Promise for Today Favorite - The Way I Am

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them.
Titus 2:12-15a NLT

“I was born this way.”
“I’ve always been like this.”
“That’s just the way I am!”

We’ve all heard these statements at one time or another…probably coming from our own mouths and usually as an excuse for our behavior. Although one or more may be factual, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, these statements no longer have anything to do with you. "Used to be" doesn't live here anymore...

You may have been “born that way” – but as a follower of Christ, you have been born again. For starters, let's look at 2nd Corinthians 5:17 NLT, "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

And if you’ve “always been like this” – then it’s high time for a transformation. Romans 12: 1-2 NKJV, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
There’s no time left to excuse our acceptance and tolerance of any of our ways that are not God’s ways. The Great I AM did not make excuses for us – He made provision for us through the Cross and the Blood of His Son. According to Scripture, we are called to do no less.

Matthew 10:38, "If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine."

Mark 8:34, "Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.' "

So much for “that's just the way I am”… How about we do it The Way of the Great I AM?

Prayer:

Father,
           Shine Your Light of Truth in our lives. Expose the dangerous deceptions in the guise of acceptance and tolerance. Forgive us for the complacency we have allowed in our lives. Help us learn to righteously wield the Sword of Truth in our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Let's Be Reasonable

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1 NKJV

I had a conversation with a friend who mentioned the struggles he is experiencing with a particular project and how it seemed to be ongoing. He presented it laughingly, but it was obvious he wanted some relief. He said his wife told him God was developing patience in his life like He did with Peter. His response was, "I told her, Peter didn't have to deal with this..."

I quipped, "You're right, he didn't. But he was inverted and crucified, so I guess we could get an upside-down crucifixion arranged for you, if you think that would be easier to deal with." Let's just say I'm not the author of the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.

According to our Scripture for today, we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice... Wait a minute. Doesn't sacrifice include fire and burning meat? Let's face it. We all like grilling, but not if WE are the sacrifice. When God puts me to the test and I make a comment like my friend made, my sister asks, "Hmmm... do I smell barbecue? Something's burning..." Clearly, SHE is not the author, either, of How to Win Friends and Influence People.

The Bible tells us we are to be holy and acceptable to God. How? How do we do that - holy AND acceptable? Scripture tells us in Romans 14:17-18, ... for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Notice this is not a multiple choice statement. It does not read righteousness OR peace OR joy in the Holy Spirit. It's a package deal. Holy AND acceptable! Righteousness AND peace AND joy in the Holy Spirit! How in the world do we do that?!?

By the mercies of God. Now, THAT's reasonable...

Prayer:

Father,

           By Your mercies, which are new every morning, we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto You, which is our reasonable service. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen. 

Promise for Today - The Texas Flood

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? 

Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV

I don't know how far around the world the news has travelled about the devastating flood in Kerr County, Texas. That part of Texas is about 3 hours from where I live, so I was not in any physical danger... but my heart is another story. As a mother, my heart is splintered with the loss of lives, especially the children who died, and for their parents. Summer camp is supposed to be fun, not deadly. 

Of course, the first question I always get from people is, "Where was God in all this?" I can only answer what I know to be the Truth, despite what people may think. He was there. To which the anguished cry has been, "Then why didn't He stop it?" Therein lies the struggle for everyone, even Christians. 

I've been scrolling through news websites and social media, reading the reports, seeing the pictures, hearing the stories. So grateful for those who were rescued. And SO sad for those who were not... Today, I came across a post from a man named John Bo Nichols, who could be - should be - the spokesperson for the rest of us. A heartbroken soliloquy so intense you can feel the pain, and a profound statement of faith. Take a moment to read it here. 

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Mr. Nichols writes: Those of you know me, know I rarely, if ever, post anything religious or political. I always try to stay positive in my expressions on social media; however, this is absolutely ripping apart the innermost fabric of my soul.

God…

Why?! WHY?! WHY?!?!?!

We are sitting here—on our knees, with fists clenched, hearts broken, and eyes swollen with tears—and we are screaming into the heavens: WHY, GOD?! WHY THEM? WHY THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN?! WHY THESE FAMILIES?

They were so young.

They were their joy, their sunshine, their miracle.

And now they’re gone.

Snatched away by floodwaters that didn’t care.

And all we can do is cry out—WHY, GOD?!

We know You are good. We know You are love.

But right now…we are angry.

We are devastated.

And yes—we are confused.

Because none of this feels fair. None of it feels right.

And it hurts so bad we can’t breathe.

As a father of three children, I am holding back a storm inside me.

Trying not to rage. Trying not to collapse under the weight of what these families are facing.

God, if I feel this broken—how can they go on?

Lord, You said You are near to the brokenhearted.

Be right here. Right now. Be near to them in a way that defies reason.

Wrap them in Your presence like a blanket in the cold of this cruel storm.

Hold them when they scream, when they fall, when they cannot pray.

We are begging You—BE GOD to them.

Be their strength. Be their sanity. Be their breath.

When the sun rises and they are not there—be the one who carries them.

When the house is too quiet, too empty, too filled with memories—be the one who shouts louder than the silence:

“I am with you. I have not left you.”

Let them rage. Let them scream. Let them weep.

You can handle it, God—You have wept before.

You know what it is to lose a child.

Give them one drop of peace. Then another. And another.

Flood their aching hearts not with more sorrow—but with grace, with people, with comfort they didn’t expect and didn’t even know to ask for.

This is too big for us.

So we lay it at Your feet—smashed to pieces.

And we say it again because we have to:

WHY, GOD?!

But even in that question, we do not let go of You.

Because where else can we go?

We lift these grieving families to You,

in the name of Jesus—who screamed on the cross,

who wept at the tomb,

and who still walks with us in the valley of the shadow of death.

Amen

Promise for Today Favorite - Drawing a Crowd

Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.
Matthew 15:30 NIV

Everywhere Jesus went, He drew a crowd. It didn't matter where He went. By the sea, they crowded Him into a boat. In the Temple, on the mountain, and even when He tried to get away into the countryside by Himself, they flocked to Him and He took pity on them. Jesus healed all their diseases and wound up feeding thousands.

What do you think drew them to Jesus? His love? His compassion? His miracles? Wanting to see the supernatural? Were they looking for answers? Relief from their personal suffering? Probably all of those things. And more than likely, there were those who were just following the crowd.

Not all of them loved Him. Not all of them believed He was the Messiah, the only begotten Son of God. And yet, He ministered to all of them. He loved all of them. He healed them.

What drew us to Christ? Truly TO Him and not just hanging around Him. Do we still have the fervor of our first love with Him? If not, why not? If not, let's ask the Holy Spirit to expose whatever it is that has caused the separation. Let God's Word - His living Word - be established in our lives. Jeremiah 24:7 NIV, "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."

If we have Jesus living large in us, do people see His love and His compassion in us? Are we pointing them to the Cross and His saving grace and mercy? We might not draw a crowd, but are we drawing those within our sphere of influence?

Prayer:

Father,
          According to Your Word, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Freedom Isn't Free

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14 NLT

It has been said, "When the will to be free is greater than the will of bondage, the way to freedom can be found." However, the price of freedom has always been paid in heartache and blood - of the oppressed, of the oppressors, and of the liberators.

It's been eye-opening to realize the percentage of the generations once and twice removed who seem to have forgotten and/or fail to recognize and acknowledge the freedoms we enjoy here in the states and the ultimate price that's been paid so we can enjoy them - freedoms many people in the world still today can only dream of. God help us all.

For our Christian walk, Christ willingly paid the ultimate sacrifice to liberate us from our sinful nature. His Blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness and frees us to love others as He loved us. Have we forgotten? Do we fail to recognize and acknowledge what He has done so we may walk in it?

Freedom was God's plan from the beginning. Even Isaiah prophesied, "I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” 

Freedom isn't free.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for loving us more than enough to set us free from a lifetime of being slaves to sin. Thank You for setting our spirit free so that even in chains, we cannot be bound. Thank You for Your Word that assures us if Your Son has set us free, then we are free indeed. May we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today Favorite - True Fire Works

Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain.
Exodus 19:17-20a NLT

Americans love to celebrate July 4th - our nation's Independence Day. And we love to do it with fireworks and food. Fireworks are the epitome of "Ohhhhhh, shiny!" and my family loves them! People the world over are fascinated by bright lights, big noise and smoke screens, but it has to be truly dark for the fireworks to be effective. The bigger - the better! The more - the merrier... but what a mess! Have you ever had to clean up after a fireworks event? Once the sizzle and pizzazz are over, and the smoke clears, all that's left is debris and lots of trash.

That's just one more thing I love about the Lord! When the darkness of this world is at its worst, our God is an all-consuming fire! When He comes down with Holy Ghost fire, He consumes all the debris, all the mess, but leaves that which has life in Him... In Him, there is the brightest Light, and big noise and smoke, but when His smoke clears, we have new life - made pure by His fire. Illuminated forever by His light.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for Your death-defying, sin-destroying, life-liberating fire in our lives. Consume us, O God, with Your fire. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today Favorite - Help Me to Remember

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Luke 23:34 KJV

He was ostracized before He was born (born in a barn to a mother who was pregnant by Someone other than her husband). Those who knew Him best didn't respect Him (Mark 6:3-5). The high priest and leaders of the temple hated Him and conspired to kill Him.

What did Jesus do? He prayed. How many times do we read in Scripture that Jesus prayed? He sought God in all things. I would submit for your consideration that one of the things Jesus prayed about while living on earth was the constant rejection. How do you continue to love people who constantly reject you or hurt you? And if you can't love them, how can you forgive them? Matthew 6:12 tells us, If you can't forgive them, you can't be forgiven by your Father in heaven.

How many of us walk through life with the Marine attitude of "Kill 'em all - let God sort 'em out"? Now, I don't know about you, but for a long time in my journey, I wanted to forgive, but there just seemed to be something so wrong about the one who committed the offense being let off the hook. It was like letting them get away with it. How can you let someone get away with that kind of thing? That's just not right...is it? You can't let them think they got away with it scot-free, can you?

I'm reminded of the accessory line that was released quite a few years back. WWJD - Do you remember those teeshirts and bracelets and earrings and necklaces, Bible covers, etc. "What Would Jesus Do?" Reminding us to be like Jesus. Well, what did He do? Did one of His own disciples betray Him? Yes. Did Jesus know about it? Yes. Did the leaders of the temple conspire to kill Him? Yes. Did Jesus try to stop any of them?

Did they taunt Him with lies and shove it in His face? Read Luke 23:35-39 NLT, [The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let him save himself if he is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One." The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" A sign was fastened to the cross above him with these words: "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, "So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you're at it!"]

Was He - is He God's Messiah, the Chosen One? Yes! Could they have killed Him if He hadn't laid down His life in OBEDIENCE to the Father in sacrifice for our lives? No, they could not! Did they kill Him? Yes. Did they think they got away with it? Yes...

What did Jesus do? "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..." When the circumstances demanded justice at such wrongdoing, He gave mercy. Aren't we to be like Jesus?

Prayer:

Father,
          Help us to realize that forgiveness is not a feeling. It's a choice of will. Help us to understand Matthew 18 and forgiving others seventy times seventy... Remind us to choose to forgive every time it comes up. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen