Add Gentleness To Your Actions

Good Morning!! "Gentleness" how attractive and effective is this quality in the life of a Christian? How do we get it? It's another God-given gift,...given to His children. People reborn, and molded by the Spirit of the living God,...with Jesus as their perfect example. An instinct, that becomes a trait of character. Is it one of your traits?

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.—James 3:16 (NIV)

Learn from the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.,...when criticized and misjudged, His speech was always seasoned with grace. He was strong and firm in conviction,...but gentle in service and relationships. In His ministry, when pressed by crowds, He took time for children,...for the needy,...for bereaved parents. He was the Guest who never embarrassed the host,...the Friend who loved to forgive both friend and foe.

God’s people are not governed by tradition, heredity, habits, nor mere social pressures,...but rather by the Word and Grace of God.

Our heavenly Father, help us to be unselfish, caring and gentle. May others see something of Christ in us today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"It's not whats in our hands that makes us thankful,
...it's what in our hearts."

Know God, Know Peace

Good Morning!! "Peace"...it's more than the stopping of wars, the end of violence, or the settling of an argument. Peace is more than just a visit to a quiet place, or listening to the rustling of leaves, moved by a soft breeze. It has nothing to do with the watching of racing waters. While some may find these things peaceful, they're not "peace".

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.—John 14:27 (NIV)

True peace is a gift from God,...it’s the spiritual presence of the living God,...by His Spirit. When true reconciliation between ourselves and God, is consummated,...then there is peace. "The Prince of Peace" is the name prophesied by Isaiah, referring to the anticipated Messiah. Jesus came into this world in such a humble way, and now we hear Jesus in His ministry say, "My peace I give you."

This is our challenge today,...this is our ministry,...through reconciliation of sin and guilt we find peace.

Dear Lord, make us instruments of Your peace today, through the work of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

"It's not whats in our hands that makes us thankful,
...it's what in our hearts."

If It Doesn't Help, Don't Hold It

Good Morning, It's Wednesday,...Mid-Week, And No Better Time To L.I.G.(Let It Go)!! Did you know it was possible, to become attached to negative feelings?...so much so, that we can find them comfortable and familiar? For many of us, to forgive is possibly the hardest thing God could ask of us.

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.—Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

When we are offended, or hurt we can’t change the heart of the offender, but we can trust in God and His ability to change our heart, as well as that of others. It is a choice we make to forgive, regardless of how we feel, turning our negative thoughts, and anger over to God, allowing Him to heal and mend the situation.

We can hold onto bitterness, but soon find that it has a much greater hold on us.

Father God, help us to not hold so tightly to our anger, that bitterness overtakes our hearts. Today, allow us to make the choice, to release all of our anger and hurt into Your capable hands. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

"It's not whats in our hands that makes us thankful,
...it's what in our hearts."

Dersert Days Have A Purpose

Good Morning!! Have you noticed that God had all of His heroes, spend time in isolation before they were truly ready to do the work He had planed for them? I like to call the period of time, felling alone, as our "desert days". Mark chapter one takes us back to the wilderness,...to the desert of a fallen world,...this is the location where God continues to take us, to build His highway to salvation. In the wilderness John the Baptist called people to the very presence of God,...and points them to the Christ.

Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness:—Mark 1:2b, 3a (NKJV)

A burning bush and a man named Moses; a maid servant named Hagar, kicked out of her home and left for dead in the desert; a nation called Israel, homeless and hungry in the wilderness yet led by cloud and fire. Saul, the murderer of Christ-followers, is blinded by a heavenly light as he travels through the desert on the Damascus Road, and becomes Paul the evangelist. Great things happen for us on the the other side of our wilderness and desert experiences.

Learn to rejoice in your "desert days", it simply means God is getting you ready for a move,
...to bigger and better things.

Sweet Spirit of God, help us to see out times of trials for what they truly are,...a chance to grow stronger in spirit and faith, that may be ready and will to see that; God's Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

"It's not whats in our hands that makes us thankful,
...it's what in our hearts."

Our Keeper, Our Protector

Good Morning, Great Friday!! As we read the Bible, season by season of our life,...we are changed. His Word unfolds in our life like a soft petal that falls from a beautiful flower. His Word is Alive and has changed us, affecting how we deal with daily struggles. His Word brings indescribable peace and light onto our path, and increases our understanding in the simplest ways.

Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.—Psalm 25:20 (NKJV)

The creative ways in which He always delivers,...reprieves,...and consoles us in our time of trouble, is well timed and fascinating. If God is for us who can be against us? No one whose hope is in God will ever be put to shame. All of His Words motivate.

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
(Psalm 119:130)

Father, thank You for providing us the courage and comfort to move forward in Your truth,...Thank You for the guidance of the Holy Spirit,...Thank You for being a friend, like no other.

"If we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must learn to live in the Word of God."

The Lord Speaks

Good Morning!! I learned later in my walk with the Lord to be quiet before Him. I read a scripture passage, and feel God speaking to me. I sometimes determine that the Lord is speaking, because the verse seems special in some way,...applicable in some way, or I consider the verse to be a new perspective. I just stop and ponder, and pray it back to God,...asking Him to make His message clear to me for that day.

Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.—Amos 3: 7 (NKJV)

In the quietness, the Lord speaks to our hearts,...often It's just an impression, at first. Pray about it, and ask God questions about the impression, until His wisdom becomes louder than our thoughts or questions. The next step would be to step out on faith, and test the message. If it is the Lord, He will confirm it by giving you similar messages through His Word, or from others,...or by simply bringing it to pass.

God is faithful, and if you ask, He will answer.

Today, we pray our verses to the Lord, knowing that He will reveal His plan to us,...because we long to be His servants, and we want to live in His will. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"If we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must learn to live in the Word of God."

Talk To The ONE That Knows You Best

Good Morning!! Stop talking to yourself, and start talking to God. If you are late, talk to God about it. If you are confused, ask God about it. What ever you're involved in, include God in it. Talk to Him as a friend, a counselor and a companion. HE says that He's all that, and so much more,...so get to know Him in those ways. In every good relationship, there needs to be two way communication. Prayer obviously is our part in the communication process, with the God,...but the Bible is His way of speaking back to us. Let’s just say it's on your heart to move in a certain direction,...start talking to Him about it. Ask Him to change your heart if it is not His will,...or to lead your heart through the process. Next, go to the Bible, and ask the Lord to give you verses, to guide you in this decision. If some verse pops out to you, pray over it and ask God to make His message clearer through that verse. If He does give you the go ahead, act on it, with the promise He is with you.

You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.—Psalm 139:3 (NKJV)

Know that whatever you include Him in, the Lord will work with you, from people to finances. As you grow in the knowledge of God’s guidance, you will gain a peace in your decisions. But regardless of the outcome, you will have assurance of God’s hand in the process. Walking through these decisions in our life with God, is the only way to assure peace. The more we do it,...the more we grow in our knowledge of God, which leads to a closer walk with Him.

Knowledge bring peace,
...but the knowledge of God, brings everlasting peace that continues to surpass our understanding.

Holy Spirit, help us to start out every day in God’s Word. Help us to keep His Word in our hearts, and minds. Before the day is through, allow us to hear from the Lord on something that has crossed our path. Allow His Word to give us peace and assurance in ways we have even imagined. Help us to see what God will do. Amen.

"If we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must learn to live in the Word of God."

Joy In Trials?

Good Morning!! Do we realistically count it all joy today? Does today's statement even make sense? Let us examine these verses more closely and see if we can better understand what James is saying. One of the main reasons for us to read and study the Bible is not just to learn meaning and content,...but also to learn how to apply its principles to our lives. The Holy Spirit teaches us, and opens our minds to understand what God is saying to us personally through His Word. So, what is God saying to us about trials, faith and patience from these verses?

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.—James 1:2-3 (NKJV)

In these two verses, there are three main points: one; we will fall into different types of trials,...two; our faith will be tested,...and three; patience will be produced from the testing. Today, we deal with all kinds of trials in our lives, and that's a fact. So the issue is not if we will have them,...it's how we will get through them. When we feel as though the battle is too much and the struggles are too intense, how do we respond? Difficulties with marriage, kids, finances, health and daily issues of life can seem overwhelming at times. But James says to "count it all joy" when these problems come. We can only begin to understand the meaning of this statement if we look at the results in our own lives.

There is not much we can do about avoiding such things in life,
...however, we can decide how we want to get through them.

Holy Spirit, help us to "count it all joy" even before we go through our trials, with the assurance in God's Word, that the end result will benefit our faith. Remind us of the many times, that after a trial has passed, we've been able to recognized the benefits it produced in our life. Amen.

"If we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must learn to live in the Word of God."

Who Will You Listen To?

Good Morning!! We live in a world filled with deceit and wickedness,...and this world tells us that pretty much everything is acceptable, on some level. If it feels good, then do it. It you feel bad for doing it, then take a pill or do something else, to feel better. We can always acquire permission from the world to do whatever it takes to make ourselves feel better. Yet, so often, we end up feeling worse, rather than better. From the heights of happiness to the depths of depression we swing. And if we're not mindful, and focused, we'll wake up one day filled with regret, wondering; "What have I done?"

Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return.—Jeremiah 8:5 (NKJV)

Life is lived one day at a time. Some days are better than others, but everyday belongs to the Lord, as a Christians. When times are hard and depression creeps in, don't look for the instant fix offered by the world,...turn to the Lord. When you feel good about yourself or things in your life, turn to the Lord,...and give Him thanks. None of us want to feel bad, but when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we must be willing to repent and to turn from our sin. As we walk daily with the Lord, these convictions keep us from falling into sin's many traps. Listen to the Holy Spirit,...and be willing to change as He guides you.

The only way to walk with the Lord consistently, is to spend time with Him every day.

Holy Spirit, give us ears to hear, and a heart to do,...this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

"If we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must learn to live in the Word of God."

Spirit Lead?

Good Morning,...and Thank GOD For Another New Chance To Get It Right!!! Are you living according to your old nature, or are you living by the Spirit? This is not a trick question,...it's an answer that you need to know, for a life more abundant. We often claim to be living by or in the Spirit, when we aren't even close.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.—John 6:63 (KJV)

In Galatians 5, Paul tell us that we can surely know if the Holy Spirit is in charge of our lives. He writes, "[If] sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealously, fits of rage" etc. are part of our lives,...we will know that we are not living by the Holy Spirit. However, when our lives demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,...then we can be sure that we are living by the Holy Spirit of God, for these are the fruit of the Spirit. So again I ask; Are you living according to your old nature, or are you living by the Spirit?

The Holy Spirit won't take us over,...we must yield to Him.

Holy Spirit, you are welcome, come on in,...we acknowledge your presence O' Lord.

"Remember, there is no problem too big for our God."

Grace,The Greatest Gift

Good Morning!! What is the greatest thing you can wish for someone whom you care for very much? Is it wealth or success or fame or wisdom or happiness or even perfect health? As much as Paul may have desired all these things for his brothers and sisters in the churches of Galatia, that which he desired most for them was the grace and peace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ,—Galatians 1:3 (KJV)

Grace is the gracious, free salvation made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peace is the deep sense of spiritual well-being one experiences who is in a right relationship with a holy, just and righteous God. Surely these are the two greatest blessings I could wish for anyone. They are the two gifts I wish for you in the remainder of this year, and the next. They can be yours, no matter what your circumstance or situation is on this day. You can know the grace and peace of God by surrendering your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Reach out in faith and God will grant you these two precious discoveries today.

Grace: Great Redemption At Christ's Expense.

But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.—Galatians 4:4,5 (KJV)

"Remember, there is no problem too big for our God."

We're Not Meant To Be Alone

Good Morning!! When God put Adam in the Garden of Eden, He gave him everything he needed. He would never get hungry or thirsty. He never had to worry about bad weather, or shelter from the elements. Best of all, Adam had a personal relationship with God,...one can only imagine how wonderful that must have been. But even with all of his needs being met, God knew that Adam was alone. God loved Adam so much that He made a mate just for him,...a woman.

Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.—Genesis 2:22 (NKJV)

In society today, there is much debate about the roles of man and woman, especially related to marriage issues. There are those who disagree with the biblical account of what God intended in creating man and woman and why He put them together in the first place. We get hung up on the concepts, duties and rights of marriage to the point that the true meaning of it is lost. The most basic element of marriage is companionship, to never have to be alone. God's heart for us is that we never feel alone. Whether married or not,...we need friends and relationships that encourage and edify us.

This time of year, loneliness can be especially debilitating and depressing,...to the point of death.

Sweet Spirit of God, remind us to start praying for the Lord's help, whenever we're feeling isolated. Help us to see opportunities to fellowship. Lead us to others, needing to feel the love of God. We may not know exactly what God has in store for us,...but one thing we all can be sure of,...He does not want us to be alone. Amen.

"Remember, there is no problem too big for our God."

Love Like Jesus, And Heal Like Jesus

Good Morning, My Friend!! We've all heard that love brings more love. But did you know that this theory holds up even when the element or issue is pain. Pain can't and won't cause anything but more pain. People everywhere are in pain,...suffering, lost with no idea about how to make it go away. Things get said that cut like a knife,...and no one says; "I'm sorry". Pain and hurt are laid on top of each other,....again and again, until hope, love and peace become; out of reach concepts.

And everyone who has this hope in Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure.—1 John 3:3 (NKJV)

There is a way to stop the pain. First, Stop what you are doing,...don't worry about anyone else's actions. L.I.G. let it go. Love enough to forgive. Yelling, pointing out pass mistakes, anger, blaming or criticizing are not the tools you want to use,....they did'nt work be fore and the aren't about to suddenly start working now. Your life is no mere accident. God carefully crafted you. The purpose of your life is not destroyed by a few mistakes or poor choices. Jesus’ death and resurrection erased the mistakes of your yesterday, revealed the depth of God’s love for your today, and gave you hope for a brighter tomorrow. He loves you and calls you His child, so you can have hope, in Him.

Because of Jesus,...our past does not have to be our future.
We can let go of all those thing that hold us back, or down.

Our Father, let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I am praying for that peace, love and hope be restored to the family and home. I pray that children and parents learn to let go of anything that causes them to be apart. We have a duty to love,...for this is Your will.

"Remember, there is no problem too big for our God."

The Price Of Deception

Good Morning!! Jacob: "one who takes over, especially by tricky means." Laban would have called it a, perfect name, for his nephew. Jacob bribed his brother,...then deceived his father,...and later his uncle. A rock for a pillow couldn’t have been comfortable, but neither were Jacob’s inner contradictions. His life was out of joint. Like so many of us today, outwardly he looked to be well off,...but in relationships he was poverty-stricken.

Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome."—Genesis 32:28 (NIV)

A life filled with half-truths and deceptions, eats away at our integrity. Jacob wrestles with God,...in the form of a man, and picks himself up from the desert sand with a new name,...Israel. In the exchange the God-man breaks his hip,...and blesses him. Like Jacob, we can at times be dishonest with ourselves, with others, and even with God. But such deception brings about anger,...and anger demands appeasement,...Israel attempted to appease his brother with many gifts. For us, only one appeasement will do, to mend our relationship with God. Jesus has provided it, through the bitter cross. HE appeased divine judgment against sin,...yours and mine.

Honest self-examination is painful, yet brokenness often lead to wholeness,
...and it gives birth to a restored relationships with God and others.

Father, make us whole, within and without. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"Remember, there is no problem too big for our God."

A Frim Foundation

Good Morning!! For those around us, that want and need to know they are loved, our acts of love, speak more vividly to their hearts than our words. The impact our lives have on others, is most often made from our day to day activities,...the way we handle and respond to everyday situations,...and our children are no exception.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.—Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

It is these seemingly small, everyday actions and reactions, that have the greatest impact in how their opinions and character gets formed. The bible teaches that when children have a firm foundation in the ways and Word of God, they will not be easily uprooted and the storms of life will not consume them. Give them the ability to stand strong in Christ.

If we will continue to seek Christ as our example, He will enable us to be good examples to our children,...and anyone else that comes into our lives.

Our Father in Heaven, allow our lives to be a blessing and example to our children and to all those who know us. Re-create us in Your image and enable us to live the example of Your Word, so that our actions will speak Your love and truth. Amen.

"If the Lord truly directs our steps, why would we need to understand every little thing along the walk."

Is Heaven For You?

Good Morning!! Learning about life after death is almost useless,...if we're not getting ready to stand before the judgment seat of God. Those who haven't received Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord, are like the prodigal son,...who was lost and dead in sin. When we give our lives to Jesus, we are found! But as wonderful as heaven will be,...our ticket to heaven must be punched on this side of death. We don't know when our lives will end, or when Christ will return,...so we should not miss the urgency of the moment.

But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.—Luke 15:32 (NIV)

If you are reading this devotional as a once lost son or daughter who has come to life and has been found by the grace of God, then let the love of Christ and the anticipation of heaven motivate you to reach out to those who are still lost. Sadly, we often act like the older brother, thinking that we have earned the father’s love and failing to give others a second chance. Churches can become inward focused rather than life-saving stations for those who desperately need Jesus.

Heaven is for believers.

Loving Father, thank You for making heaven possible for us all! Amen.

"If the Lord truly directs our steps, why would we need to understand every little thing along the walk."

Already, And Not Yet

Good Morning!! We're living in an "already/not yet " period of human history. The already/not yet principle explains both the hope and heartaches of life. We already know that Jesus is victorious. We already receive salvation through his atoning work, and we experience many joys and gifts from God. But we are not yet with him. We experience the pain of separation, and must wait to see Jesus face to face.

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"—John 20:17 (NIV)

Now, Jesus has died, risen, and ascended,...yet, we're still awaiting his second coming, and our own resurrection. He described this time to Mary while they talked outside of the empty tomb. Our calling, in this moment, is not to sit back idly,...but to make the most of each opportunity. We can share the good news,...be a blessing in the lives of others,...serve the Lord in the church and world,...impact the kingdom,...live as faithful stewards,...and experience abundant life. We can also look forward to the glory that awaits.

"My knowledge of that life is small, the eye of faith is dim, but it’s enough that Christ knows all, and I shall be with him."
(Richard Baxter)

Savior, give us patience as we celebrate the already,...and await the not yet. Amen.

"If the Lord truly directs our steps, why would we need to understand every little thing along the walk."

Call It What It Is

Good Morning!! There are so many ways to describe our human frailties, and failures. The Bible often uses words like transgressions or iniquities. Sometimes when we are trying to water down what we’ve done, we might use the words slip-up or fall, or my favorite an error in judgment. "Mistakes were made,"...as politicians like to say,...without admitting to anything. But what we're really talking about here is; sin,...plain and simple.

And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer".—Amos 7:8 (NIV)

Amos describes sin in terms of a "plumb line", so the people could better understand it. A plumb line was the way of determining if a building was built straight, or whether it was leaning,...so being "out of line" is another way to describe sinful behavior. God gives us many guides today to tell if we are "out of line". From the time of Moses, to the time of Jesus, the Ten Commandments has always been best guide for living "straight".

Follow Jesus' example,...it's the only way for us to measure up.

Lord, forgive us for the times we are out of line. We pray Your Holy Spirit, to make us upright, straight,and true. Amen.

"If the Lord truly directs our steps, why would we need to understand every little thing along the walk."

We'll See Each Again, But Better

Good Morning!! Often, Christians who've lost loved ones, talk about seeing them again in heaven. But is this just wishful thinking,...or is it a true longing, that's biblically supported? When people ask me whether we will be able to recognize one another in heaven, I share why I believe we will. First, Jesus was recognizable after His death. Once they accepted the reality that He was alive, Mary, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus,...and eventually all the other disciples saw and recognized Him. Second, others were recognizable, including Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration. How did Peter recognize two men he had never met, yet call them by name (v. 4)?

And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.—Matthew 17:3 (NIV)

And finally, our God is a relational God,...one who longs to have a relationship with us,...and who created us to have relationships with others. If God created us this way, would He really redeem and restore us, without a sense of recognition in heaven?

Someday, we will see and know our Savior face to face.
By God’s grace, the same will be true when we are reunited with those that we love!

O' Lord, we long to see You, and our loved ones in heaven,...and to be in the company of other believers in glory.

"If the Lord truly directs our steps, why would we need to understand every little thing along the walk."

Learning To Give Our Best,...Not Just What's Left

Good Morning!! Think of all we do to prepare for guests in your home, especially before holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving. We clean the house more thoroughly than usual. We may even rush to finish that decorating project we've been putting off. And you know how we throw down in the kitchen,...preparing the best meals we know how to make. All because we really want your guests to feel special.

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God.—Exodus 23:19a (KJV)

In most cultures it is important to provide the best for guests,...and for most of us, doing so seems so natural. Then, why does it not seem natural to give our best, " the choicest of the first fruits", to God? Perhaps it's because we sometimes see God more as a tax collector than an honored guest.

Let's try thinking of God as a guest in our home, heart and life, and see if it becomes any easier to offer Him our best.

Father, we give back to You the choicest of our first fruits this Holiday Season,...as we try to remember that You deserve our finest all year long, as well. Amen.

"Walking with God means love,....because God Is Love."

Selfless, Rather Than Selfish

Good Morning!! We want our relationships to work, we want to feel peace and contentment in our lives. But we won't find it in seeking to be served, or seeking more pleasure for ourselves, or seeking to find ourselves. The peace and contentment we so desperately seek, can be found only in seeking to please and serve God first, and in giving and serving others above ourselves. A philosophy that contradicts modern day thinking,...but a true one none the less.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.—Mark 10:45 (NIV)

Self-help,..Self-improvement,..Self-serving. Seeking to serve self is like an infection that spreads,...it infects, and affects every aspect of our lives,...relationships, marriages, families, and even our business dealings. Our self-interest or self-centered-ness may seem harmless enough at first,...and is often presented in a manner that sounds almost needed. But ultimately it's damaging,...it negatively effects our relationship with God,...and with others, as we become more and more self-absorbed.

It's never just about us.
We are love that we may love.
We are blessed that we may become a blessing.
We are healed and comforted, so that we may provide healing and comforting.

It's only in the center of God's will, and in His service that Christians find their heart's desire.

"Walking with God means love,....because God Is Love."

Love Is Knocking, Let It In

Good Morning!! God sent messenger after messenger to proclaim his word, describe his people’s sins, and call them to repentance. But soon the prophetic era would come to a close. No longer would the word of God be heard. There would be a famine, not of food, but of hearing the message of the Lord. The people were losing a tremendous gift. Not until the time of John the Baptist would God’s living word be heard again.

I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I am always doing the sinful things I do not want to do.—Romans 7:19 (NLV)

We miss so many opportunities to be blessed, and to be a blessing to others. To often we don't hear, or heed, the word of God. And just like today's verse implies, our actions bring about the opposite, of our desires,...and still, we can't seem to stop. We want to be loved and connected to someone,...but we won't or can't let our guard down, to allow anyone to get close to us.

No one is beyond God's love,...we just have to open the door, and let it in.

Give us ears to hear Your wonderful words of life, and the mine to understand. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"Walking with God means love,....because God Is Love."

Love, Above All Else: part 2

Good Morning!! Love means putting another's needs ahead of your own,...are you really willing to deny yourself in order to accommodate the needs of another? Is there a time when we can speak an encouraging word that will lift a spirit or cause a lonely heart to feel love,...when we ourselves are low? A smile while it may seem a small thing,...and at times hard to muster, can create a huge impact on someone's day.

...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."—Mark 10:43-45 (NIV)

We need to seek opportunities to be of service to others. It may be family, friends, or perfect strangers but if we look there is usually a way we can lighten another's load. It isn't necessarily the big things we do that have the greatest impact,...sometimes it is the small things that mean the most,...especially when done with a willing and cheerful heart.

God’s primary goal is restoration. That is why he sent Jesus. Trust him today!

"What makes the Dead Sea dead? Because it is all the time receiving, but never giving out anything. Why is it that many Christians are cold? Because they are all the time receiving and never giving out."
(Dwight L. Moody)

"Walking with God means love,....because God Is Love."

LOVE, Above All Else: Part 1

Good Morning!! Jesus said that the greatest of all of God's commandments, is LOVE,...and in following this, we are able to follow all others. But how long can you,...would you love someone that did not,...could not love you back? So often we are called to love others that have never learned to love,...they did not get it from their mother or father,...who are suppose to love without question or condition. So they have trouble loving themselves, and they are unable to understand how anyone else could love them. Only by continuing to love those considered unlovable, can we ever hope to become Christ-like. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" (v.21)

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."—Matthew 18:22 (NIV)

We all have our golden moments, but more times than not,...we want to give, no more than what we get. I often repeat a quote that I got from my friend, and teacher, Dorothy Cherry,..."Hurt people, hurt people." This is why we can extend curtsies to strangers that have not yet harmed us,...that we won't to the very people in our lives that we claim to love. Sometimes we can have this love with our children, or maybe our parents. But if we are continually wounded, or the love we offer, is unreturned,...without God as our center, the well will at some point dry up,...and we will have nothing more to give.

Pray and try until you can't,...no one can tell you when you've had enough, but you.

Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you. (Amos 5:14 NIV)

"Walking with God means love,....because God Is Love."

Repent Or Be Judged

Good Morning!! "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." No one likes pain. But according to the prophet Amos, it is one of God’s ways of getting our attention. And nothinig hurts so much as the death of a close friend or relative. Amos reports five pain-inducing calamities in verses 6 through 11: famine, drought, blight, plagues, and war. And none of them had aroused any interest in God’s people, for returning to Him. Even after so much pain, Israel like so many of us, just went right on living in their sinful and disobedient ways.

"I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, and carried away your horses, and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils; yet you did not return to me," declares the LORD.—Amos 4:10 (NIV)

It is true that God at times allows both good things, and tragedies, to happen. But we believe that everything He does is for our good. Whatever the means He uses, God’s message is the same,...He wants us to live in close relationship with Him.

Return to God in repentance,...or meet Him in judgment.

"We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from His love."
(Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 10).

"When God measures a man, He put the tape around his heart, instead of his head."

Righteousness

Good Morning!! "O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand." These words from Psalm 95:6-7, beautifully describe the true believer’s desire to honor God, and acknowledge His greatness in worship. It's one of the greatest calls to worship found in the Bible.

"Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings—boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do," declares the Sovereign LORD.—Amos 4:4,5 (NIV)

Now in comparing those words, with today's verses from Amos,...what a contrast! You can detect the sharp sarcasm in Amos’s words. Worship was flourishing at Israel’s sanctuaries, with abundant sacrifices and plenty of music. But instead of honoring God, their rituals had become transgressions,...not unlike in today's churches. The word which is translated transgression (4:4) actually means “to rebel.” The problem was a basic lack of righteousness and justice in their lives and society.

Don't just settle for looking righteous,
...move to bring about righteousness and justice in our lives and society.

Dear Lord, help our worship to be heartfelt and consistent,...and let us honor You in our living. Amen.

"When God measures a man, He put the tape around his heart, instead of his head."

Chosen

Good Morning!! One of the great themes of the Old Testament is that of the chosenness of the people of Israel. As God declares, Israel was chosen out of all the nations of the earth to be his unique people. That was a wonderful privilege. It meant not only that God was their deliverer, but also their helper and their strength. As a well-known credit card company puts it: "Membership has its privileges."

"You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.—Amos 3:2 (NIV)

Privilege also brings with it responsibility. The original covenant agreement was, "I will be your God and you will be my people." God had kept his side of the covenant, but Israel had not. The main problem was that they refused to be the Lord’s people. They continually disobeyed and broke his commandments. "Therefore," the Lord continues, "I will punish you for all your iniquities."Verse 3 speaks of two agreeing to walk together.

Walking close to God, is the key to living as His covenant people.

Lord, help us to walk close to You in our daily lives, and to trust, yield and obey. Amen.

"When God measures a man, He put the tape around his heart, instead of his head."

Real Love

Good Morning!! Love is to be a deeply rooted way of life among us, not fickle or unreliable, not depending on how we feel or on the circumstances of our day. This love covers a multitude of sins. It knows when to look the other way. It’s said that love is blind. But those who say that are thinking of infatuation. Real love does not look on the other with naive eyes or blinders. It sees the flaws, but it sees more in the other than what the cold observer sees.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.—1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

This doesn't mean that we must remain in an abusive situation, or not demand justice. Rather, it means that we must not let the evil we experience, take root in our hearts, so that it colors and determines our response. When you forgive your tormentors, and do not hate in response, you not only preserve your own soul, but you also inject into that darkness a light, and kindness,...which is a thing of precious beauty.

To live the life of heaven is to live a life of love.

Holy Spirit, help our love forgive, as readily as our Heavely Father's love forgives us. Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

The Perfect Example

Good Morning!! As followers of Jesus we are called to continue to do good,....while we suffer. even if unjustly. In tough times, it can be extremely tempting to either return evil for evil, lashing out and hating,...or to sink into passivity, fueling a slow burn and growing bitterness. But we as Christians are called, instead, to continue to do good, not because it’s strategically wise, but because it is in step with the ways of God’s heart,...as disclosed in the cross of Christ.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.—1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)

This doesn't mean that we must remain in an abusive situation, or not demand justice. Rather, it means that we must not let the evil we experience, take root in our hearts, so that it colors and determines our response. When you forgive your tormentors, and do not hate in response, you not only preserve your own soul, but you also inject into that darkness a light, and kindness,...which is a thing of precious beauty.

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. v23

Dear God, may our hearts be so filled with Your love, that there is no room left for hate, fear or pain. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

The Example Of True Compassion

Good Morning!! Compassion was one of the great qualities of Jesus’ life and ministry. He always sympathized with people in need. Compassion is literally “to suffer with another,” and it describes the sorrow that is produced by the distress or misfortune of others. The frequent references in Scripture to the compassion of Christ, reminds us how He truly fulfilled the Messianic prophecies.

Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted.—Isaiah 53:4 (NIV)

Out of compassion the hungry multitude is fed; out of compassion the sick and suffering are healed; and out of compassion men burdened and imprisoned by sin are set free, as Jesus goes to an awful death,...that we might have eternal life. This is the compassion of Christ.

Our Lord’s compassion involved more than an emotional reaction,
...it always included action to minister to the needs of man.

Lord, give us a compassionate heart and the opportunity to help. Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

If We Faint Not

Good Morning!! Most of us don't really need to be reminded that we live in a time of great crises,...there are problems everywhere. Not only are there problems in the world, but there are also problems in our lives. Despair, fatigue, and doubt confront us daily. How we react to these difficulties is very important. We are expected to handle them, as Christ would. So ask yourself; As a Christian do I overcome the world, or does the world overcome me? Am I a victor, or a victim in life?

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world,...our faith.—1John 5:4 (NIV)

As Christians we're to be victors over all these conflicts. We are in Christ, and He is within us. Death is just the gateway to great glory,...we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Living in the consciousness of Christ’s presence we can overcome the world, and all it has to throw at us.

Don't become so involved and burdened in the cares of this life that you forget your faith, and your hope.

Sweet Spirit of God, don't let us forget the promises of God. The mere fact that Jesus is the Son of God should comfort the heart. We need to be reminded that victory is ours. We have been brought to a new life in Christ,...and that life shall overcome all foes,...even Satan. Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

He's Waiting

Good Morning!! Giving your life to God,...some churches have a very specific ritual, or formula for doing this. Some are so stead fast, you would almost expect them to have diagrams and flow charts. But it all boils down to this: the truly determined person, who would never submit to anyone, realizes that God’s love has drawn him or her to yield. There is resistance, sometimes postponements, relief and assurance that God can be trusted, and finally received as "Lord of our life."

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.—John 1:12,13 (NIV)

In it's simplest form; we believe that Jesus died for us,...and we then offer up our loyalty, love, and life to Him. It’s the very best decision you'll every make. You feel as though the world is on your shoulders, and you have to do everything on your own,...but there is One to carry it with, and for you,...you have only to ask.

Receiving Christ is the gateway to understanding all that God wants to teach us,
...and experiencing all that he has to give us.

Holy Spirit of God, help all who are hurting, or searching, for the Way. Move them today, that they might lighten their load, come to the Father. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"When you take your concerns to God, He will not turn you away."

If He Does, Or If He Doesn't, Trust Him

Good Morning!! There are times when we pray for things, or persons, and our prayers are answered just as we prayed them. Then, there are times when we pray and our prayers seem to go unheard, with no answer at all. God may be forcing us to wait,...as He tests and grows our faith. Most times we can handle it,...if our minds can make sense of it. We pray, God leads and we start to get it. We can even see what is coming as God reveals things to us. As our faith is being increased,...we finally start begin to gaining some spiritual strength, and understanding. So that when out of the blue, something happens that changes our course so drastically, that we feel the air has been knocked out of us,...and we find ourselves in a place of desolation or despair,...our first thought is to trust God, anyway.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."—Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

Today's verses are ones that I learned early on from my Christian Grandm. I heard them quoted often,...and I have spoken them many times,...both to others, or to myself. I'm not always sure if they are comforting words, or if they are confronting words. Intellectually, I know that God's thoughts and ways are not like mine. Of course my ways are not like God's, God is God,...and me, not so much. When things aren't going my way, and I begin to question why God does or doesn't move one way or another,...I find that these verses put me in check. It's not about me,...It's God's Will,...not ours.

God is God,...sometimes He answers us, and sometimes He doesn't. Trust Him anyway.

O' Lord, we know that You love us more than we can ever comprehend, and everything You do is in our best interest,..even when we can't see it, or understand it. Your desire is for us to trust You totally, and completely. Forgive us for the times we've allowed ourselves to feel as though You had abandoned us, or maybe just forgotten about our needs. We ask that You help us to understand more of Your ways. And that You open our minds to comprehend the scriptures. We trust that Your higher ways will always be what is best. Amen.

"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

Dead To Sin, Free To Live

Good Morning!! Even though we as Christians, are dead to sin, sin's strong appeal can still cause us to struggle with feeling that we are more alive to sin, than we are to Christ. But Romans 6:1-11 teaches us that what is true of the Lord Jesus Christ, is true of us,...in terms of our relationship to sin and death. God the Father allowed His Son to "be sin" in order that all the sins of the world,...past, present and future, would fall on Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) When Jesus died on the cross, our sins were on Him. But when He rose from the grave, there was no sin on Him. When He ascended to the Father, there was no sin on Him. And today, as He sits at the Father's right hand, there is no sin on Him. Since we are seated in the heavenlies in Christ, we too have died to sin.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.—Romans 6:11 (NIV)

Today's verse, summarizes what we are to believe about our relationship to sin,...because of our position in Christ. It doesn't really matter whether we feel dead to sin or not; we are to consider it so,...because it is so. People wrongly wonder, "What experience must I have in order for this to be true?" The only necessary experience is that of Christ on the cross, which has already happened. When we choose to believe what is true about ourselves and sin, and walk forward on that basis, our right relationship with sin, will work out in our experiences.

Christ already died to sin,...and because we are in Him, we have died to sin too.

Thus says the Lord;
""Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.""

(Isaiah 1:18 NIV)


"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

Unmerited Favor

Good Morning!! I love the Old Testament stories that tell of God bringing someone into favor, in an unfavorable situation. Daniel was given favor in the king's palace,...even though he was a captive, and taken prisoner. Joseph was given favor with the guards, as a prisoner in Egypt. And even David, before he was king, was given favor when he sought refuge in enemy territory with the Philistines. Why such favor with these people, in these situations? Was it because of who they were, or what they had done to earn it? No. It was because of who God is.

Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel,...—Daniel 1:9 (NIV)

There are many times that we need to ask God to give us favor, in certain situations, or with certain people. Sometimes we hold back from asking, because we feel unworthy, or undeserving. But the Lord really wants us to ask,...because He loves to provide. I have been given favor in situations where nothing but wrath was deserved. When we truly embrace God's grace, we can begin to understand just a snippet of how much He truly loves us.

Even before we ask, God's favor is set upon us.

Father God, we thank You,...and pray that Your hand, stays on us. We ask that You continue to bless us,...and all that cross our paths. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

Not Us, But God

Good Morning!! The Lord warned the Israelites to be very careful when they entered the new land of promise and prosperity. They would be tempted to think that their success and wealth were of their own doing. But the Lord wanted them to remember that; He was the One who brought them up from the land of Egypt,...He was the One who delivered them from slavery and bondage,...and He was the One who brought them to this land of blessings. As humans, we can be so arrogant at times. Not only do we start to think that we have made our own way by our own strength, but we also turn away from the One who blessed us in the first place.

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."—Deuteronomy 8:17 (NIV)

When times are hard, we cry out to God for help. We press into Him. He is our only hope. We tend to be less attentive to God when we are doing well and life is cruising along. Regardless of where you are today, remember one thing: you have a Lord and Savior who only wants you. We have a Lord who desires to be with us, have a relationship with us, and wants us to desire Him above anything else in the world. He is a jealous God and He will do whatever it takes to get our attention. Draw closer to Him today. Don't get caught up in the things of life, and lose sight of your relationship with Him.

You may truly believe that you picked yourself up, by your own bootstraps,
...but where did you get the boots?

Father God, at times we seem to working so hard to avoid pain, suffering, and trials,...the very thing that draws us to closer to You. As we learn to praise You any how, again we give You thanks for all that is happening in our lives,...the good, and the bad. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

Strength In The Lord

Good Morning!! As Christians, we are told not only to believe in Jesus,...but to follow Him. In Luke 14:27-28, Jesus speaks of those who choose to follow Him, that they must leave everything else behind. He tells them to count the cost before they make their decision. But we live in a world today that promotes "self" and all of the accolades that go along with self gratification and satisfaction. We want to be comfortable, we do not want to suffer. But the truth is; As we live and breath, we will have troubles in this world,...despite our efforts to avoid them. Live long enough, and we will have sickness, needs, and distresses.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

We have our days so well-planned, so tightly-scheduled that even one deviation from our plan can send us into a frenzy. Even the weather can dampen our spirits. Throw in sickness and other types of problems and we soon find out where our strength is based. If our strength is not in Christ, then we are headed for a fall,...and for some that means several times a day. Jesus says that when we are weak,...He is strong. When we truly follow Jesus, we will discover just how weak we really are.

It is in the weakness of our lives that God is best able to show His power, and might.

Father God, today instead of complaining about our circumstances, regardless of how painful they may be, we're asking You to give us Your strength to see our way through them. Allow us to be weak, and depend on You. And, finally, we give You thanks for all that is happening in our lives,...the good, and the bad. We look up to see Your glory, for You are above the activities of this world. Amen.

"We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is always awake."

What Do You Boast In?

Good Morning!! Intelligence, money and strength are three areas that we think we can measure. Our intelligence is measured by how hard one needs to study, and the grades one receives. We form an instant opinion when hearing of certain colleges that were attended, and the credentials that were awarded. Money tends to reflect success. If someone is wealthy, and can manage their money well,...we give credence, as well as respect, to what they have to say. And strength is the last characteristic that helps us form our opinion of someone. Are they athletic? Do they handle pressure well, do they have the energy and focus to get important things done? Do they have a disciplined body and mind, or good self control? These are things, we admire,...in fact, these are things we boast about, in ourselves, and others.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.—Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

But God does not value our intelligence, our wealth, or our strength. God values a person who trusts, and boasts in Him. All of those characteristics are gifts,...God given gifts. In light of eternity, they mean nothing,...and each one, could be taken away in an instant, through illness alone. Only God is the Creator, and Sustainer of life. I would rather boast in the name of the Lord, my God, than to put my trust in any man, despite their traits and credentials. Turn to the Lord and seek His face. Know that you serve a God who gives gifts to men,...and the greatest gift given, was Jesus.

We have nothing,...that was not given by God.

Father God, lift us when we fall,...You are our rock, and strenght. We have nothing, and are nothing without You. Forgive us for putting more faith in our gifts, than in the Giver. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell."

Trust The Promise

Good Morning!! As believers, we face so many obstacles that can take us out of serving the Lord. We have thoughts that control us, wants that consume us and feelings that move us. Because none of us were born understanding God’s ways, our natural inclinations work against living out a Spirit filled life. Coming to Christ means that we lay aside our natural inclinations and ask the Lord to fill us with His wisdom instead. That process is known as submitting. To submit means to be under obedience. So we take what we want to do, what we feel is right to do, and what we think is best, and put it aside,...telling the Lord that we want His Will instead. Waiting and trusting begins.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.—James 4:7 (NIV)

To resist the devil means that after we have submitted to God, we go to the Word of God to counteract our thoughts, feelings and wants. The devil is fully aware of who we are, and how we think. As a result, he uses our desires to entice us to keep from submitting. We start questioning the love of God, and His motivation. We begin to fear and hold on, instead of trusting and let go. We have to realize that the devil is alive and well. His desire is to use our fleshly desires against us so that we may continue to sin against God.

If Jesus, the Living Word, needed to speak forth the written Word to resist the devil and have him flee,
...then how much more do we need to submit to God, in the same way.

Father God, we know that You know what's best for us. We believe You, we trust You,...and as we become better at submit to You, the devil will flee from us,...this is Your promise. Amen.

"Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell."

Stand And Soar

Good Morning!! No matter how firm we think we are standing, we will have moments when our faith becomes weak and uncertain. It may be the result of emotional wounds, or tragedy. Regardless of the source, if we approach these times remembering that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, and that it is through His strength that we are able to stand against incredible odds,...He will enable us to keep pressing forward.

If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.—John 8:31-32 (NIV)

It is usually during these times that we are most likely on the brink of discovering more of His truth, and He will reveal more of Himself to us. It is His truth that ultimately sets us free from all the doubt, and uncertainty,...and our faith will once again soar. We must continue to hold on to His Word and promises, especially during the difficult and uncertain moments in our lives.

It is only by the strenght and grace of God, that we stand.

We thank You Lord, You are good, You are unchangeable, You are our strength, our joy, our confidence. It is in You that we will continue to walk and to grow and to learn. In Your strength our faith will soar, and we will stand. Amen.

"Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell."

Don't Look Back

Good Morning!! A reference to going back to Egypt is made often in the Old Testament. The Israelites spent over 400 years in Egypt,...and for the most part, their time there consisted of hard labor and enslavement. They cried out to God, and He answered their cries. The book of Exodus describes their departure from this life of bondage, as Moses led the way. But, as soon as they encountered trials on their journey, the people were quick to want to go back to Egypt,...and return to their old way of life. You might ask; why would anyone want to go back to a life that was filled with bondage and suffering? Because they at least knew what to expect,...and for most people, that's more comforting, than having to face an uncertain future.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.—Isaiah 31:1 (NIV)

As Christians today, we have God’s Holy Spirit, who is our Helper and our Comforter. Trials and hard times are inevitable in our lives because we live in a fallen world, that will bring sorrows and pains. Though we will be tempted at times, to give up and to go back to our familiar territories, we must press on towards the upward call of Christ Jesus. Do not put your trust in the strength of men, or money, or worldly power,...but put your trust in the Lord only. Let's keep our eyes on the path of Jesus, as He has marked the way.

Keep your focus on Jeses,...and He will see you through.

Lord, remind us that we were never given a spirit of fear, but rather One of power. Holy Spirit, encourage, and move us to a position of trust, that we may not prove weak in the face of men,...but trust fully in our God. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

"Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell."

You Ought To Tell Someone

Good Morning!! When the disciples were left alone, as Jesus ascended into heaven, a new beginning was just around the corner. Jesus told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Promise. That Promise came on the day of Pentecost,...a day that changed their lives forever. God's Holy Spirit came upon them with sounds of a mighty wind, that came from heaven, a demonstration of supernatural power. Tongues of fire were then dispersed ("sat on") to each person (Acts 2:1-4). This event made it very clear that something amazing and indescribable was taking place amongst these people. In the days that followed this small group of believers came together in one accord, knowing that they had been given gifts from the Lord,...and that they had been called to witness the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all...—Acts 4:33 (NIV)

The first gift given involved "great power",...as the apostles zealously told of their knowledge and personal experience of who Jesus Christ was,...and what He had done. The second gift, however, is one we sometimes take for granted,...but it is extremely crucial to the first one: "great grace." Grace, however, steps in and says that the Lord has granted us unmerited favor in His sight. He chose us. He loved us first. He called us to do His work. He gifted us for His purposes. Not of us, but of Him, by His grace.

Grace will always accompany power in our life,...Grace is connected to our faith.

Holy Spirit, allow us to make time today and look up verses on "grace." Help us to use our Bibles and concordances, reading and learning about grace. Minister to us, through spirit and Word. As we suffering, and struggling, erge and encour us to approach the Father's throne of grace with boldness,...and receive His mercy today, as in Hebrews 4:16,...that we may be blessed! Amen.

"Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell."

I Will Bless The Lord

Good Morning!! Ever notice how much nicer, or better behave, when they think someone maybe watching? It's because we care what others think of us,...we all want to be liked, or thought of in a positive light. But it should not be all about being seen, and complimented by others,...but by God. That's why the best test to check our motives, is to examine what you do, when no one is looking. That means that everything we do, should be done to please the Lord, and not man. We can do dishes for the Lord, we can wipe noses for the Lord, and we can help someone else for the Lord. Surely you realize that God is watching,...right? The Lord is with us all the time. When we become aware of His continual presence,...we change. And the change is good because as we align up to please our Heavenly Father, we receive peace.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,—Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Because we desire God to bless us,...and He does,...our main desire needs to be that we just want to please the Him. God has given us internal monitors that let us know if what we are doing is right or wrong before Him. If we are making choices that please Him, we have peace. If we are making choices that are wrong, we don’t feel right. We become uncomfortable with a lack of peace. It doesn’t take much to realize that we are not pleasing God when gossiping or speaking negatively. When this happens to me, I sense the quenching of the Holy Spirit and I want to get out of that conversation as fast as I can. Praise God for conviction. I don’t want to do anything that quenches the Lord because I have learned that whatever quenches His Spirit hurts Him because it is bad for me. Let’s live to bless the Lord.

We are alive to bless the Lord,...not for the Lord to bless us.

Holy Spirit, convict our hearts today. If we'redoing anything, that isn’t right before the Lord, show us, and move us away from it. One day we will each give an account of our actions before Him. If we can become aware of His presence now, we will live a life that brings Him glory,...which in turn blesses us all. Amen.

"There may be times when we're not so sure of where God is,
...but we can be confident that He always knows where we are."

Learning To Let It Go, And Loving It

Good Morning!! How do you know when a wound has healed?....when you can touch it, without pain. This weekend, Sheila and I revisited some past issues of hurts,...that I thought we had moved beyond. But we soon discovered that just because you haven't spoken of it, doesn't mean that you've let go of it. How did holding on to pass hurts, become our way of protecting ourselves from new ones? Distrust, shame, hate and all other fear based, forms of insecurity that we chain ourselves to, are not of God. Until we learn to truly let go of them, we're not really moving on,...we're just moving in place.

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.—Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)

Have you ever known anyone who truly delights in mercy? Think about it for a moment. How many of us really enjoy extending mercy to others? I am not talking about the kind of mercy that we give in times of need or extend to someone because we feel sorrow for them. I am talking about the kind of mercy that the Lord extends to us on a continual basis. And not only does the Lord grant us this mercy, but the Bible says He loves to do it. Isaiah 30:18 says the Lord waits (or longs) to be gracious to us. Sometimes we need to be reminded of how good God is to us. There is no one like our God.

Foregiveness is not just for the other person,...it frees us as well.

Father God, we pray that today can be a new day for us. We pray that we will accept Your mercy, and grace with open arms. We pray that we, in turn, will begin to delight in doing the same for others. We pray that we will fall in love with our awesome God, Who truly does delight in forgiving all of our sins, and waits just to be kind and gracious to us. We ask for Your Spirit to open our hearts to receive Your mercy,...and take hold of all that You haves for us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"There may be times when we're not so sure of where God is,
...but we can be confident that He always knows where we are."

The Power Within

Good Morning!! Do you know what power you have living inside you? The power that raised Lazarus from the dead,...healed all kinds of diseases, and delivered souls from bondage. That very same power, is found in us,...by way of Jesus Christ. Jesus shares, and shows, us this power through His indwelling peace. When we receive the Spirit of God, we have peace with God,...not peace as the world gives, but the peace of God that surpasses understanding. It is peace that "settles" you, in times of trial. No matter where you are or what you are struggling with,...God has allowed for a settling of your soul, to have peace with Him.

I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.—Ezekiel 37:14 (NIV)

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, that allows us to have a right relationship with God. The Spirit of God intercedes for us in prayer, as He uses words that enter into the throne room of God,...when we can only moan and groan. He is our Counselor, our Teacher, our Comfort and our Guide. But the most important eternal promise we receive, when the Spirit of God is placed in us, is the seal of our salvation,...as we come alive spiritually for eternity.So Awesome. So Amazing!

The peace of God is a promise offered to you today.
Claim it, speak it,...and live in it.

Holy Spirit of God, help us to throw off the distractions of illness, financial loss, negative comments, guilt, and self-condemnation. And let the peace of Christ dwell in us richly. Nothing can interfere with the love God has for us, and the peace that is ours by knowing His Son. All these things on earth will pass away, but our security for eternity is fixed. Help us to fix our eyes on Jesus,...by reading His word. Move us to cast our cares upon the Lord,...for He cares for us. Amen.

"There may be times when we're not so sure of where God is,
...but we can be confident that He always knows where we are."

Is All Your Working, For Kingdom Building?

Good Morning!! Have you felt overwhelmed by too much work? Many times, we are overloaded with overbooked calendars and too little time to do the things we have to do, not to mention the things we would like to do. Most of us are always busy trying to complete the tasks or jobs for the day. Our society is works-based in every way imaginable. The eighties were a decade that made longer workdays the in-thing. Forty-hour weeks were considered short in comparison to the more popular sixty to eighty-hour weeks,...and the "Stay-at-home mom", became just another thing of the past.

Moses did everything just as the LORD commanded him.—Exodus 40:16 (NIV)

Today, with advances in technology and a "bigger and faster is better" mentality, doing more is a must. Even our kids are obliged to participate in extra-extracurricular activities, thinking they are necessary for higher education opportunities. As a result, many of us are worn out, stressed out, and burned out from so much work. We get so busy just being busy that many of us do not stop to even include the Lord in our activities.

Moses building of the tabernacle was a beautiful example of a perfect union, between God and man,
...and the results were nothing short of miraculous.

Father in Heaven, we pray that today is the day You take over all of our work. We start by asking; did the Lord instruct us to do these things? Has God given us the tools, and talents to carry out the work? Are we really working in unison with You, Father,...and are we following Your instructions and doing all that You says? We want to take the time, hear from You, so that our efforts are not wasted. In Jesus name, Amen.

"There may be times when we're not so sure of where God is,
...but we can be confident that He always knows where we are."

Same Stuff, Different Day

Good Morning!! The longer we live, the more pain, cruelty, and unfairness that we see. "I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no comforter" (4:1). Oppression comes via poverty, violence, illness, corruption, disability, and natural disaster,...often compounded by injustice (8:9-10). Like Solomon said; there really is nothing new under the sun.

But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.—Ecclesiastes 4:3 (NIV)

How can life make sense given the existent of undeserved, random suffering? Solomon responds with: "eat, drink and be glad" (8:15). This is part of a well-known saying, used to introduce his disillusionment with pleasures. In its actual context, it is a reminder to appreciate life's good things,...even when experiencing the bad. Another way of dealing with suffering is to comfort, and heal each other,...and trust God to eventually make all things right.

The evils you see today are not new,...and neither is the right way to face them.

"Study the Bible to be wise;
believe it to be safe;
practice it to be holy."

(DAILY BREAD, Nov. 17, 2006)

"There may be times when we're not so sure of where God is,
...but we can be confident that He always knows where we are."

A Love Beyond Understanding

Good Morning!! As I read and re-read the letters of Paul, to the churches,...certain themes seem to re-occur throughout. Paul had such a love for these newly converted Gentiles,...who were once culturally embedded in paganism, and idolatry. Knowing the temptations that they faced in living a life for Jesus, Paul wrote letters to encourage, to exhort, and to even admonish them. His primary concern was that they not turn away from what they had been taught about Jesus. Not so different from the times we live in now, there were many false teachers who were on the scene during this time,...trying to lure these baby Christians from the truth of God’s Word. Paul knew that the foundation of Jesus’ teaching was based on love, a love that was (and still is) incomprehensible. He knew that love would keep them together in fellowship, as one body in Jesus Christ,...and that the love of Christ would give them the grace to continue to live a life for Him.

...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.—Ephesians 3:19 (KJV)

Today’s verse says that “the love of Christ…passes knowledge.” In essence, this means that we are not humanly capable of understanding the love of Jesus. His love is beyond our knowledge, our understanding, our emotions,...we can never truely understand the depths of His love. But Paul tells us to pray about it,...as he prayed for the church at Ephesus. Even though we are not capable of understanding our Holy God, we are given His Holy Spirit who will open our minds,...lead us in truth,...and fill us with His love.

We, as believers in God’s only Son, are the temples of His Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, help us to pray without ceasing, constantly asking for You to fill us with more of Your presence. We want, and need to "be filled with all the fullness of God."

"Instead of being preoccupied with our problems,
...let’s praise the Lord for His blessings."

You Have A Reason, Thank God

Good Morning...It's Another Thoughtful, Thankful, Thursday!! It is good to remember, again and again, what the Lord has done for you and yours. To thank Him, not just this day, but every day for all His Blessings and benefits. It ignites our hope, and our faith. It reminds us, that His compassion is never ending and His mercies are new each morning. We know the blessings God has brought into our lives,...but remembering them each day, brings them alive again in our hearts and our souls.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."—Psalm 136:1 (KJV)

He forgives us; He has healed us; He makes His ways known to us; He comforts us; He has extended mercy towards us; He has redeemed our lives; He is our protector; He has set us free, and He satisfies our souls, like no other. Waking up to face another day, remembering all the blessings and greatness of our God,...this will most certainly cause it to be brighter.

We remind ourselves, that Jesus Christ,...is the One in whom we trust, and place our hope.

We love You LORD,...and we just want to thank You for our abundant blessings,...new every day! Amen.

" Refuse to sow seeds of division, strife, discontent, worry, doubt, unbelief, or any indulgence of the flesh, for you will regret the harvest produced by these things. Sow carefully and in wisdom."
(Motivator)

"Instead of being preoccupied with our problems,
...let’s praise the Lord for His blessings."

New Grace, New Mercies, A New Start

Good Morning!! Regardless of how we come to know Jesus, the result for each new believer is the same,...we have a fresh new starting point. In order for us to make the most of this new beginning, old things must pass away. What old things? Old sinful habits and behaviors,...they should change at some point in the life of every believer. The fruit of the Spirit should begin to replace the lusts of the flesh.(see Galatians 5:19-23) Love instead of hate,...kindness instead of cruelty,...peace instead of fear and anxiety. It's the Holy Spirit that convicts us,...and makes it clear that certain activities are against God,...and then helps us to stop doing them.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!—2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

A believer in Jesus Christ is made new, only by the Spirit, and not by good deeds or hard work. Don't try to be a holy person by good works within yourself,...we do not have the power to make ourselves righteous. It is only by God's grace and power, that you are born again, a new creation made by His hands,...and with His love, He will mold you into His image,...day by day. We're all a work in progress,...that in the ripeness of time, He will complete.

We are born again by the Spirit of God, when we believe in Jesus Christ,
...and ask Him to be our Lord and Savior.

Lord we start this day asking that You have Your way with us. We know You make all things new, and that Your mercies are new every morning. Help us Father, to be open enough to believe and receive all that You have for us. Amen.

"Instead of being preoccupied with our problems,
...let’s praise the Lord for His blessings."

Be Upright, In Your All Your Dealings

Good Morning!! When Sarah died in the land of Canaan, Abraham went to the people who lived in the land, and requested a burial place. Abraham acknowledged that he was a foreigner in their land, and humbled himself before them, and made his petition. These men, in turn, honored Abraham by calling him "a prince", and instructed him to take thier choicest piece of land for free, to bury his dead wife. But Abraham insisted on paying the fair price for the land. Over time, Abraham had become a man of integrity. He was respected and honored among the people living in Canaan, even though he was considered a foreigner. He was still living in the faith, of the promise from God, that one day his descendants would live freely in this land of Canaan,...the promise land. But instead of flaunting his heritage, he honored the current residents by insisting on paying a fair price for a burial place. In return, his integrity and character, were all the more greater in the eyes of those Canaanites.

Ephron answered Abraham, "Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead."—Genesis 23:11-15 (NIV)

Our integrity is often tested, through our finances. How we handle our money can be a true sign of our character, and it seems that Christians are under the spotlight more than others,...especially when we are in ministries. By paying for the land, Abraham was not under obligation to the land owners. When in debt, we are obligated to the lenders. When in debt, it is hard to make wise choices,...because the need for money can sometimes overshadow the right decision. It can be very hard to remember that; right is right,...at any cost.

Pray about your finances, and ask the Lord to guide you in all decisions.

Sweet Spirit of God, remind us that someone is always watching, and we may very well be the first Bible that people read. Let all our actions bring honor and glory to our Father in Heaven.. Amen.

"Instead of being preoccupied with our problems,
...let’s praise the Lord for His blessings."

Persistent And Consistent Prayer

Good Morning!! The Lord tells us that He hears our prayers and will answer them according to His will,...and what is best for us. But sometimes we need to know the depths of our own desires, and we need to cry out to the Lord with an enduring persistence. Keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking,…the key is persistence. If our motives are selfish and wrong, God will work on the prayers of our hearts to line them up according to His will. By choosing to pray, we indicate to God that we are serious, and open to His work in our lives. And many times, God has placed in our hearts these desires so that we will pray for the things of His will. When we see God answer those prayers, our faith is increased to continue praying for other things as well.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.— Luke 11:9, 10 (NIV)

God tells us over and over in the Bible to pray. There are many reasons and advantages to praying: we develop a relationship with God, we know that God hears us, and we can hear back from God. We can receive hope and peace,...sometimes we may receive what we want. God loves us and wants for us to tell Him all of our desires and troubles. The parable of Luke 11 gives us a different slant on prayer,...Jesus is telling us “how” to pray,...not "why" to pray. The key point is to be persistent and diligent,...in short keep praying.

Only through persistence, we are rewarded with faith.

Lord, give us the persistence to keep praying. And Lord, as we cry out, reveal our motives of why we want "it" so much. Change our hearts when we're not praying Your will. Until our eyes have been opened, we'll just going to keep asking, seeking and knocking until You open a window or door. Thank You for listening and answering. Amen.

"Instead of being preoccupied with our problems,
...let’s praise the Lord for His blessings."

One Who Understands

Good Morning!! Have you ever poured your heart out to someone but felt worse afterword's,...mainly because you knew that no matter how hard you tried to express your feelings, they just couldn't understand? True understanding and sympathy come when the person you are sharing a personal problem with has lived through the a similar kind of situation. Most often, it's through pain and suffering, that the closest bond can be formed,...our hearts are drawn to each other, and strong relationships are forged, that often last a lifetime.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.—Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)

When I think of the sufferings that Christ endured here on earth, I am comforted that He understands my sufferings. No one was more rejected, ridiculed, misunderstood, and alone than Jesus. Even though He was fully God, He was also fully man. Jesus dealt with the same emotions and temptations in his flesh just as we do, yet He was without sin. But Jesus never focused on His own pain,...His concern and compassion was for the people. Even when His friend Lazarus died, Jesus cried. He understood the pain that Lazarus’ sisters were feeling and He knows today the pain that we feel. For me, I try to remember these things in my weakest moments, and know that I am not alone,...then like Jesus, I reach out to share this understanding with others, that may be where I was.

Jesus' sufferings were so that we all could pour out our hearts to the One who truly understands,...and the only One who can truly save us.

For a love so deep, O God, we can only praise You. Amen.

"Those that kneel before God, can stand against the world."

Be Mindful

Good Morning!! Satan is alive and well,...because hate and fear, are in full swing. His mission has been the same since the Garden of Eden,...to crush, kill and destroy. He is good at twisting concepts, and manipulating ideas into half truths,...that are simply not real. Satan’s battlefield starts within our circumstances,...he frustrates our plans, trying to get to the peace, and hope within our hearts,....just to crush them. When our insides don’t match our outsides, we have just become hypocrites,...and Satan loves to make hypocrites out of Christians.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.—1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

Another of satan’s plans is to attack our minds,...by putting his thoughts into our heads. I don't know about you, but many times, I don’t need the devil to put bad thoughts into my head,...because I can do that all by myself. I am capable of taking my own self out of the ministry, or walking away from the Lord, with very little effort or attack from him. Once we are aware of this scheme (which for some of us can take a lifetime to see), we learn to pray, and resist him,...by drawing nearer to God. We do this by learning how to discipline our behavior,...and choosing not to allow the fruits of the Spirit to be crushed. Fasting, praying, submitting to God, and meditating on scripture are key to our survival.

The Lord wants to give us an abundant life, on this earth,...so why not start living it today!

O' Lord open our eyes and gives us discernment to know what’s really going on. Don't allow us to be apathetic and complacent. We don't want to live on the defense,...without any strength to fight back. We know that You have so much more for us. You mean for us to be of on the offense, and moving forward. The battle has already been won,...we just have to put the armor on and show up. Amen.

"Those that kneel before God, can stand against the world."

Just Believe, And Do Not Fear

Good Morning!! Sometimes we can feel like we are in the midst of a battle, where the odds are stacked against us. Or maybe we see giants, hear their taunts and decide to flee and hide out,...as opposed to standing up to them. Today, we are all in a battle, and there is one clear enemy. Make no mistake about this fact: "your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Satan will use whatever tactics he can to get to us, to frighten us, and to keep us from fighting back. He will play tricks on our minds so that we see giants that aren't real. He will deceive us into believing that we have no ability to win,...but the devil is a lie.

David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him." Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth."—1 Samuel 17:32-33 (NIV)

One of the best tools Satan has against us is fear. Fear keeps us from facing the giants. Fear keeps us from ever achieving victory,...because we are afraid to enter the battle. Fear becomes our own trap of despair, depression and disillusionment. So often, the battle takes place in our own minds, with giants conjured up in our thoughts, but we must understand that this is not God’s Will for us.

FEAR is False Evidence Appering Real,
...is there any wonder that "fear not" is one of the most repeated phases in the Bible.

Holy Spirit help us, in faith, to step out, stop running, stop hiding and stop believing the lies of the enemy. In faith, to face the enemy head on,...and claim victory in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Help us to remember; He has fought the battle and won, on our behalf, but we need to step out, stand up. Let today be the day. Amen.

"Those that kneel before God, can stand against the world."