Reminder - To Reflect

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV

Recently, a friend sent me some terrific pictures via email. One photo was an incredibly majestic landscape that was perfectly reflected in the body of water in the foreground. Mountains with snow caps and grand pines, the brilliant blues of the sky and the matching hues in the lake. It was idyllic and serene, and so identical were the reality and the reflection, that it looked as though you could turn the picture upside down and see the same image. Had there been no water, the real thing would still be magnificent, but there would have been no reflection.

When the sunlight shines on them, the mountains can cast shadow, but without water, there is no reflection. I can see signs of light but the sparkle of light is only reflected through the water. Our lives as Christians are supposed to reflect Christ, but how can we do so if we are dry? How can Christ present us to Himself as a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, unless we are reflecting His perfection? Jesus is the living Water - He sanctifies us and cleanses us with the washing of water by the Word so we may reflect His glory!

Just like we shower or bathe daily to be clean, we must daily be washed by the Word of God, not just on Sunday. The winds of adversity blow and dry up the water. If there is no water, there is no reflection. What will He see when He shines His light on us? Let's reflect on that.

Prayer:

Father,
           Birth in us a great desire to know Your Word. Grant us wisdom and understanding to rightly divide its Truth. Shine Your light on us, O God, and cut away what does not reflect You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Full-time Ministry

Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
1st Samuel 12:24 NKJV

I have a great respect for the offices of pastors and elders and apostles and teachers and missionaries and those whose job it is to "run the church." I know the dedication it takes. The sacrifices. The around-the-clock hours. The isolation and sometimes extreme loneliness. You don't get that kind of anointing to fulfill that kind of ministry without a high level of commitment. I honor their ministry and their lives, but this is not written to them.

Wow...full-time ministry. Oh, how some long to be in full-time ministry!

How would you define ministry? The dictionary says it is the profession and services of a minister. What is a minister? Well, the dictionary does list 'member of the clergy' as one definition. Another is 'somebody's agent or representative'. Still another definition is a 'government diplomat ranked under ambassador'. What does it mean to minister? First definition is to 'help somebody. Give help to somebody in need.' Wait a minute... Aren't we to represent Christ? Aren't we supposed to help others? Doesn't 2nd Corinthians 5:20 say we are ambassadors for Christ? Then we actually are ministers to the lost and dying world around us!

Every Scripture instructs us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, to serve Him in truth with all our heart, to do anything - and everything - for Him with ALL that we have, with ALL that we are, with ALL that we possess. Not one of those Scriptures says the instruction to serve is only to pastors, or only elders, or only apostles, and teachers. No, no, no! Or to deacons and missionaries only.

That's not what it says. Absolutely not - it is directed to ALL of us. Are we alive all the time? Are we breathing all the time? Are we a Christian (all the time)? Then we are in full-time ministry. How are we doing so far?

Prayer:

Father,
            Open our eyes to see Your Word. Open our hearts to the living, breathing part of Your Word. Help us to see we are to be Your hand extended, spreading the Truth of You in word and deed. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Reminder - Larry Gatlin and Me

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

Psalm 66:16-20 NLT

I've spent the last few hours going through cards, letters, old bills, old newspaper articles... a sales ad! Really?!? Most of it, I can recycle or shred, but right in the middle of it, some old family pictures. I don't know how they got mixed in with all that. Stuffing the stuff...

In the course of it, I happened upon some great and some not-so-great memories, but in my heart, I "visited" some of the milestones and landmarks of my life. God is so good! I am grateful to be able to remember, and I am grateful that I have the advantage of age to look back with an attitude of gratitude for all God has brought me through! At times like this, I always go back to what turned my life around and brought me to God, and I just felt like tonight, I wanted to share it again.

For me, it was this song. Help Me. Larry Gatlin wrote it and recorded it with Kris Kristofferson in 1972. I bought the record then, but didn't listen to it until sometime around 1980. A brief history of me at that time - paycheck on Friday, go to the bank, go to the liquor store, be drunk all weekend, sober up enough on Sunday to go to work on Monday. Be sick till Wednesday. Be good on Thursday, and start all over again on Friday. Broken. I was so broken...

This is my testimony - the shortened version. I'd been raised in church by a mother who tried, but I decided at 16 that I could never be good enough (I didn't know about God's amazing grace), so I walked away. By the time I listened to the entire song of Help Me, (ten years later), I was desperate. I knew I needed to get back to God, but couldn't find my way. I'd forgotten how to pray. I couldn't bring myself to even try to talk to God after all I'd done in a decade of debauchery. That's when I found the 45rpm record in my collection for the final time and actually listened to it all the way through for the FIRST time. God used my favorite singer to throw me a lifeline.

I am convinced that God gave that song to Larry Gatlin for me. It was the prayer of my life - for my life, of exactly where I was, and exactly what I needed.

If this resonates with you, let me tell you this. You're never too far gone. You've never done more than God will forgive. Jesus has already willingly paid the price for your soul. His grace truly IS amazing. God loves you and He will use everything at His command to get to you. Let Him know when you realize you need His help.

Prayer:

Father,
         I pray for the one reading this right now who needs to know Your saving grace. Please reveal Yourself in a very personal way so they know it's You. Save souls, heal their mind, body and spirit, and set them free from those things that tie them in knots, Father. Put people or things in their way that will point them to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Who's Passing Who?

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.
Mark 6:47-51a NIV

I know I've read this passage many times, but tonight, it finally sunk in that Jesus intended to pass by them. The Message reads, "He intended to go right by them." 

Why would He do that? He saw them fighting the wind that was against them. He saw them straining at the oars. These were seasoned fishermen who knew their way around a boat, plus they were His followers and they were struggling. Why wouldn't He just run to them and save them? But notice, it wasn't until they cried out in fear that He acknowledged them and turned to them.

How often do we do that? We're going about life, doing what we know to do. And there are those times when life gets really hard, and we just keep trying to do life in our own strength... All the while wondering why God doesn't do something. Can't He see what we're up against? Doesn't He see us struggling and straining? Is He really going to ignore our plight?

Let me ask the tough questions - Have we called on Him or are we still trying to do everything in our own strength? Have we acknowledged and confessed our need for Him or are we too busy indicting Him? Are we passing HIM by?

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for thinking that we can do anything apart from You. Thank You for loving us enough to correct us and to turn our hearts. Thank You for Your protection and provision. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Guaranteed Life

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8 NLT

It seems we spend most of our lives trying to prove who we are or who we want people to believe we are. And yet, Paul told the Corinthians, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 

We all want to be a new creation. We all want to have a new life, but we don't always want to do what it takes to have that. As Christians, we are supposed to die to self.  When it comes to the reality of that, we don't like the sound of it or even the thought of it. However, to have new, there must be an end to the old. And we're so worried about that! We don't want to "lose ourselves."  And we sure don't want to die. One of my favorite Alan Neel quotes is, "The only way to have resurrection life is to actually die [to self]."  

The writer of Hebrews says it best, Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT

There's nothing to fear. We're talking resurrection... a guaranteed life in Christ.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for the Truth of Your Word - the comfort and peace in Your promises. It is good to know there is something solid to stand on - something that does not change or waiver. There's no chance of losing our balance when we're standing on Your Word. Help us to understand it better - to rightly divide between soul and spirit so that we truly understand what it means when we read ...in Him we live and move and have our being... In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Which Is It?

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT

"I've left it in the Lord's hands." How many times have we heard that? How many times have we said it ourselves?

In the course of conversation, I found myself questioning - Are we believing God or blaming Him? Is it a declaration or a denial? Faith or failure? When we say we've left it in His hands - are we declaring our confidence in God to see it through to fruition, or is it a cop-out because we don't want the responsibility?

Actions speak louder than words. When it comes down to a choice between God's will or our own way, do we continue to do God's will - to trust Him despite what we feel, what people say - or do we quit? Which is it?

Prayer:

Father:

            According to Your Word, we choose to walk by faith and not by sight. We have not yet achieved it, but we focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, we press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which You, through Christ Jesus, are calling us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Reminder - Pair Up

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

It never ceases to amaze me how God deals with each of His children uniquely and yet, corporately, speaking strongly to our spirits. 

I am amazed at the things God confirms in us. Through giving thanks and acknowledging Him in all areas of our lives, it is as though God strips the blinders from our eyes regarding the wiles of the enemy, to keep us divided. Scripture tells us in Matthew 18:19-20, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Two can accomplish much more than one because we were never called to walk alone.

We have to be about our Father's business. Keep in mind, that we will get much more accomplished when we think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

I heard a story on the radio about horses. They did a study regarding how much weight horses can pull on a load. After hooking up the first horse, it was determined that one horse could pull 250 lbs. Figuring that a pair of horses could pull twice as much, they were shocked to discover that a pair working together could actually pull 1,250 lbs.! Jesus said, "Come my yoke is easy..." Let's pair up with Him!

Prayer:

Father,
Your Word tells us to be of one mind and one heart and one spirit. We want to yoke up with You so we can accomplish great things for You and in Your Name. Help us to fulfill our purpose in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Fresh Bread

Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 6:11

There used to be a grocery chain around here called Albertson's. Now personally, I detest grocery shopping, but I liked going to Albertson's. When you walked in the door, you could smell the fresh bread. They baked twice a day. Once in the morning, so you could smell it if you stopped in on your way to work, and once in the evening, so you could smell it if you stopped in on your way home. Baked it right there. They would serve it up hot and have it by the checkouts in an open-ended bag to let you get the full effect of that delightful come-and-get-it-smell of just-baked bread. Mmmmmm - you can almost smell it now, can't you?

When I grabbed a loaf of that bread on the way home, my family would sing my praises like I'd just baked it myself. Although, as wonderful as that bread was that night, by the next morning, it was hard. It wasn't the same. Didn't have the same flavor either. It was still bread. It still had all the same ingredients. It still had all the same nutrients, but it wasn't fresh. It could not evoke the same delight as it did fresh from the oven. However, I know I bought hundreds of loaves of that bread and my family was delighted every time...

So, let me ask you something. Do you think I would have bought stale bread on purpose? Do you think my family would have been thrilled if I'd served them stale bread? No, of course not, and neither would you. Would you serve it to your friends and/or those you work with? How long would you eat stale bread? Maybe one day, two at the most, if you have nothing else. But eventually, you throw it out.

The Word of God is our bread from heaven. And yet, we think if we've read the Bible before or memorized verses, that will suffice, that somehow we don't need to do it every day. I'll just tell you. I don't want to survive on stale bread. And I don't want to serve stale bread to those I care about. I want it fresh, the aroma of heaven in my nostrils because I have been to the Throne Room, served up hot because of the fire that forged it in my spirit. Same bread - different day. Served up fresh. How delightful.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for Your Word that is fresh every day. Thank You for its life-giving power. Thank You for making it available to us - right there, ready for us. Help us to be holy and diligent, workers who do not need to be ashamed, Your people rightly dividing the Word of Truth and serving it up fresh. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Clean Heart

Today's Promise is from guest author, Stephanie Mitchell.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If you’ve ever messed up, you’re in good company. Paul, the author behind much of the New Testament, writes in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Paul wasn't always a man who followed God's own heart, either—in fact, early in his life, he killed people who followed Jesus.

God did not abandon Paul. He did not exclude David. And He will not forsake you, either! God does not leave us to ourselves or our pasts, nor does He give us what we fully deserve. Instead, He put on skin and took our place. Jesus became the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for our sin—once and for all. He loves us, despite what we may have done!

If you’re longing for a second chance or craving a relationship with the one true God, but aren’t sure where to start, try borrowing some of David’s words. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

When we seek God, we realize that He’s already been seeking us.

God is faithful. He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He’ll do. He is your merciful Savior, He forgives your sins, and He not only makes your heart clean, but He also makes you a brand new creation.

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

Prayer:

Father, 

          We pray as David prayed. Search us, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts. Point out anything in us that offends You, and lead us along the path of everlasting life. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Useless

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

1st Corinthians 15:58 NLT

Have you ever felt useless? I know I have... And it's always predicated on what I have or haven't been able to do. And here lately, it seems there's so much more of "haven't been able to do" than "have". It can be frustrating, to say the least, and even devastating, at times... but that's the Truth of it when I look to ME instead of to GOD.

You see, the Truth is God didn't design us to be useless. He didn't form us in our mothers' wombs and declare, "You will be useless." He has given us gifts and equipped us with skills to help build His kingdom, to fulfill His purpose IN and FOR our lives. 

Psalm 139 tells us God fashioned all the days of our lives BEFORE there were ANY days of our lives. How could ANYTHING God does be considered useless? 

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Prayer:

Father,
          Wake us up to Your plan and purpose for each and every day of our lives. We want to be used by You - for You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Worth It

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

It's been said that anything worth having is worth fighting for. There are several different connotations to that, but the one I'd like to focus on is the one that relates to making the extra effort to obtain and keep something of value.

Did you ever notice how easy it is to be grumpy? It takes hardly any effort at all. For some, all they have to do is open their eyes in the morning and poof! Without even trying, they're grump rumps. And have you ever noticed how contagious that can be?!? Father, have mercy on us!

Recently, I was talking with someone at work and trying to get her to see the positive side of a challenge. Her response was that she was positive that it was bad and nothing good would come of it. The sad thing is - with that attitude - she's right. Nothing good will come of it, because her outlook won't allow it.

I'm not talking about living in "la-la land" or being a Pollyanna. I'm talking about focusing on the goodness of God in the midst of the ugly. Life's circumstances change on a daily basis - God is eternal. His faithfulness doesn't change because the world does or people do. His pure, unselfish, never-ending love doesn't end - even in a world that for the most part doesn't want it, let alone understand it.

Whatever we focus on becomes larger, no matter what it is. Look for the good in those around you. If what they're doing is annoying and we focus on it, we're tempted to squeeze and squeeze until their little eyeballs pop right outta their head. If we focus on the wonderful, it almost threatens to overwhelm us with the "wonderfulness" of whatever it is. If you don't believe me, pay attention to yourself the next day or so. Or listen to those around you.

Let old hurts die. Let the past go. Forgive. Quit piling up offenses by holding on. It's not Scriptural.

And "finally, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on THESE things."

It won't be easy, but it'll be worth it.

Prayer:

Father,
           Shine Your light on our words and expose any malingering malady of grumbling. Let our focus be on You and Your Words of Light and Life, and help us walk accordingly. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

IMPORTANT Reminder - The (IM)Proper Use of OMG!

You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Exodus 20:7 The Amplified Bible

God is serious about His Name... It would behoove us to be serious about His Name, too. I cringe every time I hear someone take the Lord's Name in vain - every time someone uses "OMG!" as a frivolous response to someone else's drama of the moment/hour, every time I hear "OH MY GAWD!" in the same vein as "Are you kidding me?!?" or "Are you serious?!?"

God IS serious about His Name... actually, He's serious about all of them. They represent the very nature and character of who He is. They are designed to be called upon and correspond to our needs and dependence on Him.

Elohim - Strength, power, greatness, and glory

Yahweh (or Jehovah) - I AM

El Shaddai - God Almighty

Adonai - Master, Lord

Jehovah-Jireh - God will provide

Jehovah-M'Kaddesh - God who sanctifies

Jehovah-Shalom - God is peace

Jehovah-Nissi - God our banner

Jehovah-Raphah (sometimes spelled 'Rophe') - God our Healer

Jehovah-Tsidkenu - God our righteousness

The proper use is in the acknowledgment and affirmation of who He is. Calling His Name in faith, confirming who He is and who we BELIEVE He is. It is NOT to be used as an expression of unbelief at someone's trivial pursuit. Selah

Prayer:

Father,
We pray as Ezra prayed, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has mounted to the heavens. Open our hearts to receive Your Truths, open our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Forgive us, O God, we pray. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Holy to the Lord

They made the plate, the sacred emblem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
Exodus 39:30 NLT

In Exodus, it's all about the exact measurements of the moving tabernacle and the amazingly incredible craftsmanship where "They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen—the work of skilled hands." (Exodus 39:3). Strands of actual gold! Think about THAT for a moment - if only from a crafter's point of view!

Anyway, in the 39th chapter, this particular phrase jumped out at me - HOLY TO THE LORD. (It was for the turban that Aaron would wear when serving his priestly duties in the tabernacle.) And immediately, I thought of the verse in 1st Peter, "You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." The preceding verses explain that priests are those who obey God's Word.

So then, we who obey God's Word are royal priests, God's very own possession. As such, we are called to be HOLY TO THE LORD. The question then is two-fold. 1) Are we serving God in this capacity and 2) Are we living our lives as holy to the Lord?

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for calling us to be Your own possession. Make us ever mindful of learning to live holy as You are holy, only by Your mercy and Your grace. We want to live Holy to You, Lord, so that we can show others Your goodness. Help us, O God! In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

There Is a Way Out

So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1st Peter 1:13-16 NLT

When we start talking about love in Scripture, we are quick to point out there are 3 distinctly different types of love: eros (physical), phileo (or Philo – friend) and agape - the love that is revealed through Jesus Christ. Agape is the love that is there no matter what you do for me (eros) or who you are to me (phileo). It’s what we should aspire to – how we should do it – It is Godly.

However, more often than not, I hear many cite Peter’s response to Christ in John 21:15-17, [Christ asks if Peter loves (agape) Him and Peter replies he does love (phileo) Him] and then they use that as an excuse for their lack of love (agape) one for another. I only mention it because it seems apparent that we, as human beings, are always looking for the reserve, the safety net, the “good enough” clause - in other words - a way out.

“You must be holy because I am holy.” I immediately thought of Peter’s response regarding love, and wondered if holy really meant holy – Godly holy – on His level holy. I don’t like to think that I was looking for a way out; however, looking for a way to lower the bar is still looking for a way out…

Hagios is the Greek word used in our text today. But now you must be hagios in everything you do, just as God who chose you is hagios. For the Scriptures say, “You must be hagios because I am hagios.”  This quality of holy, according to Strong’s, “as attributed to God, is often presented in a way which involves Divine demands upon the conduct of believers.”

Being a saint is not an attainment, it is a condition – a state of being - which God in grace calls us to be. 1st Timothy 1:9 reads, "For God saved us and called us to live a holy (hagios) life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus."  We, as believers, are called to sanctify ourselves – to set ourselves apart – removing OURSELVES from all corruption, forsaking sin, and living a holy manner of life.

I found it interesting and very convicting to learn that the exact same word that we are to be - hagios – is the exact same Greek word used for the Holy One, the Holy Spirit, the Holy place, the Holy of Holies… No distinction, no clauses. No way out, as we know it…

So how do we do it?  WE don’t! We can't, except by the grace of God, 1st Corinthians 10:13 NLT assures us, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

He WILL show us a way out… His Word, not mine.

Prayer:

Father,
            We want to be holy as You are holy. Help us to realize that the only way out is by following You. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - The Loving Answer

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT

I have had many conversations with people who do not understand the nature of Almighty God - who He is and what He's about. They're inclined to believe that God doesn't love them because they don't get what they've asked for or because He's not doing what they think He should do for them. I get it. They think being told 'No' is mean or a sign of less than.

However, we're not talking about those times when you have to say 'no' because you don't have the money. I always hated that. I'm talking about those times when saying "No" was the most loving, most motherly wonderful thing I could do. And although they weren't crazy about it at the time, down the road one or the other of them would mention that looking back, they realized it was the right thing to do. They didn't always understand why, but they learned to trust my judgment, knowing that I didn't say 'No' just to be mean, but because I felt it was in their best interest.

How much more then, should we trust a living, loving God who is omnipotent and omniscient and can see the end from the beginning? The One who has the Master Plan and KNOWS it's in our best interest? Sometimes the most loving answer is "No." Learn to trust Him in it!

Prayer:

Father,
           Your Word assures us that You don't withhold any good thing from us. We choose to trust Your judgment and Your decisions, for You are faithful and just. Thank You, Father. Change our hearts. Open our eyes to see You and trust You in everything. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

This for That and That for This

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20 NKJV

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;" Does that raise any flags for today's culture? People trying to convince anyone who will listen that evil is good and good is evil. The Word says, "Woe to those..." In other translations, it's interpreted:

• Doom to those...
• Judgment is coming to those...
• How terrible it will be for those...
• How horrible it will be...
• Beware...
• It is bad for those...
• What sorrow for those...

Are there any questions about the meaning of this? And are we doing that?

Prayer:

Father,
          Clear our minds and hearts of lies and deceitful phrases. Holy Spirit, lead us into all Truth as promised. We pray as David prayed, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - That's Easy for You to Say

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

1st John 2:3-6 NLT

Oh, the things we say we love - that song! That color! I love that movie! That TV show! Popcorn! I love the beach! The mountains! Ice cream! I love that guy (an actor or someone else we don't know) or I do NOT love him (or her)! You get the picture.

What does that love mean? How is it defined? It's not deep. It's not truly meaningful. It doesn't cost anything. It's easy.

It's NOT the love that God has called us to. It's NOT the love by which the world will know we are Christ-followers. It's not world-changing. It doesn't save lives. It doesn't require a personal investment of any kind. It doesn't take time or energy. There's no blood, sweat or tears involved at all.

We are called to love as Christ loved and gave Himself as a ransom for us. It's easy to look a friend or family member in the eye and say that they must walk in love. Yes, that's easy for you to say. It's a whole 'nother story when we are to live our lives as Jesus did. That we are to love as He loves. That's real love and it will cost you everything.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray the words from the old song, "I'm going to live the way You want me to live. I'm going to give until there's just no more to give. I'm going to love, love till there's just no more love. I could never, never outlove You, Lord." We cannot do it without You, Father. Give us Your grace and Your strength to do exactly that. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Prayer, Praise and Pursuit

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:5-8 NKJV

Have you paid attention lately to the tenor of your prayers? No, not tenor like Domingo or Pavarotti, but tenor meaning the settled or prevailing or habitual course of a person's life. We're talking about intentional. Settled. Prevailing. Habitual. The course of a person's prayer life. Planned.

I believe in spontaneous prayer and/or praise, but I also think there needs to be intentional prayer and/or praise. We can NOT count the worried thoughts thrown somewhere in the general direction of the sky as prayer any more than we can throw our boots in the oven and bake them and expect a biscuit when the timer goes off.

If I ask God for wisdom to live my life, and I am not intentional about believing He will give it to me according to His Word (the plan), then I would be drifting like a wave of the sea. And just like it is dangerous to be adrift on the sea, powerless, without an anchor, it is infinitely more dangerous to be adrift in the sea of life.

Merriam-Webster defines adrift as:

1 : without motive power and without anchor or mooring
<a boat adrift on the sea>
2 : without ties, guidance, or security
<people morally adrift>
3 : free from restraint or support

And while not being restrained may seem like a good thing to lots of people, no support is a bad thing ("There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of that way is death... Proverbs 14:12"). Without God's motivating power, without the Cross as our anchor or mooring, without the ties, guidance or security of our relationship with Christ, His Word, His people, we are unstable in all our ways.

How do we build relationship with Christ? We talk to Him. We get to know Him. We find out about things He's done. Things He's going to do. (Prayer, praise and pursuit).

So do we just want to drift along or do we want to plan our course?

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in Psalm 141:4, Don’t let us drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let us share in the delicacies of those who do wrong. We need Your wisdom to plot our course in life and to follow Your plan. Let everything we do and everything we say be intentionally faithful to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - The O-Factor

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:16 NKJV

Do you know the game of golf has an O-Factor? It refers to giving the ball extra oomph by the way you follow through with a certain body part. You have to raise it high - according to the pros - the higher the better. Focus and put your mind to it. And if you incorporate the O-Factor in your golf game, the pros guarantee not only a stronger drive down the fairway, but a straight one, and a winning one. No weeds, no water. And all the golfers said, "Amen..." [which simply means let it be established or confirmed.]

Well, if you know anything about God, you know that He is the original O-Factor. Omnipotent. Omnipresent. Omniscient...which my dictionary defines as "all-knowing, having all knowledge" and then adds, "an attribute peculiar to God".

If we want to put some oomph in our lives, we need to give our hearts to Him. We must focus and bring every thought into captivity, to obedience to Christ. In following through with that, we will finish strong where God has made the darkness light and the crooked places straight - because that's the path God has prepared for us. Amen?

Prayer:

Father,
           We present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You. We choose to give You our everything, flaws and all, so that our path will be clear. We want a straight shot to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Take the Heat

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." 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.

Hebrews 12:5-6,11 NLT

Sometimes life seems like a slow roast. All we see or feel is the fire - for a LONG time. We don't want it. We don't like it, but can we be used for our purpose without going through the fire? Think about it. What good is an uncooked chunk of meat if it's just in a pot with raw potatoes and other vegetables and spices and there's no roasting? Can it be used for its purpose without the fire? Can it be as good if it's only in the fire for a half-hour? No, it has to be in the fire for the full amount of time.

Likewise, God is not a microwave. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be cooked to perfection. 1st Peter 1:6-7 in the New Living Translation reads, "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."

I want to be fit for His purpose. I don't want to be pulled from the fire because I couldn't take the heat.

Prayer:

Father,
           As it is in Your Word, Isaiah 43:2, we trust You when we go through deep waters, that You will be with us. When we go through rivers of difficulty, we will not drown. When we walk through the fire of oppression, we will not be burned up; the flames will not consume us. You are in control and You are trustworthy. We want to bring You praise and glory and honor. We choose You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - How Can You Not...

"O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion."
1st Kings 8:23 NLT

I have been called a wordsmith more than once in my life, but when I attempt to lay attribute to Almighty God or try to tell you how I love the Lord, I am most inept. I guess if I could sing like Whitney...well, not like Whitney, but with her passion, I would belt it out, ♪♫ I LOVE THE LORD! ♫♪ HE HEARD MY CRY...♪♫

How can you not love a God who will say to you - "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1b

How can you not TRUST a God who promises you - "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3a NLT

How can you not love a God whose Word declares when the enemy comes in like a flood, that He - God - will lift up the standard against him?
Isaiah 59:19 NKJV

"Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah"
Isaiah 61:1-4 NKJV

No matter what I see. No matter what I hear.

Do I know or understand why children die? No, I do not. Do I know or understand why there are mighty prayer warriors who die having lost the memories of all but Him? No, I do not. Do I know or understand why there are illnesses for which there is no cure, save a miracle from God? A miracle of healing that sometimes does not manifest on this Earth? No, I do not. But no matter if I understand it or I do not...even if I never do - this one thing I know. He is God and I am not. God of the universe. The Creator of Heaven and Earth - more than we can even begin to wrap our finite minds around. He is God and He is trustworthy and He is faithful and merciful and full of grace toward us. His grace empowers us to do His work. Unmerited favor - we couldn't earn it by our works if we tried. He sent His only Perfect Son to die - to pay the ransom price for my many sins...and for yours.

"I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps." Psalm 40:1-2 NKJV

How can we not love this God...

Prayer:

Father,
           Your Word! Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You. O God, give us Your Words to speak - to shine Your Light into the darkness, to bring Your Comfort to those who mourn, Your Strength for those who are weak and heavy-laden! May Your Words be fruitful seed, watered by our tears. Give us the increase of Your Word, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - Laboring Hardcore

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
2nd Corinthians 4:1-2 NLT

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

Oh, that we would be hardcore for Christ!

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

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”
14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.
15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

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

Prayer:

Father,
           Let us not confuse hardened hearts with being hardcore. In no way are they the same. Instead help us to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in You our labor is not in vain. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - The Question is...

Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? 

Galatians 3:2-5a The Message

A friend of mine once made a profound statement of Truth that just about floored me. He said, "Self-sufficiency is such a sign of no faith." Did you catch it? Listen. "Self-sufficiency is such a sign of NO faith."

Now, if this were Old Testament writing, I'd have to follow that statement with 'selah'...which is from a music mark indicating a pause. (According to Fausset's Bible Dictionary, the implication in Scripture is that, [Selah] is a call to calm reflection on the preceding words.) Self-sufficiency, no faith. Self-sufficiency, no faith! Man! It wasn't too many years ago, I would have gone ballistic over that one. Now, I humbly recognize the Truth in it.

If we never rely on God for anything - if we count only on ourselves and our own abilities to make or take care of our lives, our children, our jobs, our finances, our future, then it requires no faith. And just as sure as fear itself is the absence of faith, so is NOT trusting God. You see, NOT trusting God IS fear. Fear that He won't take care of you, fear that He won't keep you well, that He won't provide for you and what belongs to you. Fear that He really hasn't forgiven you and doubt that He even would consider it. Or worse, PRIDE - perhaps thinking you could do a better job yourself...

So... the question on the table is, Does the God who lavishly provides you with His own presence, His Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does He do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust Him to do them in you?

Prayer:

Father,
            We cannot begin to praise You or thank You enough for shining the Light of Your Truth on our lives. Thank You for setting us free to live in You, unbound by our own controlling methods of self-sufficiency. Keep us unfettered - set free from serving ourselves - and turned on to serving You and Yours. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen