* Comfort in Knowing

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV

The Message offers our Promise for Today in this wording, All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.

The tears were real. The angst and fear were evident in the choked-out words of the telling. There wasn't one physical thing anyone could do to change the circumstances, but God...

The power of love with great compassion and understanding poured out from those who had faced the same battles and WON through Christ, our Lord! Declarations, testimonies and affirmations of only some of the times God had come through in the same situations were witness to His tangible triumphs! It is a beautiful thing to witness fears dispelled by faith rising in response to the high tide of praise.

...that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble... He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.

There's comfort in knowing what God has done. It builds our faith and trust to know a never-failing God. Never miss an opportunity to tell of His greatness toward you. There's comfort in knowing...

Prayer:

Father,
             Open our eyes to see Your handprint on all that is good in our lives. Give us time and space to walk back through the pathway and remember all that You have brought us through, building up the holy faith that You have provided. Give us a holy boldness to proclaim praise at every opportunity for all that You've done in our lives so we may bring comfort to those who need to know. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

One Look +

When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Here he is! God’s anointed!”
But God told Samuel, “Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.”
1st Samuel 16:6-7 The Message

Think about this. How many people do you know who spend so much time and energy (not to mention their finances!) on their outside appearance? Or they are consumed with their weight, their hair, their shape, their teeth, their... whatever? And just so you know - I'm not just talking about un-churched people here (ouch). And why? Because it's been going on longer than you or I can even begin to fathom! Our Scripture for today is just one example: Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Here he is! God’s anointed!” One look!

One look - based on size, stature or other physical features.

The reality is we have all known physically beautiful persons who were mean and ugly on the inside. Likewise, we have all known (and loved) the beautiful hearts of people who would never win a beauty contest, but who became more beautiful the better we got to know them.

Sin is ugly. The wage of sin is death. Christ is eternal life when we ask Him to come into our heart! What do you think God is looking for when He "looks into the heart"? Don't we hope and pray God takes more than one look?!?

I've been thinking and thinking about this passage of Scripture in relation to "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (found in Luke 6:45 - NKJV). And what I NEED is an abundance of Jesus in my heart. His saving grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, His Word. I can't get that with one look into Scripture or one look into the sanctuary.

Prayer:

Father,
           Change my heart, O God! Renew a right spirit within me! Give me clean hands and a pure heart so that the only "one look" that matters at all is the one where a lost and dying world sees You in me. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

* Just for Today

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:34 NLT

When we don't have the answer. When we don't even know the question. When we can't figure out how, when, or why we're going to fix "it". When the "if-I-don't-fix-it-now-what-will-it-be-in-another-week-month-year... years-from-now" stress kicks in. Stress. Doubt. Fear. Is there any room for God in there?

I was busy (read 'angrily') telling the God of the universe (who, by the way, has NOT posted for an assistant, nor does He need one) that the particular situation in my life is NOT something I can see myself having to contend with for the next 20 years or so. And I railed that I just could NOT do it - it was that plain and simple. I.Can't.Do.It...!!

Then immediately, I heard Him say, "I'm not asking you to do it for 20 years or so. Can you do it for today? Just for today?" and instantly, I was reminded of today's Scripture promise. And with it came the assurance He would be with me. Today and every day... one day at a time. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

We can do it - by His grace that is sufficient for all things - and with His promise that He will never leave or forsake us. We CAN do it - just for today.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for Your infinite wisdom and for always planning out the details of our lives. You are trustworthy. Remind us always to listen for Your voice and seek Your peace in the midst of the chaos of daily living. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Would You?

Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
Luke 5:27-28 NLT

Levi (also called Matthew - see Matthew 9) was a tax collector; despised by those from whom he collected money. Jesus knew this, yet called him anyway... To me, the wild thing is Matthew just got up, left everything (the Word says) and followed Him. 

Think about that for a moment. We hate to see the tax man coming. And I've heard enough grumbling in the last week to believe that tax collectors are as unpopular today as they were in Jesus' time. 

Matthew's next recorded act? He threw a party (held a banquet) and invited Jesus to meet all his former co-workers and friends. This from a man who had become instantly unemployed the moment he made the choice to follow Jesus.

You know Peter and Andrew, James and John were all fishermen. If they bombed as disciples, they could always go back to the fishing industry. When Matthew made the choice, there was no going back. AND he was immediately unemployed. We tend to panic when we even think our job may be on the chopping block.

What I find most fascinating about this story are the gifts God had given Matthew when He created him in his mother's womb. Record-keeping, organization, the mighty pen. And Matthew had used them in a way that was not pleasing to God. However, when God called Levi, all that changed. 

The mighty pen wrote the gospel of Matthew. His organizational skill was able by God's grace to keep it all straight. What a testimony!! Want to take a guess of how many people have been ministered to by Matthew's Gospel?

Even when we start out bad, when we make the decision to follow Christ, our gifts are washed white as snow, too. Levi left everything and followed Him. Would you if He asked? He's asking.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your Word that gives us the comfort of knowing You have a plan for us, that You have gifted us to fulfill Your purpose and plan for each of us. Give us Your perspective on our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Nothing

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NLT

When our hope is in God - the Source of all hope - it does not matter what troubles come our way. We know from Scripture there is nothing too hard for God, nothing too big, nothing that shocks Him, nothing that knocks Him off His throne, nothing that can cause Him to wring His hands in worry, or throw them up in defeat. Nothing. 

Do you believe it?

Prayer:

Father,

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You. Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and unfailing love, which You have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of Your unfailing love, for You are merciful, O Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Keep On Hoping

But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.
Psalm 71:14 NLT

What do you believe about the Lord? Do you believe He is Jehovah Rapha, our Healer? His Word says He is. Do you believe it no matter what? What about if you pray for someone and they don't recover? What if they die? Is He still God? Is He still Jehovah Rapha?

In case you're wondering, the answer is "Yes, He IS still Jehovah Rapha, our Healer!" I've said it before and I'll say it again - our circumstances don't change who God is. When we're facing trials and tribulations, it is the TRUTH of His Word that rules over the facts of those battles. Hide His Word in your heart. Let it become the Truth for your life. Let it overcome doubt and fear. Line upon line. Precept upon precept. Let it build on the measure of faith that God Himself gave us.

Start it out with words of praise...

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:1-3 NLT

O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you! My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.
Psalm 71:5-7 NLT

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. 

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our 

allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. 

These are the sacrifices that please God.
Hebrews 13:14-16 NLT

Prayer:

Father,
          I will keep on hoping for Your help; I will praise You more and more. You are worthy of all praise and glory and honor. Help us to be focused on Your Truth rather than the circumstances that surround us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

"Nothing but the Cross"

Nothing but the Cross (from the Message Bible)

6 1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

6 Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.

7-8 Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

9-10 So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

11-13 Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ’s suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don’t keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!

14-16 For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

17 Quite frankly, I don’t want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.

18 May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!