January 31, 2014

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:6,7 (NIV) 


²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
Psalm 23:2 (NIV) 

The Shepherd knows what pastures are best for his sheep, and they must not question nor doubt, but trustingly follow Him. Perhaps He sees that the best pastures for some of us are to be found in the midst of opposition or of earthly trials. If He leads you there, you may be sure they are green for you, and you will grow and be made strong by feeding there. Perhaps He sees that the best waters for you to walk beside will be raging waves of trouble and sorrow. If this should be the case, He will make them still waters for you, and you must go and lie down beside them, and let them have all their blessed influences upon you.

H. W. SMITH

 When you ask school children what animal they want to be, one gets a wide variety of responses.  Tiger, shark, monkey, eagle, and pandas are some of the response.  But sheep rarely make the list. 

Who wants to be a sheep?  They don't have the best of reputations. 

•  "It is better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life."  Elizabeth Kenny
• "A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep."  Vernon Howard
• "Never trust sheep."  Ryan Stiles
• "It never troubles the wolf how many sheep may be."  Virgil

It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/sheep.html#AcDMhHXSmxw5G0eI.99

It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/sheep.html#AcDMhHXSmxw5G0eI.99

It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.
Elizabeth Kenny
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/sheep.html#AcDMhHXSmxw5G0eI.99

It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.
Elizabeth Kenny
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/sheep.html#AcDMhHXSmxw5G0eI.99

It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.
Elizabeth Kenny
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/sheep.html#AcDMhHXSmxw5G0eI.99

Elizabeth Kenny
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/sheep.html#AcDMhHXSmxw5G0eI.99

• People are "fleeced" when they are swindled out of their money.  
• Being the "black sheep" of the family is not a term of endearment.
• Sheep are seen as blindly going when they are lead.  "People will be as before, the sheep sent to the slaughterhouses or to the meadows as it pleases the shepherd."  Henri La Fonatine

There is a learned aversion to being a sheep.  So many of us struggle with the concept of complete and utter dependence on someone else.  

Follow like a sheep?!  NEVER!  

Trust someone else completely?  Isn't that foolish?

However, as a Christian that should be our goal.  Just as the sheep depend on the shepherd for all their needs (eg., food, shelter, and protection) we should rely on our Heavenly Shepherd.  The advantage we have over the four-legged sheep is that our Shepherd is perfect in power, wisdom, and love.  

Even though the pastures God leads us to at times may seem rocky, barren, and treacherous, His good will is being worked in our lives at all times.  If we are to thank God for the blessings, then we must also trust Him in trials and tribulation.  The same God that blesses also challenges.  

Trust the Perfect Shepherd.  

 

Caution . .Following our Heavenly Shepherd should not be confused with blindly following a pastor, church doctrine, televangelist, or Christian author.  Even though men may profess to perfectly preach the perfect word from God, test all things by scripture through prayer and mediation.

 *Daily Strength for Daily Needs- January 31
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8534/pg8534.html

 

January 30, 2014

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 NIV

January 29, 2014

¹³ For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)


Each year in p.e. at school, the students are tested on how long they can hang by their arms from a metal bar attached to the gym/cafeteria/auditorium wall.  Some last a few seconds, while others can approach the 60- second mark.  However, all succumb to gravity in a very short time.  So often in our adult lives we try to hang on to God for peace and comfort, only to have our strength quickly fail.

Luckily, our Heavenly Father, knows that we are unable to hang on to the bar of comfort and peace for very long.  That is why He does the heavy lifting.  In today's verse from Isaiah, we are reminded that El Shaddai, The Lord God Almighty, does not require we have the strength to hold on to Him.  It is He who "takes hold of our right hand."  He has the strength to hold on to us through all this life throws our way.

His mighty hand is reaching down from heaven to take hold of our hand.  All we have to do to receive His peace and comfort is reach out to Him in hope or desperation or resignation.  He will take "hold of your right hand".  He holds on to us.  No arm strength required of His children.

January 27, 2014

¹⁵ For this is what the high and exalted One says—
    he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Isaiah 52:15 (NIV) 

In this verse, God it talking to the nation of Israel, but there is application to the New Testament believer in Jesus Christ.

If we are "contrite and lowly in spirit" we will turn to Him for salvation and rest.

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

If we are "contrite and lowly in spirit" we will, "humble (our)selves before the Lord, and he will lift (us) up." James 4:10 (NIV)

If we are "contrite and lowly in spirit" we will acknowledge "it is by grace (we) have been saved, through faith."  Ephesians 2:8,9 (NIV) 

While the world might view our works, God examines the condition of our hearts.  He resides with (OT) and now in (NT) people who have come to Him broken, damaged, and helpless, freely admitting without Him we are helpless, hopeless creatures.  It is only through a personal, intimate relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, can we every hope to

January 26, 2014

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10 (NIV)

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)

So often God reminds me that Christianity is not a passive calling.  Salvation is not an excuse to sit back and wait on the rapture.  Whether it is actively caring for those around you, witnessing to the lost, or striving for personal spiritual growth, we must do before God will act.

The verses in James and 1 Peter reinforce that point.  Both verses remind us that "he will lift you up".  BUT that lifting up requires heart action from us.  We must humble ourselves.  

If we lack wisdom, God will give freely.  BUT we must first ask and believe.  James 1:5-8

He will "make our paths straight".  But we must first submit to Him.  Proverbs 3:6

God will "guard our hearts and minds" with an incomprehensible peace.  BUT we must first "present (our) requests to Him" in prayers, petitions and with thanksgiving.  Philippians 4:6,7

We are called to initiate.  We are called to take the first step.  If we will be obedient in what He asks, He will pour out blessings beyond what we can ever imagine.  But it starts with us.

January 25, 2014

¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.  John 13:17 (NIV)
¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. James 4:17 (NIV)

I love quotes. Although I don't have a large cranium repository of them, the ones I do have rolling around up there get inserted into conversations and writings whenever appropriate. 

In his poem, "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eaton College", Thomas Gray coined the phrase, "where ignorance is bliss".  After reading today's verses, I wonder if ol' Mr. Gray had something there. Don't listen to convicting sermons on the radio.  Stay away from the Bible, it might tweak your conscience.  Prayer--well that is most certainly dangerous territory.

For years, the standard response at Congressional hearings has been, "I had no knowledge" of this or that.  Governor Christie of New Jersey is relying heavily on the "ignorance" defense.  (Only time will tell how that works out  for him.)

Perhaps the "ignorance" defense might carry some weight with God, but at what cost?

Yes, prayer, meditation, listening to sermons, Bible study might reveal areas of sin in our lives, but these are also avenues for a closer, more intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.  The peace, direction, and encouragement that is readily available from Jehovah can only be found through the spiritual disciplines.  

Indeed it is through those disciplines that God will reveal and convict of sin, but the deepening of the Father-child relationship will far outweigh any temporary discomfort of sin conviction.

Ignorance might be bliss, but the cost far outweighs the benefits. 

January 24, 2013

Nothing is small or great in God's sight; whatever He wills becomes great to us, however seemingly trifling, and if once the voice of conscience tells us that He requires anything of us, we have no right to measure its importance. On the other hand, whatever He would not have us do, however important we may think it, is as nought to us.

How do you know what you may lose by neglecting this duty, which you think so trifling, or the blessing which its faithful performance may bring? Be sure that if you do your very best in that which is laid upon you daily, you will not be left without sufficient help when some weightier occasion arises. Give yourself to Him, trust Him, fix your eye upon Him, listen to His voice, and then go on bravely and cheerfully.

JEAN NICOLAS GROU.

January 23, 2014

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 (NIV)

The verse above is oft quoted and should be implemented far more than it is.  But, if left standing alone, it is easily misunderstood.  Take a look at the next two verses.

⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. James 1:6, 7 (NIV)

Once again, we see that the Christian life is a combination of both action (ask God) and heart-condition (trust God).  We cannot please our Father without obedience in action and attitude.

January 21, 2014

29He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ 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 40:29-31 (NIV) 

By persisting in a habit of self-denial, we shall, beyond what I can express, increase the inward powers of the mind, and shall produce that cheerfulness and greatness of spirit as will fit us for all good purposes; and shall not have lost pleasure, but changed it; the soul being then filled with its own intrinsic pleasures.

 Henry Moore (1751-1844) English Wesleyan Minister

I choose today's entry for two reasons:

1.  Since today is the start of the workweek after a three-day weekend, it is good to be reminded that no matter how tired we can become because of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of life, the LORD can give us the strength we need to accomplish what He asks of us.  Not Red Bull.  Not Mountain Dew.  But Jehovah.

2.  Henry Moore's phrase, "shall have not lost pleasure, but changed it."  

A common knock against Christianity is that Christians can't have any fun.  To begin with, the "can't" part of that is not at all true.  Even after accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, one still has free will to do, think, and say whatever he pleases.  The hope is that the doing, saying, and thinking will more and more be controlled by the Spirit and pleasing to God.

Moore makes a second important point concerning Christians and fun.  Through our denial to self and obedience to God, what we find pleasurable will change.  Encouragement trumps criticism.  Monogamy outshines adultery.  Unity overshadows dissension.  This transformation takes place not due to God's removal of our freewill, but out of an ever deepening relationship with Him.

Our desire to please our Heavenly Father begins to outweigh our desire for worldly pleasures.  A colleague's approval becomes secondary to Abba's "well done".  The peaceful slumber outweighs the temporary savings of a dishonest tax return.  The hug from a grateful spouse overshadows the second half of this week's episode of "The Walking Dead".  Our freewill CHOOSES God and the things that please Him.  

Pleasure has not been lost, but changed.

*Daily Strength for Daily Needs- January 21
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8534/pg8534.html

January 19, 2013

Satan loves the internet.  Huh?!
That's right.  Satan loves the internet.

Forty-five minutes ago I sat down for my morning quiet time, and I am just now getting around to the "quiet" part of the morning.

Here's how my morning unfolded:
1. Fire up the ol' p.c.
2. Check weather, hoping it will be too cold to walk Roxie.  (Feelin' lazy this morning.)
3. Remember I have to submit receipts to the church for reimbursement.
4. Have to email David Brown some ideas about The Gathering Tree.
5. Spot an email from church I had overlooked.
6. Check on that email.  Uh-oh.  Event coming up at church in three weeks.
7. Have to send out a couple of emails in regards to that event.
8. Check clock.  Yikes!  Where did the time go?

With the exception of the weather check, all of the other things I did before focusing on Bible study and prayer were connected to church and a faith-based project.  I didn't surf porn, update my Facebook status, or check yesterday's basketball scores.  But neither did I quieten my spirit, praise God, meditate on scripture, or talk to Abba.

So many mornings I am Martha working diligently in the kitchen while God wishes for Mary.  Luke 10:38:42

When I have cause to read the words of an author who lived and wrote pretelevison and preinternet, I am consistently amazed at their wisdom and insight.  Would King David had written the Psalms if he had cable?  Would Paul have gotten around to Ephesians and Philippians if he had been able to watch the Coliseum chariot races on an iPad?  Would Lewis Carroll have penned "The Screwtape Letters" if he had Google access?

Technology is a wonderful thing.  It allow us access to ideas from around the world.  It allows us to stay connected with the global community.  We can text, email, Facebook, Skype and Twitter.  We can collaborate, communicate, and conjugate.

I am by no means a technophobe or tech-hater.  But we need meditation, contemplation.  Prayer, praise.  The man-God relationship thrives on quiet.  "Be still and know that I am God."  Silence.

Many of us have heard the term, "You can't out give God."  Usually that references the giving of money.  But I believe it also applies to time we give God.  Give Him that time of prayer, reflection, and meditation.  He will honor that gift.

Let's work to be more like Mary.  God will honor the time we give Him with ample time to take care of the rest.

January 17, 2014

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky  Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV)

Debbie Downer.  Sad Sack.  Wet blanket.  Eeyore.  All names or descriptions of a person who can suck the life out of a room.  This or that situation is unbearable.  The new job requirements are unreasonable.  The weather is too hot, too cold, or too humid.  You say, "day", and I will say, "night".

We all know those gray-cloud, argumentative type people.  Each situation is met with a reason why it is not quite right and each opinion stated is met with a "yeah, but".  Those individuals can wear you out. 

Paul challenges Christians not to be one of "those guys".  Sure life will have hard times and no none is expected to be sunshine all the time (that can be just as off-putting), but open, pointless griping and arguing serves no purpose.  In fact, if you have identified yourself with Christ, then such an attitude will actually drive people away from Him.

January 16, 2014

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

A quote from Blaise Pascale came to mind when I read today's verse.  "The present letter is a very long one, simply because I had no leisure to make it shorter.” Brevity, whether it be in the written or spoken word, is much more challenging than an unlimited flow of verbiage to express an idea.

Web sites abound, sermons flourish, and books line the shelves with theological, eschatological, some even nonsensical, reasons for Christ's death and resurrection.  Most likely more words have been written and spoken on the subject than people have ever, or will ever, inhabit the face of the planet.  It is easy to get lost in the weeds when discussing salvation.  However, in the opening sentence of the fifth chapter of Galatians, Paul reminds the reader of a life-changing, foundational truth of salvation--Freedom.


We can bloviate, pontificate, and ruminate on salvation until the cows come home. But sometimes the mind longs for simplicity.  Salvation is Freedom.

As His Children we have the freedom to approach God the Father with confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
As His Children we are free from the rules, regulations, and requirements of religion. (Romans 7:4)
As His Children we are free to live a transformed life.  (2 Corinthians 3:18)

How uplifting a message of freedom would be for the world.  Freedom from depression-inducing worry.  Freedom from ulcer-causing bitterness.  Freedom from relationship-destroying insecurities.

Why did Christ live a perfect life, die a horrible death, and experience a majestic resurrection?  In a word: Freedom.

January 15, 2014

³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified:  1 Thessalonians 4:3

Sanctification-  An act and a process.

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, his spirit becomes sanctified.  God views that person as holy and set apart. Because God accepted Jesus Christ as our substitute, we "receive the perfect holiness in our spirit that Jesus possesses."  We are sanctified at the moment of salvation- the act of sanctification.

However, our sanctification is also an ongoing process.  While the spirit is sanctified due to Christ's substitutionary death and resurrection, we continue to be human.  We have thoughts, speak words, and engage in actions that belie our sanctification.  Each day we must rely on God's strength for the furtherance of our sanctification- the process of sanctification.

Take a moment to reflect on yesterday.  How many thought thoughts, spoken words, or acts acted were not holy or pure?  Confess those to God.  Come into agreement with Him.  He already knows.

Now think about your day ahead.  Will some of those same situations arise?  Will you interact with those same people?  Will that same opportunity present itself today?

In today's verse, Paul reminds us that "it is God's will that you should be sanctified."  If it is God's will for your life, will He not give you the guidance and strength to fulfill that wish He has for you?  God will not ask, require, or even suggest anything to us and not give us the wherewithall to meet live up to His calling.

Seek out His strength to live a sanctified life today.  Go to Him throughout the day for the guidance and strength to live the life He has called you to live.

January 14, 2014

Psalm 121 (NIV)

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

January 13, 2014

³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice  Ephesians 4:31 (KJV)

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)

The devotional, Daily Strength for Daily Needs, uses the KJV for its verses.  While I generally post the NIV translation, I found the KJV of today's entry added an extra layer.  (I have posted the NIV translation for comparison.)

Paul is writing to Christians and providing advice/guidelines for day-to-day living.  Nothing ethereal or theological.   In verses 25-31, he lists a series of attitudes, actions and speech patterns that have no place in a Christian's life.  Verse 31 lists 6 of those.  Malice having made the list.  However, when I first read the verse in the KJV, I read it a bit differently.

Rather than "malice" being one of the listed transgressions, I read it as how we were to react to the other items in the list.  Similar to "let us storm the castle, posthaste."  Put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking with malice.  Put these things out of our life with a hatred for them.  Then I looked up the definition for "malice", as well as other translations of the verse, and realized that I had incorrrectly interpreted the KJV.

However, it got me to thinking.  Do we really HATE the sin in our lives?  Are we driven to our prayer closets, on our knees, tears streaming down our faces for the sin in our lives?  As individuals do we find personal sin disgusting and sickening?  

Sure we know sin is wrong.  We shouldn't be doing it.  Shouldn't have those thoughts.  Shouldn't be saying those things. Blah, blah, blah.  But disdain and hatred for the sin in our lives?  Do we have a loathing for the sin that continues to plague us as individuals?

In almost every Southern Baptist Church one can find those who will rail against gay marriage, abortion and President Obama.  I wonder how much rage one could find against personal, individual sins. 

How often do Christians line up along Glenstone carrying signs protesting adultery?  How many marches on Washington, D.C. have taken place to protest malice?  How many Christian PACs have come out against a political candidate because he was bitter?

Perhaps if, as individual Christians, we spent more time in sincere, fervent pray for God's deliverance from our personal sin, we would find our country needed fewer marches, protests and rallies.

*Daily Strength for Daily Needs- January 13
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8534/pg8534.html

January 11, 2014

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.  Psalm 118:5 (NIV)

This verse was one of two that were the verses of the day for today on Bible Gateway.   The other verse was verse six of the same chapter, but the verse above got me to thinking.

"When hard pressed"-  Tough times: cancer, unemployment, depression, divorce.
"I cried out"- Prayer: fervent, passionate, honest, sincere.
"He brought me into a spacious place"- God delivers.  God provides relief.  God comforts.


I love the term David chose, "hard pressed".  Trying times can feel just like that.  Pressed.  Smashed.  Compressed.  Trash-compacted.

I was reminded of the scene in Star Wars where the Leia, Luke, Han and Chewbacca were in the Death Star's trash compactor.  Surrounded by trash, the walls closing in, death imminent.  There was nothing they could do.  Their efforts were futile.

They began crying out for help.  Yelling.  Screaming for deliverance.  Just when we think the heroes are going to be rebel pancakes, C3PO, was able to stop the compactor in the nick of time.  I am certainly not comparing Yawhew to a George Lucas creation, but parallels can be drawn.

 Luke and company were in dire straits.  There were being "hard pressed".  They "cried out".  Boy did they cry out!  All their efforts as salvation were futile.  It took help from above to save them from destruction.

God wants to save us from destruction.  He can stop the walls from closing in. Our efforts are in vain. He will bring us in to spacious places. 

January 9, 2014

“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 where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

Treasures. . .money, stocks, IRAs.  But what about work accolades?  Friendships?  Business partnerships? 

Treasures we store up here on earth may not show up on a balance sheet.  Hobbies could be a treasure that detract from our relationship with God.  Negative friendships might become that earthly treasure that keeps us from Christian growth.  One more plaque for the office wall can become more important than following God's directives.  The country club year-end golf tournament trophy might be a treasure that keeps a pew empty on Sunday mornings.

Treasures can come in many shapes, forms and sizes.  Let no "treasures on earth" detract us from following God's plan for our lives.

January 8, 2013

¹⁴ Seek good, not evil,
    that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
    just as you say he is.
¹⁵ Hate evil, love good;
    maintain justice in the courts.
Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy
    on the remnant of Joseph.

Amos 5:14-15 (NIV)

 What if this verse were turned inward for believers?  Rather than thinking of it as the outward seeking of good or the hating of the evil in the world, we used this passage for internal reflection?

Seek good, not evil:  Do we seek the good within us?  Do we really search our hearts, minds, and souls for love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22 (NIV)  Since the Holy Spirit resides in each Christian, its fruit is also accessible to each believer.  But we must desire and earnestly pray for that fruit to manifest itself each day in each situation.

Hate evil, love good:  When many Christian think of hating evil all those sins of society, government, and others come to mind.  Drugs.  Child abuse.  Divorce.  All are worthy of our hate.  (Just the sin, not the sinner.)  But how many truly HATE the evil that still lingers within?  The ease at which we still have impure thoughts or listen to that juicy piece of gossip at work.  Do we hate that superior attitude which lurks just under the surface?  Perhaps if we hated our disobedience there would be less t.v. and more Bible study.

Before we start examining the world through the Amos 5 lens, look inward through that same lens.

January 7, 2013

¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,   Ephesians 1:18-20 (NIV)

Paul is writing to a church in Ephesus.  He starts off the letter with praise for the members' "faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people".    

In verse 18, his prayer for the faithful is not for power, protection, or prosperity, but awareness.  At the moment we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we have access to hope, a "glorious inheritance and "imcomparable great power", but if we fail to realize this, it is of little value.

What if Underdog never opened his ring?  How much good would spinach do if Popeye never opened the can?  Would Clark Kent ever stop a locomotive if he did not step into a phone booth?

Take some time each day and ask God to reveal more and more of the hope, inheritance and power you have in and through Him.

January 6, 2013

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1,2 (NIV)

An interesting Gallup poll question would be, "When you are having a problem or troublesome time/incident in life, to where do you turn for help?"

I imagine the question would be met with a question similar to, "In what area is the problem?"

Financial?  A trusted financial adviser.  Relationship?  A counselor.  Work related?  A colleague.   While these sources of advice might be reasonable secondary sources of council, the front-line go-to guy has to be our Heavenly Father.

Jesus promised He would not leave us alone when he returned to heaven. (John 14)  The Holy Spirit indwells each Christian.  It guides, teaches and intercedes for us.  

Before any calls are made to E.F. Hutton, Eagle's Wings Counseling, or the veteran teacher across the hall, go to your prayer closet.  Allow the Holy Spirit to guide and teach.  In addition to eternal salvation for those who believe on his name, Jesus Christ's death and resurrection provided believers with here-and-now advantages.

Direct access to "the Maker of heaven and earth" and the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is where we should seek help.  "My help comes from the LORD."

January 4, 2013

In his 1896 book, Lord, Teach Us to Pray, Andrew Murray wrote, "How much our Christianity suffers from this, that it is confined to certain times and places. A man who seeks to pray earnestly in the church or in the closet, spends the greater part of the week or the day in a spirit entirely at variance with that in which he prayed. His worship was the work of a fixed place or hour, not of his whole being."*





*Teach Us to Pray

January 3, 2013

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Gentleness

: having or showing a kind and quiet nature
: not harsh or violent
: not hard or forceful

: not strong or harsh in effect or quality

Two sperate sets of verses come to mind when I think of gentleness.  One from the Old Testament and one from the mouth of Jesus.

I Kings 19:11-13

Matthew 11:28-30

January 2, 2014

 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.  Psalm 121:8 (NIV)

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    throughout all generations. Psalm 90:1 (NIV)

Memory Passage for the first week of 2014:

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

*Daily Strength for Daily Needs- January 2
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8534/pg8534.html

January 1, 2013

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

MW Online: Faithfulness

• steadfast in affection or allegiance 
• firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty 

 Faithfulness it not the word of choice in the KJV.  The KJV lists "faith", but not "faithfulness".

The first three items listed at the fruit of the Spirit are attitudinal.  People may demonstrate love, joy, and peace in a variety of ways, but they are will attitudes of the heart and mind.  The next three, forbearance, kindness and goodness are all action oriented.  They have to be demonstrated to be seen.  Acts of forbearance, kindness and goodness are the proof.

Faith/faithfulness falls into both categories.  A person has "steadfast affection or allegiance" for a person, idea, or product.  I remember my maternal grandfather would ONLY buy a Plymouth.  He kept them in immaculate shape and always traded for another Plymouth.  He was faithful to the brand.

While our faith as Christians should only be in God and His Word, we should also strive to be the types of persons in who other can place their faith.  Our word should be our bond.

So much of this world if disposable and fleeting. Miley goes from Mouseketeer to Wrecking Ball in a few short years.  Dow Chemical laid of 2400 employees in October of 2013.  Google announced they were letting go of 4000 employees and plan on closing one-third of their facilities.  Nothing is permanent.

A Christian friend or employee should be faithful.  They should be a constant in the neighborhood, workplace or family. 

*Daily Strength for Daily Needs- January 1
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8534/pg8534.html