Monday, October 20, 2025

Promise for Today - Guest Author: Emily Rose Massey - A Heavenly Perspective

A Prayer for a Heavenly Perspective by: Emily Rose Massey

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV).

It doesn’t take long to realize that Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter, and pretty much any other social media platform are a massive door to comparison. Your eyes begin to get fixated on earthly things instead of things of the Kingdom and God's plan for your life. This often negatively impacts your decision-making. Regarding material things, you are now spending money you don't have and are not just trying to "keep up with the Jones'" but everyone else in the entire world! People's lives are constantly on display, and it is a great temptation for us to become dissatisfied and unthankful for what God has given us. We become unhappy. Not only that, but we also aren’t happy for one another. "Everyone is getting married, having babies, getting an education, buying a house, getting a raise, a new job, a new car, pursuing their dreams, making connections to further their job/ministry, traveling, wearing the latest fashions, making more money, going on vacation, losing weight, AND WHY NOT ME?!” we think to ourselves. This type of mentality makes us question God’s goodness as we start to wonder if He is withholding things from us.

You may know in your mind that God is good, but is it truly rooted in your heart and applied to your life? The struggle occurs when we fix our eyes on ourselves, and it becomes worse when we turn our attention to others and begin to compare or judge unrighteously. We begin to believe lies and draw conclusions about others, consumed by jealousy. James calls this type of thinking worldly and even demonic (James 3:15).

When our fixation is on the temporal, as believers, Paul tells us in Colossians that we need to look up:

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV).

Paul urges us to "put to death [our] members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walk when you lived in them" (Colossians 3:5-7 NKJV).

Did you catch that in verse 5? Covetousness is idolatry. When you covet, compare, and live in jealousy and envy over something that someone else is experiencing, you are worshiping what you don't have. Whether that is material things, a person, or a situation, that thing is now placed above God and God's plan for your life. You have made that thing, situation, person, or position an idol in your life. You become self-centered and too concerned about your life; You have put on “self glasses.”

“Self glasses” distort your vision and heart posture towards God and others. Practically, this means that God isn’t enough for you. These glasses also foster a victim mentality, where you compare and complain, leading to discontent. Before long, you will doubt God and begin to take control of your own life. Lifting our gaze upwards, as Colossians 3 tells us, shifts our perspective, and we begin to see how God is fully enough. This perspective shift helps us believe the truth about God’s sovereignty, about others, and about ourselves.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Help me keep my eyes on Jesus and Your word. Remind my heart to cling to You, abide in You so that I will remain full of Your love and nothing else can satisfy. I truly only want what You have for me because I trust that Your promises are more than enough. I know that eternal things are far greater than anything this world can offer. Please help me to trust You with all my heart and lean on Your understanding, not my own. I believe You will direct my path and will never lead us astray.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Promise for Today - Gaining Access

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
Matthew 3:13-17 NLT

One of the tasks at my day job is to make sure my people know about and meet a contract’s required certifications to do the work for a client. There are safety trainings and certifications, as well as various mandatory drug and alcohol tests, and each has to be renewed annually. Once approved, they are also subject to random drug tests to prove that they are still in compliance with the requirements for entry to the facility.

There is usually a grace period, but once that's over, there are no excuses, no exceptions. The contract is there - it's specific about the requirements. It doesn't matter how much you think you know about it - or what you learned years ago. Have you done what is asked of you? If you want in, do what's required of you. When you do, then you get the stamp of approval that allows you into the facility. They'll wave you through the gate because your name is on the list.

It reminds me a little of the requirements to gain access to heaven. It doesn't matter if you're a "good guy." It's not about what you know or how long you've known it. The only way to gain entry is through the Blood of Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus tells us that no one gets to the Father, except through Him [Jesus]. It's about training - aligning ourselves with the Word. It's about keeping the training current.

Luke 9:23 NKJV tells us, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

1st John 2:23b-25, "...But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us."

In other words, when you do, you get the Father's approval. Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life?

Prayer:

Father,
          Please notify us of the changes to be made in our lives, so that we fully comply with Your requirements of us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Promise for Today - Patient Endurance

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1:2-3 NLT

If you have known me for very long, you have heard me say, What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger. I believe that. There have been times in my life when it seemed like it would be a whole lot easier to die than to endure. But God would get me through, and because of the endurance training I received during that trial, I would be able to be victorious over the next, bigger, tougher situation.

However, I can't say that I've ever been ecstatic or enthusiastic about trials and tribulations. I wasn't looking ahead - I wasn't looking "to the hills where my help comes from" (Psalm 121). I wasn't looking "to the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." (Hebrews 12) Endured. Christ looked PAST the Cross to the joy that was set before Him.

The writer of Hebrews encourages us in 10:35-36, "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."

Just as God, for the sake of the Cross, looks beyond our frail, human nature so that Jesus can receive us unto Himself, so must we look beyond the trials and tribulations and patiently endure them so that we can continue to do the Father's will no matter what comes our way. It is in the patient endurance that we receive the Promise. (vs 36b) - "THEN you will receive all that he has promised."

Prayer:

Father,
           Your Word promises that You are the Lifter of our heads. Hold us up so we can see over this to the promise of eternity with You where there are no more tears. No more pain. No more separation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friday, October 17, 2025

Promise for Today - Keep It Moving

Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

Philippians 3:13-14 The Message

Where are you going? I'm not asking about vacations or work trips. I want to know your destination in LIFE. Where are you headed? What's your goal? Are you in charge of your destiny? Think about it! Check your life.

Are we aiming for Heaven? Is that our goal? Are we actively taking steps and measures to get there? Is there activity that shows forward motion with Heaven as your destination? We can't move forward just for the sake of moving. Or are we just marking time - going to work, paying bills, mowing the lawn, trying to save for retirement? Are you working as diligently to get to Heaven as you are to succeed at work? Are we seeking God's "well done, good and faithful servant" above getting a raise at our job? 

The Truth is, if we have our eye on the goal, and keep pressing forward where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus - all the rest of that stuff will be taken care of. Matthew 6:33 in the New Living reads, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

I heard these pearls of wisdom from Alan Neel, 'When we live without direction, we're living without a destiny.' If we're not moving forward - toward Christ - seeking Him, serving Him, then we're living aimlessly, seeking our own satisfaction. That won't get us to Heaven. We gotta keep it moving... "onward to Jesus."

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for mindless living. Clear our vision to see our way to You. Renew the passion within us to keep moving toward You and to make intentional choices to keep us on our course. We want to finish well and hear You say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Promise for Today - Not-So-Simply Love

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love. We love because God first loved us.
1 John 4:18-19 CEB

Do you remember your first love? Do you remember how that felt? You could talk for hours. You were content just to sit and bask in the presence of your beloved. Just to be near was enough. You wanted to be better - to be more - to be everything that person "deserved" so you would be loved in return. Ahhhhh...first love... Oh, you just knew that person was perfect... or at least, perfect for you.

What if there really was such a thing as a perfect love? A perfect mate? A perfect relationship? Someone who was perfect for real, but at the same time would overlook your imperfections? Someone who could see past any physical flaws or your neediness or your inabilities. Someone who would love you no matter what you did, no matter what you said, no matter what you looked like. Someone who spoke the love language of your heart. Someone who knew exactly what it would take to love you and make you feel that love all the way inside. Someone who never leaves, is always there. Someone whose whole goal is a relationship with you. Someone who wants what is best for your life - to promote you and the abilities you have, and who will do and has done everything necessary to make that happen. Someone who has proven to be steadfast and true through the test of time and for all eternity.

Let me arrange the introduction. His Name is Adonai. God the Lord. God doesn't just love. He IS love and He commands us to love. Your ultimate perfection is guaranteed through His perfect love gift - His Son, Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray the words of the old hymn by Thomas Chisholm and William Kirkpatrick. ♪♫ O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, this is my constant longing and prayer. Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art. Come in Thy sweetness. Come in Thy fullness. Plant Thine own image deep on my heart. ♪♫ In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Promise for Today - Yeah, but God...

Into the land they went, and it became theirs. For our forefathers, You made sure even the Canaanites there were powerless. You subdued everything and everyone to their power— land, kings, and people—to do with as they pleased. They overwhelmed strong and secure cities. They overtook fertile, productive land. They claimed well-furnished houses, wells that were already dug, vineyards, olive groves and orchards filled with fruit. They ate their fill. They grew fat. They basked in Your generosity and goodness. Even so, again they chose to defy You.
Nehemiah 9:24-26a The Voice

One would think that a pattern of behavior repeated over and over would become obvious - even to the perpetrator. I know I would sit in disbelief as I read the number of miracles God performed for the people of Israel and how quickly they would forget and turn from following His ways. Unbelievable...

That is, until I saw the same thing in myself. There's something about the Truth that will strike you no matter what language it's spoken in. "They basked in Your generosity and goodness. Even so, again they chose to defy You." Like a video replay, I realized I have OFTEN basked in God's generosity and goodness, and at times, still chose to go my own way when an offense or perceived onslaught kept me from what I wanted to do. 'Yeah, but God - he did this...' 'Yeah, but God, she said...' 'Yeah, but God, I couldn't just let them get away with...' 'Yeah, but God...'

Today I realized the number of times that I did this or I've said that, and yet God has shown me unfathomable mercy on innumerable occasions... "basking in His generosity and goodness." Have you ever done that? 

The truth is that doing it our own way instead of walking in God's way is to defy God. No 'yeah, buts' about it. Forgive us, O God!

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray Your Word - "It was because of Your great mercy that we were not completely annihilated or forsaken. You are a grace-filled and mercy-laden God; Our True God—You who are great, majestic, and awesome, You who always keep Your covenant of loyal love— do not overlook the trouble we are facing here today. This trouble confronts us all: our kings and our princes, our priests and our prophets, our ancestors and all of Your people— From the time of the Assyrian kings until today. You are righteous in all that You have done to us. You have faithfully upheld Your part of the covenant, but we have acted with evil."  Forgive us, O God! Change our hearts. Make them ever thirst only for You. To walk in Your will and way and not our own. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Promise for Today - Coming to a Complete Stop

I come to your altar, O Lord, singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders. I love your sanctuary, Lord, the place where your glorious presence dwells.

Psalm 26:6b-8 NLT

The first traffic ticket I ever got was for not coming to a complete stop at a posted stop sign. On the daily route, there were 4 stop signs to get to the main road. At the last stop sign that morning, I slowed way down but did the infamous California roll instead of stopping completely...and I had to pay the price for it. Oh, I thought I was justified - even tried to talk my way out of it (I wasn't saved then). The officer patiently explained to me that the book did not read three out of four stops are okay, nor did it say I got to choose which laws I would obey, or that I could stop only when I felt like it and had the time.

There are days when life threatens to overwhelm us with all that we have to do and all the things and people who need a piece of us, and there just isn't enough time. Combine that with the time of year and making plans for the upcoming holiday season, all the extras we want to do as part of that (and more than likely won't get done), and it becomes our focus, creating a sure-fire recipe for potential disaster. It's the fourth stop sign all over again. Except this time, we're not stopping to acknowledge and praise God in all things. 

Are we stopping to give Him thanks in all things - everything - as Scripture instructs? Interesting that His Book doesn't read that three out of four times are okay, nor does it say we get to choose which laws we will obey, or that we could stop only when we felt like it and had the time. Oh, we may throw a few thanks heavenward - they may even be heartfelt - but are we taking the time to come to a complete stop and give Him our full attention to praise Him and thank Him?

If not, take 5 minutes right now and stop. Seriously. Stop. List 5 things you are thankful for. Something you know that you have only by the grace and goodness of God.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Now praise Him for who He is. Acknowledge His greatness. 

Sing with awe and wonder...How Great Thou Art!  
(This rendition is by the group Selah - the middle verse is sung in their native tongue -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6ZbcCjoj70)

Prayer:

Father,
          It is only by Your mercy and grace that we even breathe. We acknowledge and give great thanks that it is only in You that we can even live and move and have our being. We know that every good and perfect thing comes from You and we give You praise. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Monday, October 13, 2025

Promise for Today - By His Grace

So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Ephesians 2:7-8 NLT

Do you ever find yourself reading about different ones in the Bible and wondering, 'Why? Why did you do that? How COULD you do that after all God had done? What were you thinking?' Only to read on a little further and recognize yourself in their actions? 'O Father, forgive me. Who am I to judge? Except for Your grace, I would be so much worse than what I am.'

Paul was well aware of God's grace in his own life and the lives of those around him, and for all future generations. Did you catch that part of the verse? 'So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace...'

A little further down in this chapter, verse 10 reads, 'For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.' There are many things God has laid on our hearts that we think, 'I can't do that. Un-unh...no way. I've done this or I've done that, who's gonna listen to someone who has done that? Nobody's going to listen to what I have to say. I'm not a speaker.' Except for His grace... Neither was Moses. Neither was Peter. Neither was Paul.

And the litany in your head continues, 'I can't...I can't... I can't...' And you're right, you can't. Except for His grace...

By grace, Paul - former Christian killer - became an apostle.

By grace, Rahab - a harlot - became part of the lineage of Christ.

By grace, David - a shepherd boy who was so NOT impressive that his father didn't even call him to the house when the prophet came - he became king.

By grace - Jacob - a liar and a cheat from a long line of liars and manipulators - inherited God's blessing and God changed his name to Israel.

Don't tell me what you can't do. Tell me what you will allow God to do through you...by His grace.

Scripture is quite clear..."For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we CAN do..."

Prayer:

Father,
          I pray as Paul prayed, When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to You, Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. Our roots will grow down into Your love and keep us strong. And may we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You. Now all glory to You, God, who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Sunday, October 12, 2025

Reminder to Be Dramatically Different

Some skeptic is sure to ask, “Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture. What does this ‘resurrection body’ look like?” If you look at this question closely, you realize how absurd it is. There are no diagrams for this kind of thing. We do have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a “dead” seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don’t look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different.
1st Corinthians 15:35-42 The Message

Has life ever made you feel like you'd been knocked down and buried in fertilizer... that keeps getting piled on?!? That's how I was feeling when God reminded me of this Scripture.

What is planted - buried beneath mounds and pounds of fertilizer - and what grows out of it don't look anything alike! Just like you can't tell what a tomato will look like from the seed you plant, there's no telling what we'll look like, either - but the Bible says we shall be like Him!!

Can we give God praise for that and thank Him - even in the fertilizer?!?

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for loving us more than enough to give us what we need rather than what we want. Help us to understand and continue to grow in the process. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Saturday, October 11, 2025

Promise for Today - The Parts of Life

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
John 12:24-26

Do you ever find yourself dividing your life into parts? I'm not talking about being one kind of person at work and a different one at church. (We're supposed to be the same person wherever we are.) I mean parts such as Sundays and Wednesdays are church. And if you meet in a small group, that's another day that goes into that part. Then you've got the work week where hours vary but mine are generally Monday through Friday. Tuesday nights, some Saturday mornings and events for the grands. Oh, meet with friends? When? Can we get something on the calendar? And for those of you who have children living in your home, there's soccer practice, gymnastics, piano lessons, or some other sport or extracurricular activity, multiplied by how many children you have. Somewhere in there, we need to allow for cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes.

In all of that, you might ask, where's the part for you?

More important than that - where's the part for God? 'Well, didn't you read that part about Sundays and Wednesdays and small groups?' Sure, but what is that - 6 or 8 hours out of 168 hours? A total of four to five percent of our week for the One who gave us the week.

How often do we think these kinds of things?
'Oh, God understands. He knows I have too much to do today.'
'I need some downtime - some ME time.'
Oh, and here's the kicker -
'I can't take care of what God has given me if I don't take time for myself.'

I've been looking. Diligently searching. I haven't found one Scripture to support that train of thought. We're to follow Christ's example, right? I can hear some of you saying, 'Well, Sister, even Jesus took some time to get away from everybody.' Yes, He did. But it wasn't ME time - It was HE time. He took time to get away to spend it WITH God. He knew the Part that made it all work. Made it all worthwhile. The only way He could accomplish His purpose was to walk out what the Father had given Him.

Let's look at it this way. Everything we use - every appliance, every electronic device, phones, every light, vehicle, etc, has a power source. If we don't charge it first, or if we don't plug it in, it's not going to work. Without the power source, it just won't work. Even a battery will eventually wear down if it's not recharged.

