did not approve of Cain's. So out of anger born of jealousy, Cain murdered Abel... and yet it is Abel's example of faith that still speaks to us.

What does it say? God was very specific about what offerings were acceptable. Abel listened and obeyed. He brought to God what God had required. Cain brought what he wanted, thereby placing himself above God. It's not just our actions that matter to God, it's the attitude of our hearts, as well. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Please forgive us for bad attitudes. Change our hearts, O God! Let all that we say and do be pleasing to You. Let the examples of our faith speak Life, Truth and Light to those coming after us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Busy

Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25 The Message

Church, work, home, school, kids' extra-curricular practices and events - our lives are awhirl with obligations. Sometimes it feels like all we do is run from one thing to another. When was the last time we took the time to review all that we've taken on? 

It can be overwhelming when we take the time to think about all of it. However, we ARE supposed to think about it. We are not supposed to be mindlessly running from one thing to the next. That's how BUSY became an acronym for Being Under Satan's Yoke. Are we?

If you've ever stayed home from church because your week has been so busy... it's time to re-evaluate our lives and properly prioritize.

Prayer:

Father,

            Open our eyes to see the BUSY in our lives. Give us wisdom to properly prioritize life, putting You first in all things. Help us to be creative in encouraging love and helping others by making the time to be with You and with them. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Speak Out

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

Psalm 107:1-2 NLT

What a great psalm of praise is this! Sharing all the diverse life challenges and how God has delivered them out of every one. When we look back over our lives and retell all the times God has seen us through - the times we didn't think we would ever make it - it builds hope in the face of adversity. It lends strength to those suffering under the onslaught of the enemy. 

It reinforces our faith and the faith of those around us with whom we share our lives. 

Yes! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. The Lord HAS redeemed you! Speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies.

Prayer:

Father,

          We will praise You, Lord, for Your great love and for the wonderful things You have done for us. We offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and sing praise about Your glorious and merciful acts. Let us never lose sight or remembrance of Your mercy and faithfulness to us so that we may speak out to encourage others with these Truths. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

For Each His Own

The one who sins is the one who dies. The son shall not be punished for his father’s sins, nor the father for his son’s. The righteous person will be rewarded for his own goodness and the wicked person for his wickedness.
Ezekiel 18:20 Living Bible

In Deuteronomy when the law was given, God said He would visit the iniquity of the fathers unto the third and fourth generations of offspring. What a horrific situation! So when reading this lifeline in Ezekiel, we can breathe freely and CHOOSE to live independently of anyone else's sins and bad choices. It is a promise too good to be ignored!

This passage in Ezekiel 18 (1-32) weaves in and out of generations through righteousness and wickedness and all their options, but we get to CHOOSE. Just as Joshua declared in chapter 24, verse 15, But if you are unwilling to obey the Lord, then decide today whom you will obey. Will it be the gods of your ancestors beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites here in this land? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

But the great news is that it's your choice and you will only be judged for your choices. Make them good and wise.

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for Your Word that You will punish or reward each according to his own actions. We choose to turn from our sins while there is yet time. Give us a new heart and a new Spirit. Save us, O Lord our God! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Love of Counsel

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.
Proverbs 27:9 NLT

I find it interesting that in this proverb, a friend's counsel is compared to perfume and incense, scents used to soothe one's soul. Well, more than one soul, for sure. Do you know that in the US alone the scented candle industry is valued at over 3 billion dollars? Yes, BILLION...

We love freshening our homes and offices with scents that are pleasing to our olfactory senses. We use them for aroma therapy and stress reduction. There is just something so comforting about the combined light and fragrance that invites you to come in, sit down and relax...

In the same way, when you're in need of a true friend's counsel, there is nothing sweeter or more loving. Trusted counsel is comforting in its ability to keep us safe, to help break down the walls of stress we build, to keep our hearts from hardening. That's what love does.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for faithful friends - those You've entrusted to us and us in return to them. Thank You for those with arms that hug us close, hands that reach out in support, and for those whose hearts beat in time with our own to lend strength for those days that need help. Thank You, Father, for these friends You've so lovingly given us as Your heart and hands extended. Bless them, Father, richly and often. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Feeling Hopeless

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
Isaiah 40:28-31a NIV

Life is tough. We put up a good fight, looking to the hills whence comes our help. However, sometimes bad things seem to keep hitting until we want someone to call a penalty for piling on. They seem to pile so high that we lose sight of our help. It's in those times that hopelessness creeps in, stealing our peace, our joy, our very strength... but God!

God has given us so many promises regarding His strength for us, His love, His ever-present help in times of trouble. His purpose for our times of trials and suffering. Paul writes in Romans 5:3-5, We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Let us pray for one another as Paul prayed for us in Romans 15:13, 

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name. Amen

KNOWING AND TRUSTING - Pr. Alan Neel

Hebrews 3: 19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.

God’s plans are always good! But there are times when they may not look or feel good! It’s in those times that we have to trust and believe. 

Unbelief is a natural by-product of our selfish and sinful nature. So, our initial response is rejection! Let’s remember, that only by a relationship with Jesus do we begin to overcome our sinful instincts and trust God in every circumstance. 

NO MATTER WHAT - GOD HAS A PLACE FILLED WITH PEACE, LOVE, AND JOY WAITING FOR US TO INHABIT! KNOWING GOD ENABLES TRUST IN GOD!

Historically Speaking

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
Psalm 105:4 NASB

Psalm 105 is considered to be one of two historical psalms, Psalm 78 being the other. But with every recollection of what God has, there is a call to praise Him for His wondrous works. A reminder of everything He promised, everything He has done, and all that He will do.

Every covenant God has ever made is STILL in effect. Historically speaking, covenants were/are binding contracts for life until both (or all) participants died. To this day, we still have rainbows. Genesis 9:13-16 NLT,  I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth. Every time we see a rainbow and admire its beauty, God is also looking at it and remembering His covenant with us! Think about that! 

Let us rejoice, remember and reiterate this awesome Truth - our GOD IS NOT DEAD. Therefore, we still have and always will have cause to praise Him!

Prayer:

Father,

          We will give thanks to You, Lord, and call upon Your Name. We will make Your deeds known among the people. We will sing to You, sing praises to You; and tell of all Your wonders. We will boast in Your holy name. We will seek You, Lord, and Your strength. We will seek Your face continually for You have remembered Your covenant forever, the Word which You commanded to a thousand generations. Remind us, O Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Slice and Dice

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB

Proverbs 14:12 tells us, There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death. As an example, have you ever gotten into a situation in life where you wish you had made a different choice? That somehow, if you'd had more information, you might have come out of it okay. Or you actually had the information, but decided that way would be painful, and you'd rather take the easier way? 

Our flesh wants to avoid pain, right? A two-edged sword - slicing and dicing - is not our first choice. And the Word of God is sharper than that? Yes, thank God, it is! It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of our hearts! It is able to deliver us from the ways that seem right and lead us to the Way that IS right. It may be painful to submit our will and our ways to the Lord, but He is the only One who can lead us to life eternal. 

Prayer:

Father,

           We don't want to go the way that seems right. We want to follow You. Give us eyes of understanding to rightly divide Your Word and hearts to follow Your leading. Slice away any self-deception and reveal to us Your Truth, so we are able to judge the thoughts and intentions of our hearts according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Still Called Today

Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:12-13 NASB

There are times in life when day after day, it seems like we just can't get away from the ugly side of life. That seems to come in seasons, and lately, it seems to be a long season - one of disaster, disappointment, destruction, and death, no matter where you are. Sometimes it happens subtly - in the day-to-day of life. Other times, it happens overwhelmingly, day after day, with no relief in sight. It's in those times - in the day after day of it that the number one question I hear is, "Where is God in all this?"

Satan would like nothing better than to convince you that God isn't there for you, that He wasn't there for you, that He won't be there for you. How do we deal with that?

If we try to fight those lies on our own, more than likely, we'll end up in some deception. The Truth is that bad things are going to happen in life. Jesus warned us that they would. John 16:33, NASB These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”  So, we need to come together and encourage each other day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” Because the Word of God also promises that He will take what satan meant for bad and turn it around for our good. 

Dear Ones, there IS good. Look for it. Remember, we find what we are looking for - good or bad. Let's shine the light of Truth, share the Light of His Truth, help each other, and encourage one another, while it's still called today.

Prayer:

Father,
           Keep us ever mindful of the Light of the World. Help us to properly hold the Light so others may see You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen