No One's Perfect

Good Morning!! It's not just you,...we all fall down. Throughout the Bible, we are told of men and women who engaged in sin and ungodly behavior, yet who, through repentance and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, went on to be witnesses of God's word. Take, for example, the woman described in John 8:3-11, who was caught in the very act of adultery by the scribes and Pharisees. Seeing the woman's deep remorse, Jesus told her, "Then neither do I condemn you." He also added, "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:11)  What about David, King of Israel, who was the apple of God's eye? When one reads of David's life, we see a man of complex character

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who had many faults along with numerous virtues. Psalm 51 illustrates David's true repentant attitude toward a very grievous offense, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions." David's sincere plea to God for his sin was a cry from the depth of his heart. God pardoned him and David humbly accepted the consequences of his transgression as just punishment.

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,—Romans 3:23 (NIV)

Our Heavenly Father did not send His Son, Jesus Christ, for the perfect, the sinless,...but rather for those who stumble, fall, and are lost. He is there to minister, love, and care for all who call upon Him. We may be able to hide our deepest, darkest secrets from man, but only God knows our true heart and only He has the ability to offer us a second chance at life!  God has wonderful things in store for you if only you'll accept them.

How fortunate we are, that ours is a God of second chances!

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" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! " (2 Corinthians 5:17)

"The storms that threaten to destroy us,...God will use to strengthen us."

Becoming The Comfort, We Seek

Good Morning!! In this life, we cannot always find the answer to the question "Why?" Why is God allowing this pain in my life? Why did he let this happen to my family? Those kinds of "why" questions are difficult to answer, but in today's scripture we learn part of the answer. God sometimes allows us go through the tough times and experience His comfort, so we will be able to comfort others. We live in a world full of hurting people. God's comfort toward us makes it possible for us to reach out to them. Our own suffering gives us the "credentials" to be heard by those who are suffering.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.—2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

As we allow God to comfort us, and to give us peace and hope, we will experience healing, spiritually and emotionally,...and even physically. Then we will be ready to stand beside others in love, and with God's guidance, we will become a blessing.

Nothing God does for us, is for us alone.
God comforts us, in our troubles,..so we can comfort others.

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Father in Heaven, it  help to know at least part of the "why." We believe You bring good from everything, for those that trust and follow You. We are praying for Your comfort and healing. And in Your timing, help us reach out to others with that same love and comfort. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"You are only one decision away from a totally different life,...just remember; wishing is not the same as doing."

Where Our Help And Hope Comes From

Good Morning!! God doesn't promised us days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain,...but he does promise strength to get through each day, comfort for the tears, and light for our way. As you provide care and support for an aging parent, a spouse or friend, turn to God for strength and hope. The Bible has a great deal to say about aging and care-giving concerns. Take time to meditate on God's Word. You will find guidance, strength and hope. Open your Bible and spend quiet time with God every day. No matter how busy you are, be determined to set aside that special time with Him. And remember that He is with you every moment of the day.

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."—Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

At times you might find it hard to accept and understand why you and your family are going through these challenging times,...but if you seek God, you will find Him. He promises to hear our prayers and meet our needs. He is our source,...He is the one who will make the impossible, possible. Too often we exhaust ourselves with our own efforts before we ever ask God for His help and provisions, for our needs. God wants us to look to Him for the strength, wisdom and resources needed to accomplish His will.

When we focus on the need,...we run the risk of becoming overwhelmed by it.

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Father God, at times we get so weary,...physically and emotionally. And sometimes we find ourselves turning everywhere for help, before coming to You. Help us to remember to always come to You first,...because You are truly our source of strength. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

"You are only one decision away from a totally different life,...just remember; wishing is not the same as doing."

We Really Are Family

Good Morning!! Each of us is born into an earthly family. Within that family we are to love one another and care for one another's needs. But God has also blessed Christians with another family: the family of believers who follow Christ as Savior. Instructions for ways we are to love one another abound in the New Testament. Sometimes we limit our concept of the family of believers to our local church body. But the Bible makes it clear that every Christian believer--everywhere--is a member of the family. All denominations. All cultures. All races. And we are to love one another.

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.—1 Peter 2:17 (NIV)

Loving one another means attempting to living at peace with one another. "Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,...or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!"(James 5:9 NIV). "Live in harmony with one another" (Romans 12:16 NIV). Within the local church, jealousy, competitiveness, and bitterness often replace the love God wants us to share. And we tend to be suspicious and critical of other Christian denominations, and cultures who do things differently than we do. We are the Father's representatives here on earth. How well are we representing Him? When unbelievers look at our family,...do they see the love of God?

By the love of God,...we are family.

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Lord, help us show more love to our Christian family. Forgive us for any unforgiveness or mistrust. Help us to love our brothers and sisters,...with the love of Christ. Amen.

"You are only one decision away from a totally different life,...just remember; wishing is not the same as doing."

Move Other To Do Good Too

Good Morning!! We can show love for the family of believers, by thinking of ways to motivate one another,...reaching out with acts of love and good works. Notice this scripture doesn't call us just to motivate one another. It says to think of ways to motivate one another. We aren't supposed to motivate others just when the opportunity presents itself (although we should do that). We are supposed to think of ways to motivate one another. To pray for ways to encourage one another. God wants us to be proactive in motivating others to do good.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.—Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

Today's scripture tells us that meeting together is an important ingredient to motivating and encouraging one another. We can't motivate people if we don't see them! Meeting together to encourage one another strengthens us as the body of Christ. Today's world brings great challenges. Financial challenges. Family challenges. Ministry challenges.

Now is a time for us to seek God together as never before,...and to continually motivate one another to do what God is calling us to do.

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Sweet Spirit of God, open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters,...and show us how to encourage and motive them, to acts of love and good works. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

"You are only one decision away from a totally different life,...just remember; wishing is not the same as doing."

Be A Do Gooder

Good Morning!! At times, God gives us opportunities to do good to all people,...especially to those in the family of believers. Today's scripture encourages us to use every opportunity that comes. How often do we hear of a friend's need and simply respond with an "I'll pray for you." Sometimes that's all we can do. However, many times we could give some practical assistance as well. But that might be inconvenient. Or costly. "As we have opportunity, let us do good." . And then there is the homeless man on the street corner whom we pretend not to see. Or the lady who lives across town and needs a ride to church. Inconvenient. Or the friend dealing with a crisis who just needs to talk. But I have so much to do today. "As we have opportunity, let us do good."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.—Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
   

Sometimes our lives are not characterized by true caring, and kindness. We can be too busy, too caught up in ourselves and our own troubles, too isolated. Just imagine what would happen in the body of Christ if we each begin to show compassion and brotherly kindness at every opportunity? Let us start each day with a prayer asking God to help us see, and use, every opportunity to do good. Let us be sensitive to the Holy Spirit so we will seize those opportunities,...and not run from them.

You were blessed,...that you might be a blessing, to others.

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Father God, forgive us for sometimes being too selfish, not wanting to help someone because it's inconvenient or uncomfortable. Teach us to seize the opportunities that You present, to do good. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"You are only one decision away from a totally different life,...just remember; wishing is not the same as doing."

What's Love??

Good Morning!! Most people think of love as just an emotion, but the Bible teaches that love is not only an emotion,...it's a command. In fact, in today's scripture, Jesus tells us that loving the Lord is the first and greatest commandment. And that loving your neighbor as yourself is equally important. Since love is a command, that makes it an act of the will,...a choice. And that choice should lead to action. It determines how we respond to God. It determines how we interact with people. So love is an emotion . . . a choice . . . and an action.

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'—Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV) 
  
God's love for us led Him to action. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV). And as we follow Jesus, we can sense His love surrounding us, helping us, guiding us, encouraging us every day. "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand" (Isaiah 41:10 NLT). Will His love ever leave us? No. It is unconditional. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 NLT)

God Is Love!

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Father, we thank You that we can learn what love is by looking at You. Thank You for loving us even when we're unlovable. Thank You for showing Your love to us in countless ways,...each and every day. Thank You for giving Your Son so that we could be forgiven and live. Help us learn to love You,...and others,...with Your kind of love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

"The liberating truth of Christianity is that God meets us where we are, takes us as we are,...and loves us too much to leave us there."