Promise for Today - For Your Good

As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (TLB)

There’s nothing in your life that you can’t learn from if you’ll just respond with the right attitude.  Instead of saying, “God, why is this happening to me?’ learn to say, “God, what do you want me to learn from this?” Every situation in life will either make you bitter or better. It’s your choice because you CAN choose how you respond to it.

Every problem has a purpose, and the purpose is to help you grow up spiritually and become more like Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5 says, “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus” (ICB). If one of God’s purposes for your life is to grow up spiritually and to become like Jesus, then what is Jesus like?

The Bible calls Jesus’ character the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 GW). These are the qualities God wants to build in your life. He wants your life to overflow with love, joy, peace, and all of these attributes.

God often produces these qualities in your life by putting you in the exact opposite situation. 

He teaches you how to love by putting you around unlovely people. It’s easy to love people who are cool, people who are like you, people you get along with. But God will put you around seemingly unlovable people to show you what his unconditional love looks like.

He’ll teach you joy not by giving you everything you want but by showing you in adversity and grief that he is still enough.

He doesn’t teach you peace when you’re out fishing by the lake or wherever you choose to rest and relax. God teaches you real peace in the middle of chaos, when everything in your life is falling apart and you learn to trust him more.

God teaches us patience in traffic jams and waiting rooms and the thousand different ways we have to wait in life.

Becoming like Christ is a lifelong journey. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 in The Living Bible paraphrase, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.” God’s Spirit will be working on you the rest of your life to help you grow up spiritually.

When he uses ways to help you grow up that seem uncomfortable or inconvenient, remember that they are producing in you God’s best fruit.

Talk It Over

Think about a recent situation or circumstance that was difficult or stressful. How might God have intended to use it for your spiritual growth?

Why does adversity often teach us better than prosperity?

What do you think God wants you to do when you’re faced with adversity and you can’t see how God is using it for good in your life?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Holy Spirit, we come before You with humble hearts, asking You to cultivate Your fruit in us. Let Your love flow through us, touching everyone we meet. Fill us with joy that overflows, peace that surpasses understanding, and patience that endures through trials.
           Lord, we ask for kindness and goodness to define our interactions, faithfulness to guide our commitments, and gentleness to reflect Your tender care. Grant us self-control to walk in righteousness and to resist temptations that seek to lead us astray.
          May love permeate our actions and words, joy radiate even in trials, and peace reign even amidst storms. Foster in us patience towards others, kindness in our dealings, goodness in our actions, faithfulness in our commitments, gentleness in our responses, and self-control in our desires.
         As we abide in You, we will bear much fruit, glorifying Your name and being a blessing to others.
We trust You, Father, to change us into the image of Your dear Son, and it's in His Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Even in the Tough Times

For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Psalm 100:5 (NLT)

If you grew up in a Christian home, you may have learned this childhood prayer: “God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food. Amen.” While simplistic, that prayer covers one key characteristic of God: his goodness.

Is it really true that God is good all the time? Absolutely! But many people don’t live like they believe it. It can be hard to believe in God’s goodness, especially when you’re in pain and conflict. Those are the times you forget about God’s goodness. When you’re depressed, you think his goodness is for everyone except you. And when you’re worried or stressed out, you can’t seem to find—much less think about—God’s goodness, even when it’s right in front of you.

So how can you trust in God’s goodness when you don’t feel it? The Bible reminds you of his goodness over and over. Psalm 100:5 says, “For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation” (NLT).

Focusing on God’s goodness is so important to your life. It gives you a new perspective on your darkest days. But when you forget God’s goodness, you lose perspective and can only see the difficulty you’re facing.

God wants to give you a life of confidence by assuring you of his love and care. He wants to give you a life of influence and opportunities so that you can make a difference in the world. And he wants to give you an inheritance and a home in heaven with him forever. Who doesn’t want that? Who doesn’t need that?

Sure, you can learn about God’s goodness when you read the Bible or hear a message about it, but how can you experience God’s goodness? You actually experience God’s goodness when you worship him. Nothing helps you focus like worship!

The Message paraphrase says, "Worship GOD if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness" (Psalm 34:9). The way you experience God's goodness is through worship—when you praise God and thank him for who he is and what he has promised you.

Believing and understanding the goodness of God will revolutionize your life and give you a new perspective on your circumstances. It will transform your life!

Talk It Over

How does remembering God’s goodness to you in the past help you in your present pain?

Why does believing in God’s goodness give you confidence as you walk through life?

What verses from God’s Word remind you of his goodness?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           We come before You with hearts full of gratitude for Your boundless goodness and mercy. Help us to see Your hand in every circumstance, to trust Your perfect plan, and to recognize Your love even in times of difficulty. Open our eyes to the blessings You have placed around us, both great and small. We want to honor You through our thoughts, words, and actions. Help us to serve others with the same goodness You have shown us, and to share Your love generously with those in need. Teach us to trust in Your wisdom, to walk in righteousness, and to embrace Your mercy in every decision we make. Let Your presence be our comfort and our light, and may we always seek to live in a way that reflects Your perfect goodness to the world around us. Guide us to reflect Your love and grace to others, and let our lives be a testimony to Your great faithfulness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - What You Expect

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

2 Peter 1:3 NLT

The vast majority of people pay no attention to eternity. They’re living for the here and now, which is a waste. Most of what’s “here and now” isn’t going to matter in five days, much less 50 years—and certainly not for eternity.

If we stretched a rope from California to Tokyo, and that represented all of eternity, your life on earth wouldn’t even register by comparison—not even a millimeter! So how do you live in light of eternity? You live for God’s glory, because he’s going to share his glory with you in heaven. You don’t get to choose what’s going to happen to you the rest of your life. But you do get to choose how you respond.

You can face the future as a cynic, a critic, a pessimist, or a doubter. You can face the future expecting the worst and experiencing the worst. You can face your future being ungracious to other people, and you can live for your own glory.

Or you can face the future with gratitude, generosity, and graciousness . . . and live for God’s glory.

Which one do you think will make you happier? Which one do you think will make you more successful? Which one do you think will bring a smile to God and bring rewards in heaven?

Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (ESV).

We were created because God wants a family. He wants to spend eternity with his family. He wants to spend eternity with you and me! Heaven is one of the main reasons we can have joy—God has given us eternal life, and living in heaven with him will be amazing!

Talk It Over

In what ways does God use your time on earth to prepare you for eternity?

How does being grateful and generous make you happier?

When you expect the worst in life, what does that say about what you believe about God?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          In a world rife with confusion and noise, it is so easy for our souls to become tangled in the web of worry and anxious thoughts. There are so many voices vying for our attention and so many distractions that draw our focus away from You. Yet, we are reminded by Your Word to quiet our spirit and redirect our thoughts toward You. We ask for Your strength to wait patiently, with unwavering faith and steadfast resolve, to trust that You are working, even when we do not see it. Lord, we lift our hearts to You in expectation. When the storms of life rage and uncertainties loom large, it is so easy to forget that our expectations should rest in You, for Your plans are always for our good. You are a faithful God, and Your promises are everlasting. As we meditate on this verse, we seek to cultivate an attitude of expectancy. Help us, Father, to see and acknowledge the blessings that already surround us. May we learn to recognize the mercies and the moments of grace that often go unnoticed in our rush to find resolution. Teach us that the beauty of waiting lies not only in the outcome but also in the process of becoming more attuned to Your voice and sensitive to Your Spirit. God of all hope, we also lift up those who find waiting to be hard and heavy. For those who feel burdened by their expectations and are struggling to see Your hand at work, we pray for comfort and reassurance. May they find their souls anchored in promise and their hearts renewed in faith. O Lord, remind us all that You are not indifferent to our struggles but that You are ever-present and intimately involved in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - What On Earth Did You Do?

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 

Luke 16:10-11 (NLT)

If you think you’re going to be bored in heaven, think again.

You’re not going to sit around on a cloud doing nothing in heaven. God wired you and knows what you’re interested in. All your hobbies, skills, and talents come from him. He shaped you with your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. God didn’t make you extraordinarily unique just for Earth. He’s going to use your shape in eternity.

You will have work in heaven. But here’s the difference between work in heaven and work on earth: In heaven, you’re guaranteed to enjoy your work. You won’t experience any heartache or stress over your work. It will be meaningful, enjoyable, and fulfilling all the time. You’ll have your dream job forever!

I don’t know what your specific roles or responsibilities will be in heaven. But I do know that they will be based on how faithful you are with the roles and responsibilities God has given you on Earth.

God is watching you, and he’s testing you. Life is a temporary assignment, and God wants to see how responsible, faithful, and trustworthy you are with the responsibilities you have now.

What are you doing with what you’ve been given? If you make the most of what you’ve been given, then God is going to give you more in heaven. You’ll make it into heaven because of God’s grace, but your rewards and responsibilities once you get there will be based on how faithfully you served God on Earth.

God is watching to see how you manage your time, your relationships, your health, your opportunities, and your finances

The way you manage your money is a test of your faithfulness, and it’s going to help determine what you do in heaven. If God can’t trust you with worldly wealth—you’re always in debt, you can’t afford to tithe, and you’re not generous—then what do you think he’s going to trust you with in eternity?

God is watching how you handle your responsibilities, too—not because he wants to make you feel guilty but because he wants you to enjoy all the wonderful things heaven has to offer.

When you choose faithfulness in everything God has entrusted to you on Earth, then you will be entrusted with much more in heaven.

Talk It Over

What difference does it make when you see your work as a test of faithfulness?

What do you think God wants you to do with a job that does not feel fulfilling or meaningful?

How can you choose faithfulness in your work today?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for helping us to see that living here on Earth is not just something we have to put up with till we get to Heaven. Help us fully understand the importance of being faithful with all You have entrusted to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Hearts of Gratitude

NOTE: For the rest of November, I will share Thanksgiving moments written by other authors.

Today's devotional was written by Jordyn Juarez.
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Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Gratitude is a powerful thing. It changes the way we see our circumstances. Paul’s words to the Thessalonians remind us that joy, prayer, and thankfulness are not occasional acts; they are ways of life for those who belong to Jesus. Notice he does not say be thankful for all circumstances, but IN all circumstances. That is a big difference.

We may face loss, disappointment, or uncertainty, yet even then, we can find reasons to give thanks – because God is still good, still present with us, and still working for our good. When we choose gratitude, our hearts shift from focusing on what is missing to recognizing what has been given to us. Every breath, every answered prayer, every bit of grace is a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

Gratitude anchors us when life feels shaky, helping us remember that joy is not found in perfect conditions — it is found in a perfect Savior.

R E F L E C T I O N

What are three things you can thank God for today, even if it is hard? How might daily gratitude reshape your attitude and deepen your faith?

Prayer:

Lord,
         Thank You for Your constant goodness. Help us to rejoice even when life feels heavy, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in every season. Teach us to see Your hand at work in all things and to live each day with a grateful heart. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Farming Faithfulness

Just as a linen undergarment clings to the body, so I created the people of Israel and Judah to cling to me, declares the Lord, to be my people for my honor, praise, and grandeur.
Jeremiah 13:11 CEB

I think I mentioned that our church is doing a Bible reading plan called "Bible Recap". It has the Scripture readings listed in chronological order. Currently, we are in the book of Jeremiah.

It is challenging yet also eye-opening, and doesn't take much discernment to see that since the beginning of mankind, God has poured out His love and desire for a faithful relationship only to be rejected time and time again. God struck a covenant with His chosen people with the first commandment being Exodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before Me."

In the context of His Word, God is not referring only to statues and idols covered in silver and gold, but to ANYTHING that we would go to instead of to God for comfort and peace that only He can give. Think about that for a moment...

In the book of Jeremiah, God's people have repeatedly turned their backs on God, and He has had enough. He is ready to pour out His righteous judgment, and yet consistently throughout the first 13 chapters of this book, there are glimpses of His overwhelming love - if only they would repent and turn back to Him...

In verses 1-11 of the 13th chapter, I see the same false accusation against God since the beginning of time for anything bad that happens to mankind. "Why did God do this to me?" when in reality, we bring it on ourselves by our own disobedience. The Truth is we will always have to struggle with our own flesh to be in faithful submission to the Lord, but we can only do that by His grace and mercy.

Psalm 37:3 reads, "Trust the Lord and do good; live in the land, and farm faithfulness." We know that farming requires patience, as the farmer waits for the harvest following the hard work of tilling the ground, planting and watering the seed. Similarly, cultivating faithfulness requires perseverance and trust in God's timing, even when the results are not immediately visible. God is ALWAYS faithful.

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for every false idol we have ever placed before You. According to Your Word, "They are a delusion, a charade; at the appointed time they will vanish!" And so is anything and everything we choose over You and Your Word. Thank You, Father, that Your mercies are new every morning - that Your Words are eternal and everlasting! Give us the strength and wisdom to trust You and do good; to live in the land You have provided, and to farm faithfulness. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Advent Day 4 - God Blesses Us Even...

This year's Advent devotionals are from A Celebration of Advent: A 25-Day Devotional
by New Spring Church of Anderson, SC
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“ ... the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.’” 

Luke 1:13-15 

Though Zechariah and Elizabeth wanted children, all signs pointed to “no.” All their prayers seemed to produce were old age and empty arms. As a priest serving in the temple of the Lord, Zechariah should have been leading out in faith, but he did not believe the words of the angel. Zechariah’s unbelief muted his testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Zechariah’s faith grew even as he sat in silence, watching the child grow in Elizabeth’s belly. After a miraculous nine months, Zechariah and Elizabeth faithfully listened to God and named their baby John (see Luke 1:59-63). Immediately, Zechariah’s tongue was loosed, and he began declaring the faithfulness of God and prophesying over his newborn son.

If we are faithless, God still proves faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). Our wavering uncertainty does not nullify God’s faithfulness. Like Zechariah, our faith can grow, and we can serve God without fear. Despite our doubts, God still blesses us.

REFLECT:   Read Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:57-66

What does Zechariah’s life show us about God’s patience?

Is there an area in your life where you’re doubting God?

How do you see God working in your situation?

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Prayer:

Father,

           Your Word declares that Your faithfulness, O God, reaches beyond the clouds. David writes in Psalms that when we trust in You and do good, we can feed securely on Your faithfulness. Strengthen us to remain steadfast in Your faithfulness and to not be moved by anything else we see, hear or touch. We want to please You, Father, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Thankful for New Mercies - Thanksgiving Devotional #9

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

This is a sunrise in Galveston, Texas. Seeing it, this Scripture began to run through my heart and my head - our Promise for Today - "His mercies are new every morning..." and Psalm 19, "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship."

I can't help but think how many sunrises I have ignored or taken for granted while getting ready for work or wanting to sleep through on the weekend. And then I wonder how many times have I ignored God in the display of His craftsmanship or taken for granted the miracle of love that God's mercies are new every morning and that His faithfulness is so great? How many times have I not come to a COMPLETE halt to give God glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving for ALL that is available to us on a daily basis?

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for giving us eyes to see and the ability to enjoy what You have created. Thank You for all that You have done, do and continue to do for us every moment that we breathe. Thank You for multiple mercies that are new every morning and for Your great faithfulness. Teach us to be faithful and so grateful, too. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

About Faithfulness

[Paul writing] I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen
1st Timothy 1:12-17 NLT

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your faithfulness and trustworthiness in our lives. Thank You for always keeping Your end of the Covenant even when we've broken ours. Father, we want to be faithful to You. We want our hearts, our minds, our souls - our wills to be faithful to You and to Your ways. We have not been. We've been faithful to our flesh and to our feelings. Please forgive us, Lord. Let us - help us to be people who can and who will be faithful - fully trustworthy to Your will for our lives.
          Help us to see past the failures and inabilities in our lives and to put them behind us. Let us see and hear only what You would have us to do and be. Cause us to put You first. Help us to die to our flesh - to be dead to our worldly desires and alive to only You. Let it be said of us, Father, that we are faithful because of You. Cause our will to line up perfectly with Yours. Put a guard over our words - Your arm around our shoulders and Your hand over our mouths. We don't want to be a toothache or a twisted ankle like is written in Your Word Proverbs 25:19.
      Thank You for all the immediate responses to our heart's desires.

      Forgive us, Lord, of ALL our unfaithfulness. Forgive us for all the times we have failed You. Replace our wandering hearts with whole hearts toward You and what You would have us to be and do. Father, Your Word tells us so we KNOW that You are at work in us both to WILL and to DO...
       Give us the strength, the courage of conviction. Cause the Holy Spirit to bring all things to our remembrance - such things as are needful and necessary to complete the work You have assigned to our lives. Father, in our daily - everyday lives - we have not been faithful. We own that and ask You to change our hearts. We pray Your Word in Isaiah 64:8, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. We want to be more like You, Father. Engrave Your image on our hearts. Cause our love to be agape. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

In Awe of God's Yes

Psalm 128 The Message - A Reward for Faithfulness

All you who fear God, how blessed you are!
How happily you walk on his smooth straight road!
You worked hard and deserve all you’ve got coming.
Enjoy the blessing! Soak in the goodness!

Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes,
your household lush as a vineyard,
The children around your table
as fresh and promising as young olive shoots.
Stand in awe of God’s Yes.
Oh, how he blesses the one who fears God!

Enjoy the good life in Jerusalem every day of your life.
And enjoy your grandchildren.
Peace to Israel!

Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us for the times we forget ALL of Your goodness to us. Keep us ever mindful for we are forever grateful. Give us thankful hearts, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Speak Out

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

Psalm 107:1-2 NLT

What a great psalm of praise is this! Sharing all the diverse life challenges and how God has delivered them out of every one. When we look back over our lives and retell all the times God has seen us through - the times we didn't think we would ever make it - it builds hope in the face of adversity. It lends strength to those suffering under the onslaught of the enemy. 

It reinforces our faith and the faith of those around us with whom we share our lives. 

Yes! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. The Lord HAS redeemed you! Speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies.

Prayer:

Father,

          We will praise You, Lord, for Your great love and for the wonderful things You have done for us. We offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and sing praise about Your glorious and merciful acts. Let us never lose sight or remembrance of Your mercy and faithfulness to us so that we may speak out to encourage others with these Truths. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Unpredictable

[Solomon speaking] The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.

Ecclesiastes 9:11b-12 NLT

How often have we wondered why things don't go as we think they should? Why do certain circumstances point to an expected end, yet turn out entirely different? The only thing we can say with any certainty about everyone on Earth is that their life will end. Life itself is unpredictable.

As Christians, I don't believe our lives are decided by chance because the Word tells us our steps are ordered by the Lord. When we walk in close relationship with God, His Spirit leads us to the right place at the right time. Whether it's to the best of times or seemingly the worst of times, what we can KNOW is that we are not alone; that God's love NEVER fails, and that He will work ALL things for our good when we choose to trust Him in all of it. Our lives are unpredictable to us, but not to God. 

Prayer:

Father,

          We choose to follow You wherever You will lead us, knowing that You are fully trustworthy. We choose to live with grateful hearts toward You for great is Your faithfulness to us, O God. Help us to keep our spiritual eyes open to see You so we can point others to You along the way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Generations to Come

I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Genesis 17:7 NLT

I had the privilege of attending a chapel service where my youngest granddaughter (almost 10 years old) sang as part of the Praise and Worship team. She loves to sing and I love it when she does. She can be quite dramatic when singing regular songs, but when she sings praise and worship, you can see the joy of the Lord in her eyes. It's an authentic relationship between her and Jesus. 

As I was thanking God for His faithfulness to my generations, I realized it was more than "my" generations (me, my children, their children). My granddaughter is actually the fifth generation in our line to worship God in song. What a holy legacy He has bestowed on us! And in talking with my daughter-in-love, I found that my granddaughter is also the fifth generation from her side to worship God in song! I'm not bragging or boasting - I am giving honor to Whom honor is due!

God is faithful to His Word in ways we can barely comprehend, but oh, that we would be that faithful! Beloved of the Lord, I want to encourage you to stand on His Word. Even if you are the first generation! Find the Scriptures that apply to your family, to your situations, to your needs, and thank Him for them. I'm not talking about name it and claim it, blab it and grab it. I'm talking about Taste and see that the Lord is good! Embrace His Word! In a world shaken by evil, the Lord is our firm foundation. His Word cannot be shaken. It will keep us upright. 

Psalm 102:18 tells us, This will be written for the generation to come,That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. Our generations yet to come...

Prayer:

Father,

         How do we fully express our gratitude for Your Word and Your faithfulness to our generations?  Help us to hide Your Word deep in our hearts that we might not sin against You. Give us ears to hear, hearts to know, and opportunities to speak Your alive and powerful words to our generations and all those who will listen and receive. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Falling Short

Who can live in your tent, Lord? Who can dwell on your holy mountain?
The person who lives free of blame, does what is right, and speaks the truth sincerely;
who does no damage with their talk, does no harm to a friend, doesn’t insult a neighbor;
someone who despises those who act wickedly, but who honors those who honor the Lord;
someone who keeps their promise even when it hurts;
someone who doesn’t lend money with interest, 
who won’t accept a bribe against any innocent person.
Whoever does these things will never stumble.

Psalm 15:1-5 CEB

We want to live in His tent. We want to dwell on His holy mountain. Can we live free of blame? Can we do and maintain just these listed in only 5 verses of the Bible? Not without Jesus. 

James Stanley writes in his Life Principles Bible Notes, "If the list of requirements in Psalm 15 sounds impossible, in a sense, it’s supposed to be. The truth is, we do not realize our need for the Savior until we understand how far we have fallen short of God’s holiness. This is why we must depend on Jesus. He is the only One who can cleanse us and prepare us to dwell in His house forever."

Prayer:

Father,

            According to Your Word, we are Your masterpiece. You created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things You planned for us long ago. We can not live righteously in and of ourselves but only through Christ. Great is Your faithfulness, O God. We thank You that Your mercies and grace are new each day. Give us Your strength so we can live out Your expectation and purpose for us in this new day. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Easter Sunrise

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV

People around the world attended Easter Sunrise services today in honor of Jesus' resurrection. Were you one of them? 

When I was younger and not serving God, I watched many a sunrise while sitting on a beach. Even then, I knew the beauty and splendor had to be from God and not the result of a big bang.

I can't help but think about how many sunrises I have ignored or taken for granted while getting ready for work or wanting to sleep through on the weekend. 

And then I wonder, how many times have I ignored God in the display of His craftsmanship? Or worse, taken for granted the miracle of love that God's mercies ARE new every morning and great IS His faithfulness. 

How many times have I not come to a COMPLETE halt to give God glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving for ALL that is available to us on a daily basis?

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for giving us eyes to see and the ability to enjoy what You have created. Thank You for all that You have done, do, and continue to do for us every moment that we breathe. Thank You for multiple mercies that are new every morning and for Your great faithfulness. Teach us to be faithful, too. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Broken Spirit, Healing Hope

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

Lamentations 3:20-24 NLT

Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet". He was devastated by the fall of Jerusalem. In chapter 2, verse 11, he writes, "I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken. My spirit is poured out in agony..." Ever been there? I have. And the absolute Truth lived and proved out in my life is that the faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease!!

His love is the healing balm poured in and over us to make us whole again. His mercies embrace and envelop us when we could so easily be judged unworthy and left to pay our own consequences. Instead, His faithfulness lifts us above the swelling tide of our sin and grief, in the midst of all life - good and bad - giving us every reason to hope in Him.

Prayer:

Father,

           You are such a good, good Father! Always loving, ever merciful, full of grace and great! Great is Your faithfulness! Lift us up above the shadows to dwell eternally with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!

Every Morning

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

Where I live, this is the view we can enjoy in the morning. This was yesterday morning's sunrise. It was the last day of my sister's visit so we hopped in the car and drove less than a block so she could get up close to take pictures (and I could sit in the car in my pajamas...). My sister is the one with the photographer's eye, but from the car, I took this particular picture as Scripture began to run through my heart and my head - our Promise for Today - His mercies are new every morning... and Psalm 19, The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.

I couldn't help but think about how many sunrises I have ignored or taken for granted while getting ready for work or wanting to sleep through on the weekend. And then I wondered, how many times have I ignored God in the display of His craftsmanship or taken for granted the miracle of love that God's mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness. How many times have I not come to a COMPLETE halt to give God glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving for ALL that is available to us on a daily basis? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for giving us eyes to see and the ability to enjoy what You have created. Thank You for all that You have done, do and continue to do for us every moment that we breathe. Thank You for multiple mercies that are new every morning and for Your great faithfulness. Teach us to be faithful, too. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Again

Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They served the images of Baal and Ashtoreth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia. They abandoned the Lord and no longer served him at all.
Judges 10:6 NLT

I belong to a small group at my church and our "extra" reading this session is the Book of Judges. I've been finding it difficult to journal on these chapters. The behavior of the Israelites is so repetitive and predictable; that is, until I finally realized it's the story of mankind from the beginning of time to this day...

We sin and get into trouble. We pray and repent and beg God to rescue us. He does in a mighty way, and we toe the line for a while and everything is good. Then in the good times, we tend to forget that God forgave us and rescued us and before you know it, we're back in it again! Sound familiar? It is chronicled in the Book of Judges. Over and over. Again and again.

The practical application of it all is that disobedience always brings judgment, but it's also about God's faithfulness in spite of ourselves! And THAT is chronicled throughout God's Word!

Colossians 1:19-22 NLT assures us, For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

To think that God loves us enough to reconcile us to Himself through the Cross at Calvary so that we can stand holy and blameless... When was the last time you thought about that? Well... let's think about it again.

Prayer:

Father,

          As we are reminded yet again of Your faithfulness and goodness and mercy and grace to forgive us and save us, we ask also that You prepare the hearts and minds of those who will attend church this Easter weekend around the world. Let them hear and embrace Your love story for us all and may it change their lives, too. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Make Sure You Hear

The Lord said to Moses, “Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”
Exodus 17:14 God's Word Translation

This particular battle (where Joshua defeated the Amalekites while Moses was on the mountain with Aaron and Hur holding up his hands) took place about 1446 BC; 40 years before the death of Moses and the subsequent transition to Joshua's leadership. There was no mention of Joshua being the next in line to inherit Moses' position with the Israelites; there was no defined rite of passage.

One particular phrase of this verse leapt out at me this morning. I remembered the part about writing it down and erasing any memory of the Amalekites, but I didn't remember the part about making sure that Joshua would hear it, too. I researched in several translations and it was in all of them - to be certain, to tell it in the ear, to rehearse it, to make sure Joshua heard it, too.

Moses may not have known, Joshua may not have had any inkling, but God's plan was already set in motion. He knew the faithfulness of Joshua. His level of obedience to the letter. Joshua's passion to believe and act on whatever He said without question. Forty years beforehand - 40 years being the symbolism of a time of trial and testing, a type of probationary period. However, Joshua did not know it was a probationary period. It was Joshua's daily choices that allowed him to fulfill God's purpose in and for his life. Joshua CHOSE a lifestyle of faithfulness, obedience and faith.

What is God saying to us in our seemingly insignificant (to us) times that have great bearing on our eternal purpose? Know this - God does not waste words. There is absolutely NOTHING insignificant when it comes to God's plan. Are we listening? We better make sure we hear - and obey!

Prayer:

Father,
            We love Your Word. Remove from our lives the people, places and things that distract us and detract from Your plan and purpose for us. We want to be faithful and obedient like Joshua. We want to fulfill our purpose for You. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* It Wasn't Me

Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know? Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Proverbs 30:4-5 NKJV

Have you ever noticed how many people when asked a question that begins Who did… will respond with, It wasn’t me.  Often, it’s not even about anyone being in trouble or catching the blame. It’s just a simple quest for information - Who did whatever. Well, I got a new perspective on that today.

Have you ever had one of those days when nothing seems to go well? By mid-day, you’re asking yourself why you are where you are, doing what you’re doing because you don’t see how any of what you’re doing is working for anyone’s good. And doing this mundane, inane task can’t possibly have any eternal effect, etc…  That was my day today. And just when I was ready to be less than gracious about it – at just that precise moment, I received an e-mail anecdote about a woman who lost a contact lens.

You’ve probably read it before. The gist of the story was a lady, climbing a mountain, lost her contact lens and couldn’t find it on her clothes or on the ledge where she was. She felt scared because she was halfway up the mountain and her vision was then blurry, so she prayed for God to help her find it. She did not find it where she dropped it, but she made it to the top, and came all the way back down the mountain without the lens. The story goes that at the base of the mountain, a climber in a different group jokingly asked if anyone had lost a contact lens because they’d found a contact lens being carried by an ant. The tale continues with the statement that her father was a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You.

Now, no one has proven that particular story to be true, but most of us could tell something similar in principle that HAS happened in our own life. And that’s where I got the new perspective… When we come face to face with the wonder-working, amazing faithfulness of God, we have to say, It wasn’t me…

Do you know who Agur is? Do you know his father, Jakeh? Me, neither, before today. Stick with me, I’m going somewhere with this. You’ll remember that names were given because of their meaning back in the Old Testament – well, Jakeh means pious – devout, moral, dutiful. The ONLY mention of this devout, moral, dutiful man is that he was the father of Agur, and that is all that is known of him.

Agur means gatherer; or the collector – I have no idea what he gathered or collected, and neither does anyone else because nothing is known of him beyond what is recorded in Proverbs, chapter 30. However, Agur and Jakeh are not just mentioned in that chapter; Agur wrote Proverbs, chapter 30. The chapter is subtitled, The sayings of Agur, so maybe he just collected sayings and his form of riddles about things for which he didn’t know the answer.

I don’t want you to think he was having a tough day or questioning why he was where he was, doing what he was doing because he didn’t see how any of what he was doing was worth anything, but verse 2 reads, Surely I am more stupid than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man.

And here’s the wonder-working, amazing faithfulness of God. Agur and his devout father, Jakeh, have a place in the book of Proverbs which is generally understood to be the book of wisdom to live by, contained in the living Word of God.

Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? It wasn’t me…

So today, when I was asking myself why, I realized, It wasn’t me…  Thank God.

Prayer:

Father,

Lots of times, I don't know why. I may not be able to see any good in it – I can’t eat it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to, I will. Because when You looked for the perfect sacrifice to atone for my sin, it wasn’t me. And when the veil that separated us from You was stripped away, it wasn’t me who did it. But it was (and is) me who desperately needed a way to be cleansed from my sin. And it was (and is) me who was SO not worthy of Your mercy and Your grace. Father, if there is anything that can be done with these human hands to accomplish Your will, let it be me. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen