Get Involved, Seek Peace

Good Morning!! Peacemakers are hard to find,...in a world that seems to be getting drunk regularly, on drama. Real House Wives, of somewhere or the other, Survive by lying and cheating others off an island, while Dr Phil, Jerry Springer, or Maury are televising people at their worst,...as if they were the only ones, with issues. Is there any wonder we watch without getting involved,...just waiting and wanting tom be entertained. We are shocked by big events,...only until the next one big event.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.—Matthew 5:9 (KJV)

But the daily dramas of the our world don’t get acted out on grand stages; they are acted out in small venues,...in someone's home, in the meeting rooms at church, and even in our schools. Every day in our social interactions, in our faith walk, and even in our trips to the market, we reveal our true character as see conflicts unfold.

Don't just be an onlooker,...our Father put us in place to be a help.

Lord, help us put on kindness, compassion, and become the kind of people you want us to be,...Peacemakers. Amen.

"He who holds the stars in space, holds His people in His Hands."

Mercy, Shown Through Patience

Good Morning!! Patience is a difficult concept for us who live in a world of micro wave meals, and instant messaging, a world of fast food, rapid transit, and quick oil changes. We even invented digital cameras, because one-hour photo took too long.

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.—Matthew 5:7 (KJV)

Life is meant to be taken in its own time,...at its own pace. But for some reason we just keep trying to make it go at a speed, of our choosing. We expect people to be patient with us,...but we can't find the time to show a little to someone else. We get angry at drivers who go three miles an hour below the speed limit, or who wait even three seconds after the light turns green. We are frustrated when our computers don't boot up instantly, or elevator doors that don't open, when we touch the button,...the first time.. If that happens to you today, relax, take a deep breath, and slow down,...it’s okay to wait.

All things happen in their own time,...regardless of our attitude about it.

Father God, thank You for being patient with us, help us to mature in Your ways, as we learn to developing patience with others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"He who holds the stars in space, holds His people in His Hands."

Be Meek, Not Weak

Good Morning!! We waste too much time, and energy, on anger at denial of or resistance to the realities of life. We often try to manipulate situations to be the way we want them to be, rather than simply accepting what has happened as fact. Whether it is a difficult diagnosis, a minor fender-bender, or the belief that everything would be better if another person changed their behavior,...the path to facing anything begins with accepting reality, instead of arguing with it.

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.—Matthew 5:5 (KJV)

I've always struggled to appreciate this beatitude about meekness. By urging us to be meek, neither Jesus nor Paul are recommending we be spineless or weak. Rather, they are saying, "Yield yourself to the Sovereignty of God." There is peace when we accept reality as it is,...this is what's meant by "Let go and let God".

Accepting life is the key to personal peace and serenity,
...life works best for those who are able to take it as it comes.

Jesus, help us live with the same acceptance of life that you did. Amen.

"He who holds the stars in space, holds His people in His Hands."

It's Not What People Say, It's What God Says

Good Morning!! Why do so many of us continue to carry the emotional baggage, from past experiences? Our days are often flooded with bad memories, that haunt, and prevent us from seeing ourselves as God sees us,...a new creation. We've lost the ability to love ourselves, let alone believe in our hearts of hearts that God,...creator of all, could love us. But God does love all of us.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.—Psalm 62:5 (KJV)

Dig into God’s Word,...you will begin to see His consistent character, the mercy of His heart,...and His unconditional love. Allow the truth of what God is, to sink deep into your soul. I promise you; God is more ready to embrace us, heal our wounded heart and minds, than we are to ask. We need only to embrace God, through His Son Jesus, as the loving caring Father He is,...and put aside our own distorted views and perceptions of Him.

No matter how damaged your life has been to this point,...with God there is a great, new morning of grace and mercy.

"With you very own hands, You formed me;
now breathe Your Wisdom over me so I can understand You."
(Psalm 119:73, MESSAGE)

"It's nice to be important,...but it's more important to be nice."

Remember; You're Doing It For God

Good Morning, On This Thoughtful And Thankful Thursday!! Even when our circumstances are trying,...when pain is present and things are not going well,...we are not excused from obedience. God bless those who serve Lord daily, in various ways,... and continue to do so, even when it looks like they're not recognized or appreciated for their service. Believe me, it does not go unnoticed by God. For all the great things you work to accomplish in your lives, the daily things you do in love will have the greatest impact.

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.—Matthew 25:40 (KJV)

Making yourselves available night or day to answer the call for help,...to sit with a friend who is lonely and needs companionship, to run an errand for a neighbor, or counseling and praying with someone in a crisis. We are never closer to God than when we are loving, giving, caring and extending kindness, through the Spirit of Jesus Christ. That ain't working, and it's not an inconvenience, or task,....but a pleasure and a joy!

Heartache, injustice, and difficulty are not sufficient reasons to dishonor the Lord through disobedience. Pain is not permission to disregard our commitment to the Lord in faith.

When darkness hovers, and pain is present, dear Lord, find us faithful. Help us to always remember that; It's a joy to be in the service of our Lord. Amen.

"It's nice to be important,...but it's more important to be nice."

When Your Borther Sins, Againt You part 2

Good Morning!! Jesus says, "Go.",...but what if our private plea fails?..."Take one or two others along with you," says Jesus. Prayerfully and humbly, try to get the offender to appreciate the injury he or she has inflicted. And if this approach also fails? "Tell it to the church." Share your concern with the body. O.k., if you thought yesterdays' message was hard,...you must be ready to pass out, today.

But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church,..."—Matthew 18:16, 17a (NIV)

If the offender has not listen to you alone, then they're rarely willing to hear anyone else,...they're much more likely, to see this confrontation as an attempt to turn others against them. They go from victimizer, to victim,...and if you thought you had trouble with them before,....baby look out! But the key to remember here is; this is not your fight or battle. When God calls you to move, move. Whether it works out for you or not, is not the issue,...God is working on them,...and you.

Jesus' teachings truly are hard,...that's why so many simply walk away dejected.

Holy Spirit, help us to act out of love. And help us to stand,...and follow God's way to reconciliation, regardless of the immediate outcome. Amen.

"It's nice to be important,...but it's more important to be nice."

When Your Brother Sins, Against You

Good Morning!! Just imagine, you overhear a member of your church, say something about you that are unkind, and untrue. Or maybe, a fellow believer takes unfair advantage of you, in a business transaction. How do we deal with this? Jesus says, "Go."

"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over."—Matthew 18:15 (NIV)

Jesus says, "Go." Point out the offense privately, quietly, in a spirit of friendship. Most of us don't like conflict,...so much so, that we will "go" to extraordinary means, to avoid it. But remember, our purpose, is not to humiliate or scold. Our purpose is to "gain our brother or sister." Reconciliation is the goal, not condemnation. Prayerfully and humbly, try to get the offender to appreciate the injury he or she has inflicted.

Jesus' teachings are are hard stuff,
...but couldn’t we all tell stories of situations that got way out of hand,
...and it all may have been avoided, if only at the beginning, if only someone would have had the courage to "go and tell someone their fault ",...in private.

Holy Spirit, help us follow God's way to reconciliation. Amen.

"It's nice to be important,...but it's more important to be nice."

Weeds And Wheat

Good Morning!! It's not as easy to tell saints from sinners, as you might think,...appearances are often be deceiving. True story: one day a man, dirty and disheveled, shows up at the church door. He has a dog on a leash, a mangy, emaciated mutt. The man tells a story of woe that every pastor has heard a hundred times, "I lost my job,...I'm hungry,...loan me some money and I'll pay you back, honest." Partly out of sympathy, and partly to get rid of the guy, the pastor gives him a ten-dollar bill. The man walks across the street to a convenience store that sells beer and wine. The pastor, watching from the church window, kicks himself for being a sucker. A few minutes later, the guy walks out of the store, clutching a brown paper bag. He sits down on a bench and opens the bag, which contains dog food. And he feeds his hungry pooch, putting the animal's needs before his own.

Let both grow together until the harvest.—Matthew 13:30a (NIV)

The world is a messy, mixed-up place,...where good and bad co-exist. In life there is not a wheat field over here and a field of weeds over there,...rather, they're all mixed together. So, how we be trusted to know who’s a weed, and who’s wheat?...we can't. Oh yeah, about a week later, the man came back to the church, and paid back the ten dollars.

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes." said Paul (1 Cor. 4:5).
Don’t be too quick to pull weeds.

Lord, forgive us for jumping to conclusions, and rushing to judgment,...for some of us, it's the only real workout, we seem to get. Amen.

"It's nice to be important,...but it's more important to be nice."

Share The Burden, And Get Some Rest

Good Morning!! There is no such thing as a yokeless person. We’re all slaves to something,...ambition, pride, greed, envy, even other people's expectations. You don’t know anybody who isn’t shouldering a yoke, of some kind. That’s why we labor so, and are heavy laden,...because we are yoked to things that cannot bring us rest. If you want rest, said Jesus, "take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me."

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.—Matthew 11:28, 29 (NKJV)

Learn what? Many things,...but mainly Christ's reliance on the Father,...His meekness, and His humility. Deep down, what wearies and burdens us is our exhaustion,...our fretful stress and nervous anxiety. Where does it all come from? It comes from wounded pride when we fail, and inflated pride when we succeed. It comes from frantically trying to keep up with our neighbors, and always trying to live up to other people’s expectations. It comes from always comparing ourselves to others, and thinking that everything depends on us,...as though we were God. It comes from feeling that no matter how much we have, we'll always need more. No wonder we're tired. Is there any wonder that we feel heavy-laden.

We have a standing invitation to take Christ’s yoke upon ourselves, to learn from Him,
...and more importantly to find rest in Him.

Lord Jesus, place Your yoke upon us, that we may find rest, in You. Amen.

"We honor God best, when we call Him Father,...and live like His Son."

Judge Not?

Good Morning!! Judge not, that you be not judged. Judge not,...is that even possible? We all have to make judgements about people, and situations. A company looking to hire an employee, needs to judge the applicants. In a political election, you have to judge the candidates' character and abilities. "Judge not" doesn’t mean we should suspend all judgment. Nor does it mean that we should look pass, or tolerate wrongdoing. Sometimes you have to judge people,...but judgments need to be honest, and fair. That’s hard work,...which is why we seldom do it.

How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?—Matthew 7:4 (NIV)

Judging people honestly and fairly, involves three basic things. First, don’t make comparisons. Women are compared to their mothers, and men to their fathers; parents compare one child to another. It is never fair, and seldom helpful, to compare one person to another. Second, when judging people, use compassion. Be empathetic. When you pause to imagine another person’s struggle, you tend to view that person a lot more charitably. And third, consider yourself. "First take the log out of your own eye," said Jesus. I have found that the traits in other people, that most annoy me, are the very traits that I myself possess,...and wish I didn't!
Honest evaluation involves seeing a person for who he or she is,...and takes into account their gifts, struggles, and limitations.

"If we but knew the sad, secret history of our enemies,
...they would no longer be our enemies."
(Longfellow)

Lord, help us to be more compassionate,...and less critical. Amen.

"We honor God best, when we call Him Father,...and live like His Son."

Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is

Good Morning!! There is a very real and intimate, connection between spiritual maturity, and generous giving. We’ve always known that spiritually mature people, give generously. But Jesus says that it can work the other way around too,...people who give generously,...become more spiritually mature. Generous giving, often puts us on the pathway to a deeper, and more meaningful spiritual life.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".—Matthew 6:19, 20 (NIV)

How we spend our time and money, reveals what sort of people we really are. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." But so often, we want to hear this verse backwards. That is, we hear Jesus saying, "Where your heart is, that’s where your treasure will be." If you want to know where your heart is, the logic goes,...then look at where you spend your time and money,...if you spend your money on,...lets say, a favorite hobby, then that’s where your heart is. While this may be true,...it’s not what Jesus said. Changing how we spend our time and money, can also determines what sort of people we will become.

Give of your treasure,...and your heart will follow.

Lord, help us to give generously,...and let our hearts follow our real treasure,...You. Amen.

"We honor God best, when we call Him Father,...and live like His Son."

Do The Right Thing, For The Right Reason

Good Morning!! Jesus ate with tax collectors, and sinners. He forgave adulterers, and promised paradise to the thief on the cross,...yet He was hard on hypocrites. He scolded them for blowing their own horn when they put their gift in the offering plate, and for contorting their faces to make sure everyone knew they were fasting. He condemned them for praying conspicuously, whenever they could find an audience,...not to be heard by God,...but to be noticed by people.

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.—Matthew 6:2 (NIV)

The Just for Today credo of Alcoholics Anonymous is a long list of simple things to do, just for today. One item on the list reads, "Just for today I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count." When we do good deeds just to be noticed,...that’s not so much a bad thing,...as it is a sad thing. It’s a sign we have forgotten about the Father who, Jesus said, "sees in secret."

Why settle for public recognition,...when we could have God's approval?

Holy Spirit of God, move us from all forms of hypocrisy. Amen.

"We honor God best, when we call Him Father,...and live like His Son."

Mean What You Say

Good Morning!! Think before you speak,...don't give your word,...unless you're sure you can keep your word. "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'," said Jesus. James gives the same admonition in almost the same words: "Let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no" (5:12). Jesus and James are calling for the kind of community in which every person’s word would be simple and sufficient, true and transparent.

All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.—Matthew 5:37 (NIV)

Seldom do we consider how important language is in creating human community, as when someone gives you a verbal guarantee, or when a politician promises to protect your interests over theirs, or when a bride and groom promise to love each other "till death do us part." When your language proves untrustworthy, however, then relationships become confused and chaotic, and community comes unglued.

Keeping you word, is a true sign of good character.

Sweet Spirit of God, with commitment and consistency, let our yes be yes, and our no be no. Allow our word to stand for something, as we give honor to You. Amen.

"We honor God best, when we call Him Father,...and live like His Son."

Who Are You?

Good Morning!! Who are you? Most people define themselves, in two basic ways. First: We are what I have,...a house, a marriage, a job, and our various possessions. Together, all these things form our identity. But what happens if we lose our home, our mates, our job, or our possessions?...then who will I be? The second way we define ourselves: We are what people say about us. We go through life trying to please people, fretting about our popularity rating, hoping others will speak well of us. But what happens when people don't speak well of us?...who are we then?

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."—Matthew 3:17 (NKJV)

When our identity comes from possessions and popularity,...that is what Jesus called "belonging to the world." We don’t belong to the world. We belong to God. Our picture is on heaven’s mantel. And the voice Jesus heard when he stepped, dripping, from the Jordan,..."This is my beloved ",...that's the voice we must hear. Who are we? We are a child of God, that’s who.

We are children, of the Most High, God.

Father in Heaven, help us to always find our identity in You. Amen.

"If you don't think you have much to be thankful for,
...then try being thankful for some of the things you don't have."

Go Before God

Good Morning!! David asked, "Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?" The hill that he was referring to was Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem, where the temple was built. In the temple was the Holy of Holies,...where the Lord dwelt among His people. In verse four David lists the requirements, for people just to come near God.

Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.—Psalm 24:3, 4 (NIV)

When you first read this list, your heart starts to sink. It is humanly impossible to have hands and hearts that are pure,...to never worship idols,...and to never tell lies. God knows this! That’s why He sent His Son to die for us,...paying the sin price,...making us wholly acceptable, to a Holy God.

Never a need to be ashamed, because we have been made pure because of Christ.

O' Lord, thank You for making it possible, for us to climb Your Holy hill. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"If you don't think you have much to be thankful for,
...then try being thankful for some of the things you don't have."

Live And Love, Like You're Home, Already

Good Morning!! The apostle Paul says that we as Christians, should live, always keeping in mind that this world is not our permanent residence,...and we should always look toward our heavenly home. This perspective does not mean we just sit around biding our time, in this life. It mean that we ought to practice heaven’s values, here on earth,...now.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.—Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)

Instead of setting our minds on earthly things like greed, anger, and impurity, we should practice the ways of our true home. We should learn to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. We may wish to move into our heavenly home,...but first, our days here should be filled with practicing the love that will be natural there.

By setting our minds on heavenly things, we're living as citizens of heaven, here on earth.

Father God, help us to live our earthly lives in ways that glorify and please You. Amen.

"If you don't think you have much to be thankful for,
...then try being thankful for some of the things you don't have."

We Are Free,...To Choose

Good Morning!! Sin smashes our relationship with God, leaving us with broken lives, in a broken world. But God sent his son to fix all that. In a Galilean synagogue Jesus read the first part of Isaiah 61 and then made the astonishing claim that he himself was the fulfillment of that prophesy.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,"...—Luke 4:18 (KNJV)

Through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, we have been set free from sin’s clutches. Jesus came to earth to seek out everyone who is brokenhearted,...because of sin. Picture Him embracing you, and saying, "Your sins are all forgiven,...don't give them another thought." Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, are also the victory that will heal our sin-ravaged world. One day the blind will see, the oppressed will be liberated,...and all the poor will have good news.

Jesus is the cure for all of the brokenness caused by sin.

Jesus, thank you for forgiving our sins,...and healing our broken hearts .

"If you don't think you have much to be thankful for,
...then try being thankful for some of the things you don't have."

Don't Put Money Above God

Good Morning, It's Marvelous Monday!! This week, let's talk about MONEY,...you know, the thing we fight over most,...that stuff people lie, die, cheat, steal and lust for. It's God's chief rival for our hearts, and it's the stuff they say, makes the world go round. With money we can get cars, houses, and jewels,...all to convince others of our worth or value. When you have money, people wish they where you,...they behave more respectful,...they are more impressed with what you do, and say. But then comes the question that will both run, and ruin your life;..." Is it really me they care about, or just my money? "

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof —Proverbs 1:19 (KJV)

Ask yourself; "how much do I really need? " Jesus is clear about the accumulation of wealth,...as in the story of the man who tore down his barns to build bigger ones. God wants everyone to enjoy life and to share in it's good, but He does not find joy in the celebration of a few when many suffer.

Greed is keeping what we don't need.
God rejoices in the life of a giver,...but has no part of the greedy person's life.

O' Heavenly Father, open our eyes to the needs of those around us. Destroy the spirit of selfishness in our hearts, and teach us to give as you would give. In Jesus name, Amen.

(Today's message came from "Wisdom From The Proverbs" )

"If you don't think you have much to be thankful for,
...then try being thankful for some of the things you don't have."

God Loves You

Good Morning!! We proclaim our love for the Lord. We pray to know Him more. We deeply desire a life that is fruitful and pleasing to Him. And for the most part, I believe that we spend a lot of time thinking and praying about how to please God, and how to live our lives in accordance with His will,...far more than we spend thinking about how much He loves us. I mean really, how often do you personally stop and think; "God loves me…He is rejoicing over me right now."?

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.—Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)

We tend to think more about how God is disappointed, or upset with us,...instead of thinking about how much He loves and adores us. Why? Because so much of our thought processes are shaped by the world,...and less by the love of God. And what's more, we have an enemy who feeds right into those negative thoughts and will do anything he can to keep us from experiencing that peace and joy that comes only by God.

I encourage you to write today's verse down, meditate on it, and memorize it.
Keep repeating it over and over, in your heart and mind,
...and let the Lord Himself speak these words into the depths of your very soul.

Father God, we believe Your Word is truth,...and we trust that these words are spoken just for us. Lord help our unbelief,...so that we may finally accept the truth of these words. We wants to know and experience Your love, peace and joy just as You intended. Amen.

"True Christian love helps those who can't return the favor."

Find Your Treasure, In The Bible

Good Morning!! I opened my Bible today, and I literally turned to the first page of Isaiah. I started thinking; what message the Lord might want me to know, and share from this book. Since beginning to share Spiritual Food, the book of Isaiah has given me more messages than I could number,...and holds some of my most treasured sections of scripture. One of my personal favorites is chapter 45.

I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.—Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)

When I first read that the Lord will make my "crooked places straight" and will "cut the bars of iron," I took it as a message of freedom. Through Isaiah, I've also learned how to pray God's word back to Him,...and through praying God's word, I've seen His personal touch in my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Maybe today is the day for you to open your Bible, and hear God's words come to life, for you. Who knows how many messages God has just for you there?...He knows, and you will soon find out.

Looking for a treasure that thieves can't steal, and rust won't destroy?...it's in the pages of your Bible.

Lord, please go before us and straighten out those parts of our lives that are out of order, or where we do not see the path before us. And please break the gates and cut the bars, that keep us locked up, that hold us captive. We desire those treasures You have for us, in the freedom that You want to give us. You are our God,...and there is none other. We need You now and forever.

"True Christian love helps those who can't return the favor."

Step By Step

Good Morning!! In our Christian life, we start in the basement, at the bottom of a staircase. Our main goal is to get up to the top floor. When we're first beginning to ascend, the climb seems to go smooth,...easy almost fast. After all, the need for change is so evident, and our reasons for coming to Christ are clear. I mean; who wants or expects to stay on the bottom step? As we keep climbing, sometimes we wonder if we will ever make it to the top. Our muscles ache,...we pray for an elevator or escalator, anything to make the climb easier. But God makes sure that we have to consciously make a choice, to go to the next level.

...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,—Hebrews 12:1b (NIV)

God is not in a rush, He waits patiently, lovingly, and relentlessly for us to get to where He wants us to be. If we look up at the number of stairs still left to climb,...it often seems overwhelming. So we cannot look at only the stairs. We must also look back, to appreciate how for we've come. We know that by looking down, we see what we have overcome,...just to get to, where we are now. After reaching some levels, we just need to rest. But we can't rest to long, or we may become so comfortable, that we no longer see a need to climb. There are even times when we just want to turn around, and go back,...even though we know that climbing back down, would be a mistake. Those of us who continue upward, know that the temptation to stop is not a valid option, because we hear the Lord calling us to keep coming. In our heart of hearts, we know that when we finally arrive, we will be so happy we kept climbing. There is no hurry, but no advantage to slowing down either.

Only by faith, and grace, do we keep climbing.

Father God, we pray for a steady pace, understanding each level and making a conscious decision to move up and onward. Because in our heart of hearts, we know that when we finally arrive, we will be so happy we kept on climbing. Thank You Jesus!

"True Christian love helps those who can't return the favor."