Matthew 6:33 instructs us to "Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Are we missing our Power Source - the Part of Life that makes it all work?

Prayer:

Father,
            In the words of William McDowell's song, "Here I am. Here I stand. Lord, my life is in Your hands. Lord, I'm longing to see Your desires revealed in me. Take my heart. Take my life as a living sacrifice. All my dreams - All my plans. Lord, I place them in Your hands. I give myself away. I give myself away so You can use me. My life is not my own. To You I belong. I give myself, I give myself to You..." Father, You are the only Part that makes it all work. Forgive us for thinking otherwise. Please re-establish Your righteousness in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friday, October 10, 2025

Reminder - How to Fight Fire

Be angry without sinning. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work.
Ephesians 4:26-27 GWT

Do you ever get angry about stuff? Just stuff. Stuff that you can't physically do anything to change?

Back in the 70s, Eddie Chiles, former owner of the Texas Rangers, was an outspoken advocate for a smaller and less intrusive federal government. He was angry about what he perceived to be wrong about the US government. His radio commentaries were legendary and there was even an ad campaign complete with bumper stickers that proclaimed, "I'm mad, too, Eddie!" Have you ever noticed how easily you can fall into that anger and frustration when goaded by an inflammatory radio host or Facebook? All that energy wasted because the truth is that very few people do more than gripe and grouse to each other.

Did you know that Proverbs 22:24-25 warns us? "Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul." If you think about it, you know that's the absolute Truth and you can get there in less than 6 seconds, depending on the subject at hand. And then there are those who retort, 'Well, you fight fire with fire!'  I remember a good answer I saw for that. The statement read, 'When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.' And as Christians, we should also use water to put out fires.

And Jesus proclaimed Himself the Living Water. He gave Himself for us to put out the fires of hell that would consume us. Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work.

Prayer:

Father,
            Deliver us from the fiery darts of the wicked. Let the fullness of our joy in You be found in Your presence. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Promise for Today - This Kind of Friend

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have! And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
Romans 4:18-19 NLT

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

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.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Romans 4:20 - Romans 5:11 NLT

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to be friends who don't let You down. Ones who won't forget all that You've done for us. Friends who hasten to answer when You call. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Promise for Today - Plan

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

How do I get from one place to another? Obviously, I have to know where I want to go. If I want to travel from Texas to Missouri, I have to decide which route I will take. What will be my mode of travel? How much time - how much money to buy gas or to pay for a ticket - how much food - all that will help determine what course I take. I have to plan and prepare all those things.

Praying in faith - without doubting - is a planned course of action. Faith is not action-less. Contrary to what some folks think, it is not living in la-la land, refusing to acknowledge what's going on around us. If we have faith, we are following a plan. We're following our course. We're not moved by what we see or hear. We are focused on following the plan. We've filed our intent with the powers that be to follow the course laid out by the God of heaven; the course that WILL get us to our destination.

Have you paid attention lately to the tenor of your prayers? No, not tenor like Pavarotti or Domingo, but tenor meaning the settled or prevailing or habitual course of a person's life. 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 worried thoughts thrown somewhere in the general direction toward heaven as prayer any more than we can throw our boots in the oven and bake and expect a biscuit when the timer goes off. We're talking about intentional. Settled. Prevailing. Habitual. The course of a person's prayer life. Planned.

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.
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 just like it is dangerous to be adrift on the sea - powerless and without an anchor - it is infinitely more dangerous to be adrift in the sea of life.

Although 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 learn 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 you want to plan your course?

Prayer:

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

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Promise for Today - Promises, Promises

What? No Scripture?

That's because I couldn't find one - not one -  in any of the translations I have access to - not one single Scripture that tells me after I accept Christ as my Savior, I won't have any more problems, even though I've heard people say that. Yeah? Well, Promises, Promises.  I can't give you that promise - today or any day - because it is not in the Word of God.

However, Christ Himself gave the Promise that He will NEVER leave you (Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6,8, Joshua 1:5 NKJV). And the Promise that He will be with you until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20b NKJV)I can Promise that He will complete the work that has been started in you because He said so (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). You can see those have Scripture to back them up.  


Other Promises God offers include that whatever is born of God overcomes the world (1st John 5:4); that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37); that we have victory over death, hell and the grave. (Revelation 20:14). Jesus also said that in this world we WILL have many trials and sorrows, but we are to "take heart" because He has overcome the world (John 16:33 NLT).

But I'd like to point out something for your consideration... You're not an overcomer unless there is something to overcome (Revelation 12:10-11). You do not become a conqueror unless you face something that needs to be conquered (Romans 8:36-37). How can you have a victory without a fight or battle (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10)? Promises, Promises, and more promises. And those are REAL promises.

Prayer:

Father,

         Give us beauty for ashes. The oil of joy for mourning. Be our Strength. Grow us up in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Monday, October 6, 2025

Promise for Today - Coming to Terms

God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It's up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The Message

Many large businesses today have their own legal department on payroll. It is their primary function to issue and approve contracts with all the acceptable terms and conditions before beginning work. 


The strangest thing to me when moving from a small-town position to a global corporation was just how binding the terms and conditions actually are between the two parties. The Party of the First Part has work that needs to be done. The Party of the Second Part has the right personnel who have the right training and experience to do the work, and they present a good estimate to do the work. It's fair, it's profitable to both sides, but instead of shaking hands on it, they move to the negotiation stage. Two teams in a room to try to hammer out the best deal for their side. Often, it's a case of concessions for both parties until the terms and conditions are agreed upon.

However, I have known times when they don't come to terms. It is frustrating to spend all that time, do all the prep and presentation, only to not be able to come to terms because Team One thinks they should operate according to Team One's Terms and Conditions, but Team Two thinks Team One should operate by Team Two's.

There are so many who do the same thing with their Christianity. They want to negotiate what they will or will not do. God has made all the preparation to line up the scope of the work that needs to be done, made the provision to get it done, personalized it for our own unique needs, and then presented it to us. We'd be crazy not to go for it. And yet, when it comes to God's terms and conditions, we don't want to give up anything. 


News flash! Our intimate relationship with Christ is not based on our own modified version of God's terms and conditions. His are the best...period. They are non-negotiable. So, adhere or adjourn.

Prayer:

Father,

         You made the preparation. You made the provision. You loved us first. You chose us. We choose and accept the relationship on Your terms and conditions. Help us to adhere to them, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Promise for Today - Source of Hope

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 NLT

Simply put, hope deferred is defined as something put off or postponed. In other words, a disappointment. Sometimes, if our hopes keep getting put off, it can lead to depression, making the heart sick. You may know what it's like to lose hope. It tends to make everything else seem useless. 'Why try? Why expend my energy?'

If our hope lies in this world - in this life - then there are days when it will seem absolutely hopeless. However, I must say that we need the right kind of hope! Our hope must be in the eternal.

Romans 15:13a NLT, Paul tells us, "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him." If God is our Source of hope, He is a never-ending supply of it. Think about that!

Remember that the Word tells in Philippians 4:8, "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."

God is ALL these things, and He is our eternal Source of hope.

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for looking to anything or anyone else as our source of hope. You alone are our true hope. Help us to remember that there are no disappointments and no dissatisfaction in Heaven and that Heaven with You is our goal. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Promise for Today - About Surrender

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
2nd Corinthians 5:15 NLT

I believe God gave me a fighting spirit. My parents helped the idea along. My first name comes from the Greek language and means "strong, brave" - my middle name means "strong warrior" - and yet, I'm female. However, I feel as though the spirit of "Remember the Alamo!" emanates from my bones.

I could regale you with many tales of conflict, but I won't. Our purpose is to glorify God, not to brag on our before stories.

I cannot get away from the idea of surrendering. I have realized just exactly how foreign it is to my nature. And yet, that is what we are called to do - surrender to the Lordship of Christ and live our lives accordingly. Without exaggeration, I have sung this song at least several hundred times in my life; I Surrender All. I sang it passionately and with what I thought was my whole heart... but as of today, I know that is not true, but it is the prayer of my heart.

Think about this for a moment - in a today sort of moment. What does it mean to surrender? Well, the good people at Merriam-Webster define it like this:
a: to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand <surrendered the fort>
b: to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another
c: to give (oneself) up into the power of another especially as a prisoner
d: to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)
None of it sounds like something I want to do in and of myself, but God IS still God. The Truth is - He is the one true God and He rules by HIS rules, not mine. He didn't ask me what I thought. He invited me to follow Him. And to do that, I must surrender my will to His. Will I? Will you?

Prayer:

Father,
          According to Your Word, give me the knowledge to wrap my head and heart around surrendering and the wisdom to know how to walk with You in it. My heart is to surrender to You, O God, and walk fully in YOUR ways. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Promise for Today - Overwhelming, But Not Over

Then the word of the LORD came to him, [Elijah] saying, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
1st Kings 17:2-7 NKJV

Elijah was many things, but one thing he was not was politically correct. At the Lord's command, Elijah delivered the message to Ahab that there would be a drought and that there would be neither dew nor rain until he said so. And then immediately, God said, "Get outta town, son." (Texas vernacular).

If you walk with the Lord, you know that God has changed your path. And it's not always comfortable. First and foremost, He changed the direction of where you are heading for eternity. That's huge... and have you noticed, He doesn't stop there? He's either changed your employment or super-charged your passion in life - probably both - and that usually brings a change of scenery, as well. I'll bet you've moved a time or two. Yes?

Has God ever taken you someplace - so totally NOT in your plans or scheme of life - and then made provision beyond what you expected? And when you get there, you wind up so completely amazed at His working in your life and the blessings that overtake you! You just KNOW the only way you're going to leave the new place is if you die or Jesus comes back... but then the brook dries up (see the last sentence of our Promise for Today.) And there you have a choice. What do you do? It can be overwhelming...

I'd like to share an excerpt from a book titled "Lead Vertically", written by Craig Johnson. The message of it is profound. The following excerpt is "Who is in Charge of Your Change?"

"Change can mask itself to look like a problem, when in reality it is the answer in disguise. We can't always see that the thing that might be holding us back is the very thing we have been holding on to the tightest. Change will force you to step onto the playing field when you have been comfortable in the stands. You always have a choice: you either run from change or you respond to it. You can either be afraid or affirming; passive or powerful. It all depends on whether you are handling the change or God is handling the change. Have you ever experienced more change than you could bear? It's overwhelming...but it's not over!"

Allow God to be in charge of your change. It will do you good.

Prayer:

Father,
          Give us the courage to step out as Elijah did and do what You tell us to do, say what You tell us to say, and go where You direct our path. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Remembering How It Used to Be

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

2nd Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

People frequently ask me where I get the ideas for the Promise. I think God brings every day of our lives into His keeping. Therefore, everyday situations are not something that happen apart from our Christianity, but rather an opportunity to grow and mature - and to recognize the presence of God in every moment. Now with all that seemingly serious profundity, I'll tell you that today's Promise came from thinking about cleaning the coils on my refrigerator.

I'll spare you the gory details... Used to be, when I worked construction, I actually started as a painter. As an apprentice, you don't get to roll right away, you have to cut in and do baseboards and trim. Crawl around for most of the day, up and down the ladder. Great cardio, but boring. I was thinking about all that, and about how we used to knock out 2 to 3 apartments a day (determined by how many bedrooms)...all that crawling and all that up and down. Used to be, I could do that without even giving it a thought. However, cleaning coils on the refrigerator took an engineering epiphany just to get TO the floor; never mind, getting back up.

Used to be, I played competition volleyball. Used to be, I could carry 2 five-gallon buckets of paint up 3 flights of stairs and not even be winded. Used to be, I could lift 100-pound sacks of flour without batting an eye. Now there are days I'd better grab the 5-pound bag just right, or I'm gonna drop it.

As I was writing my own Book of Lamentations in my mind, while trying to get UP off the floor after cleaning the coils on my refrigerator, the Lord reminded me about how it used to be. Used to be when I worked construction, I was drunk by 6 o'clock on Friday night and stayed drunk until Sunday night and spent 3 days recovering, so I could start again the next weekend. Now, I get high on worshipping the Lord.


Used to be when I was lifting 100-pound sacks of flour, I was quietly going out of my mind because of the pain in my soul and the torment in my mind. Now, I fight the powers of hell and live in peace because my mind is stayed on Him.

Used to be...oh, really! Why go there? 

Used to be doesn't live here anymore... and I thank God for it every day. Praise His Holy Name!

Prayer:

Father,

          You overwhelm me with Your love and Your care. I have never done anything worthy to be called Your child and yet, You chose me to be Yours. O for a thousand tongues to sing praises to You! Help me to always see You in every moment of my life. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Let's Do This

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:12-15 NLT

Let's not just read this - Let's DO IT! Let's live our lives according to THIS.

Prayer:

Father,
         Cause Your Word to come alive in us and bring forth a harvest of love and peace and thankful hearts. Remind us always to forgive others as You have forgiven us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Monday, September 29, 2025

Promise for Today - On Fire

In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
James 3:5-6 NLT

Recently, I heard a sermon about judging others. I thought I'd been doing pretty well about not judging people; that is until I heard the sermon in its entirety. I was going along just fine with it, doing a mental checklist - Check - no longer do that. Check - no longer do that.  Check - no longer do that... Then he asked. "So you think you're doing pretty well - not judging people? How about when you're at work and you no sooner hang up the phone and you say, 'Idiot.' You just passed judgment on that person..."

As much as I'd like to try to justify that particular action by claiming that I was just stating fact, Ephesians 4:29 instructs me, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Declaring someone an idiot is definitely NOT ministering grace... And even though I wasn't actively pursuing the act of pronouncing judgment, that's exactly what I'd done.

Yes, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is interesting to note that in common law, arson is defined as 'the malicious burning of another's dwelling'. For purposes of common law arson, malicious is defined as 'an action creating a GREAT RISK of a burning'. It is not required that the defendant acted intentionally or willfully for the purpose of burning a dwelling. Creating the RISK is enough to be charged with the crime (sin).

So, here I am, yet again, walking out James 5:16, "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." Please, God, keep Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth. 

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for Your Word that always leads us back to You and redemption. Restore a right spirit within us, O Lord. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Promise for Today - Relationships

 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Revelation 2:2-4 NKJV

According to Scripture, God has loved us since before the foundations of the Earth. I have not loved Him that long. I loved Him when I was a child, but when I got old enough to think I could make my own decisions, I chose (at that time) to walk after the ways of the world. For over a decade, I was on a one-way street with no speed limits, heading straight for hell. "Do not pass Go. Do not collect two hundred dollars."

It was when I was at my personal worst that God stepped into my path and offered me a way out...my Prince had come to save me and I couldn't get enough of Him! I was at church every time the doors were open and sometimes, even when they weren't. I just wanted to be there. I took notes every service and studied them and studied them and studied them some more because I wanted to know all I could about this God of the universe, Creator of Heaven and Earth, who loved ME enough to die for me - to pay the price for MY sins - to spare me the punishment for the evil choices I made.

That was a long time ago. Lately, it's almost been like some of the old married couples you've seen. They're comfortable in their relationship, but they're not "crazy in love" like they were when they were kids. She no longer hangs on his every word. He's not her "first love" anymore. Nowadays, he gets put on the back burner if one of the grandchildren or one of the ladies in her group needs something. She takes for granted that he's always going to be there.

There is a huge difference between comfortable and complacent. I've grown comfortable in my relationship with the Lord. I actually believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that He loves me - and that's good - but the truth is in the last few months, I had grown complacent in my relationship with Him. Oh, I wasn't out running around or getting drunk or doing stuff like that - but neither was I running to be with Him or drinking from the water of Life or listening for His voice. And I could feel the nudges... "You don't spend time with Me. Come talk to Me. Don't push Me away. Don't ignore Me."


I tried to make myself believe it was all okay because I wasn't running around or doing all those other things, and I was at church and paid my tithes, and gave offerings, etc... but I forgot one VERY important thing. 

This relationship has NEVER been about what I'VE done for Him.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for loving me more than enough to confront me and make me uncomfortable in my complacency. Forgive me, Lover of my soul, for putting anything alive or electronic ahead of You in my life. It is ONLY in You that I live and move and have my being. Let my only comfort be in You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Promise for Today - Priceless

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -
Ephesians 2:4-8 NIV

I’ve been thinking lately about the grace of God. How do we measure grace? Should we at least try to measure it? Personally, I think we should. We need to know what it means to our eternal lives and we need to realize that although it was freely given, it was not free.

One of my favorite songs for all time is "Alabaster Box". It tells of Mary Magdalene and the alabaster box of costly oil that she poured out on the feet of Jesus (John 12). My favorite passage in the song is toward the end – "You don’t know the cost of the oil – you don’t know the cost of my praise…" She was a woman who understood God's grace.

I really have no idea what God’s grace covers in your life and you have no idea what God’s grace covers in mine. I know a lot of people – myself, included – who tend to struggle with receiving something they think they haven’t earned in some way, whether it’s love or a gift…or grace. And there’s the rub. We can’t earn any of those things. These are the things in life that are priceless. There's no way to put a dollar value of any kind on them.

I am all too aware of what grace has covered in my life, and when I think of a pure and holy Christ giving His life for mine, I am overwhelmed. I know the cost of grace for me – His life for mine on the Cross at Calvary. Something only God and I know the real value of when it comes to my life. Something only God and you know the real value of when it comes to your life.

Oh, the incomparable riches of His grace. Priceless!

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to live for You as though we are worthy of the value You have placed on our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Promise for Today - Wonders

[Jesus speaking] I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.
John 15:1-3

My son-in-love did a little landscaping cleanup, and I realized I had the illustrated sermon of this Scripture passage in front of me.

As he clipped and trimmed and shaped and removed sucker growth, I thought about God being our gardener. I wonder at His patience when we resist His tending. I wonder at His ability to see past all the unruly growth to get to the heart of who we are and then to create a clean heart in us. I wonder at His great love to remove the suckers from our lives, so that we may be pure and exhibit true, healthy growth.

And I wonder if He kicks back when the work is done, knowing He's done right by us - and for us - and waits for us to bloom exactly as He planned in the spot He has planted us or transplanted us. I wonder how long He'll have to wait...

Prayer:

Father,
          Cultivate our hearts. Don't let them become stony and hard through inactivity or misuse. Regenerate and wash us with Your Word as You have promised. We want to be and do what You have planned for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Monday, September 22, 2025

Promise for Today - The Better Choice

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 
Romans 8:5-6 NIV

Have you ever met someone with a certain mindset - that no matter what you said, they weren't changing their mind? Sometimes that can be a good thing; sometimes, not so good... It all depends on what set their mind that way in the first place. Was it Truth or the circumstances of life or lies?

We've all met people who are convinced that life is just one crisis or tragedy after another. Their mindset is that life is bad or, at the very least, depressing, and nothing can change it. No matter what you say, they don't see that they have a choice. And because that's what they believe in their mind, they are right. However, the Word of God tells us, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;" There IS a better choice!

Colossians 1:2 (NIV) instructs us to "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." We do have a choice. We CAN choose life. If we set our minds on what the Spirit desires, we can - and WILL - have life and peace. It's the better choice.

Prayer:

Father,
           Your Word tells us in Isaiah 26:3 that You will keep us in perfect peace when we trust You and keep our thoughts fixed on You. Help us to not entertain thoughts and mindsets that are displeasing to You. We want to walk in accordance with Your Word. We choose to love You - the Lord our God, to obey Your voice and cling to You, for You are our life and the length of our days. Cause us to keep our hearts and minds in submission to You and Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Promise for Today - Creating a Dust Storm

The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Living Bible

If every Bible sitting collecting dust is ever picked up and dusted off at the same time, it will create the greatest dust storm ever known to mankind!

We say we want to change. We say we want to be 'better'. We say we want things to be different. So, how do we go about it? We do Facebook. We watch YouTube. Consult dozens of other websites, our friends. We pray, pray, pray, or more aptly, make our requests known to God, but without thanksgiving or taking the time to listen for an answer. We rarely pick up the one Book that has every answer for every situation, every time.

Let's remedy that. Find it, blow off the dust and dive right in. "The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right."

Prayer:

Father,
           Your Word is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Birth in us a great desire for Your Word. It is the remedy for everything wrong in our lives. Divide us from everything that keeps us from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Promise for Today - Live Inside Out

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:31-33 NLT

We get up. We go to work. We get our paycheck, pay our bills, and buy groceries, and repeat. Get up. Go to work. Pay bills...

Nothing wrong with working and taking care of business. The Word tells us we are to work. I think the question should be, what is our motivation? What perspective do we have with regard to our work? Are we working solely to keep a roof over our heads, put food on the table, and take care of those things that address our personal comforts and desires? Do we rely solely on ourselves and the work of our hands?

I spent almost half of my life working to provide for just that. Frequently working two or three jobs at one time, trying to make ends meet. Always worrying about whether or not there would be enough. When there doesn't seem to be enough money to go around, our thoughts immediately go to tomorrow and next week and beyond. We live so focused on meeting the needs of the outside of our bodies.

Then I discovered this passage of Scripture. I was horrified to read that "these things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers..." And verse 34 tells us to not worry about tomorrow. How? How do we do that?

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else."  The King James Version reads this way, "Seek first the Kingdom of God."

First. Seek God FIRST and live righteously.

Living righteously has nothing to do with meeting the needs of the outside of our bodies. It's about changing our hearts and minds to live pleasing to God. We don't do that by what we wear or what we eat or how good we look. Remember, God told Samuel that man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 

We must seek the Kingdom of God above all else - BEFORE all else. 
We who are following Christ must live from the inside out.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for opening Your Word so we gain understanding. Help us to always remember that there is only room for one Number One and that's You. You are God and we are not. Holy Spirit, remind us always to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friday, September 19, 2025

Promise for Today - What's This World Coming To?

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Ephesians 5:1-2 The Message

It's time for Christians to wake up from their spiritual slumber. The events of the last 10 days have been horrific. I have friends who have just been totally devastated.  And worse is the division the events have brought to the forefront. People tend to get so caught up in the newscast and the world views of it all that they lose their God focus. We have available to us the power that can change what's happening, but we're numbed into believing there's nothing we can do to stem the tide of evil. It's all so overwhelming that we've just gotta DO something! Gotta Gotta Gotta... yet we do anything but pray and intercede and worship. Ephesians goes on to exhort us...

"Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.

"You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

"Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

"Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

"Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

"Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ."    
Ephesians 5:6-20. The Message

Prayer:

Father,
         Help us to awaken from our spiritual slumber and pray and seek You. Help us to realize that we can pray a hedge of protection around our families, our pastors, our bosses, our police force, our world leaders. WE can't change anything, but Father, we know YOU can change everything. Please, Father, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Promise for Today - Before You Go

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 NLT

Fix your thoughts... "To calculate; plan to implement" is what it really means.

It's like doing a JSA at work; an acronym for Job Safety Analysis. It's a form that we complete before attempting any task that requires the use of tools or before entering an area that has a risk potential. We take 5 or 10 minutes to assess the possible risks. What could go wrong if we're not paying attention? What are the potential hazards given the work we're about to do? What is the proper preparation and handling of the tools? Will they be used in the correct manner for which they were created - the right tool for the right job? Is the supervisor aware of what we're going to do? To whom will we be accountable for our actions to perform the task(s) according to the guidelines provided for safe execution?

Before we begin our day, we should plan to implement in every life situation "what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable." We should plan to respond as Christ, who chose to forgive before going to the Cross. Who chose to serve and wash the feet of the very one who would betray Him and the rest who would desert Him before the night was over. Who, at all times, chose love over every other option available to Him.

BEFORE you go to work in the morning, take the time to complete your Christian JSA. You know the hazards, the potential risks. Plan to implement love and grace and forgiveness for your co-workers. Yes, even for the I.T. department. Prepare and plan to execute "what is true and honorable and right..." BEFORE you go in.

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to learn and implement into our daily choices what Christ modeled before us. Holy Spirit, remind us to fix our thoughts and intentions "on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable." Help us to remember to use the tools You have provided; that our weapons are not carnal because we are not to wrestle with flesh and blood. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Promise for Today - One King to Another

But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, their master, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the city so they can come in and conquer it!” So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.
2nd Samuel 10:2c-4 NLT

David had only attempted to return the loyalty of King Nahash - one king to another - to offer condolences at the time of his death, but David's actions were egregiously misinterpreted.

Hanun's council of commanders gave him the wrong counsel. When he realized how angry David was, Hanun became more defensive and set himself for battle. He even went so far as to hire 43,000 additional men to fight. Forty-three thousand! And that was only for the first defensive round. They hired still more for the next battle - one in which 40,700 of Hanun's warriors were killed.

I wonder what would have happened if Hanun had admitted his mistake in following the wrong counsel, humbled himself to David, and made restitution to those he had shamed, then tried to seek peace... I'm inclined to believe that David would have forgiven him because David would have sought the counsel of God. After all, he often liked to show and share the kindnesses of God.

How often do we misinterpret someone's actions toward us, seek ungodly counsel, then get angry and vindictive? How long do we carry a grudge or some form of unforgiveness? Do we "hire" others to be angry with us?

Whose counsel will you follow?

Prayer:

Father,
          We choose to walk in forgiveness rather than bear the wrath of unforgiveness. Open our hearts to hear and follow only the counsel from the King of kings. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Promise for Today - Earth-shaking Praise

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 
Acts 16:25-26 NLT

Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, then stripped and beaten (verse 23 states severely beaten), then locked in stocks in the inner dungeon... BUT at midnight, they were praying and singing hymns, and their very captive audience was listening.

No one in that prison wanted to be there! They all wanted out, but there was nothing they could do - especially in the inner dungeon with their feet locked in the stocks. There was no light; it was filthy. Historians describe the deplorable conditions, yet there sat Paul and Silas - in the midst of it all - praying and singing hymns to God. The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. Matthew 18:20 reads, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (NKJV) And everyone around them was listening.

When the earthquake happened, the Bible tells us that the chains of EVERY prisoner fell off. EVERY prisoner. They were ALL set free. Plus, the jailer and his entire household came to know and accept the Gospel of Jesus that very night. So even those who were bound by chains that could not be seen were set free.

What is it that binds us? What keeps us from praying and singing to God? What do we allow to keep us from praising our God and getting into His presence? Whatever it is can be broken by the very act of worship to our God! IN the midst of the trial, when life seems so dark and no way out, we must be disciplined to pray and praise. It has earth-shaking power to set us free and to usher us into God's presence.

Prayer:

Father,
           Keep us accountable to discipline ourselves to pray and praise You in, during, and through the storms of life. For our circumstances do not change who You are and how worthy of praise You are. Thank You for coming to see about us, God. Help us to remember that our words, our actions, can cause us to be bound, or they can set our deliverance through the earth-shaking power of praise. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen