Say a Little Prayer?+

Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:12 NLT

I read dictionaries. I know, I'm a little strange...okay, a LOT strange, but I love words. Of course, if you've been a Promise follower for very long, you already know that. I like doing word studies with period dictionaries because words don't mean the same as they used to. Have they changed that much? Yes! They have!

Just in today's vernacular - Sick used to mean please pray and call a doctor. Bad used to mean NOT good and involved some kind of correction/punishment, etc. Skinny used to mean the opposite of fat, but now that's spelled PHAT and is another "word" for 'all that' (which is always accompanied by a certain tone and look), and skinny is also a euphemism for information that is not common knowledge about a particular person, place or thing (better known as gossip) depending on what book you use. Are you confused yet?

In the King James version of the Bible, our text today reads Epaphras is always labouring fervently for you in prayers. Fervently comes from the Greek word energeo, meaning to be at work, put forth power.  Do we even associate praying with labor, let alone laboring fervently? So laboring to put forth power for you in prayers...Wow! Any questions about the meaning of this?

Prayer:

Father,
         Strip away the fluff and the stuff and the puffs of hot air that we interpret as prayer. Give our hearts an extreme makeover so that we understand the meaning of fervent prayer and enter into it for one another. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Slave Phrases

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.

1st Corinthians 9:19  NLT

We've talked about first-time obedience and how we expect it from those around us. However, we don't give God first-time obedience. We call Him Master, Savior, Redeemer, Father, and yet sometimes, we don't do even His most basic instructions.

I truly believe the Bible is the Divinely-inspired Word of God. I believe that every word was intentionally included. Every story, every parable - I DON'T believe that God put fillers in there - it's all there for a reason and a purpose... just like us. I may love parts of it more than other parts, I may even have parts I don't like at all, but that doesn't make them any less true.

I never realized how many times the slave phrases reference us - you and me - Believers and followers of Christ. Sons and daughters of the Most High God. Joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Slaves of God. Servants of Christ Jesus.

Okay, don't look at me in that tone of voice... the same man who instructed us to follow him as he followed Christ, also wrote this in Philippians 1:1, This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. And in Titus 1:1, This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.

James wrote the same in James 1:1, This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. As did Peter in 2nd Peter 1:1, This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ... And so did Jude in Jude 1:1, This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.

Slaves generally don't punch a time clock or get off at a certain time. However, I find myself trying to hoard my time at work - hating to be interrupted - and yet the nature of my job is to BE interrupted so I can help others. I only had an hour or so I could call my own...literal translation - an hour or so when it was all about ME and what I wanted to do without having to take anyone else into consideration. True definition - selfish. I really hate that. I don't want to be selfish - I don't like to even think of myself as being selfish, but the truth is I surely am... and that is definitely NOT being like Jesus who was totally selfLESS and humbled Himself unto death for me and for you.

When did I start thinking that I could take time off because I am tired of not doing what I want? Think of your loved ones who have not received Christ as their Savior or who are making bad decisions - ones that will pull them away from Christ. If you knew today was their last day on earth, or that Jesus was coming back tonight to take His bride, would you wanna watch that movie again - the one you've seen 6 times already or would you pray for all you are worth?  When we get tired, as we do and we will, we only need to go to our Master... In Matthew 11, Jesus said, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Slaves don't generally get a day off. Work for the night is coming...

Prayer:

Father,

           Remove everything that keeps us from fulfilling Your purpose and plan in our lives. Help us to better see our place and part in Your scheme of things. In Jesus' Name we 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

What Do I Know? *

[The Lord speaking] Why, when I came, was there no man? Why, when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?

Isaiah 50:2 NKJV

I thought I had a pretty good grasp of how big God is - you know, the Creator of the Universe, speaking the worlds into existence, the whole nine yards... until I realized that if I really had a grasp on who God is, and what He is, and how He is large and in charge, then I would just say, "Yes, Lord" and be done with it (whatever it may be) on Earth as it is in Heaven. Instant follower. Instant obedience. Instantly compliant. Instant servant's heart...but I don't...and I think I may be safe in saying that I'm not the only one who doesn't. I'm not making excuses for me nor am I casting dispersion on anyone else...this is just a reality check to put ME back in proper perspective.

As I listened once again to the song, "What Do I Know of Holy?" by Addison Road, I was struck by the Truth of the lyrics. And as the words washed over my soul, I humbled my heart before the greatness of our God. It is in humility that wisdom comes. Proverbs 11:2 reads, Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. What do I know unless the Lord teaches me?

Prayer:

Father,

          According to Your Word, in Ephesians 3, Now all glory to You, who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS-bRarAZ2g

Pay Attention or Pay the Price +

Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
John 4:48

Near the end of the 4th chapter of John, Jesus is traveling through Galilee to Cana (where He had performed the first public miracle - turned the water into wine). A government official in Capernaum finds out Jesus is there and travels to Cana (about 15 miles between Cana and Capernaum) to beg Him to come heal his son who is about to die. That's when Jesus asked the question in our text, "Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?" And it's almost as if the official wasn't paying attention because his response to the Lord's question was to plead for Jesus to please come right then before the boy died.

Jesus did not bow His head in obeisance because it was a government official. Jesus did not stop what He was doing and turn around and clutch the distressed father to His chest and assure him that they would make haste to go heal his son before he died. Jesus' reply was more like a retort in nature, "Go home. Your son will live." Then the VERY next words of the verse are, And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

The government official did not take a poll of his friends to see if they thought he'd heard the Lord's voice. He did not demand that Jesus go with him to be sure his son was healed. He did not even ask Jesus if He was sure. In an amazing display of faith in action, the government official BELIEVED and started home. (Remember, Jesus had asked, "Will you never believe unless you see...") The official had paid attention to every word that came out of the Lord's mouth.

There is a huge price to pay for unbelief. Not just that we lose out on our miracle or God's perfect will - we are in danger of not entering into His rest. Read Hebrews 3, beginning with verse 12, Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”
And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed him? So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.

Pay attention or pay the price.

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for not being first-time hearers and doers of the words You speak. Give us hearing ears and seeing eyes and a heart tuned in to only You and Your desires. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Alt Ctrl Del

It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. 

Matthew 12:34c-36 The Message

While there are many things about modern technology that I find to be detrimental, there are features of the technology world that I find to be absolutely wonderful. When I’m writing, I can copy and paste, cut, align however I want, change fonts, reword, reword, and reword until I’m happy… and if I decide I don’t like any of it, I have several options at my fingertips to wipe it all out and start over. Alt Ctrl Del is probably my favorite feature…

If the computer doesn’t want to start the day off acting right - Alt Ctrl Del. In the afternoon, if the computer doesn’t want to operate like it should - Alt Ctrl Del. If it gets hung up on something - Alt Ctrl Del. If it starts making noises I don’t like - Alt Ctrl Del. If I want or need a do-over - Alt Ctrl Del.  With the newer technology, I also get the option of starting in Safe Mode or picking up where I left off. Also good options.

Our text for today is my worst nightmare… Sometimes I wonder if I could - or should - just communicate in the written word. I shudder to think of every idle word I’ve ever spoken. KJV tells us it’s out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks… I tremble at the number of times – and how quickly! – I’ve uttered the word idiot in just one day. Oh, how I would like to Alt Ctrl Del the spoken word! If I wake up “on the wrong side of the bed” - Alt Ctrl Del. If I’m not operating the way I know I should - Alt Ctrl Del.  If I get hung up on something - Alt Ctrl Del.  If I start making noise about something I don’t like - Alt Ctrl Del.  When I want and NEED a do-over - Alt Ctrl Del.  I don’t want Safe Mode to be an option, I want it to be a way of life, so that people know Jesus is a safe place…

Prayer:

Father,

          Create in me a clean heart, O God. Give me clean hands and a pure heart so that the words of my mouth AND the meditation of my heart are pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Set a guard over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of my mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen

His Wisdom Glean in 2013 *

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

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.

My slogan for this new year is "His Wisdom glean in 2013." I need change in my life and I know beyond the shadow of a doubt, the only true change comes through the Word of God. By God's grace and with His direction, I will redefine - by His Word - the areas of my life that need to be changed. 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 again 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,
         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 our 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
 

* A New Wardrobe

You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.
Colossians 3:9b-10 The Message

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Colossians 3:1-14 The Message

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in Colossians 3, Let the peace of Christ keep us in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing our own thing. Remind us to cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Help us to give it plenty of room in our lives. Cause us to instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And to sing, sing our hearts out to You! Let every detail in our lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Deliberately

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:12-14 NLT

There I was, minding my own business, or so I thought... I have to tell you that I discovered I was definitely NOT being deliberate about 'minding my business.' I was headed home, singing along with the CD, and thought I was engaged in the music until a guy cut me off. I went right from perfect four-part harmony to a very discordant "JERK!!" And immediately, conviction flooded the car... James 3:9-10 - about the tongue - seemed to bounce off every interior surface - 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!

There were so many Scriptures that came flooding in right behind it, I didn't know whether to beg for mercy or to praise God for His faithfulness in correcting me! But here's what I know according to His Word. Proverbs 3 (and Hebrews repeats it), My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

God has ALWAYS been very deliberate about His love for us. John 3:16 tells us He sent His Son to die for us so that we might live forever with Him. You can't get more deliberate than that!

So should I live haphazardly? Or should I live so deliberately for Him that I wouldn't even think about calling someone who is made in the image of God a JERK?!?

Prayer:

Father,
          How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

* The Price is Right

[Jesus speaking] I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.
John 14:27-28a NLT

I hate shopping. Recently, I had occasion to go to a mall for a specific shopping trip with some ladies from church. I haven't been to a mall in years, and if Jesus tarries, I may never go back. I came out of there feeling as though I had lived a sheltered life... and if you know me at all, you know I have not... and yet, I was appalled at some of the things I saw there.

But I digress, what I really wanted to tell you about was this one HUGE gumball machine I saw. It was one of those new ones - an action gumball machine. No more do you have the put-the-coin-in-twist-the-knob-gumball-drops-out kind of machine. Now it goes through loops and hoops and entertains you before it ever gets to the dispenser. And by the way, it's not a penny or a nickel, it's a quarter - for one gumball! -but even that wasn't what caught my eye.

The machine was selling "Peace of Mind" for a quarter. Yes, you read that correctly. Peace of mind... Just drop your quarter in, twist the knob, and watch the gumball / jawbreaker / whatever it was, come jumping through the hoops and loops and deliver peace of mind straight into your waiting fingers. In my mind, I just kept hearing Rod Roddy boom out, "This, too, can be yours if the Price is Right!"

I was struck to the very core of my being by the deception of all satan's lies being boiled down into a gumball machine. To think that peace can be obtained by purchasing anything that feeds your senses is a lie. That's counterfeit like every other lie satan sells and marketing has built an entire economy on it. We want it cheaper and faster and we'll swap it all if we can have it now. We don't want to make the commitment for excellence, or to wait for those things worth waiting for. And the world wants to sell it to you...for a quarter from a gumball machine at the mall. This, too, can be yours if the Price is Right!

Jesus said, I am leaving you with A GIFT - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give... Jesus paid the price - the highest price - and then He gave it to us as a gift. satan wants you to sell your soul. What price will you pay?

Prayer:

Father,
           Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still! We want Your peace, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* I Believe I'll Testify...

I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

Psalm 18:1-2 NLT

I was sitting here tonight, thinking of my beloved father-in-law who went to be with the Lord in February of 2012. I can't believe it's been that long. I miss him. As I reminisced, I was reminded of the miraculous protection of God on one of the many visits I made to San Antonio to see Lee.  

It was always good to see him. We would talk and talk, and then go out for lunch. In the latter years of his life, Lee always wanted to eat Chinese food. Although he was in a nursing home, he wanted to go OUT to eat… Others tried to convince him that we could just get take-out and bring it back to eat with him at the nursing home.

But you see, when it came to going to the restaurant of choice, Lee and I had been cohorts since the beginning of our relationship, and this particular time, he looked me right in the eye and said, “I want to go to Panda.”  I looked him right back in the eye and said, “I’ll pick you up at 11.” And so the next morning, by the grace of God, I got my little father-in-law into the car and we took in all the beautiful scenery - crepe myrtles and lovely oaks - on the way to the restaurant. Once there, I watched him eat Chinese food to his heart’s content. It was a precious time. He was tired when we got him back to his room, but he trusted me to get him back into his bed and settled, and he was one happy camper.

About an hour later, I was on the road heading back home… Now, you know those white signs on the side of the road with numbers on them? In Texas, they’re considered to be more of a suggestion, so we try it and if we don’t like it, we do it faster. And we were all doing it faster… I was about 150 miles outside of San Antonio, and had been traveling with the same 6 or 8 vehicles for the last 50 miles or so. One was a large pickup, hauling an RV trailer, and he and I seemed to do cat-and-mouse the whole time at the back of the pack, when all of a sudden, all the tire warning lights came on in my car! My left rear tire showed no pressure at all and my dashboard was lit up like a bookie’s scoreboard!  

I was right at an exit when it happened, so I was able to get off the road immediately (that’s SO God…). I got down to the intersection and pulled into the gas station, and then all the warning lights reset themselves. All the tires were fine – exactly at the pressure they were supposed to be. Go figure… the gauges all reset by themselves. Nothing wrong. I was tempted to be a little frustrated, but I thought, “No, whatever that was about, Father, thank You. I’m sure You have a reason for it.” 

I headed back onto the freeway…only to discover that in the time it took for me to get off the road, the RV that I had been cat-and-mousing had come off the hitch of the pickup and rolled completely over across the highway. Had I not pulled off at the exit because of the flashing warning signs, I would have either been smashed by the RV or I would have hit it…going at a high rate of speed. I had to pull over again, but this time, it was because I was crying tears of gratitude for God’s protection over my life. Had it not been for His grace and mercy, I would have been killed or severely maimed.

Can I get a witness to the loving protection of God, our Father? I had to testify…

Prayer:

Father,

            I love you, Lord; You are my strength. You, Lord, are my rock, my fortress, and my savior; in whom I find protection. You are my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. On behalf of my children and grandchildren, and the rest of my family, I thank You, Father, for sparing my life. You never cease to amaze me. Help us to walk worthy of the life You give us every day. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen 

Waiting for the Day +

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV

Have you seen the ad for recordable greeting cards? A young mother tries to teach her toddler to say a certain phrase. It flits from one scene to the next of situations throughout the day with the mother prompting the child and trying to get the child to say it, and the child trying his best to say it. Why? Because children love to impress their parents. I remember well the days of Mom, look! Mom, watch me! Mom, did you see me? Mom, did I do good?

As adults, there are all sorts of awards and recognitions and raises that go along with doing well. It's in our nature to want to be recognized for doing well. We just need to be very careful about whom we're trying to please. I think we also have to be more careful about what motivates us to do well, to be pleasing. Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:1 to not grandstand with our good deeds.

So, what is our motivation? Is it, Father, look! Father, watch me! Father, did You see me? Father, did I do good? I don't know about you, but I'm waiting for The Day - I just wanna hear my Father say, Well done!

Prayer:

Father,

        Often times, we work so hard to do life well. Day after day, trying to go the extra mile, many times for those who don't even understand or appreciate the extra time or effort. Father, give us a heart check up. Shine Your Light of Truth on any area that is motivated by anything other than wanting to please You. Lord, when the time comes, we want to hear You say, Well done! Come on in! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Say Amen *

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

Isaiah 42:16 NKJV

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

Well, if you know anything about God, you know that He is the original O-Factor. Omnipotent. Omnipresent. Omniscient...which my dictionary defines as all-knowing, having all knowledge and then adds, an attribute peculiar to God. If we want to put some oomph in our lives, we need to give our hearts to Him. We have to focus and bring every thought into captivity, to obedience to Christ. In following through with that, we will finish strong where God has made the darkness light and the crooked places straight - because that's the path God has prepared for us. Amen?

Prayer:

Father,

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

* Ribbons of Love

If you love Me, keep My commandments.
John 14:15 NKJV

Alan Neel said it best when he said, "Love is a commitment that requires sacrifice that is expressed in complete obedience."

It's really not about what I can or cannot do. It's about love. 
Do I love Him?  Do I love Him enough to be faithful to what He has instructed me?

If I love Him like He loves Me, then I am not free to do whatever I want to do. My love for Him binds me to Him and restricts me from acting in ways that are contrary to what He has purposed for my life.

Talk is cheap. Prove your love by what you won't do. Be willing to be tied securely with the ribbons of His love.

Prayer:

Father,

How like the enemy of our souls to cheapen the very words that express our love and commitment to You. Remove the distractions and let us focus completely on You, Father, to love You and keep Your commandments. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Life or Death Questions

"Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
Isaiah 43:5-7 NKJV

Are you close to giving up? Do you sometimes wonder if the prayers you have prayed in earnest for your loved ones have been for naught? You haven't seen any change and you know time is getting short. I know that battle. Is that you?

Stop right here and ask yourself these life or death questions.

1. Is God's Word true?
2. Do you believe His promises in spite of what you see or do not see?
3. Do you choose to walk by faith in Him and not by sight - no matter what?

What is your answer?

Do not let doubt and fear rob you of your faith in Almighty God.  ALL mighty God.

 2nd Peter 3:8-9 tells us, But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Acts 16:31 tells us the answer and provides the Promise for our children and grandchildren for what we and they must do to be saved...“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

1. Is God's Word true? Yes, it is!
2. Do you believe His promises in spite of what you see or do not see? Yes, I do!
3. Do you choose to walk by faith in Him and not by sight - no matter what? Yes, no matter what!

Be encouraged to continue to walk in faith, trusting God for the salvation of your loved ones. Don't give up!

Prayer:

Father,
          I will praise You in Your sanctuary; Praise You in Your mighty firmament! I will praise You for Your mighty acts; and I will praise You according to Your excellent greatness! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen 

Good to Go (or How to Say 'No') +

Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
Matthew 5:37 NLT

Confession time. I can be very hard-headed. If you know me personally and you're reading this, you probably just fell off your chair in a fit of laughter and disbelief that I would actually admit it. Here's something else that goes with that - I have a hard time saying 'No' and it's not because I'm a weak personality. In fact, the opposite is true. But you see, before Christ, I could also be a mean person, and I don't want to be that person ever again. Nor do I want to be perceived as mean, although sometimes that happens regardless of what I do. (I have learned that I can't control people's perceptions.) You may be asking why the confession time...

My life has gotten hectic again to the point that I'm rarely home before 9 or 10pm every night of the week. My friends say, "You need to slow down." I reply, "I gotta go." My co-workers say, "You're living in the fast lane - you might want to think about slowing down." I tell them I would think about it, but I don't have time in the fast lane. My employer said, "You have to learn how to say 'no.' " I asked him, "How do you choose who or what you'll say 'No' to?"  I told him when he learned how, then he could teach me.

However, this week, I found myself at the doctor's office, and his report is that I have pleurisy and a touch of pneumonia in my left lung... again. Praise God, I didn't wait so long this time, and we caught it early. Lots of prayer, a few prescriptions, and we should be good to go... figuratively-speaking...but not literally. His strongest suggestion? "Rest. Stay home. Rest some more. You're not getting any younger. Your body doesn't recover as quickly as it did when you were in your 20s and 30s."  Hmmmm... perhaps if he had stopped before saying I was getting old.

At church tonight, my pastor's wife (who is also my mentor) prayed for me to be healed quickly. I was/am totally in agreement with that. As soon as she said 'amen' she asked me, "Are you running every night? Always on the go? I heard the Lord just tell me while we were praying that's your problem. You have to learn to say 'no.' "

How do you argue with that? You can't be flippant with God or His emissary. I asked her the same question I sincerely asked Chris, "How do you choose who or what you'll say 'No' to?" She said, "Ask God." We go into service and the associate pastor is teaching his part of the "You Make Me Crazy" series... How to Say No... Seriously, that was the subject matter. He actually asked, "You want to know how to say 'no'?" Then he quoted Matthew 5:37 as one of his references. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

I think I got the message. I think I'm good to go on how to say 'no.' I'm sure there will be a test...

Prayer:

Father,
           We want to be obedient to Your will. We pray as Samuel prayed, "Speak, Your servant is listening." Help us to hear and understand Your will for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Time For A Change

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
2nd Timothy 2:24-26 NLT

Did you ever notice in Scripture how the apostles addressed and defined themselves?
Paul, a servant of the Lord;
Peter, a slave to Christ;
His servant John;
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All in submission - all in service to God and Christ Jesus. 

What is it servants do? Whatever the Master instructs them to do. Not IF they feel like it. Not WHEN they feel like it. Not only if the the other servants do or don't do it. Not only when someone's looking...

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

He had to include that one, right? The be patient with difficult people phrase? I noticed tonight there's not a qualifying statement attached to that sentence, either; such as, except for Mondays or be patient with difficult people once or twice, but smack 'em the 3rd time...

Can it really be that big of a deal? Is it that important for us to be patient with difficult people? The Word says, Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap.

Their eternity could be determined by whether or not we CHOOSE to be kind and patient to them. It's time for a change. Let it begin with me.

Prayer:

Father,
          Change MY heart so that I can be kind and not quarrelsome. Patient and not peeved. Let my life reflect Your love. May I never again get down to that last nerve. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

When It's All Over But the Shouting *

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.
Ephesians 6:10-11 The Message Bible

There was a lot of discussion about the tragic shooting at the theatre in Colorado. It's incomprehensible and overwhelming. I wept as I watched an interview with a 13-year-old little girl who had tried to rescue the 6-year-old child who had been shot.

I've heard the same question every day since the tragedy, "How does something like this happen?" I can tell you, but you won't like it. It happens because we live in a fallen world - apart from God. Are we living our lives in such a way that the world will see and want to know our Father?

Continuing in Ephesians 6:12-18 The Message
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for preparing us for such a time as this. Keep us ever mindful of Your plan and purpose for our lives. Let Your light shine so brightly in our lives, Father, that we are able to lead others on the path to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Wanted: Dead or Alive

Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Revelation 22:12-13 NLT

You've seen one.
Wanted: Dead or Alive!
Underneath the emblazoned heading is a mug shot of the criminal. Underneath that may or may not be a list of their dirty deeds. Underneath that is ALWAYS whatever the payoff might be - 
Reward! $100,000.

Wanted posters are always about the bad guys. In American TV westerns, bad guys were the ones who did NOT wear the white hats. They looked mean. They had scars on their faces and usually didn't shave. Back then, it was always easy to tell who the bad guys were. I wish it was still that easy.

I've thought about this off and on all day, from a biblical perspective, and in light of Scripture, it still IS easy to tell who are the bad guys. Based on God's laws, every one of us could have our face on a wanted poster.

Can you imagine having your picture plastered all over town - complete with a list or summary paragraph of all your deeds? Even the one(s) you hoped no one would ever know? That's a sobering thought, isn't it? Especially in light of our Promise for Today - Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. We have to ask ourselves, "According to MY deeds, how will I be repaid?"

The good news today is spelled out in Colossians 2:13&14. In the New Living Translation, it reads, You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

God wants us dead and alive - dead to sin and alive to Him.

Prayer:

Father,
          Cause Your Word to be alive in our hearts and minds. Lord, we want to be and do all that You have planned for us to be and do. We want to be dead to the pull of the world and alive and responsive to only You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Mind Your Mind +

My dear friends, this is now the second time I've written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles.

2^nd Peter 3:1-2 The Message

Hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention…

First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, they'll mock, "So what's happened to the promise of His Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything's going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing's changed."

They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God's Word. Then God's Word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak His word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.

Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn't late with His promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining Himself on account of you, holding back the End because He doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.

But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.

Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master's patient restraint for what it is: salvation…  
2^nd Peter 3:3-16 The Message

Hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention…

Prayer:

Father,
Thank You for Your Word to instruct us. Help us to be on guard lest we lose our footing and get swept off our feet by lawless and loose-talking teachers. Help us to grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen