Promise for Today - Heaven via G.P.S.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NIV)

Over the years, I’ve encountered people who want to deny the existence of evil. They think that people are basically good and by nature unselfish, and that they naturally put the needs of others before their own.

I always wonder if those people have ever read the news! You don’t have to look far to see that the world is filled with broken relationships, broken promises, and sin. Evil is all around you—from world politics to local conflicts, you can see hatred, bitterness, and corruption. And because sin and evil exist, hell also exists.

What was true in Noah’s day is still true today: “The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness . . . and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart” (Genesis 6:5-6 NLT).

When God looks at all the wrong, evil things that are done in the world, it breaks his heart—because he loves everyone and wants us to learn to love each other.

But God is also holy and just. He is perfect and cannot sin. So one day he will settle the score and right the wrongs: “He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth” (Psalm 96:13 NLT).

Until then, God has given you free will so that you can choose to love him—and love involves a choice. That’s why this world is still broken by sin. But in heaven, there is no sin. It’s a completely perfect place.

If heaven is a perfect place, then that means only perfect people get to go there. Of course, that’s a problem—because you’re not perfect, and neither am I. No one is perfect! If you’re made to last forever and you’re not perfect, you can't go to a perfect place like heaven. So, where will you go? The Bible says hell.

But thank God! He has made a way—through Jesus Christ, his Son—for you to join him in heaven. [You need GPS - God's Perfect Son]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18 NIV).

Hell is real. So is heaven. Choose Christ, and there is no condemnation. The choice is yours!

Talk It Over

Why is it important to be straightforward about the existence of hell when you talk to people about the gospel?

How would you respond to someone who asks, “Why do you believe hell exists?”

Do you think God can have love without exacting justice? Why or why not?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for making a way for us to stand before You holy and without sin, through Christ our Lord, according to Your Word. It is only in our choosing to follow Jesus and accept His atonement for us that we can make Heaven.  Give us Your strength to walk in righteous choices so that we have eternity with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

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SPECIAL NOTE from Pastor Rick

Will you choose to spend eternity with God?
The Bible says, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are” (Romans 3:22 NLT). If you’re ready to turn away from your sins and surrender your life to Jesus Christ, start by praying this simple prayer:

“Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I believe that he died for my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust him as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

Promise for Today - No Putting It Off

We are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV)

We’ve been talking about eternal realities so that you can clearly see why you need to choose heaven.  Yes, you get to choose where you’re going to spend eternity. But you have to choose now while you’re alive, not after you’re dead. There’s no going back! God gives you an entire lifetime to make the right decision. If you keep putting it off, then there will be no second chance to get it right once you’ve died.

The Bible talks about what happens when we’re away from our earthly bodies—“for then we will be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT). There is no halfway house between heaven and hell. There’s no intermediate state. There’s no limbo. You may have heard the term “purgatory.” Although the idea developed over time in church history, it is not taught in Scripture.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, there was a man next to him who had been a criminal his entire life. In his last seconds, the man surrendered his life to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42 NKJV). All he knew about salvation was that Jesus could save him. He didn’t know all the doctrines or theology. He didn’t know all the “right” words. He just said “yes” to Jesus. Because of the man’s faith, Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NIV).

To get into heaven, all it takes on your part is saying “yes” to Jesus Christ. That’s it! The promise is that you are then guaranteed to be with God when you die and to spend eternity in the joy of his presence.

But you have only one life to make the choice to follow Jesus. And God has done everything to make sure you can get into heaven. Now you just need to receive his promise.

Today, you have the opportunity to choose where you’ll spend eternity. Don’t put it off!

Talk It Over

Why do you think so many people believe they can put off making the decision of whether or not to become a Christian?

How does the story of the criminal on the cross next to Jesus give you hope?

This week, who will you share with about the urgency of making a choice to follow Jesus?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us from our sins and make the way for us to be in right relationship with You. Give us divine opportunities and the boldness to lift Him up so that His love story will draw all hearers to salvation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Be Encouraged

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

Today marks the 5th anniversary of my eldest brother's death. You know we prayed, but Ron died anyway. We didn't understand, and still don't. However, there is much in this lifetime that we will never understand. The only hope we have is found in God's written Word, the Bible. It is the only Truth that does not change.

Our Promise for Today speaks to what everyone who chooses to follow God faces at some point - trust and choices. We all have decisions to make, and yet this particular proverb clearly states that we should not trust our own thinking or reasoning. Remember, we are to trust God's Truth OVER the facts!

Here are a couple of Truths we DO know.
1. God promised to NEVER leave us or forsake us. Deuteronomy 31
2. The gift of God is eternal life. Romans 6:23

The Bible also tells us that we live in a fallen world and we will all die. When we know Christ, we don't have to be afraid, for we have the assurance of heaven because of what Jesus Christ did for us. 1st Thessalonians 4:15-18, NIV, reads, "15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

And then he says, "Therefore, encourage one another with these words." 

Be encouraged.

Prayer:

Father,
          Build a hedge of protection around our minds and hearts so that satan cannot defeat or discourage those who pray for healing. Anoint us with fresh fire! Let the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead, rise up in us with renewed fervor to make us passionate, fervent prayer warriors! Help us to realize the end result is not up to us, but trusting You in it is. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Annual New Year Promise for Today

NOTE: The Promise for Today has been offline for the month of December because I had surgery on December 1st. I'm recovering nicely and looking forward to sharing with you again.

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

New Year's Day marks the anniversary of the first Promise for Today that I sent to a handful of friends and family members in 1996. When I first started sending out the Promise, I used other people's devotions from books I had. Sometimes, I would elaborate and add my own comments. Those of you who know me know that written words are my passion... but I started with the works of others.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer:

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

He Has Not

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Matthew 6:34 The Message

This scripture is taped to the monitor stand at my place of employment where I can read it every day. I printed and posted it several years ago as a reminder when the company was going through major layoffs. By God's grace and mercy, I am still there. The first couple of months I realized I was living with an underlying fear. That's when I went back to the Words I knew; to the One I can trust. God is my Source. He is my Provider. He leads me in the paths of righteousness... and my beloved Psalm 139; It doesn't matter where I go, He is there. And Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave me nor forsake me. And so many more...

God has been reminding me to live in the present. Forgetting those things that are behind, not worrying about tomorrow and what it may or may not bring, for God is already there. He is not going to take us or send us to any place that He has not already made the way. And if we believe that (and it is our choice), then we can fully live in the peace that He has promised us. The peace that only He can give us, and the world cannot.

Don't get caught up in what may or may not happen tomorrow or the next day. We must choose to put our faith and our trust in God; to not be moved by what we see or feel. It is God and His Word that must shape our lives and the choices we make.

Remember His Word in Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?"  No, He has not and He never will. 

Praise His Holy Name!

Prayer:

Father,
          When I think about all You have done for us, I am overwhelmed by Your love and faithfulness. Thank You for continuing to teach us. Use us to further Your kingdom, Lord. Morning by morning, according to Your Word, awaken us and open our understanding to Your will. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Annual First Promise for Today

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

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

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

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

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

Max Lucado writes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer:

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

For Each His Own

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

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

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

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

Prayer:

Father, 

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

The Annual New Year's Day post

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

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

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

More of God, less (and less and less) of me in 2023. By God's grace and with His direction, my life will be changed according to the choices I make in obedience to Christ and His Word. As always, it's all about the choices.

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

Max Lucado writes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer:

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

No End in Sight

I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

Psalm 37:25-26 NKJV

When you make the choice to become a Christ-follower, you enable the generations after you to walk in the blessing(s) God has bestowed on you. When God blesses YOU, it doesn't end with you. The blessing is on you, and your children and your grandchildren and great-grandchildren and so on and so forth.

God's Word is without end. Your descendants will not be beggars. They will not go hungry. Your descendants will be blessed - it doesn't matter how many generations come afterward. There's no end date on that promise!

Prayer:

Father,

         We pray Your Word, confessing what we believe - Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God! And we thank You for it, in Jesus' Name. Amen

Going Against the Grain

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
Romans 2:4 NLT

Confessing my faults so that I might be healed... Despite what some might think, my preference is to teach by example rather than tell people what to do. It is my intention to live in peace and to hopefully change unwanted behaviors by proving what can be accomplished through choices we make. However, I have to confess my patience and long-suffering abilities are not even remotely close to the lengths that God will go to show kindness, and so, after a time, I wind up saying exactly how and what I think should be done. Sometimes, that's good. Sometimes, not so much. My choices.

Some days, I know the mercy I choose to extend to my fellow man is NOT new every morning. It's as though I have prescribed a set amount per use and if the whole allotment is used in less time than I think is appropriate, you don't get any more until either I get over it or I think you've earned the right to have more. And that is so NOT God. And Romans chapter 2 fully addresses these wrong mindsets.

While I do most of my reading/study in the New Living and New King James, sometimes I just love the phrasing in The Message interpretation. Verse 3 - 4a, You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. Verse 5a, You’re not getting by with anything. 

Verse 9, If you go against the grain, you get splinters, regardless of which neighborhood you’re from, what your parents taught you, what schools you attended.

Going against the grain in this instance translates to not walking in obedience to God's Word. If you go against the grain, you get splinters - regardless...

Prayer:

Father,
          Help us to rightly divide Your Word so that we go with Your flow and not against the grain. Help us to pull out the splinters of our disobedience so they don't fester and kill us... or others. Forgive us, O God! Heal us, Father, change our hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - * The Danger of Criticism

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
Romans 14:1 NLT

Today’s Promise is taken directly from Romans 14:1-13 New Living Translation

For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.

In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him.

Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say,

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’”

Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
Prayer:

Father,
            Help us to see and love each other as You love us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorite - * All of Them

All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and

all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. In the cloud and in the sea,

all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.

All of them ate the same spiritual food, and

all of them drank the same spiritual water.

For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.

Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

1st Corinthians 10:1b-5 NLT

God declared a new beginning for all of them, whether they were born in the land or were strangers who chose to be a part of the assembly and follow the Lord; God made no distinction among them. It no longer mattered to Him. Here's all you have to do... (read Exodus 12).

And then He gave them the same instructions. All of them were given the same opportunity. And again, He made the point of expressing that it made no difference if they were born in the land or were strangers who chose to follow His ways. Follow Me and live. Not one of them could say, "Well, You gave him more than you gave me..."  Not one...

Did all of them follow Him? No, they did not. Will you?

You may say, Yeah, but that was back then and He provided their shelter and their food every day and they didn't have to earn a living and pay gas prices and... 

The great Equalizer is this, they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.  The same Christ who instructed us in Matthew 28:20, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world...

I ask again... Did all of them follow Him? No, they did not. The question is, Will you?

Prayer:

Father,

         Help us to examine our own lives - face to face with You. Cause the compass of our hearts to be totally fixed on You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Which Way (by request)

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 16:25 NKJV

God loves us SO much that He will use ANYTHING to get His point across to us! If you try to tell me that He won't use certain things, I'd have to say you've come around too late - I've seen it too many times. Case in point? What I'm about to write...

A few years back, a friend and I were talking about distractions and "oh, shiny!" when she decided to share the lesson God taught her while watching - are you ready for this? - Finding Nemo. Yeah... seriously.

I don't remember the exact detail of the scene, but it was the one where Dory - who is supposed to be leading - loses her focus because one of the other characters tells her to "look over there" so she does and winds up completely distracted and doesn't follow the instructions that were given about catching the EAC. Instead of going through the tough spot - which is also the best shot - she winds up going over it (the path of least resistance) and ends up bouncing top to top, flying high and having a grand old time. However, what seems like so much dancing on air and the easiest way is actually a jelly fish pool. Then one little slip and she's thrust into the deadly tentacles being stung on every side.

More often than not, that is exactly what satan tries with our lives. We're going along, doing our best to follow the Lord, and lead those around us to Him, when someone says, "Oh, look!" and we allow ourselves to get distracted.

A new job may have more money, but also comes with travel and/or more time away from the family - and the next thing you know, we're off course. We follow whatever caught our eye and wind up flying high and having a grand old time - not having to fight the day-to-day challenges. However, what we're bouncing on is not our Sure Foundation. Oh, we may have a good time for a little while, but that one little slip and we're thrust into the deadly tentacles of sin... being stung on every side... facing the death of our soul... and what about those who are following us?

Which way? You choose. Choose wisely... There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Prayer:

Father,
           Please help us to wire the connection to our helmet of salvation with the proper Word of God filters that will effectively filter out distractions and anything that is not of You. Help us to listen AND obey Your words. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Lie

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; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;
Deuteronomy 30:19-20a NKJV

I watched a movie the other day about a young woman looking to fulfill her purpose in life. She had a plan. Then she got a job that turned out to be life-changing for her. At first, it was just a job. A means to an end. She didn't even like it all that much. She was just there on her way to being where she wanted to be. But being there every day, being with the people, seeing it all first-hand, she got caught up in all of it and it literally changed her life. She became VERY successful and it changed all the lives she touched, as well.

She worked her way up, fought hard, performed well, moved into a position of importance and travelled the world over. Sounds pretty good, hunh? However, it was not a change for the good. And throughout the course of it, she would say, "I have no choice. I have to work." "I have no choice - she's the boss." "I have no choice - I have to do what she says." All the while, climbing the ladder, feeding the frenzy of her ego and competitiveness and desire to win. "I didn't choose to do that - it's part of my job. I have to. I have no choice." She bought the lie. Hook, line and sinker... and because of it, she lost the truth of her life. She had no true confidant, no one that knew her for herself, let alone loved her for who she was.

There is ALWAYS a choice. God said so. He set it before us. We may not like the consequences or the results of the choices. We may have to choose to do without or choose to not go, or - horror of horrors - make a stand where people will think we're weird or call us a goodie-two-shoes. Luke 6:22 says, What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. Mark 8:36, And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

You have a choice. Choose wisely. Choose Truth. Choose life.

Prayer:

Father,
           We want to choose You. You are our life and the length of our days. We want to love You with all our hearts and all our minds and all our strength. We want to obey You. Be our strength. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Believe It or Not

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2nd Timothy 3:15-17 NLT

I am appalled at those who believe they can pick and choose which Scriptures they believe are true. The Bible is not a collection of suggestions when it comes to governing our lives. It's not a list of multiple choices and we get to pick A, C & E, but not follow B & D. Where does anyone get the idea that because a proverb isn't semantically a promise that it's any less true when found in the Word of God?

Just because someone doesn't believe Scripture doesn't make it any less true - no matter where they stand - pew or pulpit. Romans 3:3-5 KJV reads, For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;

The Bible is written for saints AND sinners. It rightly divides truth. It convicts us of our sin and wrong-doing and shines the light of truth on our lives so we know which way to go to please the Father. His Word was written for OUR good because He loves us. Who will believe it?

...God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. Believe it or not... it doesn't change the Truth of God's Word.

Prayer:

Father,
          Open their eyes to see Your Truths. Help us not to argue semantics, but rather to choose to build up and edify Your people. Sanctify and cleanse us so that we might be presented to You as a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that we should be holy and without blemish. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Setting the Example

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT

I have several friends who use similar quotes in the signature line of their e-mail replies. One is "Choose carefully how you spend your time today because you are spending a day of your life for it." Another refers to it as "trading a day." When was the last time you gave conscious thought to how you spend each of your days or the moments in them?

And in the spending and trading of our days, how many of us truly think about what kind of example we set for those around us every day? The truth is each day of our lives we set a GREAT example... Either it's a great example of how we should live or it's a great example of how we should NOT live. What kind of example are we setting?

What kind of example do we want to set? The choice is ours.

Prayer:

Father,
          We know the time is short. Remind us daily to make the moments count. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Time is Now

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.
Hebrews 12:1-2a The Message

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

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

The Promise for Today started 21 years ago with the following excerpt from Max Lucado's book, When God Whispers Your Name. Almost every year, I send it out as the first Promise of the New Year to remind us of our choices.

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

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

I Choose Love ... 

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

I Choose Joy ... 

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

I Choose Peace ... 

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

I Choose Patience ... 

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

I Choose Kindness ... 

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

I Choose Goodness ... 

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

I Choose Faithfulness ... 

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

I Choose Gentleness ... 

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

I Choose Self-Control ... 

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

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

Prayer:

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

Emphasis: Choices

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:38-42 NKJV

Poor Martha. Jesus is her guest. Martha welcomes Him into her house. She's fixing a big dinner for Him and His friends (clue - much serving) and what does her sister do? Is she helping? No. She just sits there...

I think it's safe to assume that Mary's normal course of action would be to help her sister or else Martha wouldn't be so upset that Mary wasn't helping when they both knew the Most Important Guest they'd ever had was sitting in the house. Do you think Mary wasn't aware that Martha would be angry with her? Oh, she knew it all right. But I believe Mary weighed the cost and made her choice.

Do you ever hear these? What do you mean you're part of a committed Bible study group and can't go? What do you mean you have to study for it - aren't I more fun? Why don't we go to a movie? Oh, come on! Everybody's going! No, we love it when you come. It won't be the same if you're not there. You can miss one night.

We choose how we spend our time - productive or mindless - it's our decision. What choices do we make? Where do those choices leave us? More to the point - Where do we want our choices to leave us?

Emphasis: Our choices.

Prayer:

Father,
So often we are pulled away by stuff, just stuff. Help us to see what is the one thing that is needed. Open our eyes to the good part, the part that can't be taken from us. Give us the courage of our convictions. Forgive us for choosing anything over You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Every Day - His Way!

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message

My slogan for this new year is Every Day - His Way. I want my life to reflect my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In order to do that, I must make the choice to let go of my will and embrace His, for I know that God only wants the best for my life. Trials will come, but they provide opportunities to grow in grace and develop Christ-like character. By God's grace and with His direction, my life will be changed according to the choices I make in obedience to Christ. As always, it's all about the choices.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer:

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

* No Less Love

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Luke 11:9-12 NLT

I spent the entire day with my youngest granddaughter, Abby. They call it babysitting, daycare, whatever. I call it love in its purest form. It was the best day on several counts, but the two most important are; One - I love being with her. I don't care where it is or what we're doing, I just love being with Abby. And two - God illustrated some real truths for me.

This may be the most basic of understandings and you might wonder how I didn't get this until now, but maybe it's because someone else also needs the reminder of the basics...

I have discovered that my perfect little granddaughter is not perfect. She has a temper and a very strong will. That does NOT make me love her less. If anything, it allows me to love her more and prove it by guiding her in the right direction. She cannot purchase or prepare her own food or drink. She can only feed herself finger food snacks (if I get them from the pantry and dole them out for her). She makes a mess in her diapers and needs to be changed frequently. That does NOT make me love her less. She's still crawling. She can pull herself up on anything and climbs well. She has learned how to stand but will stumble or fall when she tries to walk alone. 

I must appoint times for her to rest and isolate her from distractions and the noise and cares of this world so she may do so. I comfort her even when it's me she's angry with (because I didn't answer her plea the way she wanted it to be answered). That does NOT make me love her less. 

She needs constant supervision because she will get into everything - and some of it even AFTER she's been told 'no'. That does NOT make me love her less, either. Nor does any of it make me want to spend less time with her. 

And if I - being sinful - know how to do these things for my granddaughter and still love her with a love that defies description, HOW MUCH MORE will our heavenly Father do all this and more for each of His children?

Prayer:

Father,
         Forgive us for all those times we didn't recognize Your love in action. Open our eyes to see, our ears to hear and our hearts to receive and believe Your love for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen