Promise for Today - Front and Back

The Lord watches over all who love him.” Psalm 145:20 (NIV)

When you put your trust in Jesus, you never need to fear the future. His goodness and mercy are with you every day.

In fact, the Bible says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” 

(Psalm 23:6 ESV).

You have a Good Shepherd, and he is out in front of you with his rod and staff. Behind you are a couple of sheepdogs. In your life, those sheepdogs are goodness and mercy, guarding the flock and nipping at your heels to keep you from wandering off into a ravine. Those two sheepdogs help keep you on track as you follow the Good Shepherd.

God’s goodness is watching over you. Did you know that not one second has ever passed in your life when God was not watching you? God is always paying attention to you, because he created you to love you. He knows every detail of your life.

Not only does he watch over you, but he also protects you. The Bible says, “God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go” (Psalm 91:11 CEV).

God’s protection does not mean that only good things will happen to you. Suffering and disappointment will still come your way. But God will ensure that good will come out of everything that happens to you—whether or not you’re able to see in this lifetime how he has been working.

God’s mercy and grace are working in you. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “I will have mercy on you through my grace” (Isaiah 60:10).

Grace is when God gives you what you don’t deserve. Mercy is when God doesn’t give you what you do deserve. For all the ways you’ve sinned, failed, and made mistakes, you deserve punishment, yet God pardons and forgives you through Christ. That’s mercy. It is God’s nature to be merciful. He loves to show his mercy! He doesn’t get bored with it. He doesn’t get tired of it. He doesn’t get frustrated that you keep coming back for more. God doesn’t say, “Okay, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, I’ll give goodness, and on Tuesday and Thursday, I’ll give mercy, and on Saturday and Sunday, you’re on your own.” That’s simply not true!

The truth is, God is with you every moment of every day, always offering his goodness and mercy.

Nobody knows what’s going to happen next week, much less next year or in the next 10 years. But when you face the future, you can know this: God will fill your life to overflowing, and his goodness and mercy will be with you. There is no need to fear.

Talk It Over

Read Psalm 103:2-13. Think about all the ways God shows his mercy.

How does a right view of God’s mercy affect how content you are in life?

If you truly believed God was always working for your good, what would you have the courage to do for him?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         In our times of trial and tribulation, we come before You, seeking Your divine grace and boundless mercy. Lord, grant us Your strength to endure life’s challenges, for we know that Your love and guidance are unending. Help us find and LEARN the lessons from our struggles, and give us the courage to face them with unwavering faith. In Your grace and mercy, we find comfort for our souls, knowing that You are by our side, leading us toward whatever lies ahead, and knowing it is Your plan for the best of our lives. We want to be as faithful to You as You are to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Impossible Possibles

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)

God never tells you to do something without providing what you need to do it. Anointing is a sign that he is equipping and empowering you to fulfill an assignment he’s given you.

Do you want God’s resurrection power to work through your life? Then you need to understand what it means to have his anointing. To understand God’s anointing, you need to keep a few things in mind.

1. When God says to do it, you can count on his anointing. Jesus’ last assignment to his disciples was impossible. There was no way they could take the gospel to the ends of the earth—except through his power. God will often give you an assignment that looks physically impossible, but he will make it possible.

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV).

2. God’s anointing makes difficult tasks easier. Your resources, energy, knowledge, wisdom, and talent are all limited—but God is not. With God’s anointing, you can handle things better, last longer, and go farther.

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources [God] will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit” (Ephesians 3:16 NLT).

3. God’s anointing makes the impossible possible. In your business, marriage, health, and relationships, you’re going to come up against seemingly insurmountable problems. God is a competent Father. No problem is beyond his ability to provide.

“What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27 NIV).

4. God anoints your life to bless others. Jesus came to comfort the afflicted, broken-hearted, and those who are enslaved to bad habits. And he anoints you to comfort others as well.

Acts 10:38 is paraphrased in The Message this way: “Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.”

5. For every new challenge, you need renewed power from God. Anointing by the Holy Spirit can’t be stored up. You can’t handle today’s problems with yesterday’s anointing.

Stay in touch with God so that he can constantly fill you with his grace, love, and power. James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (NIV). Ask for God’s anointing again!

Talk It Over

If you believed God wanted to bless your life, what would you ask of him?

Do you try to accomplish your tasks based on your own power or God’s power? What difference does it make?

In what ways do you see how God has anointed you, or equipped you, to fulfill whatever assignment he has given you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

         We come humbly, yet boldly to Your throne of Grace seeking fresh anointing to cleanse, refill, and align us with Your will for our lives. Let the anointing oil break off the spiritual dryness and dullness that has crept in. Lord, we need Your anointing to operate with Your power and boldness so that we may fulfill our assignments with excellence. Let Your anointing separate us from every distraction and empty pursuit, and draw us deeper into Your presence and purpose. Renew the gifts You have placed inside of us, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - You're Not Alone

Jacob’s sons became jealous of their brother Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and brought him safely through all his troubles.

 Acts 7:9-10 (GNT)

When faced with great adversity and hardship, Joseph remained resilient because he depended on God’s presence, no matter where he was. There’s a phrase that’s used five times in Joseph’s story—and anytime something is said five times in Scripture, God wants you to pay close attention. This phrase is essentially, “The Lord was with Joseph.”

Joseph knew that no matter what the setback was, God was with him. God was with Joseph when his brothers threw him in the pit and when they sold him to the traders. God brought him safely through all his troubles. 

Notice that it doesn’t say God spared Joseph from his troubles. It says God brought him safely through.

When you have God’s presence, it doesn’t mean he’s going to keep bad or hard things from happening to you. It means he’s going to bring you through it. If God had spared Joseph from all the terrible things that happened to him, then Joseph would not have made it to Egypt, where he became a powerful leader who saved his people from famine. He would have never had his comeback.

God doesn’t cause your problems, but he can use them for his purposes.

Whatever you’re facing today, God could have taken you around it or kept you out of it altogether. But he’s taking you through it for your good and for his glory. Even when you don’t feel it, God’s presence has never left you. He was with Joseph in the pit, on the path to Egypt, in Potiphar’s palazzo, in prison, and in Pharaoh’s palace. There is no place you can go that he will not be with you too.

There is always something to learn in the setbacks of life. Maybe the only thing you learn in your troubles is how to depend on God’s presence and power—but that means a deeper, stronger faith will be one of your greatest comebacks. - written by Pastor Rick

Talk It Over

Who or what can help remind you of God’s presence when you are going through a setback?

What do you think God wants you to do when you don’t feel his presence?

Think of some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned through the setbacks in your life. How does remembering God’s faithfulness through them help you trust in his presence now?

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Prayer:

Father, 

          I'm reminded of the old gospel song "He'll Do It Again" - we KNOW You can, and You will do it again. You will bring us through all of life's issues when we place our faith and trust in You. It's Your Plan. Your Purpose. And all for Your glory. Because of Your faithfulness - knowing we are never alone - we freely offer You our praise and thanksgiving in the midst of it all. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Advent Day 13 - Is God Really with Me?

This year's Advent devotionals are from A Celebration of Advent:
A 25-Day Devotional by New Spring Church of Anderson, SC
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“... the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14

This time of year, reminders of Jesus’ birth are everywhere— in Christmas carols, church nativities, and family traditions. But how many of us woke up today with the confidence that God is with us?

Jesus is called “Immanuel” because He is "God with us." It’s one thing to know God is with us; it’s another to experience this truth in our everyday [life]. Jesus promised to never leave us.

God is with us— we can never be separated from His love (Romans 8:38-39).
God is with us— we can accomplish His will for us (Philippians 2:13).
God is with us— we don’t have to live with fear, worry, or dissatisfaction (Philippians 4:4-7).

God is with you when you’re facing the heartache of Christmas without a family. God is with you when you’re fretting over the details of the holidays. And when you’re experiencing the joys of this holiday season, God is with you there, too. This Christmas, let God’s promise lead you to love more fully, give more generously, and live more confidently. He is Immanuel.

Reflect: Read Isaiah 7:10-14, Matthew 1:23
When is it easy to believe that God is with you?
When do you struggle to believe that’s true?
What do you think would change if you sensed God is with you?
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Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for putting conditions on our faith and on Your love. Forgive us for letting situational circumstances determine whether or not we believe You are always with us. You promised to never leave us or forsake us. Increase our faith, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder - How Can You Not...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How can we not love this God...

Prayer:

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

Reminder - Laboring Hardcore

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

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

Oh, that we would be hardcore for Christ!

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

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

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

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

Prayer:

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

Blessed to be a Blessing - written by Pr. Alan Neel

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
Luke 16:10 -12

We are privileged to be conduits of God's blessings, not creators of our own wealth. As followers of Jesus Christ, we should understand that everything given to us is a test of our gratitude and faith. 

Our worldview is undoubtedly different because we find God’s purpose in every area of our lives, including our finances. We are called to be like our heavenly Father, constantly pouring blessings to demonstrate His love! Never do we believe that God blesses us for our selfish pleasure. We have been blessed to be a blessing!

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Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your faithfulness of provision for our needs. Thank You also for giving us the desire of our hearts as we DELIGHT ourselves in You. Thank You for ALWAYS providing so that we can provide for others. Open our eyes, Father, to see those in need around us so that we open our hearts and our hands to BE the blessing You've created us to be. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Advent - Day Three

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15 NIV

The God Who is with Us - by Ronnie Martin (see info at the end of this post)

Most of us have likely had the experience of a person who, for whatever reason, was not able to sympathize very well with us. As amazing as some of our close friends are when it comes to sympathizing with our weaknesses and temptations, they will never hold a candle to how deeply and perfectly Jesus is able to sympathize with us.

Pause on that for a moment, if you would. We have a high priest, an intercessor who sits at the right hand of our heavenly Father. What we do not have is One who has separated Himself from the anguish of our humanness. What separated Jesus from the Israelite high priests is that He walked in the same shoes as the people He ministered to but did so as the sinless Son of God.

Imagine what this means for you and me who are confronted with an endless cycle of hard-to-resist temptations that are as relentless as they are irresistible. Imagine what this means as you consider your beloved friend and high priest. It means that Jesus, the spotless lamb who came to atone for the sins of the world, “gets you.” One of the things we look for in a friend is someone who “gets us.” They know us for who we are so there’s no need for any posturing. We can be vulnerable because we have a friend in our corner who suspends judgment and just listens. We don’t have to feel shame because we have someone who sees us and accepts us even at our absolute lowest.

Of course, there are limitations to this because none of our friends can sympathize with us without sin. So imagine, for a moment, someone like Jesus knowing exactly what you went through because He went through it too but didn’t give in to the temptation like you and I do. Because He never gave in to the temptation, He has a particular, one-of-a-kind heart for you that is untainted by the sin your human friends are susceptible to. It means His love for you is unprocessed. It means His compassion for you is full. It means His joy for you is boundless. It means His forgiveness for you is all-encompassing. As much as others can sympathize with your weaknesses, they can’t offer you what Jesus our high priest can offer. This is the kind of high priestly friendship you need.

Now consider this: the sympathetic and empathetic heart of Jesus. In every respect, He has gone through what you have gone through. In all the ways you have failed when it comes to temptation, He has been faithful. His faithfulness is the very thing that covers your shame-filled failures, paper-thin faith, and Mount Everest-like fears.

In all your inabilities and instabilities, He is able and willing to stand close.

In all your insecurities and vulnerabilities, He is able and willing to stay close.

Like a shepherd who will carry you forever...

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You that no temptation has overtaken us except what is common to mankind. And You are faithful; You will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. But when we are tempted, You will also provide a way out so that we can endure it, according to Your Word. Help us to stand firmly and walk straight in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

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“Immanuel. God with us.” We know that God sent His Son, but what does that mean for our lives now? In this plan, Ronnie Martin walks us through what it means for God to be with us...

We would like to thank B&H Publishing for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com

A Heart that Remembers

Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people. How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

Psalm 111:1-4 NLT

In the Bible commentary, Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms
by Brian Webster and David Beach, they provide this insight into Psalm 111.

Israel received many benefits from the Lord, some of which are mentioned in this psalm. God performed majestic and memorable acts. He provided food, land, and redemption. He made a lasting covenant with them. But the story is not mainly about Israel; it is about God. It is not an occasion for pride, but rather, praise—not “Look at me,” but “Look at him.”

His works are “faithful,” “righteous,” “gracious,” “compassionate,” “just,” and “trustworthy.” The story is not about you or me. The story is about God and our response to him.

So let us remember and let us be grateful.

Prayer:

Father,

           We remember Your works, Your faithfulness and great compassion toward us. We thank You, Lord, with our whole hearts as we meet with Your godly people. How amazing are Your deeds! Everything You do reveals Your glory and majesty. Your righteousness never fails! Keep our hearts ever mindful to remember Your wonderful works and to praise You for them. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Entirely Faithful

The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done.
Psalm 118:16-17 NLT

All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness. 

For who in all of heaven can compare with the Lord? 

What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord? 

The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. 

He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies! 

Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord?
You are entirely faithful.
Psalm 89:5-8

In a world devoid of trust, God is trustworthy. He is entirely faithful. 

Find out for yourself.

Prayer:

Father,
           I will sing of Your unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of Your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. May our actions and our words lift You up so that all those around us are drawn to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Advent - Day Five

For Advent this year, we are reading A Weary World Rejoices written by Brittany Rust **************************************************************

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:18-21 NLT

Yesterday the angel appeared to Mary, and in this passage, he appears to Joseph. The man engaged to Mary, who was about to quietly separate due to her pregnancy, now receives his own encounter concerning the news of Jesus.

Joseph was an honorable, godly man who was obedient to God’s leading in his life. An example to us all, especially because our first inclination might not always line up with God's will. You and I are also called to a life of obedience. A life of total surrender.

What is God calling you into, and will you be faithful with it?

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Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us for the times we have not heeded Your first call to us. Thank You for persevering in Your pursuit of saving us from ourselves. Open our eyes to see Your way. Open our ears to hear You above the other voices clamoring for our attention. Open our hearts to willingly and faithfully follow You above all else. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Find Us Faithful

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Hebrews 13:4-6 NLT

So many stories of love gone awry. There are WAY too many stories of unfaithful love in the headlines, and none of them sadder than when it involves someone who is supposed to be a Christian. Let’s just be very clear about this. It was NEVER – and HAS never – and WILL NEVER be in God’s plan for us to be unfaithful because HE is not unfaithful, nor can He be… and we are to be like Him.

Oh, we hear all the excuses…”There are too many temptations out there.” “I couldn’t help myself.” “It’s not my fault…” If the temptations are “out there,” then don’t GO “out there.” You can go to work and NOT have to be the most popular person. You CAN help yourself when you CHOOSE to follow God. Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit… I don’t need Webster’s, Oxford’s or Funk & Wagnall’s to tell me that means to control myself. I’m not even going to address “It’s not my fault…” Puh-lease!

What does it mean to be faithful? What does it take to be faithful? If we don’t know the answer to either of those, how can we be faithful? Either way - by whatever means we take - it’s only through God and striving to be like Him.

1st Corinthians 1:9 NKJV, God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1st Thessalonians 5:23-24 NKJV, Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

2nd Thessalonians 3:3 NKJV, But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

And while learning the process of being faithful and in all things, Psalm 107:1 NLT, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Prayer:

Father,
           Establish our hearts in You so that our whole spirit, soul, and body may be preserved blameless at the coming of Jesus Christ. You are faithful, Father, who also will do it. Cause us to be faithful to You and to the ones You have placed in our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

A Loyal Faction

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

2nd Corinthians 4:1-2 NLT 

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

Oh, that we would be hardcore for Christ!

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

 ⁵ You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

 ⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

 ⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

 ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

¹⁰ Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

¹³ But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”

¹⁴ We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 

¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. ¹⁷ For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

¹⁸ So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

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

Prayer:

Father,

          Let us not confuse hardened hearts with being hardcore for Christ. Instead help us to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work You have prepared for us, Lord, knowing that in You our labor is not in vain. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Something Different for May - Day 6 - God Remains Faithful

Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.

True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,

“You will be proved right in what you say,
and you will win your case in court.”

“But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world? 

“But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.

Romans 3:1-8 NLT

Day 6

Prayer:

Father God, 

                   Thank You for entrusting Your Word to the world through the Jewish people—even though some haven’t believed in Your Son. You’re always faithful (even when we’re faithless!), always true even if every human is a liar. Help us today to be faithful to You. Amen.

Praying Through Romans  www.crosswalk.com

Focus Challenge

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. 

Psalm 103:1-5a NLT

When life is this challenging, it can become all too easy to see only what's wrong in the world, in your town, in your life. I challenge you to look for what is good. That's it. Just a thought. Actively, intentionally look for what is good in your life. Need help getting started?

If nothing else, you're still breathing. That means you have another opportunity to DO something good for someone else or to do something to change YOUR life (especially if you can't seem to think of anything good in your life). If you're reading this, you still have a functioning brain. You still have your eyesight. You have a phone or computer to read it on, which means you have electricity or at least money to purchase batteries... See how easy this is?!?  

I challenge you to change your current focus to finding what is good, according to God's Word. Philippians 4:8, KJV. ...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. 

Prayer:

Father,

          With my whole heart, I will praise Your holy Name. Let all that I am praise You, Lord; may I never forget the good things You have done, are doing and will do for me. I want to come into Your presence with thanksgiving and praise. Help me to keep my focus on You and Your faithfulness to me all the days of my life. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Let Me Ask You

Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
2nd Timothy 1:15-16 NLT

Has your trust in someone or something ever been betrayed? Have you given up on someone or something because it took longer than you expected for it to come together? Or have you ever been so plumb weary at the end of a very long day that you just wanted to go home, pull the covers over your head, and forget it all?

In all areas of life, we MUST, Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching... - a pattern shaped by the faith and love that we have in Christ Jesus. And we MUST, Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to us.

Are you trustworthy? You may think,  I'm not a thief. I'm not a liar. I'm not a   (fill in the blank).  Yes, that makes me trustworthy. That's not what I'm asking you. Are you trustworthy with the great and glorious Gospel message that God has written on your heart?

Are we trustworthy to not destroy the trust others have in us because of how we feel about something that happened today or last week or this week or this month or this year?

Are we trustworthy to keep His message pure and true - not adding anything to it or taking anything away?

Are we trustworthy to share the Gospel message with those whom God has entrusted to us?

So, let me ask you - are we?

Prayer:

Father,
            Give us wisdom to stand in Your Truth, carefully guarding it. Make us trustworthy, O God. May we be found faithful to You and to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Friends' Favorites - Faithful Love

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Hebrews 13:4-6 NLT

So many stories of love gone awry. There are WAY too many stories of unfaithful love in the headlines, and none of them sadder than when it involves someone who is supposed to be a Christian. Let’s just be very clear about this. It was NEVER – and HAS never – and WILL NEVER be in God’s plan for us to be unfaithful because HE is not unfaithful, nor can He be… and we are to be like Him.

Oh, we hear all the excuses…”There are too many temptations out there.” “I couldn’t help myself.” “It’s not my fault…” You can go to work or school and NOT have to be the most popular person. And, if you know the temptations are “out there,” then don’t GO “out there.” You CAN help yourself when you CHOOSE to follow God. One of the fruits of His Holy Spirit is self-control… And I don’t need Webster’s, Oxford’s or Funk & Wagnall’s to tell me that self-control means to control myself. I’m not even going to address “It’s not my fault…” Yes, it is.

What does it mean to be faithful? What does it take to be faithful? If we don’t know the answer to either of those, how can we be faithful? Either way - by whatever means we take - it’s only through God and striving to be like Him. His Word says we are to be like Him.

1st Corinthians 1:9 NKJV, God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1st Thessalonians 5: 23-24 NKJV, Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

2nd Thessalonians 3:2-3 NKJV, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

And while learning the process and in all things, Psalm 107:1 NLT instructs us to Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Prayer:

Father,
           Establish our hearts in You so that our whole spirit, soul, and body may be preserved blameless at the coming of Jesus Christ. You are faithful, Father, who also will do it. Cause us to be faithful to You and to the ones You have placed in our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - The Children's Children

But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
Psalm 103:17-18 NLT

When I was in my late teens and early twenties, my mother used to tell me that I might as well give up and get right with God because I had a praying mother and grandmother. She stood on this promise for today.

This is a promise I have now stood on for many years. It covered my children while they were growing up, and when they were growing and going away. 

It is a promise for my beloved grandchildren, from the youngest to the older ones who are now growing up and growing away. Our time with them is so short. Only a loving God can make sure that it is enough. 

God's Word has stood the test of time. It is relevant for this time and for ALL time because it is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). I trust God to keep them, and for His salvation to guide and guard their hearts and minds. God's salvation extends to all of them - my children and my children's children. 

Prayer:

Father,
          Your grace is sufficient in and for all things. Your salvation is a promise fulfilled through Christ. Thank You for Your Word that we can stand and build our lives on and the lives of our children and our children's children. Teach us to remain faithful and to continue to walk in obedience. No slacking. Their very lives depend on it. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen

* It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. 

2nd Corinthians 5:17-18a NLT

One of the guys at work - when you ask him how he's doing - always replies, "Man, it doesn't get any better than this..." Usually what he means is, "This is it, so you might as well learn to live with it." On days that have been particularly trying, that is not what I want to hear. Although this evening, I was reminded that I used to believe exactly that because I had no hope. I was a hopeless case.

I've walked down Memory Lane a few times in the last week or so. You see, I have no problem remembering what I was and where I was when God finally got my attention. I remember thinking back then that I deserved everything that happened in my life because of the choices I'd made along the way. I distinctly remember thinking that it would never get better because I didn't deserve better... and truly, I didn't... 

But thank God, it wasn't about me and what I did. It was - and is - all about Christ and what He did to pay for my life - and yours - on the Cross at Calvary. And that has removed the pain from those memories and left only the glow of God's goodness, His love, His mercy, and redemption to cover the multitude of my sins. Praise God, by His grace, I am able to look down that road through the filter of His forgiveness and love. 

Tonight, I was blessed to sit down to supper with 30 women - strong women of God - women that Titus speaks of in chapter 2. Laughing, talking, sharing, eating Tex-Mex...sitting with them, loving them, one with them. And I marvel at what God has done in each of the lives represented there. New creations, The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. 

It doesn't get any better than this. Only Heaven will be better...

Prayer:

Father,

          I pray the words of Leeland's song - It feels like there's not enough praise inside of me. With all these words, all my heart can sing is 'Holy! You are holy!' I want to walk worthy of the life You have given me. I want to reflect You, Father, and only You, because it doesn't get any better that that. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Unfaithful

Listen to the noise on the hilltops! It’s the people of Israel, weeping and begging me to answer their prayers. They forgot about me and chose the wrong path. I will tell them, “Come back, and I will cure you of your unfaithfulness.”
Jeremiah 3:21-22a CEV

What are you looking for in a relationship? Love, obviously. Laughter? Someone who makes you feel good about yourself? Someone whose life decisions and actions are motivated by how those will affect you and your lives together? 

E - all of the above, right? Definitely the upside of relationship.

What about the downside? Stick with me, there is a point to this. Have you ever been ignored in a relationship? It didn't matter what you said or what you did, they were gonna do whatever they wanted to do because they figured you weren't going anywhere. Ever had someone to whom you were totally committed - 100% in - be unfaithful to you? THAT is serious pain - emotionally and physically. It's brutal - especially if it's more than once. Then you're dealing with trust issues and all kinds of garbage. The odds of restoration for that relationship are slim to none. It would truly take an act of God...

And that's exactly what God offers us even though we are unfaithful. We ignore Him. We make time for everything else and figure He'll wait for us because He's God. We put Him on the back burner - sometimes even in our quest to do "His work". We waste countless hours on nothingness. We 'worship' at the throne of pleasure - for whatever makes us feel good. Instead of going to Him for consolation, we go to the phone. Instead of going to Him for comfort, we go to food or drugs or drink. We're cheating on God and our relationship with Him. Old Testament and New Testament warn us about this very thing. (Read Hebrews 10:31)

God IS faithful. He is faithful to perform His Word. The cry of God's heart is "Come back!", but just like in any relationship, it's our choice. He won't make us come back. And even though restoration of the relationship is His greatest desire and gift to us, if you read His Word, you realize the day is coming when that will no longer be an option. It will be too late. And today, we're one day closer to that day.

Prayer:

Father,

Cure us of our unfaithfulness. We want to be found in You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen