The Highway of Life

Call On The Lord

2010-08-06T15:12:00.000-04:00

Enduring Harsh Words

2010-06-03T15:57:00.000-04:00

Proverbs 15:1-"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Why is it so hard to endure an unjust or unfair criticism? Why do we always have to defend ourselves no matter how ridiculous the charge? Often the problems we have with others simply escalate because we do not choose to forgive and let them go on in the Lord!

Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

2010-05-31T13:00:00.000-04:00

Today is Memorial Day and I encourage everyone to take time to pause and remember all the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrafice for our freedom. God bless our veterans and God bless America.

Lord You Take Over

2010-05-28T15:42:00.001-04:00

"Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him." (2 Chronicles 20:2-4)

Think about one difficulty you are facing right now. It might have to do with your family, your finances, conflicts at work or even an accident you recently had. All these things can be considered as armies coming against you. I know from personal experience that any circumstance that has overpowered me is an army coming against me. I might come up with my own ideas, methods or plans, but nothing I do is going to fix it. In desperation and anxiety, I cry out to the Lord. Crying out to the Lord as a last resort is a lot different than "resolving to inquire of the Lord" from the start (as Jehoshaphat did). God honored Jehoshaphat's prayer and then he honored the Lord by singing praises to God before the battle even began. Circumstances are difficult in life. Many times, we wonder what is really going on and why is the Lord allowing this to happen? All the Lord wants is for you to include Him. Circumstances can be hard but His answers to your prayers are not. Go to God today first. Tell Him, "Lord, I don't know what to do but I am looking to You." He not only hears, sees and answers, but He assures the victory.

Walk By Faith

2010-05-24T13:17:00.000-04:00

“Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29)

Years ago my heart sought peace, comfort, and joy. I had tried all the trappings of the world that I could. I was a part of the cool crowd one moment and then the next moment, I wasn’t. Yet, my heart wanted more than acceptance from the crowd; my heart wanted to believe. As a child I attended church and found it dull and boring. I found most of the words unnecessary and irritating. I mean, I believed that I was a good person, why would I ever need anything or anyone else? Why would I ever need Jesus?Years passed by and with them passed a sorted life that brought temporary happiness but no lasting joy and no peace, no peace for my hurting heart. The love of Christ came into my life and it came through his love displayed by others. That love of Christ made me stop and made me consider. And when the time was right I asked the Lord to forgive me and to be my Lord. The love of Christ displayed in others taught me that I could never be good enough and that I needed a Savior. I learned that I needed the righteousness of Christ and not my own; a righteousness freely given to me when Christ gave his life on the cross. And just as Jesus rose from the grave daily I rise and I’m a little bit different, a little cleaner inside, a little more like my Heavenly Father all because of faith in Him.That journey starts with faith. Faith is believing that Jesus Christ loves you and me enough to die for us. But the story doesn’t end there; Christ also rose from the dead so that we could believe that he is the Son of God, the Christ.Maybe today you believe in Him, you know his life, and you know his sacrifice. Yet, in the very core of your heart is Christ your Lord, your Savior, and your King? Many use the name ‘Christian’ to mark themselves with the religion of ‘Christianity’; using the name doesn’t make you a follower of Christ.Walking by faith in Him and trusting Christ alone does.

Too Busy for God?

2010-05-18T11:49:00.002-04:00

Most people know the importance of spending time with God. But in the midst of life's daily activity, it's just too hard to find the time. Our schedules get filled, situations at work consume our thoughts at night and family and friends vie for attention with us and then we need to get some sleep at night to face another day's challenges in the morning. How do you find time for everything that needs to get done in 24 hours when you need more time in the day. What do we let drop from our schedule? What do we put on hold so we can concentrate on getting through our day? There can be many reasons for our busy schedules, but no matter what the reason may be, God demands our worship. The sisters Mary and Martha give us a good example of this when we examine their two lives. In Luke 10:38-42 it gives us the story of these two sisters. Martha was busy serving and keeping busy but was missing out on what was most important. Time with God. Mary on the other hand desired time with the Lord and this was the most important thing in her life at that moment. May we find the faith that Mary had and seek to worship God and not miss out on opportunities with Him.

We Are Not God

2010-03-03T12:07:00.003-05:00

Isaiah 55:8-9-"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."

One of my favorite sayings regarding our relationship with God comes from the movie Rudy where Father Cavanaugh says to Rudy these words, "Son in over thiry years of religious study, I have discovered two incontrovertable truths; there is a God and I'm not Him." Never was a statement more true. No matter how we try to perceive God, he is still God and we are not. We must forever remember that the original, and still primary sin was to try to become like God in terms of knowledge and understanding. We are to know God, but we can never fully know about him. We are to take on his character, but we cannot approach his majesty. This is both exciting and frustrating. But the promise remains that one day we will be like him and see him as he is

IN CHRIST

2010-03-02T12:04:00.001-05:00

John 3:3-"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Being in Christ, and all that it means to Christian maturity and freedom, is the overwhelming theme of the New Testament. For example, in the six chapters of the Book of Ephesians alone there are 40 references to being in Christ and having Christ in you. For every reference to Christ being in you, there are 10 to you being in Christ. Being in Christ is the most critical element of our identity. But we weren't born in Christ. We were born in sin, thanks to the first Adam. What is God's plan for transforming us from being in Adam to being in Christ? We must be born again (John 3:3). Physical birth only gains us physical life. Spiritual life, the eternal life Christ promises to those who come to Him, is only gained through spiritual birth (John 3:36). What does it mean to be spiritually alive in Christ? The moment you were born again your soul came into union with God in the same way Adam was in union with God before the Fall. Your spiritual union with God is complete and eternal because it is provided by Christ, the last Adam. As long as Christ remains alive spiritually, you will remain alive spiritually--and that's for eternity. Contrary to what many Christians believe, eternal life is not something you get when you die. You are spiritually alive in Christ right now. That's how you got to be in union with God, by being born again spiritually. You'll never be more spiritually alive than you are right now. The only thing that will change when you die physically is that you will exchange your old earthbound body for a new one. But your spiritual life in Christ, which began when you personally trusted Him, will merely continue on. Salvation is not a future addition; it's a present transformation. And that transformation occurs at spiritual birth, not physical death. God's Word promises, "He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life" (1 John 5:12). Eternal life is something you possess right now because you're in Christ. Believe it. Rejoice in it

Tried, Tested and True

2010-03-01T16:09:00.000-05:00

Job 23:10-11-"He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside."

How we long for this to be our true confession. We are not yet gold, but long to be. We are not yet fully following his steps, but are trying. We have tried not to turn aside, but we sometimes falter. Thank God for his grace until our intentions and desires are fulfilled!

Living By Two Principles

2010-02-25T12:03:00.000-05:00

Matthew 22:37-39-"Love the Lord you 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."

Some things are just not very complicated. Living for Jesus can be boiled down to two principles: love God with everything I am and have, and love others and treat them as I would like to be treated. Not too hard to understand. I guess it's living it that is the challenge!

The Light Unto Our Path

2010-02-23T08:02:00.000-05:00

Psalm 119:105-"Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

We live in a world where the flip of a switch instantly lightens or darkens a room. The lamps in biblical times, on the other hand, burned brightly but required proper tending. If not cared for, they would become a dwindling flame. God's Word uses the metaphor of a lamp to teach us about guidance for our lives. And it provides the opportunity for some graphic applications of this teaching. Earnestly seeking the clear teaching of God's Word allows the lamp to burn brightly and us to stay on the path. The light dims when we stay away from God's Word and the fellowship of believers. It goes out when we serve another master. Sometimes we overlook the obvious: God's will is expressed by His Word. God's will is revealed to us in His Word. There is no substitute for being "diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). The Bible is a light to your path.

Being God-Centered

2010-02-22T10:52:00.003-05:00

Luke 9:1, 2-"He [Jesus] called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to perform healing."

Notice how Jesus equipped His disciples for ministry. He knew that when they began preaching the kingdom of God and healing the sick, demonic powers would bring opposition. So He specifically gave them power and authority over demons. Later Jesus sent out 70 of His followers on a similar mission, and they "returned with joy, saying 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name'"(Luke 10:17). These missionaries were spiritually in tune enough to know that demons existed and that they were a force to be reckoned with in their ministry. Jesus' followers had been eyewitnesses as the evil spirits opposed the Master, and they probably anticipated the same treatment. Perhaps they even started out on their mission with pangs of fear and doubt about encountering demonic resistance. But they came back astonished at the victory they experienced over evil spirits. But Jesus quickly brought the issue of spiritual conflicts into perspective: "Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Jesus sent out the 70 to preach the gospel and to heal, but all they could talk about when they came back was how they sent the demons running. "Don't be centered on demonic spirits," Jesus replied. "Be kingdom-centered, be ministry-centered, be God-centered." That's a good warning. As you learn to exercise authority over the kingdom of darkness in your life and in the lives of others, you may be tempted to see only the spiritual battle, looking for demons behind every door. But it's truth which sets you free, not the knowledge of error. You are not called to dispel the darkness; you are called to turn on the light. You would have no authority at all if it weren't for your identity as a child of God and your position in Christ.

What Is There To Fear?

2010-02-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

1 John 4:18-"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. "

What is there to fear if God sent his Son to die to redeem us? What is there to fear if we cannot be separated from the love God has for us in Christ Jesus? What is there to fear except ourselves? As we love God and his children, we are reminded by his love for us, which is far better than our meager love for others. Rather than run from him in fear, we bow before him in thanks, knowing that he who hears our prayers is also he who loves us and stops our fears

It Happens Every Spring

2010-02-19T12:55:00.003-05:00

This week marked the beginning of the 2010 baseball season with the start of spring training. My beloved hometown team, the St. Louis Cardinals opened spring training in Jupiter, Florida this week and I am excited about the 2010 season. Manager Tony LaRussa and the Cardinals should do well this year and I am expecting great things from the Cardinals. They won the 2009 NL Central Division and I am looking forward to bigger things in 2010. GO REDBIRDS!!!!

Keeping An Honest Account

2010-02-19T09:27:00.004-05:00

1 John 1:8-"If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

We deceive ourselves when we say we have no sin. The Scripture doesn't say that we are sin; it says that it is possible for us to sin and for sin to reside in our mortal bodies (Romans 6:12). We are not sinless saints; we are saints who sin. It's important to keep honest account of our failures and pick up our cross daily. When we become aware of a discrepancy between our identity and our behavior, we must confess it and deal with it. The person who deceives himself by ignoring these sinful discrepancies and allowing them to build up is headed for a great fall. I spent the early years of my ministry in earthquake-prone Southern California and lived through several earthquakes. Like many people who lived there and those that still reside in California, we keep hearing about "the big one," which is thought by many to be inevitable along the San Andreas fault. Whenever Californians experience minor earthquakes (up to about 4.0 on the Richter scale), they may be frightened by them a bit, but they also see them as a good sign. These little tremors mean that the plates in the earth's crust beneath them are shifting. As long as the crust is adjusting this way, it's unlikely that "the big one" will hit. It's when they don't get any minor earthquakes for several months or years that the danger of a major, devastating quake increases. Similarly, living in the light, holding ourselves accountable to God, and confessing and dealing with sin on a daily basis prevents the major spiritual crises from building up in our lives. If we keep saying, "I don't have any sin," or if we fail to acknowledge our shortcomings and settle our differences with people as God convicts us of them, we're in for "the big one." We will eventually lose our health, our family, our job, or our friendships. Unacknowledged sin is like a cancer which will grow to consume us.

Nothing Separates Us From God's Love

2010-02-18T10:22:00.001-05:00

Romans 8:38-39-"I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Separation is something we fear whether it's from a child, a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend, or from God. Because Jesus bore the separation from God, becoming and going to the cross, we can know we won't have to ever be separated from God's love.

Message of Love

2010-02-17T09:14:00.000-05:00

1 John 3:11-"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. "

The original message - love one another. The enduring message - love one another. The most convicting message - love one another. The most difficult message - love one another. We are commanded by the Lord Jesus to love one another as He loved us and loving others means we look beyond faults and differences and learn to love those that might seem different or even unlovable to others. That is the comman from the Lord and the greatest attribute of God in our lives in when we love others.

God Loved Us First

2010-02-16T07:44:00.001-05:00

1 John 4:10-"This is love: not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

He loved us first! He offered his Son to save us regardless of our decision to believe or ignore his grace. We are given the ability to accept or reject the death of his Son as the sacrifice for our sins. The only condition, as 1 John 2:1-2 emphasizes, is that we realize that he died for everyone else in the world, too!

The Accuser of the Brethren

2010-02-15T11:31:00.000-05:00

Revelation 12:10-"The accuser of our brethren . . . who accuses them before our God day and night."

Next to temptation, perhaps the most frequent and insistent attack from Satan to which we are vulnerable is accusation. By faith we have entered into an eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, we are dead to sin and alive to God, and we now sit with Christ in the heavenlies. In Christ we are important, we are qualified, we are justified. Satan can do absolutely nothing to alter our position in Christ and our worth to God. But he can render us virtually inoperative if he can deceive us into listening to and believing his insidious lies, accusing us of being of little value to God or other people. Satan often uses temptation and accusation as a brutal one-two punch. He comes along and says, "Why don't you try it? Everybody does it. Besides, you can get away with it. Who's going to know?" Then as soon as we fall for his tempting line, he changes his tune to accusation: "What kind of a Christian are you to do such a thing? You're a pitiful excuse for a child of God. You'll never get away with it. You might as well give up because God has already given up on you." We have all heard Satan's lying, hateful voice in our hearts and consciences. He never seems to let up on us. Many Christians are perpetually discouraged and defeated because they believe his persistent lies about them. And those who give in to his accusations end up being robbed of the freedom that God intends His people to enjoy. The good news is that we don't have to listen to Satan's accusations and live in despair and defeat. Satan is not your judge; he is merely your accuser. When Satan's accusations of unworthiness attack you, don't pay attention to them. Instead respond, "I have put my trust in Christ, and I am a child of God in Him. I have been rescued by God from the fire of judgment, and He has declared me righteous. Satan cannot determine a verdict or pronounce a sentence. All he can do is accuse me--and I don't buy it."

Sign of a Real Disciple of Christ

2010-02-14T09:35:00.000-05:00

John 13:34-35-"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you , so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

How do you recognize Jesus' followers? How do you find Christians? Jesus said they love each other just as he loved the disciples. In the immediate context, this means he is willing to give sacrificially and extravagantly by dying for them on the cross, and he is also willing to love selflessly and practically by washing their feet. His ministry reveals he also will do almost anything in between extravagant and practical. Imagine if we all read the Gospels, and committed to love each other in the same way Jesus showed his love to his disciples!

Love Always

2010-02-12T13:49:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 13:6-7-"Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Always love - pretty tall order and pretty tough stuff. Only God is "always." But then Christians are fueled to a always love through the Holy Spirit! Check out the promised source of "always" love in Romans 5:5.

Growing Our Love for One Another

2010-02-09T23:46:00.000-05:00

2 Thessalonians 1:3-"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing."

"Increase my faith, O Lord." "Increase my strength." "Increase my wisdom." We often pray for these things, but when is the last time you thanked God for your love increasing? Can you think of anything more exciting to say about your church than "The love every one of you has for each other is increasing!" Lets pray and act to make it so!

Loving Your Enemies

2010-02-08T10:03:00.000-05:00

Matthew 5:43-45-[Jesus said,] "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."

We often talk about the privileges of being a child of God - forgiveness, salvation, a future in heaven with him, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and ultimate victory when Christ comes. One of the greatest privileges we get, however, is the opportunity to act toward those who dislike and hate us in a way that reflects the character of God himself. We all have been hurt, offended or mistreated by someone and it does indeed cause hurt feelings and pain and sorrow along with anger and thoughts of revenge. Anyone can return hate for hate, but it takes a child of God to return a blessing and a prayer for their enemies.

Colts Lose Super Bowl XLIV

2010-02-07T22:56:00.000-05:00

Tonight the Indianapolis Colts saw their quest for a world championship end in Miami as the New Orleans Saints defeated the Colts 31-17 to win Super Bowl XLIV. Peyton Manning and the Colts saw an end to a terrific season and came up short against the Saints. Not surprising....the Colts are already the favorites to win the Super Bowl next year according to the odds makers. I am disappointed but I am confident that the Colts will be back. GO COLTS!

I Love You Lord...

2010-02-04T19:33:00.001-05:00

Psalm 18:1-2-"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

We sing it and we say it in our public prayers: "Father, God, we love you." But notice very carefully the beginning phrase of our verse. "I love you, O Lord..." Even in public, community worship, we are taught the importance of a personal expression of love to God. When is the last time you told the Creator of the universe, "I love you!"

Phil Sees His Shadow....

2010-02-02T10:28:00.003-05:00

Don't put those cold weather clothes in storage just yet. Punxsutawney Phil, the internationally known weather prognosticating groundhog, emerged from his burrow in Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and saw his shadow this morning and predicted six more weeks of winter. Looks like we'll have to endure the cold a little longer. God bless everyone and have a great day.

Better Than We Can Imagine

2010-02-01T07:26:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 2:9-"As it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

Many of the things we anticipate and dream about are much less glorious in real life than they were in our imaginations. There is one event, however, that is better than we can imagine and beyond our wildest dreams. When Jesus returns to take us home to be with our Father, it will be far better than we can ask, imagine, dream or think. Maranatha - Come Lord Jesus

Forgiving and Forgetting

2010-01-31T14:47:00.002-05:00

Psalm 86:5-"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call on you."

Forgiveness is such a sweet blessing. But God does more than forgive! He cleanses and forgets. His love is not metered out or carefully rationed. He pours it out upon us if we genuinely seek him as our God and Father

Kurt Warner Retires

2010-01-29T22:10:00.003-05:00

Today was an especially emotional day for me as my favorite quarterback of all time Kurt Warner announced his retirement from the NFL. After a 12 year career and over 30,000 career passing yards and two MVP awards and a Super Bowl championship, Kurt Warner is retiring at age 38 to spend time with his family and move into ministry and broadcasting. Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom said of Kurt Warner, "Kurt Warner epitomizes the finest qualities that can be attributed to any athlete. He is a gentleman, competitor and, most of all, a winner whose achievements and contributions go far beyond the field of play." Kurt Warner started his career with the St. Louis Rams and later played for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals and led both the Rams and the Cardinals to the Super Bowl winning MVP honors in the Rams victory in Super Bowl 34. I and many Rams fans will always remember number 13 and never forget the great years he played in St. Louis. Next stop...the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Thanks for the memories Kurt....we love you.

Genuine Worship To God

2010-01-28T16:52:00.001-05:00

John 4:24-"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Genuine worship is a gift. Since God is spirit, since he is holy, we cannot fully approach him without the gift and blessing of his Holy Spirit. As Christians who received his Spirit when we were baptized into Christ and born of God, we can now speak to him and worship him Spirit to Spirit.

Winning the Spiritual Battle

2010-01-26T13:15:00.000-05:00

Ephesians 6:12-13-"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

How often do you forget that we are in a spiritual war? Our enemy is deceptively cunning - take away the immediacy of a threat and the danger appears gone. But he's there, always. But rather than try to guess his plans and counter all of his moves, Paul reminds us to simply take up the tools God has given us and stand up to the evil one

COLTS Headed To The Super Bowl

2010-01-24T20:18:00.006-05:00

Today all of us here in central Indiana are celebrating because our Indianapolis Colts are heading back to the Super Bowl following their 30-17 victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game. Peyton Manning again led the Colts to victory and what a joy to watch this future Hall of Famer in action. Now onto Miami for the Super Bowl...GO COLTS!

Restoration in the Body of Christ

2010-01-23T14:26:00.000-05:00

Galatians 6:1-"If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."

In a day when intervening in someone's life is no longer politically and socially correct, these verses ring out like a gunshot on a still night. Sin is still real and is just as deadly as ever. Yet because we fear being branded judgmental, we let many who are trapped by sin go to their spiritual death. The call is for nonjudgmental intervention -- we recognize the gravity of the sin and the need of the sinner, without feeling arrogant in our righteousness. "There but for the grace of God go I."

Shining Out In a Dark World

2010-01-22T09:11:00.002-05:00

Philippians 2:14-16-"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life."

Stars. They've always been a source of constant hope for God's people. "Your descendants will be like the stars," God told Abraham. "When I see the stars, what is man that you are mindful of him?" the Psalms ask. The Wisemen from the East followed a star to Jesus. Luke reminds us that Jesus was a bright star come to us from heaven to shine God's light to those in darkness. And now, we're stars. God's points of light in the dark sky of the universe. So let's make today a day where our light shines God's glory to a dark world around us

The Truth That Sets Us Free

2010-01-15T11:44:00.000-05:00

John 8:31-32-"Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

There are few things more coveted than freedom. People die for it. People pray for it. People strive for it. True freedom comes from knowing truth. Knowing truth only comes by living in obedience to Jesus. Truth is not something you merely think about or believe. Truth is something you do, you live. Jesus' teaching always ends with the exclamation: Blessed are you who do these things! Only by doing will we ever know the truth that liberates us.

Real Love

2010-01-14T20:51:00.002-05:00

1 John 4:20-21-"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Love! The word can mean anything. Many in the Christian community have tried to define it by a dictionary or lexicon, not realizing the key word for love, agape, is defined by action. Before Christians got a hold of agape, it meant the same thing our word today does: just about anything! But if you read 1 John, you see what love is by what God does. God demonstrates his love. He asks us to do the same for our brothers and sisters. Love must be more than talk, it must be genuinely demonstrated in action!

Believe in God

2010-01-13T09:47:00.004-05:00

Hebrews 11:6-"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

The life of Wilma Rudolph, the great Olympic sprinter, is a remarkable story of faith. Wilma was born with health problems that left her crippled. "Will I ever be able to run and play like the other children?" Wilma asked her parents. "Honey, you have to believe in God and never give up hope," they responded. "If you believe, God will make it happen." Taking her parents' counsel, she painfully struggled to walk. By the time she was 12, to the delight and surprise of many, Wilma no longer needed her braces. She went on to play basketball on her championship high school team and win three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics. When you hear inspiring stories of faith like Wilma Rudolph's, do you sometimes wonder, "What could I accomplish if I took God at His Word?" Faith is the foundational principle of the Christian life. Believing who God is, what He says, what He has done, and what He will do defines the kingdom of God. Furthermore, faith is the essence of the Christian's day-to-day activity. Paul wrote: "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6). How did you receive Christ? By faith. How then are you to walk in Him? By faith. In Scripture, walking refers to the way you conduct your everyday life. Victorious Christian living and spiritual maturity are determined by our belief in God. We tend to think of faith as some kind of mystical quality which belongs only in the realm of the spiritual. But everybody walks by faith. It is the most basic operating principle of life. The question is, in what or in whom do you believe? We are challenged to believe in God and take His Word seriously.

One In Christ

2010-01-12T21:31:00.004-05:00

Galatians 3:26-29-"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. "

We are all one. This is basic, simple, and easy to understand. When we become Christians through saving faith in Christ, we are made one with all other Christians around the world. Race, gender, and social status are gone. All that's left is One, the One, Jesus. Our lives are his and thus are connected to each other. Our destination is the same, heaven. Our family is the church. No barriers. No closed doors. We are one

Knowing the Comfort of God's Presence

2010-01-11T08:51:00.003-05:00

Psalm 118:5-6In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

The beginning of the year has been a trying time for people I care about. Maybe it's been that way for you or those you love. My prayer for you, and for them, is that they may know the comfort of God's presence. Whether it's the popular little poem "Footprints" or the familiar "Yea though I walk through the shadow of death, thou art with me," the presence of the Lord is absolutely vital to standing up against our anguish! The Lord does long to be with us, especially at those moments when we feel most alone. He told us that by experiencing it himself at the cross.

Who's On The Lord's Side?

2010-01-08T11:07:00.000-05:00

Amos 5:14-15-"Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts."

A whole bunch of folks claim that God is on their side. In reality, that's not important at all. The real question is whether we are on God's side! That's determined more by what we seek and do rather than what we say and believe. God longs to be with us, but he will not sacrifice his character to extend us cheap grace, a grace that does not call us to be like him. He's looking for believers who put their character where their mouth is

Who Are We Imitating?

2010-01-07T11:30:00.001-05:00

Ephesians 5:1-2-"Be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If we are to sincerely flatter God by being like him, imitation may be the most costly form of flattery as well. You see, love for God is never something that occurs just in our minds or our hearts. Love is something we do for another -- it is action. John said in 1 John 4 that we must love in both our deeds and our words. Love means to give ourselves up -- what we want, our rights, our desires -- to honor God and serve others. This is a kind of love that can change the world, or a marriage, or a family

Christ's Glory Revealed At His Return

2010-01-06T22:44:00.000-05:00

1 Peter 1:13-"Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

When Jesus came the first time, he came to reveal God (John 1:18). As wonderful, powerful, and gracious as he was in his earthly ministry, it did not fully reveal Jesus our Lord. Our hope is tied to his return. When he comes this time, he won't come to reveal God, but to reveal himself -- the conquering Lord, the Rider on the white horse. Every knee will bow. And we will see him as he really and fully is, Immanuel in power and grace. With this as our hope, we can be ready for active service to our king as people who live their lives under his leadership and control.

Successful Christian Living

2010-01-05T11:07:00.001-05:00

Galatians 5:1-"We are to grow up in all aspects into Him..."

Ephesians 4:15-"It was for freedom that Christ set us free..."

There are two concepts which determine the victory and fruitfulness of a Christian. The first concept is maturity. Paul wrote: "We are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ . . . to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:15, 13). God has given us everything we need to grow to maturity in Christ (2 Peter 1:3). But Satan is opposed to our maturity and will do anything he can to keep us from realizing who we are and what we have in Christ. We must experience victory over the dark side before we can fully mature. The second concept of the successful Christian life is freedom. Paul declared: "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). This verse not only assures us that God wants us free, but also warns us that we can lose our freedom by returning to the law. Before we received Christ, we were slaves to sin. But because of Christ's work on the cross, sin's power over us has been broken. Satan has no right of ownership or authority over us. He is a defeated foe, but he is committed to keeping us from realizing that. He knows he can block your effectiveness as a Christian if he can deceive you into believing that you are nothing but a product of your past, subject to sin, prone to failure, and controlled by your habits. As long as he can confuse you and blind you with his dark lies, you won't be able to see that the chains which once bound you are broken. You are free in Christ, but if the devil can deceive you into believing you're not, you won't experience the freedom which is your inheritance. I don't believe in instant maturity, but I do believe in instant freedom, and I have seen thousands of people set free by the truth. Once a person is free, you would be amazed at how quickly he or she matures!

A Refelction of God's Love

2010-01-03T11:11:00.000-05:00

Micah 6:8-"[God] has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

God's desires for us are not hard to discern. He wants to bless us with salvation. The incredible gift of his Son is powerful testimony to this truth. But salvation from sin and death is not something he wants to happen in our lives only once. He wants our lives to daily reflect his salvation and to share it with others. We should act justly and pursue mercy in our relationships, and honor him with our worship from a humble heart.

Welcome 2010

2010-01-01T13:45:00.004-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. GOD BLESS EVERYONE AND HAVE A BLESSED AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR OF 2010.

Forgetting The Past and Moving Forward

2009-12-31T08:59:00.001-05:00

Isaiah 43:16:18-19-"This is what the Lord says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

The year is gone, finished, past. We cannot reclaim it or undo it. We cannot rest on the things it has brought us. When tomorrow dawns, it will be another day, a new opportunity, and the time to show our faith in Jesus as Lord. Let's journey forward, knowing that God already inhabits the future and promises to provide us refreshment.

Personally Resisting Satan

2009-12-30T08:40:00.000-05:00

Romans 13:14-"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."

Paul instructs us to make no provision for the flesh. What if we do ? We are told to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. What if we don't? James 4:7 admonishes us to "resist the devil and he will flee from you." What if we don't resist him? Is he required to flee from us if we don't take our stand against him? No, if we don't resist him, he doesn't have to go. We have the assurance of God's protection, but we must assume our responsibility to personally resist Satan. Ephesians 6:10-17 outlines the armor of God which believers are instructed to put on in order to "stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (verse 11). But if we go into battle without some of our armor, are we impervious to getting wounded? No, if we fail to cover ourselves with the armor God has provided, we are vulnerable. James 4:1 reveals that the source of our quarrels and conflicts is the pleasures that "wage war in your members." Paul instructed, "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts" (Romans 6:12). The world, the flesh and the devil are continually at war against the life of the spirit within us. But what if we don't fight back? Will we still be victorious over the pleasures and lusts which strive to reign over us? No, they will control us if we remain passive. Choosing truth, living a righteous life, and donning the armor of God is each believer's individual responsibility. I cannot be responsible for you, and you cannot be responsible for me. I can pray for you, encourage you in the faith, and support you, but if you go into the battle without your armor on, you may get hurt. As much as that may be a matter of concern for me, I still cannot make those decisions of responsibility for you. Those choices are yours alone.

The Return of the King

2009-12-29T12:22:00.001-05:00

John 14:1-3-"[Jesus said,] "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

One of the greatest promises in the Word of God is the message of Christ's return. He's coming back! As much as the world likes to remember Jesus' first coming during the Christmas season, we need to remind people that his Second Coming will be even greater. We want to be prepared -- lives dedicated to his glory and hearts full of expectation at his coming

The Importance of the Word of God

2009-12-29T11:52:00.005-05:00

Hebrews 4:12-"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Colossians 3:16-"Let the word of Christ, dwell in your hearts richly..."

I am a ardent student of history and I love to study the presidents. My favorite President of all time is President Theodore Roosevelt who once made the famous quote, "A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education." I couldn't agree more with that statement. The Word of God is the key to our spiritual growth and living a victorious life. Don't forget to take time this upcoming year to study God's word and meditate upon its truth each and every day. Hear the words of Paul, "Let the word of Christ dwell in your hearts richly." Let's do that this year.

Focusing on Christ

2009-12-28T18:38:00.001-05:00

Matthew 11:28-[Jesus said,] "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

At the end of the year, it sure is nice to be invited to rest in Jesus. So before we begin a new year, let's pause and place our hopes, our future, our dreams, and especially our burdens down at his feet and let him give us rest.

God's Gift to All People

2009-12-26T13:41:00.000-05:00

Luke 2:28-32-"Simeon took him [Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

God's gift to Simeon was truly precious and touching. He is the embodiment of every nation, race, and culture that is seeking God's salvation. God's salvation, as Luke loves to remind us again and again, is for all people!

Wishing You All A Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T08:15:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas to everyone and I pray that God's richest blessings will find you this special day as we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

The Message of Christmas

2009-12-24T09:19:00.000-05:00

Luke 2:11-14-"[An angel of the Lord said,] "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

The sign to the shepherds was a baby in a feeding trough. Pretty potent sign isn't it! The Almighty Creator of the universe sleeping where the sheep and goats have eaten their grain and hay. That God would love us so much as to reduce himself to such an inauspicious beginning reminds us why the angels praise him so. He is glorious and yet he chose not to hide or protect that glory, but instead he shared it so we could find it, too!

Following God's Unusual Plan for our Lives

2009-12-23T07:50:00.001-05:00

Luke 2:1 and 4-5-"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."

Isn't it amazing how many inconveniences in our lives the Lord uses to accomplish his will in us? Can you think of a worse time to have to go on a cross-country trip with their modes of travel than Joseph and Mary faced? Yet God turned it into the moment in which the angels found their tune and Satan met his match. This trip was all part of God's eternal plan for His son Jesus to come to Earth and be born in Bethlehem, according as it was prophesied, to a virgin, and save us from our sins. Only God could make this inconvenience a part of His plan.

The Power of the Truth

2009-12-22T11:47:00.000-05:00

John 3:21-"He who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

Satan's first and foremost strategy is deception. As long as Satan's influence in a person's life remains undetected, he is content to lie low and not show his hand. Like a snake in the grass, he quietly sneaks up on his prey and squeezes the life out of it. But when you confront Satan's deception and expose his lies with the truth, his strategy changes from stealth to a pretense of power. He becomes the roaring lion that Peter warned about (1 Peter 5:8). The procedure that most Christian counselors follow in dealing with people in whom demonic strongholds have been exposed is to challenge the spirit to manifest itself, and then to cast it out. Inevitably there is a power struggle which can provoke the victim to either lapse into a catatonic state, become generally disoriented, or run out of the room. I've seen people get physically injured during such confrontations. This procedure can potentially create more harm than help, especially for the novice. We must avoid buying into Satan's second strategy of power as much as we avoid swallowing his first strategy of deception. It isn't power per se that sets the captive free; it's truth (John 8:32). The power of the Christian is in the truth; the power of Satan is in the lie. To the Satanist, power is everything, but power is only effective in the darkness. The Christian is to pursue the truth because power and authority are already inherent in him. Truth is what makes an encounter with Satan effective. Satan's demonstration of power (which is also deceptive because his power has actually been broken by the cross) is intended to provoke a fear response. When fear is controlling a believer, the Spirit of God is not, and Satan has the upper hand. Fear of the enemy and faith in God are mutually exclusive.

Consult Your God

2009-12-17T19:16:00.001-05:00

Mark 13:22-"False Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order, if possible, to lead the elect astray."

You can identify a false prophet by the fact that not all his prophecies come true. Deuteronomy 18:22 instructs us not to believe the prophet whose prophecies fail. But Deuteronomy 13:1-3 also warns us about the false prophet whose signs and wonders do come true: "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." (See also Matthew 24:4-11, 23-25; Revelation 13:11-14). Many Christians have become conditioned to think that anything relating to the miraculous automatically verifies that God is involved. God can still use signs and wonders to confirm the Word, but the Bible also warns that false Christs and prophets will arise seeking to lead believers astray with their "signs and wonders." Satan can also perform signs and wonders, but he only does so to direct our worship away from God to himself. Deuteronomy 13:5-11 reveals the seriousness of attributing to God the activity of Satan. Persons who were involved in it were to be executed even if they were relatives. We are to love God, obey His Word, and test all signs, wonders and dreams. Isaiah wrote, "When they say to you, 'Consult the mediums and the wizards who whisper and mutter,' should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn" (8:19,20).

The Spiritual Problem of Rebellion

2009-12-15T09:56:00.001-05:00

1 Samuel 15:23-"Rebellion is as the sin of divination (witchcraft), and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry."

If you fail to bring your child under control during his early years, problems may not show up until he hits the age of identity, around 12. Most parents respond at this time by trying to control the child. But the authoritarian parent is most likely to produce a rebel. "But we have to reprove rebellious kids, don?t we?" Actually, the Bible tells us not to reprove a scoffer (Proverbs 9:7-9). Why? Because rebellion is a spiritual problem, and it requires a spiritual solution. Saul, the first king of Israel, rebelled against God by doing his own things, making his own rules, and worshiping the way he wanted to. God sent a prophet to confront him. Part of the prophet?s stinging rebuke was, "Rebellion is as the sin of divination [witchcraft], and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:23). As a result of Saul?s disobedience, "an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him" (1 Samuel 16:14).

My Hero Is Home With Jesus

2009-12-13T20:22:00.003-05:00

Today is a sad but joyful day for me. My favorite preacher of all time and my hero in the ministry, Rev. Bert Clendennen, passed away from this life and went home to be with the Lord this morning and was promoted to his eternal reward in heaven. Words cannot describe the admiration and respect that I had for Brother Clendennen. He was truly a man of God and preached the Word of God faithfully for 60 years as a pastor, evangelist, and finally a missionary. He was the founder of the School of Christ Internationl and helped reached millions of people with the Gospel in his lifetime. He is without a doubt, the most annointed man of God I have ever heard preach the gospel and he will be missed.

The Meaning of Christmas

2009-12-13T07:59:00.000-05:00

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:8-14)

As Linus would say...."That's what Christmas is all about."

The Expression of Pride

2009-12-12T18:41:00.001-05:00

Proverbs 16:18-"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling."

Pride is a killer. Pride says, "I can do it alone. I can get myself out of this mess without God's help." Oh, no you can't! We absolutely need God, and we desperately need each other. Paul wrote, "We are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3). Humility is confidence properly placed. Examine the instructions on pride and humility in James 4:6-10 and 1 Peter 5:1-10. The context reveals that spiritual conflict follows the expression of pride. Pride is what caused Lucifer to be thrown out of heaven. Jesus said, "Simon, Simon [Peter], behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat" (Luke 22:31). On what basis could Satan make that demand? The context reveals the answer: "There arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest" (Luke 22:24). Pride was Peter's downfall, and it opened the door to the devil's opposition. The Lord says that pride goes before destruction and an arrogant spirit before stumbling (Proverbs 16:18). We must confess areas where we have not denied ourselves, picked up our cross daily, and followed Him (Matthew 16:24). In so doing we have given ground to the enemy in our lives. Have we believed that we could be successful and live victoriously by our own strength and resources? We must confess that we have sinned against God by placing our will before His and by centering our lives around self instead of Him. We must renounce the self life and by so doing cancel all the ground that has been gained in our members by the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must pray that God will guide us so that we will do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but that with humility of mind we will regard others as more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). We must ask God to enable us through love to serve others and in honor prefer others (Romans 12:10).

Finding the WAY

2009-12-09T08:04:00.000-05:00

John 14:6-"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

I don't want to be any more exclusive than Jesus. But I do want to hear his voice. He calls me to find the way to the Father through him. I must also know that others must know him to find their way to the Father, too. How can we not be more passionate about those around us who do not really know Jesus as their Savior, Redeemer, Brother, and Lord? How can the first four books of our New Testament lie unread?

Why We Shouldn't Be Defensive

2009-12-08T12:07:00.000-05:00

1 Peter 2:23-"While being reviled, He [Jesus] did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously."

There are two reasons why you should not be defensive when there is a critical, negative evaluation of you.

First, if you are in the wrong, you don't have a defense. If you are criticized for saying something which is out of order or doing something which is wrong, and the criticism is valid, any defensiveness on your part would be a rationalization at best and a lie at worst. You must simply respond, "You're right; I was wrong," then take steps to improve your character and behavior.

Second, if you are right, you don't need a defense. Peter encouraged us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who "while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:23). If you are in the right, you don't need to defend yourself. The Righteous Judge, who knows who you are and what you have done, will exonerate you.

Years ago a lady entered my office with a well-thought-out list of "issues" she had with me. The part of me that is made of earth wanted to respond to every allegation. But I didn't. When she was finished, there was an awkward pause before I said, "I appreciate your honesty and it must have taken a lot of courage to come in and share that with me. What do you suggest I do?" She started to cry. Nobody tears another down from a position of strength or judges another without being judged. Judgmental people are people in pain. If you can learn not to be defensive when someone exposes your character defects or attacks your performance, you may have an opportunity to turn the situation around and minister to that person.

True Life In Christ

2009-12-05T16:47:00.001-05:00

John 10:7 and 9-10-"Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it in full."

Jesus came to the world to give us life. He didn't come to bring us rules, or judgment, or fear, or work. Jesus came to give us life in its fullest form. While we know that this is promised to us when we go to be with him for all eternity, John wants us to clearly hear that Jesus' promise to give us life begins right now! Not JUST life later, but also life NOW!

Our Daily Bread for Each Day

2009-12-04T20:53:00.000-05:00

John 6:35-"Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

We crave food at regular intervals during the day. During this holiday season food occupies our thoughts and fills up our activities. But deep in our soul is a hunger, a soul hunger. It cannot be filled by food, drink, or chemicals. This hunger was the desire built into us by our Creator, placed there when he knit us together in our mother's womb. This hunger can only be satiated by Jesus.

The Real Light

2009-12-03T13:56:00.000-05:00

John 8:12-"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Darkness is more than a symbol, it is a pervasive way of living and viewing the world. Darkness is the place of deception, evil, crime, predators, sin, and death. To follow Jesus means to bring him our heart and let him cast everything from the darkness that plagues us on the inside so we don't have to be afraid of the darkness on the outside. In this way, Jesus gives us light, but it is a light that does more than fill a dark room. This is a light that illumines the heart.

Seing Things From God's Perspective

2009-12-01T09:34:00.001-05:00

Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil
Wisdom was certainly the way of the Old Testament as the Book of Proverbs and other wisdom literature attest. However, in the Old Testament, wisdom was not understood as our ability to reason independently of God. Rather, it was an acceptance and knowledge of divine revelation. Biblical wisdom is seeing life from God's perspective. When wisdom degenerates to rationalism, our walk with God is reduced to an intellectual pursuit rather than a living relationship. Proverbs 3:5-7 pictures the relationship God desires with us: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil." Turning away from evil signifies that there are moral boundaries. The will of God is to live inside those boundaries. We are free to live as the Lord leads as long as we stay morally pure and exercise biblical wisdom. Since all unbelievers are outside the moral boundaries of God, they can expect judgment. Christians living outside the moral boundaries can expect discipline. The writer of Hebrews would attest to the latter: "But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons" (Hebrews 12:8). It's true that God does give us freedom to make choices on nonmoral issues, but He expects us to know His Word and make wise decisions. He has made His will known primarily in His Word, and He delights when we humbly submit to it and obey it. But we are not Old Testament saints. We are New Testament Christians. Christ has reconciled Jew and Gentile, and we possess both power and wisdom. What marks the church age is that we now have the presence of the Holy Spirit Who will guide us into all truth. "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10).

The Right Idea For Christmas Decorating

2009-11-28T08:41:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T13:30:00.002-05:00

Giving Our Best

2009-11-25T17:12:00.002-05:00

Colossians 3:17-"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Everything! All! No matter what we say, no matter what we do, it is to be offered as a gift of thanks to God with Jesus' name, power, and honor attached! This makes all of life our worship and thanksgiving to God. There's no such thing as going to worship; if we live, if we talk, if we act it's worship. So how has your worship been lately?

Jesus Is Lord...He Never Changes

2009-11-24T09:58:00.001-05:00

Colossians 2:6-7Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Some things you don't change, swap, or update. In an age when computer processors make major leaps every few months and software companies release new upgrades every year, we get programmed into looking for the new and improved version of everything. The simple but profound truth is that Jesus is Lord. No update needed. No rival worthy. No change necessary. In fact, if we stray from this as the basis of our life, we put all we hold dear at risk. But if we continue, if we grow, if we root ourselves in this truth and make it the undergirding reality of our lives, then our future is secure and our victory assured!

God's Word to Today

2009-11-23T07:01:00.000-05:00

Peace of God

2009-11-22T13:13:00.003-05:00

Colossians 3:15-"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

Peace - that illusive state of grace that incorporates all of life's well-being. Because of Jesus, we have true shalom - wellness in body, soul, and spirit. His relationships with others, his victory over sin, death and the grave insures that we can have peace, too! So as we receive the Spirit of Christ into our hearts, we can live with our brothers and sisters, no matter how flawed, in a state of peace. Besides, as Paul changes metaphors on us, we are the Body of Christ and of course a body does not want to be at war with itself. So live in peace with others, and do so with thanksgiving.

Lord Touch Me

2009-11-21T15:29:00.003-05:00

Mark 8:25-"Then again He laid His hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly."

One of the greatest personal crises I have faced in the ministry revolved around the issue of forgiveness and a board member. I struggled relating to this man, and I knew that I couldn't continue on the way things were. So I decided to resign my pastorate. The week after I read my resignation to the congregation, I got sick. I was flat on my back with a cold and to me it was easy to recognize that God wasn't pleased with my decision. I began reading the Gospels and came upon Mark 8:22-26 where Jesus healed the blind man. I noticed that after Jesus' first touch, the man said, "I see men . . . like trees" (verse 24). I suddenly realized that I saw this man like that: a big tree, an obstacle blocking my path. Then Jesus touched the blind man again and he began to see people clearly, not as trees. I got the message. "Lord, I don't love this man. I know You do, and I want to. But You will have to touch me like You did that blind man. Lord, I need You to touch me so I can be the person You want me to be." And God did! I chose at that moment to forgive the man completely. The next Sunday I went to church, withdrew my resignation and sat while my bishop preached the morning's message. Moments earlier, I confessed to the congregation my hastiness in resigning and my desire for the Lord to touch me, to see people as people, not as obstacles to my goals. At the end of the sermon, I invited anyone who desired a touch from the Lord to join me at the altar. Soon the altar area and the aisles in the front were packed with people. Eventually all but a few people had come forward. It was a breakthrough. Guess who was one of the few? To my knowledge he never changed, but I did. And I thank God to this day that He put me flat on my back to make me the pastor He wanted me to be. If I had had my way, I would probably be out of the ministry today.

Joy and Thanksgiving to the Lord

2009-11-20T08:18:00.000-05:00

Psalm 95:1-2-"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song."

Joy knows no better explanation than laughter and song. We sing to the Lord because we are joyful! Our music is not inhibited or held back, but exuberant and as full of sound as it is of heart. Thanksgiving brings us into the Father's presence and it is our joy at being saved that leads us to sing.

How Faith Affects Our Lives

2009-11-19T12:22:00.001-05:00

Ephesians 2:8, 9-"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast."

After Jesus claimed to be sent by God, some were seeking to seize Him, having come to the conclusion that He was not a good man. But others did believe in Him, "and they were saying, 'When the Christ shall come, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?'" (John 7:31). All the evidence was there. Some chose to believe; others chose not to. People do the same today. Faith is a choice. We choose to believe or not believe. Faith is the operating principle of life. It is the means by which we relate to God and live our lives in freedom. Notice the variety of ways stated in Scripture by which faith affects our lives. First, we are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Second, we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Third, being found faithful is a prerequisite for ministry: "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service" (1 Timothy 1:12). Paul then adds, "And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). This is more than being reliable, since a person could be counted on to follow through on an assignment and not be a believer. The added ingredient in faithful people is that they know the truth and can be counted on to be reliable. Fourth, the quality of any relationship is determined by faith or trust: "Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?" (Proverbs 20:6). The words faith , trust and believe are all the same word ( pistis ) in the original language. The man who has faith believes in something. The one who believes also trusts, or he doesn't truly believe. There is no concept that looms larger in life than faith because what we believe determines how we live.

Overcoming Distress and Trouble

2009-11-17T08:54:00.001-05:00

Psalm 119:143-"Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight."

This verse is hard for me, because right now at this moment in my life and ministry I know I am so blessed. Trouble and distress do not seem to be a part of my vocabulary right now. But I know in many places in the world, this statement is true of Christians who are under attack and live under the threat of persecution and death. But their love for God and their commitment to obedience is greater than Satan's threats because God's will is their delight.

Open My Eyes

2009-11-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

Psalm 119:18-"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law."

From our perspective of grace, having been liberated from law-keeping as a means of justification and righteousness, this is a very fitting prayer. We can look around our world and see the anarchy and brutality when there is no principle of law undergirding the soul of a society. God's law provided so many wonderful blessings, and can still bless us today if we will let it. But the greatest blessing of the O.T. Law is Jesus, in whom all of God's promises find their fulfillment.

Alive by the Spirit of Christ

2009-11-14T21:32:00.001-05:00

1 Peter 3:18-Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

As a pastor I have ministered and preached many funeral services and have stood over the open graves of friends, family members, and strangers, I know the appearance and feel of death's finality and our human frailty. But Christ's death is that great reminder that death is a matter of perspective and faith. I believe God raised Jesus from the dead and that he is the first fruits of those of us who believe in him. He is alive, not just in Spirit, but in bodily form and so we will also be!

Remembering Others in Prayer

2009-11-12T11:57:00.002-05:00

Colossians 1:9-"Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding."

In a world where we can feel so isolated and alone at times, it is so important for us to know that someone is praying for us and for our spiritual needs. As I think of the thousands who are a part of the Today's Verse ministry, I cannot help but pray that each of them, that you, are blessed by knowing that you share a spiritual journey with people all over the world, and that today, we will praying for each other. And of course there can be no better prayer than the one that Paul prayed for the Colossian friends he had never met -- "I ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Let's pray that for each other today.

Honoring Those Who Served

2009-11-11T14:15:00.005-05:00

Today is a very special day here in America as we honor those who serve or have served in our armed forces. It's Veterans Day and I along with millions of other Americans want to say "Thank You" to our men and women in uniform. God bless you for your service to our country and we especially honor those who have given their lives and gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. God bless our Veterans and God bless America.

A Way of Escape

2009-11-11T13:25:00.002-05:00

1 Corinthians 10:13-"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it."

First Corinthians 10:13 is the shining good news in the midst of our fears and concerns about temptation. Where is the escape hatch that Paul is talking about here? In the same place temptation is introduced: in your mind. Every temptation is first a thought introduced to your mind by your own carnality or by the tempter himself. If you meditate on that thought and consider it an option, you will eventually act on it, and that's sin. The first step for escaping temptation is to apprehend every thought as soon as it steps through the doorway of your mind. Once you have halted a penetrating thought, the next step is to evaluate it on the basis of Paul's eightfold criterion for what we should think about in Philippians 4:8. Ask yourself, "Does this thought line up with God's truth? Is it suggesting that I do something honorable? Right? Pure? If this thought becomes action, will the outcome be lovely and contribute to excellence in my life? Will other believers approve of my actions? Is it something for which I can praise God?" If the answer to any of those questions is no, dismiss that thought immediately. Don't have anything more to do with it. If it keeps coming back, keep saying no. When you learn to respond to tempting thoughts by stopping them at the door of your mind, evaluating them on the basis of God's Word, and dismissing those which fail the test, you have found the way of escape that God's Word promises. In contrast, if a thought enters your mind and it passes the Philippians 4:8 test of truth, honor, righteousness, etc., "let your mind dwell on these things" (verse 8) and "practice these things" (verse 9). "And the God of peace shall be with you" (verse 9), which is an infinitely better result than the pain and turmoil which follows when we yield to tempting thoughts and become involved in sinful behavior

God's Voice

2009-11-10T10:49:00.001-05:00

Job 37:5-6-"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour."

Isn't that a beautiful phrase! "God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding." Rather than spending a lot of time talking or thinking about how marvelous God is, let's praise him in prayer.

Brett Hull In the Hall of Fame

2009-11-09T23:44:00.003-05:00

Tonight is a special night for me and every other fan of the St. Louis Blues hockey club as Brett Hull, undoubtedly the greatest player to ever play for the Blues, was enshrined in the NHL Hall of Fame in Toronto. As a life long fan of the Blues, I can remember many wonderful and memorable moments watching "The Golden Brett" play for the Blues. He is third all time on the NHL scoring list and set team records for scoring and goals. I am so grateful to have had the privilege to watch number 16 play for many years with the Blues and we are all very happy for Brett Hull, Hall of Famer. Congratulations Brett and GO BLUES!

Relationships First

2009-11-09T12:43:00.002-05:00

Romans 13:8-"Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law."

Many people demonstrate that their need to win when trying to resolve conflicts with others is greater than their regard for relationships. Why is winning so important to us? Why must we always be right? The person who is driven to win, to be right, or to be first is insecure. Insecure people are driven to perform. Security comes from relationships, not achievements. A secure person is a person who is comfortable with himself and others. It is easy to communicate with a secure person, but you often end up clashing with a driven person. Would you rather be a lover or an achiever? Which would you prefer your spouse, children, coworkers and friends to be?Relationships are more important than achievements to God. Jesus declared that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love people (Matthew 22:36-40). The purpose of the Word of God is to govern our relationships with God and man. If our achievements in life don't enhance our relationships with God, our spouse and children, and others, then we are not fulfilling God's commandments. Is there ever a time when we need to assert ourselves in conflicts? Yes, we need to stand our ground on moral issues. But we never have the right to violate the fruit of the Spirit in doing so. If what you do can't be done in love and self-control, then maybe it's better left undone. And remember: Your authority does not increase with the volume of your voice. When you resort to shouting in conflict, you are reacting in the flesh. You have lost control of the only person you can control: yourself. Anyone who accomplishes something at the expense of people or elevates tasks over relationships will sow the seeds of their own destruction and the destruction of those around them. Governments, institutions and organizations exist for the cause and needs of people. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. How easy it is to turn our priorities upside down.

Being Phony or Real?

2009-11-08T14:36:00.000-05:00

As a pastor, I often have the opportunity to talk with lots of people and often I will invite them to church on Sunday. However, one such person told me that she wouldn’t go to any church because she simply couldn’t trust people. As I talked with this young woman, her comments indicated that she was uncomfortable with a component of Christianity where people act a certain way in church but a different way outside of it. Many of us look really good on the outside but are falling a part on the inside. In other words, we put on a good show. The problem is when we put on an act before the Lord. We honor Him with our lips but our hearts are far from Him. Jesus wants the truth of what is in our hearts, not how we portray ourselves on the outside. Once such example in the Bible is found in Mark chapter 7 which reads, “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men*--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." Mark 7:5-8. The Pharisees kept the law and man's traditions to the strictest of standards. Their hands were ceremonially cleansed before they touched any bread to eat. Even their utensils were cleansed with the same ceremony. The outside looked spotless to the point that they believed themselves to be more spiritual and pure than those who did not perform these rituals. The same is true for people in the church today. Many Christians work hard at being righteous and look the part to those around them, but God knows what is in their hearts. If our activities are whitewashed by man's traditions, then the fruit of that will be seen in our behaviors. There will be a lack of sincerity and realness with people. Not only does the Lord see through it, but so do others. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 15:3-“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” Where is your heart today? Are you worshiping with your lips or with sincerity in your heart? Do not just keep going through the motions, whether in your ministry services, church activities or daily checklist of religious do's and don'ts. Get real with the Lord today. Be careful in following the traditions of man to the extent that the Lord is far from your heart. Pray that your outside will match your inside and ask the Lord to remove your fears about how real that might look. If we all would commit to this process, we might just see a lot more people in Bible studies and church and impact our world for Jesus Christ. BE REAL....

Praying for Others

2009-11-07T10:29:00.003-05:00

1 Timothy 2:1-2-"I urge, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

God wants us to be a praying people. But more than that, God wants us to pray for people. The blessing of that kind of prayerful life is that we get to live peaceful and quiet lives full of godliness and holiness. So pray, dear friend in Jesus, pray as if world peace depends upon it, because it does

Christ is the Head

2009-11-06T17:40:00.000-05:00

Ephesians 1:9-10-"He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ."

Jesus is Lord! God's plan was purposed in Christ. It centered on Christ coming at the right time. God's plan was to bring unity in Christ by making him Lord of all! What's more, this plan that brings our salvation brings God great pleasure. God is the only saving God and Jesus is both our Savior and Lord. So the real issue we face today is this: What area of our lives, our hearts, our secrets, our sin, our rebellion, have we not submitted to his lordship?

A New Covenant

2009-11-04T10:46:00.000-05:00

2 Corinthians 3:6-"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

I often marvel at how wonderful God's plan is for us. God willingly entered into a new agreement with us, his creatures, sealed it with the blood of his Son Jesus, and sent the Spirit to give us the power to live the life of this new covenant. God has made a covenant of love and grace with us. The Almighty has then turned around and made us worthy and competent to share that covenant with others. Now wonder it is life-giving: it brings life to us and through us!

Our Only Valid Weapon

2009-11-03T11:31:00.001-05:00

John 8;31, 32 -"If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

We are more vulnerable to Satan's deception than to any of his other schemes. Why? Because when he tempts you or accuses you, you know it, but when he deceives you, you don't know it. If he can enter your church, your home, or your mind undetected and get you to believe a lie, he can control your life, home and ministry. Sad to say, he is doing just that across our land by deceiving many people. You cannot overcome Satan's deception by human reasoning; you can only do it by God's revelation. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31, 32). Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). It is critical that when you put on the armor of God, you start with the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14). The light of truth is the only valid weapon against the darkness of deception.

On the Winning Team

2009-11-02T19:48:00.000-05:00

1 Peter 2:9-"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

We've been picked to be on God's team, and we were picked first! We have an important role to play in the unfolding of the world's history. We're here to declare God's praises to those who don't know him so they can find his marvelous light and leave their world of darkness.

Praise the Lord...The Rams Win

2009-11-01T20:56:00.000-05:00

Hallelujah! The RAMS WON today....they defeated the Detroit Lions 17-10. The win put the Rams at 1-7 on the season. The players congratulated coach Steve Spagnoulo with a Gatorade shower to celebrate the victory. Thank God they won because I couldn't live with 0-16. I'll leave that dubious honor to last season's Detroit Lions who went 0-16. GO RAMS!

2009-11-01T07:37:00.000-05:00

1 Peter 5:8-9-"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

In spite of the many images and portrayals of Satan as some impish, mythical character who sits upon our shoulder and whispers things into our minds. This is not a clear picture of who Satan truly is. He is our enemy for a reason. Satan is evil and Satan is real. He and his power are intended to harm. But rather than spending our time worrying about him, let's resist him when we are tempted and focus on Jesus. He's the one who won the big showdown at Calvary, triumphing over Satan. He took Satan's greatest tool and disarmed it. Now we can resist and Satan will flee.

Being a Living Sacrafice

2009-10-31T09:04:00.001-04:00

Romans 12:1-"I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. "

Because God went first and sacrificed what is most precious to him to save us, he can ask us to surrender ourselves to him. Only one problem: The cotton-picking sacrifice wants to keep crawling off the altar.

God's Unchanging Word

2009-10-30T14:50:00.000-04:00

1 Peter 1:24-25-"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."

As the seasons change, the leaves fall, and the grass dies, we are reminded once again of how short our lives are. Despite the rapid advancements of technology, our deepest needs are addressed only by the eternal and proven will of God in Scripture. Whether you get your Scripture off the Bible on disk or from an old family Bible, access it today. Don't you need a dose of the eternal today?

God's Unspeakable Gift

2009-10-26T17:52:00.000-04:00

Ephesians 2:8-9-"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."

I really love when I receive a gift of any size. Don't you love gifts! When they're truly given, with no strings attached, all we have to do is receive them. The greatest gift we've ever received has nothing to do with our efforts. It is a gift from God. We didn't earn it, deserve it, or purchase it. God gave it through his sacrificial gift so our salvation would not be our boast, but his kindness. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote, "but thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.."

The Process of Forgiveness

2009-10-20T08:41:00.000-04:00

Luke 6:27, 28 -"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Here are 12 simple steps you can use to walk through the process of forgiving someone who hurt you in the past. Ask the Lord to reveal the names of the persons who offended you and the specific wrongs you suffered. Face the hurt and the hate. If you are going to forgive from your heart, you must let God search the depths of your heart. Acknowledge the significance of the cross. It is the cross of Christ that makes forgiveness legally and morally right. Decide that you will not retaliate by using the information about the offender's sin against them (Luke 6:27-34). Decide to forgive. Forgiveness is a conscious choice to let the other person off the hook and free yourself from the past. Take your list of names to God and pray the following: "I forgive ___(name)___ for ___(specifically identify every remembered pain)__ ." Destroy the list. You are now free. Do not tell the offenders what you have done. Your forgiveness is between you and God unless the offenders have asked you for forgiveness. Do not expect that your decision to forgive will result in major changes in the other persons. Instead, pray for them (Matthew 5:44). Try to understand the people you have forgiven. They are victims also. Freedom is a result of forgiveness in you. In time you will be able to think about the people who offended you without feeling hurt or anger. Thank God for the lessons you have learned and the maturity you have gained. When appropriate, accept your part of the blame for the offenses you suffered. Confess your failure to God and to others (1 John 1:9) and realize that if someone has something against you, you must go to that person (Matthew 5:23-26).

Conformed to God Will

2009-10-14T10:36:00.001-04:00

Romans 12:1-2-"I urge you beloved by the mercies of God, to present your body a living sacrafice; holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

Don't be molded by the world. Wow, isn't that a tough one to obey? It's a reminder that what we think is one of the places of greatest spiritual warfare. Sloppy thinking is more than sloppy, it's dangerous because we are fed messages constantly that distort God's truth and holy values. But rather than being incensed by the world acting like the world, let's be transformed by renewing our minds and doing what Paul said he did -- take every thought, every word, captive for Christ. We often think a tithe is giving ten percent of our money, but an even more vital tithe is giving ten percent of our thought time totally to the things of God!

Trusting God Even In Good Times

2009-10-13T08:06:00.000-04:00

Proverbs 3:5-6-"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. "

When things are tough, I find it easy to call on God and lean on his mercy and grace. He's my ripcord Savior. But I must confess, when I'm reveling in his blessings and things are going well, I am so much like the Israelites and forget to acknowledge that all the blessings I have and all the opportunities I have received come because of his grace. In my joy and success, I need to learn to acknowledge him!

Trusting In Him

2009-10-11T13:25:00.000-04:00

Psalm 62:8-"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

It is so hard to share the secrets of our hearts with anyone. We want to keep our secret failings, embarrassments, and sins hidden, fearing others would reject us and we would shame ourselves. But hidden sin is only hidden from us, not from our Father. Hidden sin festers in our hearts and drives a wedge between us and the God who would forgive us and empower us to triumph over it if only we would pour out our hearts to him, because he is our refuge.

Weep With Those Who Weep

2009-10-07T11:20:00.002-04:00

Romans 12:15-"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

Early in my pastoral ministry I received one of those middle-of-the-night telephone calls that every pastor dreads: A young girl had been involved in a house fire and I arrived at the hospital about one in the morning and was met by the doctor who told me,and the girl's parents, that she had passed away from smoke inhilation. We were devastated. I was so tired and emotionally depleted that instead of offering them words of comfort, I just sat there and cried with them. I couldn't think of anything to say. I went home feeling that I had failed the family in their darkest hour. But after the girl's funeral her parents thanked me for just being there and sharing in their grief. They said that meant more to them than any words I could have said. One of our challenges in the ministry is in learning how to respond to others when they honestly acknowledge their feelings. I find a very helpful principle in the conversations between Job and his friends. Job said: "The words of one in despair belong to the wind" (Job 6:26). What people say in an emotional crisis is irrelevant other than to convey how deeply hurt they are. We have a tendency to fixate on words and ignore the hurt. When grief-stricken Mary and Martha greeted Jesus with the news of Lazarus' death, He wept (John 11:35). Paul's words crystallize it for us: "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). We are not supposed to instruct those who weep; we are supposed to weep with those who weep.