Promise for Today - Looking for Progress

“I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” 

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

When my kids were little, they would bring pictures to me that they had drawn and say, “What do you think of this, Daddy?” I would tell them, “That’s perfect! It looks great.” When I told them it was perfect, I didn’t mean that it was a Picasso. I loved what they had created because it was perfect for that stage in their lives.

In the same way, God doesn’t wait until you’re mature to start loving you. He loved you before you were born. He doesn’t wait for you to clean up or straighten up before he thinks you’re good enough for his love. You shouldn’t do that with others, either. You’ve got to love them, warts and all. You’ve got to be patient with their progress.

The apostle Paul is a great example of this with the church in Philippi. Paul knew God was doing a good, long work in the lives of the people in the Philippian church, and Paul was patient with their progress. Being patient with other people’s progress is an essential part of happiness. Why? If you’re always expecting perfection in people before you can enjoy a relationship with them, then you’re never going to be happy. That’s because nobody’s perfect—especially you.

Here’s a little happiness hint: If you want to have happier and healthier relationships, then celebrate how far people have come rather than judging them for how far they still have to go. You’ve got to be patient with people’s progress.

To be able to celebrate people instead of judging them for their imperfections, you need patience. And the key to patience is love. Paul says in the next verse, “It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart” (Philippians 1:7 NLT).

“In my heart”: Allowing other people to have a special place in your heart is a key to happiness. When you love and celebrate people and focus on their steps forward, then you’re going to build healthy, happy relationships.

Talk It Over

What effect does it have on you when your friends celebrate your success?

How does remembering God’s love for you help you love others well?

If you don’t consider yourself a patient person, what are some ways you can cultivate this fruit of the Spirit in your life?
- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for loving us before the foundation of the earth. Give us eyes of love to see the steps forward that our family and friends - and even we - are making. Help us to show our joy in their successes and loads of mercy when needed. Remove judgment and a critical spirit from our hearts so we have more room to give our people a special place instead. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - A Heart Overflowing

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.
Today's devotional was written by Paul Rummage.
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Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:15-16

Today’s Scripture verses are couched in the context of an Old Testament worship practice called sacrifice. It involves giving up something valuable; it requires a personal cost. The writer of this Scripture reminds us that the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross provides salvation for us who believe. His example of sacrifice gives us reason to offer worship through praise and thanksgiving. Furthermore, we are challenged to express thanks through our actions, serving and sharing with others.

It’s easy to express thanks when it’s convenient, but what about when we don’t “feel” like expressing thanks? That’s what this Scripture is calling us to do … make a sacrifice of praise even when it involves personal cost. Convenience, time, possessions, preferences, finances or more. However, let’s pause and consider the glorious salvation we have because of Jesus’ sacrifice! He selflessly gave on our behalf and that gives us every reason to be filled and overflowing with thanks to Him.

The words “thank you” are meaningful and important. However, thanksgiving carries even more weight when the words are accompanied by action, especially sacrificial action. With overflowing gratitude, would you offer a meaningful sacrifice of praise to the Lord today? 

Do it with your words, expressing thanks to Him. Do it with your actions, by serving and sharing with others.

Prayer:

Lord God,
                We have done nothing to earn Your wonderful salvation. Today, we bring a heart overflowing with thanks and praise for Your loving gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. With our mouths, our hands, and our feet — we will thank You today. Even if it costs us, nothing we can say or do will match the gift and sacrifice of Your Son. In His Name, we thank You, Lord.

Promise for Today - Setting the Guard

"Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way."
James 3:2 NLT

"And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!"
James 3:6-10 NLT

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips."
Psalm 141:3 NKJV

Has your mouth ever gotten you in trouble? Have you ever said something you wish you hadn't said? So the question is, if we didn't "mean" it, then why did we say it? The sad truth is we can't unsay it. We can't unspeak the words.

So, are we encouraged that King David - a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22) - asked God to set a guard over his mouth, or are we disheartened because all these centuries later, we still wrestle with the same issue?

Jesus tells us in Luke 6 that it's out of the abundance of our heart that we speak. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

Instead of telling God all about a problem, let's go to the Word of God, find out what HE has to say about that particular problem, then speak/pray HIS Truth over our lives.

Prayer:

Father,
             "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

What We Can Do

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.
Proverbs 14:10 NLT

In Romans 12:15, Paul instructs us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. We cannot know another's heart. We think we can. We think we know, but the best that we can do is have empathy for whatever the circumstance.

What we can do is pray for discernment. We can pray for compassion. We can pray to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting world. Above all, we must pray for Christ's love to flow through us to those around us.

Physically, when someone has a wound that won't heal, it becomes more easily infected. In the matter of a wounded heart, left untended, it becomes bitterness. God clearly commands us in Romans 12:15 to Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many [emphasis mine]. Let's do what we can do.

Prayer:

Father,
          We pray for Your wisdom and discernment to see those who need to be seen. We pray for and believe that You will supply Your strength as You have promised in Your Word. Let our words of encouragement be according to Proverbs 25:11, The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver. Help us to be ever mindful of You and to pray always. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Friends' Favorites - A Servant's Heart

But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with all his heart and always did whatever I wanted.
1st Kings 14:8b NLT

This Scripture is an excerpt, albeit taken out of context from a prophecy against Jeroboam, but it hits me right between the eyes. As does Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ That one scares me.

There is a HUGE difference between serving and actually having a servant's heart toward the Master. They are not even close to being the same thing. I can serve because I feel it is the right thing to do, but still not have a servant's heart.

We want Him as Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, Provider, etc, but if we've ever argued with God about something we did not want to do or something we did not want to change, then we have not always done whatever He wanted. We have not made Him Lord. Luke 6:46 NLT, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?"

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive me of my foolish, self-centered focus in life. Change my heart, O God! Make it pure. Give me a servant's heart, one whose only desire is to serve You as Lord and Master. In Jesus' Name I 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

What You Say - a favorite

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Isaiah 40:28-29 NASB

Have you ever had those days that feel like all you do is go from one fire to the next without any lasting results? I've had a month of them. It's like trying to run a marathon with one foot nailed to the floor. You're giving it all you've got, but you're not getting anywhere. 

I've been SO much more busy that at first, I didn't recognize what was going on. Then through the hustle and bustle, I heard Him whisper, "Come away. Come spend time with Me. Make more time for Me - I will help you." In our finite minds, that doesn't make sense. What do you say to that? More time spent on something means less time for everything else when it can feel like we don't have enough time as it is to get everything done in a day. 

However, we're talking about the Creator of the universe. The God of multiplying, not dividing. The One Who always gives more! I was reminded of that when I read Proverbs 21:21, He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor. We pursue righteousness and loyalty and He gives us LIFE. God gives so much more than we could think or ask. So what do you say to a God like that?

You say, "Yes, Lord."

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for always loving us. Thank You for always having the right answer and providing it for us. Thank You for knowing what we have need of before we even ask and for being patient and kind enough to allow us to come into Your presence where all our needs are met. Father, let our heart's desire be always toward You. We want to know You more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

From Your Heart

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:8 NLT

Have you ever gotten into a rough patch of your life and not quite known which way to turn? You know who God is. It's not that you're walking away from Him, but it feels as though you are a million miles away. That dry place. The desert. Barren. Where it seems no matter what you do, it's not coming out right. It's hard to pray. It's hard to praise. It's hard to breathe... 

King David knew how that felt - he wrote about it in Psalm 63...My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.  David had such a unique way of stating facts, but then he always followed it with Truth.  He goes on to write, I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.

In other words, this is how I feel - but what I feel does not affect who God is. No matter what I think or see or feel, no matter the feelings of isolation, no matter the pain level  - these temporal circumstances DO not change - absolutely CANNOT change - the righteousness, the holiness, the character, the very nature of God. And just when you think you cannot stand one more minute, someone calls with a Hi, I was thinking about you! Or you receive a text or email, hey, love u - just wanted u 2 know!

And the friend prays for you and/or with you, and speaks Truth - God's Truth - born out of His love for us. Proverbs 27:9 in the Amplified, reads, Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart. And God in His infinite mercy and grace does not become exasperated with us, He sends someone to be His hand extended, to touch us with His great love - the love that lifts us up, up, out of the quagmire of our souls.

I never cease to be amazed at the faithfulness and goodness of God's love. It comes from His heart...

Prayer:

Father,

           Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in You. You alone are my Rock and my Salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from You, God, alone. You are my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Songs of the Heart *

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:16-17 NLT

We all have times when plain words don't work for us. Tonight, I just want to spend time with you, from what's on my heart, starting with my newest favorite song, Even If. If you click on the link below each song title, it should provide a "go to" link to click on to take you to the song.

Even If - Mercy Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y

I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NSdy2N7mHA

Lord, Feed Your Children - Michael English
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK8zSFMS6lk

Except for Grace / Grace that is Greater - The Martins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOVDNxzfo44

Selah - Wonderful, Merciful Savior
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGgoMWgVRk0

Alvin Slaughter - Holy, Holy, Holy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0C8rhd472Y&list=FLXN2z1hkCM5JXmfOXqNHFuw&index=17

Clint Brown - Zion is Calling Me to a Higher Place of Praise / Highest Praise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcQ-z3YAyWs&list=FLXN2z1hkCM5JXmfOXqNHFuw&index=45

It is Well - Wesley Pritchard & David Phelps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8gk4JDITg

Prayer:

Father God,
                 Thank You for music! Thank You for hearing the songs of our hearts as we worship You. Receive our praise. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Keeping It Clean

As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.
Luke 11:37-41 NLT

Christian comedian Tim Hawkins does a skit about hand sanitizer and Greeters in the church. It's funny, but I have to admit, I am one of those people who has a "thing" about clean hands. I cringe when someone wants to shake my hand, using the same hand I just watched them cover their mouth with while they coughed or sneezed. I don't refuse to shake their hand - after all, Jesus touched and healed lepers and He said we could do the things He did and greater works shall we do (John 14) - but when the greeting is over, I do reach for the hand sanitizer in my purse. (Y'all pray for me...)

Am I as careful with what goes inside of me? Do I guard my heart with due diligence knowing that out of it spring the issues of life? Do I practice and implement forgiveness when offended or hurt? Do I bless and release those who have trespassed against me? Do I protect my thoughts, thinking only on 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, do I think on these things?  

If not, why not? 

Jesus asked, Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? I'd say He nailed that in more ways than one.  

Prayer:

Father,
           Keep us ever mindful of Your Truth. We pray according to Your Word in Psalm 24. We want to be able to climb the mountain of the Lord and to stand in Your holy place. We want to receive Your blessing and have a right relationship with You. Give us clean hands and a pure heart, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Heart Check

Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you have it; it’s yours!
Mark 11:24 The Living Bible

This was Jesus' response to Peter's being amazed at the fig tree being withered - the one Christ had cursed the day before. As Christians, we love to quote this Scripture! We like to just jump right in there and pray for anything and think we should get it. After all, isn't that what it says? Actually no, it isn't.

The spoken word is powerful, no doubt, but let's do a heart check on this. Knowing Christ for who He is, we know that everything He says and everything He does are always in the will of God. That's where we start.

What are we praying for? Does it line up with the Word of God? Does it oppose the Word of God in any manner? If whatever we're praying for does NOT line up with the Word of God, it definitely is not the will of God, so it's not happening. It doesn't matter how much you pray or how much you believe... which brings us to the next checkpoint.

Believing. He didn't say, "Pray for anything and think you should get it, and it's yours." He clarified BELIEVE. If it lines up with the Word of God, you pray for it and must believe. Not wait and see if it happens. Not wishing and hoping. Not crossing your fingers. Actually believing in faith that it is done!

That's not the end of it. Verse 24 is taken out of context when just uttered on its own. The whole reference includes verses 22-26 - the before and after factor I've mentioned in previous posts. Let's read it here:

In reply Jesus said to the disciples, “If you only have faith in God—this is the absolute truth—you can say to this Mount of Olives, ‘Rise up and fall into the Mediterranean,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and have no doubt! Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you have it; it’s yours! But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too.”

Our faith must be in God. We must not doubt. Okay, so our petition lines up with the Word of God. We truly believe. Our faith is in God... what about verse 26? But when you are praying, first forgive... Heart check! Are we holding a grudge against anyone?

Unforgiveness is a deal-breaker. Not only are our prayers not answered, but we can't be forgiven of our sins, either. I don't know about you, but I need forgiveness on a daily basis. Dear Ones, let's check our hearts.

Father,
           Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for always making clear what it is You want us to know. Please give us wisdom, according to Your Word, so that we may understand You and all that You would have us do. Check our hearts, Father. Reveal to us the error of our ways. Remove that which alienates us from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* A Servant's Heart

But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with all his heart and always did whatever I wanted.
1st Kings 14:8b NLT

This Scripture is an excerpt, albeit taken out of context from a prophecy against Jeroboam, but it hits me right between the eyes. As does Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ That one scares me.

There is a HUGE difference between serving and actually having a servant's heart toward the Master. They are not even close to being the same thing. I can serve because I feel it is the right thing to do, but still not have a servant's heart.

We want Him as Saviour, Redeemer, Healer, Provider, etc, but if we've ever argued with God about something we did not want to do or something we did not want to change, then we have not always done whatever He wanted. We have not made Him Lord. Luke 6:46 NLT, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?"

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive me of my foolish, self-centered focus in life. Change my heart, O God! Make it pure. Give me a servant's heart, one whose only desire is to serve You as Lord and Master. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

* Keeping Score

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

1st John 3:16a NIV

I've lived long enough to know and understand the rules of good sportsmanship, but I'll just tell you... I don't like to lose. When I play, I play to win. I don't go into a game to lose. (I won't cheat to win, even though I'm tempted... but don't worry, I AM an overcomer. LOL)

Worse than that, as much I dislike losing, I absolutely HATE it if someone lets me win. Where's the challenge in that? In my opinion, a win I didn't earn is a bigger loss than actually losing. [And all the conservative (albeit competitive) crowd just became pentecostals and shouted, Amen!] But the challenge in all of that is Christ. I can't earn my salvation and yet, that's the biggest win of all.

Have you ever found yourself keeping score on your life? I have. If you know me personally, you've heard me say something like, "I should get points for not smacking that person (when I really want to...)" "I should get points for not saying ___________(something smart alecky, I'm sure)." "I want points for not ripping their wagging tongue right outta their mouth and hanging them with it."   

In all reality, it's keeping score on the sin in my life. The more I keep score, the more I realize, it's a heart issue. And then I think, if Jesus laid down His life for us and that's how we know what love is (according to our text for today), then, in return, I should lay down my life for Him, right? After all, He died to save me. I can stop doing this or stop doing that. I can read my Bible, go to church, etc. Yeah, I can lay my life down for Him.  Sounds good...okay...but it's not Scriptural. We're instructed to lay it down for others... 

The entire verse of 1st John 3:16 reads, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. Mark 12:28-31 reads, One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."  John 15:13 tells us, Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 

You wanna keep score? yeah...me, neither...

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for sending Your Son to die on the Cross for the remission of our sins. Help us to grow in love and when we are faced with those opportunities to love the unloveable, please help us to see them for what they are. An opportunity to show Your love through us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Our Reputation

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important…
Galatians 6:1-3 NLT

What’s our reputation say about us? Are we good at what we do? Are we accessible? Are we a team player or are we shooting for celebrity status? I just love how Paul cuts to the nuts and bolts of a matter, don’t you? It doesn’t matter how high up we go on the proverbial ladder, we are never to be farther above than what it takes to be able to extend our hand to help another believer.

That’s not to say that we are not supposed to continually “come up higher” – you certainly can’t get any higher than Christ Himself- and yet He was never so far that He couldn’t reach us. In fact, quite the opposite. He laid it all down so that He could reach us.

Philippians 2:1-8 tells us, Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

So… which reputation are we working on?

Prayer:

Father,
           Strengthen us to take the encouragement from belonging to Christ, the comfort from His love, the fellowship together in the Spirit and keep our hearts tender and compassionate. Lord, we want to follow You by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Who You Gonna Call? +

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

Psalm 1:1-2 NKJV

The transmission broke on my friend's daughter's car. The daughter is grown, but she called her dad to get his opinion about a price quote she'd received. He then asked a couple of us if we knew of any mechanics who were trustworthy and would stand behind their work. I gave him the name of the mechanic my son uses, and the other guy gave him information for the mechanic who maintains the company trucks. Bill called both to get an estimate and both gave him the same price. Three different mechanics - two who specialize in car repair; one who was referred by a friend of a friend who knew of him. The truth is that the original quote by the friend of a friend, etc, was outrageous - close to twice what the going rate would and should be at a reputable shop. Two who knew the truth of what it would take to fix the problem and who would stand behind the work with a written warranty. One who acted like he knew, but it sure was gonna cost a lot more in the long run, and with no guarantee. Hmmm...

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

You know, he's a good guy - works hard, has a sense of humor.

Yeah, but does he know the Lord? Does he study the Word of God?

Oh, I don't know about all that, but he's a good guy. He works hard...

We wouldn't go to a podiatrist if we needed a cardiovascular surgeon. So, why would we go to a non-believer for advice about life and love? Choose the wrong one and it will cost a lot more in the long run...

Prayer:

Father,

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

How Much? +

And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.

1st Corinthians 7:22 NLT

Susannah is a very poor African woman about my age. I saw a video clip about her. An evangelist held a week-long revival in her village and every evening at the end of the service, the people would bring their offering to the front of the meeting place and lay it on a table. They brought fruit and vegetables, some of it equal to their day's wage. They brought small animals, chickens, etc, but no one had money. They were giving what they had in order to keep the ministry of evangelism going strong. 

Susannah had nothing to give. She was destitute. Her husband and children had died and she was alone...until she heard the Word of God preached  - the Gospel of Jesus. It literally transformed her and did an immediate work in her heart. She came to service every night and desperately wanted to give something, but she had nothing. The last night of the revival, she came in with the biggest smile and clutching something in her hand. When it came time to bring the offering, Susannah walked quietly but confidently to the front of the church and laid a silver coin on the table. The evangelist knew she had received salvation at the beginning of the week, but also knew she had nothing. He was concerned that she had stolen the coin in her desperation to give.

After service, the evangelist pulled her aside and asked her point blank where she had gotten the coin. She began to explain. God had made such an incredible change in her heart and her mind - freed her from the awful depression and loneliness - made her alive again. She wanted everyone to hear the message of Christ and knew she HAD to do her part in making sure that more would hear. She asked him, how could she receive such newness of life and not do everything within her power to make sure that others heard (keeping in mind that she is not a young woman). That day, Susannah had gone to see the plantation owner and sold the only thing she had left - the rest of her life - to work the fields of the plantation, so she could bring an offering to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 1st John 3:16 NLT, We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. The video ended with her working the plantation field, and as the camera zoomed out, there seemed to be no end to those fields.

How much have we received from Christ? How much will we give so that others may live?

Prayer:

Father,

          Change our hearts, Father. Change our attitudes. Let Your desires become ours. May we see, hear and hasten to do Your will. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Uncomfortably Complacent

I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Revelation 2:2-4 NKJV

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

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

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

There is a huge difference between comfortable and complacent. I've grown comfortable in my relationship with the Lord. I actually believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that He loves me - and that's good - but the truth is in the last few months, I had grown complacent in my relationship with Him. Oh, I wasn't out running around or getting drunk or doing stuff like that - but neither was I running to be with Him or drinking from the water of Life or listening for His voice. And I could feel the nudges... You don't spend time with Me. Come talk to Me. Don't push Me away. Don't ignore Me. I tried to make myself believe it was all okay because I wasn't running around or doing all those other things and I was at church and paid my tithes, and gave offerings, etc... but I forgot one VERY important thing.

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

Prayer:

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

Take A Stand +

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 NLT

People have discussed and argued politics for years, but I haven't heard the despair and hopelessness like I hear now. I understand the angst and concerns. I really do understand…and it’s easy to get caught up in it. But you can’t jaw it to death unless you’re Samson (Judges 15). And for those looking for answers to these problems in a man or a government or a leader other than God, forget it.

It's happened before. Read the history books. And now more than ever, Edmund Burke's famous quote rings true - All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. There has to be some action.

We should start with the sword - the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6). 2nd Chronicles 7:14, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. I mentioned that the other day and someone who professed Christianity responded with, "Yeah, fat chance. You'll never get this nation to pray." Hmmm. That's why we're supposed to READ it. It doesn't say get the nation or all the heathen on their knees to pray. It says, If MY people who are called by MY name... If we call ourselves Christians… 

Putting on the whole armor for a battle is not just so you can stand there with some protection. It's so you can fight - it is so you are prepared to engage in the battle. The weapons of our warfare are not of this world, according to 2nd Corinthians 10:4, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds… 

2nd Corinthians 4:16-18 The Message reads, So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, [heaven] the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

In the meantime, let’s live our lives and fight our battles with the plan God has laid out before us. Ephesians 6:10-13 KJV reads, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Prayer:

Father,

          Keep us ever mindful of Your Word in John 3, that You loved us so much, You gave Your Son so no one should perish or be destroyed; and that by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. You didn't go to all the trouble of sending Your Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was and is. He came to help, to put the world right again. And anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is. Let us be ever aware that darkness is always overcome by the Light. Renew our minds. Change our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

* For Those Days

I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2:2-3 NLT

There are those days when there aren't words to fully express the depth and magnitude of what we are feeling inside. And on some of those days, it's probably a good thing that we can't, amen?  But those aren't the days I'm talking about. It's those days when we learn of the grave illness or death of a loved one or our children going off to war or some other great, overwhelming tragedy...

And on those days that don't happen to us, but happen to someone we love, what words can we possibly use? What is it that we - in our finite-ness - could possibly say that would make a difference?

We want to express what we feel. We need to express what we feel, but all we have are tears. The good news is that God in His great love and mercy gave us those tears and they are a language that He alone completely understands, so it's to Him we should give them. With tears, you don't have to worry about which words to use to adequately or properly convey all that's in your heart.

On those days, encourage yourself in God's Word. Take comfort from the One who promises us - and delivers - the peace that passes understanding. Usually, I use the New Living or New King James Bible when writing the Promise; but oftentimes, when we need comfort, we go to what is the most familiar. For me, that's the old King James. Today, that's what I want to give you.

Psalm 121

 ¹I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
 ²My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
 ³He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
 ⁴Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
 ⁵The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
 ⁶The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
 ⁷The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
 ⁸The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

For those days. From this time forth, and even for evermore.

Prayer:

Father,
         We love Your Word. We love the song You gave the songwriter, I will lift my eyes to the Maker of the mountains I can't climb. I will lift my eyes to the Calmer of the oceans raging wild. I will lift my eyes to the Healer of the hurt I hold inside. God, my God, I cry out, Your beloved needs You now. Help us to release everything into Your care, knowing You care for us. Thank You, Father, for Your peace in the midst of the storm. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen