Repeat of a God Sign

 Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 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. 

Genesis 9:16 NLT

When you're in the middle of a tough time in life, do you ever have to fight to hold on to God's Truth? Do you ever struggle with holding onto the Truth of God's Word over the facts of what you're facing? Do you ever beg God for a sign? I think we all have at one time or another. Sometimes, life is hard.

What I love about our heavenly Father is that He understands our human frailty. I'm not talking about making excuses for bad behavior or choosing to do things our way instead of His. I'm talking about knowing that sometimes we need a faith boost, something to bolster our belief. Here's something that speaks to me.

According to the Answers in Genesis website, they've determined that the Flood took place about 2348 BC. I didn't know Noah or any of the next umpteen generations after that. I may be considered old, but I'm not that old. In fact, I only know three generations back and none of them knew Noah, either. At least not personally. 

But in our Promise for Today, God said to Noah, I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. And for over 4,000 years that rainbow has appeared in the clouds of every storm where the sun has come shining through, both physically and spiritually! God did not forget, nor will He ever forget what He has promised. 

Every time you see a rainbow, you can KNOW that God's promises are everlasting. He hasn't forgotten.

Prayer;

Father,

    You are so good to us! The depth and breadth of Your love are beyond our comprehension! Keep us ever mindful that we don't have to know everything; we only have to know You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 24th
Genesis 48:1-49:33
Matthew 15:29-16:12
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 4:20-27

Who Are We?

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 NLT

Do your heart and mind always agree? Is what you say in public always what you're thinking? Chances are, not always. And unless we are actively seeking God to change our hearts and minds to align with His way and His Word, then we are only fooling ourselves... and maybe a few others. 

Proverbs tells us that as a man thinks in his heart, so he is. When someone speaks the "right thing" aloud, but their heart is filled with unforgiveness, judgment, mocking, or hatred, who are they really? Remember, God looks at the heart to see who we are (1 Samuel 16:7).

Prayer:

Father,

           Shine Your light of Truth on our hearts. Help us to see any dissension between our hearts and words and Your Word. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 23rd
Genesis 46:1-47:31
Matthew 15:1-28,
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 4:14-19

Looking for Treasure

"But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives."
Genesis 45:5 NLT

Joseph did not come to this conclusion on his own. He was only 17 when his brothers threw him in the pit, then changed their minds and sold him into slavery. Seventeen. The favorite son, everything he wanted was given to him and then some, from the sounds of it. He had no need to go looking for gold.

The next 13 years were a different part of his story. And while he had every opportunity to be mad, sad, scared, and angry, he doesn't appear to be any of those. Genesis 39 tells us that God was with Joseph all during his time of slavery and imprisonment. Somewhere in those 13 years, he began to press in closer to the God of his father. He was treasure-hunting for the only thing he knew to be worth it all.

Proverbs 3:14-15 reads, For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Prayer:

Father,
            Give us the wisdom we need to recognize Your hand in all things. No matter the sacrifice. No matter the troublesome times. Remind us to give You praise from the onset of trials and tribulations. Enable us to look for the buried treasure. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 22nd
Genesis 44:1-45:28
Matthew 14:13-36
Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 4:11-13

Responsible Conduct

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
Galatians 6:4-5 NLT

The Apostle Paul repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone. There are no works - seen or unseen - that will earn us a place in Heaven. However, Paul is also clear that certain responsibilities are pertinent to living a Christian life. Here are some he has defined for us.

1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.  Galatians 6:1-10 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your Word to teach us how to live before You in Spirit and in Truth. Teach us Your decrees, Father. Help us to hide Your Word in our hearts so that we don't sin against You. Help us to never forget Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 21st
Genesis 42:18-43:34
Matthew 13:47-14:12
Psalm 18:16-36
Proverbs 4:7-10

Global Valentine Project = Wanna Be Our Valentine?

To my International friends and family - Wanna send a Valentine for an elementary school class project? Aubree is my niece's niece. Please send to: Crystal Run Elementary - Attn: Mrs. Mingoia, 1470 Aviator Way, Middletown, DE 19709 USA Feel free to share with your friends and family...

Appropriate Dress

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for 
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:5-7 NLT

What does it mean to dress yourself in humility? Obviously, to not be a pretentious know-it-all. To not be arrogant. It is God who gives us knowledge and understanding when we follow Him. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom. So we have no reason to be prideful in what we know. By the same token, to dress in humility does not mean to dumb it down, either.  We are to have the mind of Christ - selfless, Servant Leader, obedient heart and mind, and humble. 

Humbling ourselves under God's hand means trusting Him in all things. Worry and care occur when we try to figure out how WE are going to fix things. The world may see being humble as a negative act of self-denial, but the Truth is it's a positive choice to be resolutely dependent on God for help in all things. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You that every good and perfect gift comes directly from You and is the plan for our lives. Thank You for taking what the enemy means for bad and making it work for our good. Help us to remember that ALL things work together for our good when we trust You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 19th
Genesis 39:1-41:16
Matthew 12:46-13:23
Psalm 17:1-15
Proverbs 3:33-35

For the Neighbors

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.
Proverbs 3:27 NLT

God blesses us, and in fulfilling His Word that we are to be like Him, we should bless others. This Scripture is the same principle as in the Ten Commandments to love our neighbor. In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus clearly defines who is our neighbor in the parable of the Good Samaritan. 

I don't believe this is limited to our financial resources and blessings. I believe it includes our time, compassion, understanding, love...  If we have it, we should freely and lovingly give it. Just as God has done for us. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Please give us Your eyes to see the needs of others. Please give us Your heart so that we are quick to respond to those needs. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 18th
Genesis 37:1-38:30
Matthew 12:22-45
Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 3:27-32

The Question Is...

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
Psalm 15:1 NLT

And the answer is:

Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. 

Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. 

Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. 

Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.

Such people will stand firm forever. Psalm 15:2-5

Prayer:

Father, 

           We want to be the people who will stand firm forever! Keep us ever mindful of what it takes to be in Your presence. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year

Reading for January 17th
Genesis 35:1 - 36:43
Matthew 12:1-21 
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 3:21-26

They Say

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Matthew 11:18-19 NIV

Election years. The slanted spin that is spewed out; the pundits' rhetoric that gets passed as truth. I detest the lies and mudslinging and the mangling of made-up fact and fiction that occur during it all. Who can you trust? Only God, His Son, and His Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Truth. John 16:13 tells us He will guide us into all truth.

Non-believers will say anything even - or should I say especially when they don't know the whole truth. They just say the part that makes them feel good about themselves or curries public favor for their opinion. All that to say, they will lie about you, too. After all, they lied about John. They lied about Paul. They lied about Jesus, too. I'd say you're in good company there. 

Dear One, don't worry about what they say. You are who God says you are. Get into His Word so you'll know the Truth. Learn His Scriptures. Find out what THEY say. 

Prayer:

Father,

            Thank You for Your Words of Truth. Thank You that Your Words give us a firm foundation on which to stand, Truth that equips us and empowers us to withstand the enemy's lies no matter who is spouting them. Holy Spirit, bring to our remembrance every Word, every precept, every line we have heard and learned of You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year

Reading for January 16th
Genesis 32:13 - 34:31
Matthew 11:7-30
Psalm 14:1-7
Proverbs 3:10-20

You Decide

And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Matthew 11:2-6 NKJV

John knew Jesus was the Messiah. Scripture tells us The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” (Matthew 3:3). He knew. But how many of us would have also wanted reassurance if we had spent our life in ministry for the Christ and wound up wasting away in prison?

I don't see this as a rebuke to John like some say. I'm more inclined to believe John may have had doubts about himself and might have needed the validation of his life spent in ministry for the right One. Whatever the reason, Jesus knew John knew. That's why He laid out the Truth for him. “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them." 

Now, based on what you know about Jesus, you decide. 

Prayer:

Father,
          There is no question. Jesus is the Messiah, the only pure and holy Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords, our Savior and our God. And we are so grateful! Let us never forget. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 15th
Genesis 31:17-32:12 

Matthew 10:24-11:6

Psalm 13:1-6

Proverbs 3:16-18

Pretty Good

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Proverbs 3:13-15 NIV

When you plan to make an investment, do you go with a sure thing or something you hope is good? Financial experts will tell you there's no such thing as a "sure thing", so you try for something that seems pretty good. Gold, for instance, and then hope the bottom doesn't fall out of the market.

This Word tells us that wisdom and understanding are more profitable than gold, silver and jewels. We can easily understand how to begin to invest in gold, silver and jewels, but how do we invest for wisdom? Our Promise for Today declares that wisdom yields better returns than gold. Where do we start?

Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” What does it mean to fear the Lord? It means to have the utmost reverence for Him. To acknowledge His Lordship. To trust Him and be totally submitted to Him and His authority. THAT's the beginning of wisdom. Stay in God's Word, trusting with an undivided heart and we will get the best return for it. If you're reading through the Bible in a year, we just read Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do,[emphasis mine] and he will show you which path to take. Wisdom. Understanding.

The world's experts have their own ideas of how to gain wisdom and they seem pretty good. However, you cannot trust what doesn't have a firm foundation. Pretty good is not pretty. Neither is it good.

Prayer:

Father,

          We choose You. We choose Your Way. You promise that if we ask for wisdom, You will freely give it to us. We want it, Lord. We need it. We trust You to show us Your Way and how to walk in it. Help us, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 14th

Genesis 30:1-31:16
Matthew 10:1-23
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 3:13-15

Discipline is Not a Bad Word

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:11-12 NLT

God disciplines because He IS love and wants the very best for us. His desire is for us to fulfill our God-given purpose. Discipline is necessary. Proverbs 13:24 tells us, Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.  God's plan is that parents discipline with love, but sadly, not everyone's parents are/were like that. 

My sister and I talked about it a little bit today - the discipline we received as children would be a chargeable offense today. My siblings and I choose to make humor a way of dealing with hurt. My way to define it is simply to say, "I'm not fat. I'm permanently swollen from being beaten as a child." Through God's forgiveness, I can laugh about it now. I can't change what happened. I can only change how I feel about it. Choosing forgiveness allows us to laugh about it, releases hurt and bitterness, and allows us to get on with this beautiful gift known as life. 

The Truth is that discipline is not fun either way. Hebrews 12:11 NLT tells us, No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Selah...

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for loving us and caring enough about our lives to discipline us, as needed. We are thankful for Your love to keep guiding us in the right way to grow and live. We want to be God-pleasers, doing Your will from our hearts, in service to You. Help us, Father, to fulfill Your will and purpose for our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 13th
Genesis 28:1-29:35

Matthew 9:18-38

Psalm 11:1-7

Proverbs 3:11-12

New, More or Less

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Can you imagine taking a pure and holy Jesus and giving Him a sin-stenched place to live? Yes, we first come to Him reeking of sin but when He comes in, He makes us a new creation. Clean, pure and holy before the Lord. We cannot "put on" Christ and continue to live as we always have. He makes us new. 

If you feel the need to validate the reality of your salvation, check yourself. Has there been change in your life? Are you perhaps more compassionate? More merciful? More generous? More loving? More willing to recognize and acknowledge the blessings in your life are from God? Less anger? Less strife? Less arrogance? Less negative emotions of life are also blessings. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for making us new creations in Christ Jesus. Thank You for the more and less in our lives because of You living in us. Birth in us a new desire for more of Your Word and for more understanding of it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 12th

Genesis 26:17-27:46 

Matthew 9:1-17 

Psalm 10:16-18

Proverbs 3:9-10

Getting Wisdom

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
Proverbs 3:7-8 NLT

UnfoldingFaith.org writes:

God desires and commands us to live in wisdom—”Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.” (Ephesians 5:15).

In Proverbs 23:23 we are told to “get wisdom,” and the Proverbs themselves are one of the best places to observe and learn that wisdom. God gave us this book to teach us how to walk in wisdom—that is, how to conduct and regulate our lives. It helps us conform our lives to God’s character and standards.

The Proverbs, like all Scripture, are from God. They show us something of the compassion of God-that he cares enough about us to give us such careful instructions for obtaining and practicing wisdom. He does not want us to live foolishly.

Throughout this book, God reveals general truths about how we are to conduct ourselves in areas of life like relationships, finances, work, and how we speak to others. These truths are condensed into small units through figures of speech, brief comparisons, mottos, and short parables*.

*What is a parable? Parables are simple stories used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus.

Proverbs performs all the functions of Scripture mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:16—”It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” In Proverbs, God teaches us principles that will bring us peace and contentment, chides us for the things we have done in sin, shows us how to correct our way of life, and trains us to live righteously.

This book was given also to strengthen our trust in God. “So that your trust may be in the Lord,” we read in Proverbs 22:19, “I am teaching you today—yes, you—so you will trust in the Lord.”

Solomon, the author of most of the Proverbs, comments on their purpose in the book’s first six verses, and in verse seven tells us the underlying foundation for wisdom: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge.”

Such passages in Proverbs 8:12–14, and Proverbs 9:10 show how wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are bound together, and how all are based on the fear of God. The wisdom taught in Proverbs is godly wisdom, which has three basic characteristics: the fear of the Lord, spirituality, and skill.

Fearing the Lord means having a deep reverence and respect for God and his Word, a respect and reverence that result in obedience. Such an attitude is found in those who are humble—”With humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2)—and it cannot be found by a “mocker” or bought by a fool: “A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it” (Proverbs 14:6).

Godly wisdom is also spiritual. It enters into our hearts from God. The Holy Spirit who rested on Christ was “the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2). Paul prayed over the Christians in Colossae (Colossians), that they would know God’s will, and it would “give you spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9).

Wisdom is also skill—the ability to apply and use knowledge effectively. Wisdom is “working knowledge.” It is made evident by what it accomplishes, for Jesus said, “wisdom is shown to be right by its results” (Matthew 11:19), and “wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it” (Luke 7:35). Wisdom can waste away or spoil if it is not used. In Jeremiah 49:7, God questioned the people of Edom about the “decay” of wisdom there, and in Ezekiel 28:17 He spoke against the city of Tyre because she had “corrupted” her wisdom.

What about us? Have we somehow allowed our God-given skills and wisdom to decay? Through failure to spend time with God and lack of discipline, we could lose our skills, and find our hearts becoming cold to God and our reverence corrupted.

Wisdom is not a “natural” quality, but comes only from God. “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). Job said, “the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Job 12:13). Our wisdom is rooted in Jesus Christ, “For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself.” (1 Corinthians 1:30), and “In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3).

Since wisdom comes from God, it is something we can ask him for—”If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you” (James 1:5). The Proverbs are an eternal testimony to this. King Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom, and God gave him “very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore.” (1 Kings 4:29). As a result “People from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him.”(1 Kings 10:24).

Today, who is seeking from you the wisdom you have asked for and received from God?

********************

Prayer:

Father,

          You said if we ask for wisdom You would give as much as we ask for without chiding us for asking. Well, we're asking, Father, We need Your wisdom not only for our lives but for all the lives You have so lovingly placed within our sphere of influence. There is nothing we can give that will so profoundly touch and change lives as Your Words of wisdom. Let us have the mind of Christ to know Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen


Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 11th
Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8

The Right Path

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

How many times have you found yourself facing a really tough situation while being unable to figure out what to do? You wracked your brain for solutions to no avail. How long before you realized you should have sought God first? 

It's His wisdom we pursue. His understanding we seek. His direction we require to righteously follow in His footsteps. 

Prayer:

Father,

            With everything that we are, we choose to trust You and to not walk in self-sufficiency. With every step, every breath, every beat of our heart, we recognize and acknowledge that it's by Your mercy and grace that we have life and it more abundantly. Direct our paths, Father, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen


Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 10th
Genesis 23:1-24:51, 

Matthew 8:1-17, 

Psalm 9:13-20, 

Proverbs 3:1-6

In Search of Security

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.
Psalm 9: 9-10 NLT

Humans require 5 basic needs to survive: air, water, food, shelter, and sleep/rest.  In the Hebrew language, according to the Encyclopedia of the Bible, the idea of security permeates all uses of refuge in the Bible. Security as a shelter from outside elements or from danger. A shelter for the righteous. A refuge to run to. The secret place of the most high (where we find rest). 

In our Promise for Today, it means tower as in an inaccessible height. Inaccessible to the enemy. A safe harbor. Isaiah 33:15-16 NLT reads, Those who are honest and fair, who refuse to profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong - In other words, those who live righteously before the Lord - these are the ones who will dwell on high. The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress. Food will be supplied to them, and they will have water in abundance.

You probably recognize Matthew 7:7 NLT, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  If we seek Him, search Him out, we will find Him, and He will open the door and let us in.

In Jeremiah 29:13, God promised to those captive in Babylon, You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. It's not a question of whether or not we need Him, we do. But will we do what is required of us to actually find Him? 

Prayer:

Father,

            Thank You for supplying all our needs - beginning with our most basic needs. You are the Ruach - Breath of Heaven, the Water of Life. You invited us to eat of Your body broken for us. Your Name is our strong tower - the righteous run into it and we are safe. You have provided our Haven of Rest and You give sleep to Your beloved. How marvelous it is to be loved by You! Help us to recognize and always be grateful for ALL You have done, are doing and will do for us through Christ our Saviour. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year

Reading for January 9th  

Genesis 20:1 - 22:24

Matthew 7:15-29

Psalm 9:1-12

Proverbs 2:16-22

The Essence

Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:12 NLT

According to Oxford Languages, essence is defined as "the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something". The very thing that makes something what it is. So what is it that we're supposed to be doing to others?

Loving each other. 

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Helping each other. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

...be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

So encourage each other and build each other up...

This obviously is not a complete reference for doing unto others. However, I would encourage you to pick one and work on it for a week - see how it changes the essence of your life.

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for sending Your Son to fulfill all the law and prophecies of the Old Testament. Thank You for His excellence. Thank You for placing such an incredible example before us and for writing the manual and leaving it with us to guide our way to You. Help us to walk in the Light of You and live the Truth known as the Golden Rule. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Have You Ever

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 NLT

Have you ever made a mistake?

Have you ever said something you wish you hadn't?

Have you ever been mean on purpose?

Have you ever lied?

Have you ever hurt someone - intentionally or not?

Have you ever taken something that wasn't yours?

Have you ever cheated on a test or your taxes?

Have you ever not given your tithes?

Have you ever withheld something when you could have given it? 

Have you ever sinned?

At some point, we've all done at least one because the Bible tells us in Romans 3 that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Do we want to be forgiven? Yes, without a doubt, we do! 

Can we be forgiven? Well, forgiveness is available to us IF we have forgiven others. Are we holding a grudge? Are we still mad about __________? Our Promise for Today is very forthright - It's Jesus speaking - 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.

Prayer:

Our Father,
                 Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Only Believe

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -
John 1:12 NIV

We've talked about it before. This is shocking to some people, however, it must be made clear. While we are all God's creation, we are NOT all children of God. To be a child of God, we must receive Him and believe in His name, THEN He gives us the right to become His children. 

1 John 5:1-5 ERV (Easy-to-Read Version) confirms this Truth - 1 The people who believe that Jesus is the Messiah are God’s children. Anyone who loves the Father also loves the Father’s children. 2 How do we know that we love God’s children? We know because we love God and we obey his commands. 3 Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard for us, 4 because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. 5 It is our faith that has won the victory against the world. So who wins against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 

Only believe.

Prayer:

Father,

          We believe Your Word. We believe in You. We pray according to Your Word, Because of Your unfailing love, we can enter Your house; we will worship at Your Temple with deepest awe. Lead us in the right path, O Lord, or our enemies will conquer us. Make Your Way plain for us to follow. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What It Takes

[Wisdom speaking]

 “When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”

Proverbs 1:28-33 NLT

Wisdom is often personified in the book of Proverbs. Here she appeals to the wayward and scoffers to walk in the fear and reverence of God; to pay attention to the Word of God for correction of their ways. That's what it takes to put them on the life path surrounded by the Spirit of the Lord and thereby protected from chaos and troubles. 

God's Word does not say there won't be troubles in our lives - quite the opposite. Jesus warned us there would be - but we could be untroubled by fear of harm because He has already overcome the world. It takes discipline. It takes believing His Word. It takes choosing the straight and narrow, the hard path of righteousness over the easy way out. 

The Message reads, Don’t you see what happens...? Carelessness kills; complacency is murder.

Let's not be careless or complacent when it comes to making our life choices.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your Word - the Lamp unto our feet and the Light unto our path - to clearly show us what it takes to walk holy before You. We choose to listen and obey Your loving corrections to make us wise. We know that true peace comes only from You, and we want to live according to Your Word so that we are untroubled by fear of harm. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Wheaties

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Matthew 4:4 NKJV

I love bread - especially when it's freshly baked and crusty on the outside, still warm from the oven. I used to think I could live on that... but you can't. As good as it is, it doesn't contain all the nutrients we need to thrive. And I don't see us winning in hand-to-hand combat by whacking someone with a loaf of bread.

Jesus was fasting in the wilderness when this confrontation with satan occurred. He was hungry but He understood that only one thing gives life everlasting - God's Word. He was in the battle for ALL of our lives and what weapon did He choose to use and WIN? It is written...  the written Word of God! Ephesians calls it our sword - in the armor of God, the Word is our only weapon used for offense. Jesus did not turn stones into bread, He was more hungry to do God's will. What are we more hungry for?

Isn't it marvelous that Jesus Christ is both the Word of God and the Bread of Life (John 6)? 

The very Truth that Christ fought His battle with "It is written..." should tell us that to win, we must do the same. We must fight using the same weapon, and keep up our strength and live by the Bread of Life. Are we as diligent to devour the Word as we are our Wheaties?

Prayer:

Father,

         You are our Source for life - abundant and everlasting! Only You can teach us to war and win against the enemy of our souls. Help us, Father! Give us understanding as we take in Your Word. Birth in us anew a fire to feast on Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Counsel

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2 NKJV

As Christians, we frequently have things that are in need of repair and we'd like to have a guarantee that they'll be repaired properly and continue to function - especially things like hearts and relationships or body parts. Realistically, who do you want to go to when something like that happens? Someone who acts like he knows what he's doing? Or one who actually knows - has proven experience backed up in writing (the Word of God)?

Sometimes you get references like, You know, he's a good guy - has a great sense of humor. 
Yeah, I like to laugh, but does he know the Lord? Does he study the Word of God? 
Oh, I don't know about all that, but he's a good guy. He'll make you laugh and forget about all that other...

Do we want to forget and laugh or take the time to forgive and love? 

Bottom line - We wouldn't go to a podiatrist if we needed a cardiovascular surgeon. So, why would we go to a non-believer for advice about life and love? Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly...

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for wanting the quick fix or the one that most lines up with our comfort zone. Please continue to strategically place Godly people in our lives to keep us on the path You have illuminated with Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Annual First Promise for Today

...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...
Joshua 24:15b NKJV

New Year's Day marks the anniversary of the first Promise for Today that I sent to a handful of friends and family members in 1996. When I first started sending out the Promise, I used other people's devotions from books I had and then later, I purchased more. We went through quite a few over the years. Sometimes, I'd take them directly from a book, but I always let people know what book we were using. And sometimes I would elaborate and add my own comments. Those of you who know me know that written words are my passion... but I started with the works of others. 

Then in 2007, my beloved former pastor, Doc (Dr. Howard O. Jameson) challenged me to step up, to make it personal and write from my heart about how God's Word affects me, rather than from someone else's heart and perspective. It has been the most challenged commitment of my life. 

More of God, less (and less and less) of me in 2024. By God's grace and with His direction, my life will be changed according to the choices I make in obedience to Christ and His Word. As always, it's all about the choices.

The Promise started with the following excerpt from Max Lucado's book, When God Whispers Your Name. Every year, I send it out as the first Promise of the New Year to remind us of our choices.

Max Lucado writes:

It's quiet. It's early. The coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I am free to choose. And so I choose.

I Choose Love ... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy ... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical ... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace ... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience ... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness ... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness ... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness ... Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness ... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself. 

I Choose Self-Control ... I am a spiritual being ... After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Prayer:

Father,
          We choose You. Thank You for the power of Your Word to change our lives and our choices for how we live the life You have given us. In this New Year, please give us the courage to walk in the conviction of Your Word. Father, we ask that You guide us in EACH step of life. I pray Your provision and protection over those You have allowed me to touch with Your Word. Let us be ever mindful of You, Lord, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen