Spiritual Folgers "The Best Part of Waking Up"

Psalm 5:1-3 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

I used to think that spending time in the morning with God was not all that important. I would tell students and others as long as you spend some time with God throughout the day then that is really what is important. However all through scripture, especially with David and Jesus, we find people turning to the Lord in the morning. I have found that spending time in the morning is absolutely vital to my walk and relationship with God. I have found that when I wake and I first pursue God in my thoughts and soul that I am more likely to focus on Him throughout the day. Otherwise if I don't basically I am saying to God, "I can handle it" and then try to go throughout the day without the presence, grace, wisdom and strength of Christ. That kind of self centered pride always leads me to a miserable day, filled with defeat, struggle and a sense of failure. However as I spend time in the morning I find myself thinking about the scripture that I read, praying more throughout the day and just having a sense that God's presence is with me. This doesn't mean that I don't have bad days, but instead of facing them on my own, I now face them with a focused mind and a determined spirit to live for God and hold to the promises of His Word. What I have found is that spending some time with God in the morning leads to spending time with God all throughout the day as I seek to serve Him.

Father thank you for our time this morning, remind me throughout the day of your presence and may I hold to the truth of your Word as I am confronted by lies this world and Satan will throw at me today.

The Glory of Jesus

John 12:37-41 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40"He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them." 41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.

Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus and he spoke about Him. What is that glory? John like Isaiah testified, spoke of this glory of Jesus. The glory that they refer to is that of the glory of the cross through Jesus death and resurrection they experienced the glory of Jesus. What is it, it is the one thing that the people of God, failed to see and would not see, it is the one thing that we must see. The glory of Jesus is the life changing power of His death and resurrection, it is the freedom that we have from sin, it is the healing spiritually that takes place in our lives as we put our faith and trust in Him. The glory of Jesus is that we can have life and have it more abundantly. The glory of Jesus is that our lives our changed for eternity and that we have a friend who is closer than a brother. The glory of Jesus is that we have been created to do good works and to glorify His name. The glory of Jesus is that we have the responsibility to tell others about the Gospel message and to help others see this same glory. Both Isaiah and John saw that glory and it forever changed their lives, but they could not just sit on it, they spoke of it through their words and through their actions. I wonder today does my life reflect the glory of the Jesus? Do others see in me His glory and wonder? Today may I live in such a way that others see the life changing power of Jesus Christ because I have been forever changed.

Father give me the strength today to live for you and may your favor rest on me that I might live so that others might come to know your son and experience the glory of Jesus for themselves.

"I Can Do It God"

Psalm 19:12-13 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

At times I find myself thinking, "I can do it God, thanks but I can take it from here." Maybe not so much telling God that verbally but through my actions or lack of action on my part to depend on Him. Willful sin is when I am confident that I can do whatever God has called me to do and that I have what it takes to do it. When I act on my own and ride on self-confidence I will fail and do everytime. It's when I am called my God to do something and I realize man there is no way I am fit to do this and I run to Him through prayer and dependence and say, "God I need you", that I find strength and the ability to do what He calls me to do. How often do I run into something without praying first, without seeking God's wisdom and without leaning on His strength. It is obvious from scripture that I cannot do one good thing that is eternal apart from God. Then this verse says I will be blameless (without fault) and free from sin.

Father I need your strength today may you guide and direct my paths today and may I be found follow hard after you. May I run from self-confidence and instead run to you today.

Christ In Me

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

So often I get discouraged because of my own struggle with self worth and honestly just the fear of failure. I realize that both are self centered struggles and directly interfere with my relationship with Jesus Christ. At times they so much get in the way that I lose sight of what verse 24 says clearly. That God is able to do it. When I am struggling with these things I always come back to the fact that really I can't, but God can. That in my nature I have no self worth and am a failure but my worth lies in Christ and in my weakness there is strength. Christ in me the hope of glory can and will do whatever He calls me to do because He is faithful and able by His spirit. I must rely on Him and not on myself. Self worth must be removed and replaced with Christ worth and then I am able to find my focus and watch as my relationship with Christ grows deeper and my hunger for Him grows deeper.

Father thank you for the times when I struggle with self and am brought to the reality that I need you and must find my strength and worth in you. Today guide me and direct my paths.

Getting What I Don't Deserve

2 Samuel 9:6-7,13 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, "Mephibosheth!""Your servant," he replied. 7 "Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table, and he was crippled in both feet.

Wow what an amazing picture of mercy and grace. I can't imagine what was going through Mephibosheth's mind as he is brought to the king. Especially in light of the common practice of that day when a person became king they would kill off the entire family of the previous king to ensure that no one would rise up against them. Obviously this practice was not a design or call of God but rather of men. David a man after God's own heart would have nothing to do with this tradition and instead shows amazing grace and mercy. This same grace and mercy has been shown toward us and like Mephibosheth was crippled physically we are crippled spiritually due to sin. But God instead of giving us what we deserve, sent His son in order for us to experience freedom from sin and heal us spiritually. Through God's grace and mercy we have life and can have life eternal as we except Jesus sacrifice for our sin. Praise God for His mercy and grace which is new each morning and is sufficient for us to each day as we stumble.

Father thank you for the gift of your son and the incredible grace and mercy you have shown and continue to show toward me each day. May I live never forgetting this and may my life reflect the impact you have made on my life.

Wandering

Psalm 107:4-9
Some wandered in desert wastelands,finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty,and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Being in the desert is no fun at all. The feeling like God is not there and that you are hopelessly walking through this life with no end in sight. But it is interesting that being in the desert makes one hungry and thirsty and then able to come to the end of oneself and see the need to turn to the Lord. It's at that point that you realize that God never moved but that you did. I can walk 10,000 steps away from God and it only takes one to get back to Him. It's at that point after returning that God fills the hunger and satisfies the thirst. Sin like a desert will cause us to lose sight of God and keep us wandering around thinking that God does not care or that somehow He has forsaken us, but the truth is that He has not moved nor forsaken us. Coming to the end of myself is one of the best things that can happen because it is then that I realize that I cannot go on without God filling me up.

Father come and fill me up today so that I might live for you and so that I will not give sin a foothold in my life.

Persecuted

John 15:18-20 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.'If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

"I have never been persecuted for my faith." That is a statement that I am both ashamed of and thankful for all at the same time. Ashamed because throughout the new testament it seems obvious that it is a privilege to be persecuted for the name of Jesus. However I am thankful for not enduring the many things I have read and heard about as far as Christians in other countries and the horrors that they face because of their relationship with Christ. What seems odd to me though is that in those countries Christianity is flourishing and many are coming to Christ daily. I don't pretend to think that one day things are going to change in this country and really I can see the writing on the wall that they are changing. But all of this leads me to wonder does my life reflect Christ so much that others could not mistake that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I wonder if I was arrested for my faith would there be enough evidence to keep me in jail. Jesus said it plainly in the passage above if you are of the world the world will love you. I do not want to be loved by the world, I want to honor my, Savior Jesus Christ, even if that means persecution.

Father my prayer is that my life would so reflect your sons that people would know that I am a friend of you. Help me to live in such a way that others see Christ in me.

Hard Times

Romans 8:26-28 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
More Than Conquerors 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I have found that hard times come and go, but God never leaves and never forsakes. I don't deserve His grace but He freely gives it to me. I have found that in the tough times His grace is sufficient and that through the trial God is bending and shaping me into who He wants me to be. I don't ever wish for tough times to come but I know that in them God is working toward His good. Its in those times I must keep my focus on the Lord and not on myself for if I do I lose site of His goodness and begin to dwell on the problem. Tough times will come and go but one thing I can always trust in is the promises of God's Word and the faithfulness of my heavenly Father.

Father today may I continue to keep my focus on you. Draw nearer to me as I draw nearer to you. Give me spiritual eyes to see all that you are doing and may I give you praise in everything.

I Just Want to Be Accepted

Romans 15:5-7
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Everyone wants to be accepted, everyone needs to be loved. We are hardwired to want to belong to something greater than ourselves. The problem is that all to often getting it means compromising what you believe and instead of bringing God glory we in fact grieve Him. I see this often in working with students because popularity, fitting in and going with the flow are conditions for being accepted and "loved". The pressure is immense and often leads students to do things that may never have dreamed of doing all in the name of being accepted. But sometimes we lie, make up stories and make ourselves look better than we are in order to be liked, because if they found out who I really was then they would not like me. We end up believing a lie that says we have to be a certain way, do certain things in order to be accepted. When the truth is we are accepted by our creator and God has not nor ever will make a mistake. God did not mess up when He created me. He loves us no matter what, but His call on our lives is to love others and to accept others just as He has and does. That's tough because it's easier for me not to do that, but this is where I must rely fully on Him to give me the strength to follow after Him.

Father thank you that you have accepted me and love me and that I am part of something much bigger than myself, your body. Help me to love other and accept others in order to bring you glory.

You Can't Outgive God

Malachi 3:8-10
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Giving I admit has always been a sore spot for me. Not because I do not believe in it, but simply because I often think giving becomes something very legalistic. I watched as my parents gave to the Lord and I watched them faithfully give all of my life at home and I absolutely believe in the power of giving and the command to give back to the Lord what is already His. I have never been satisfied in my heart though that giving means only 10%. I realize that this is a good place to start in getting into the habit of worship to our great God. However I also think it is a trap that many fall into thinking that this is all they are required to give. That thinking is absolutely un-biblical and I believe dishonors God. Giving as taught in the new testament is to be out of a cheerful heart and a matter of conviction on the part of God. Another words if God tells you to give more you should be willing to give all that He asks. Example the widow who gave everything she had in worship to God. Even though her amount was much less than the others it was her action that was recognized as true worship. I think today many have fallen prey to the 10% trap and are unwilling to give as the Lord leads them to give. Worship requires my all even in the area of money because the reality is that it is not mine but the Lord's as taught in this passage and by giving I am laying down my life in worship to Him.

Father help me to be faithful in giving as you lead me to give and may I not hold back from you as you have promised to not hold back your blessing if I am faithful to follow after you.

Ahhhhh Forgiveness!!!!

Psalm 32:1-2
1 Blessed is he whose sins are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Happy, complete, full am I when my sins are forgiven. The beautiful things about sin is that it has already been forgiven, at the cross. When Jesus died He became sin for us and forgave me of my sin. But it wasn't till I accepted His substitution and the gift of forgiveness that I became blessed and set free. That is true for every one we must come to Jesus and confess our need of Him as our sacrifice realizing it was I who should have died on the cross but because of His great love He died in my place. Now I simply have to except that gift and live in Him. Yes there will be times that I fall short and need to confess (agree) with God that what I did was wrong but again I have been forgiven. Crawford Loritts says, "We all long for forgiveness -to experience God's cleansing, His embrace- to know that we are with Him and He accepts us. The truth is, God always loves us, but when we sin we break fellowship with Him. Thankfully, God doesn't hold grudges. When we repent we experience His forgiveness." Today I must rejoice that I have been forgiven and if necessary I need to extend forgiveness in order to allow that AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! of forgiveness to be felt in my soul.

Father thank you for giving your son, thank you Jesus that you willingly laid down your life for me, I will never be able to fully understand it but I believe and know that you love me and have forgiven me. Help me to walk a blessed man because of your sweet forgiveness.

Liar, Liar

Matthew 4:7-10
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.

Satan the Bible says is like a roaring lion seeking to devour me. He does not just want a little nibble or a part of me, he wants everything. He is also called the deceiver and "angel of light". Everything he says or does is a lie. Now I can choose to act like he does not exist and probably get caught all up in his schemes or I can choose to understand that there is a way to defeat him and the temptations he throws my way. Jesus by His example used scripture because that is one thing Satan can't mess with and has no power over. Often Satan will tempt me with a lie about myself, my situation, whatever and I either will choose to believe the lie and thus get caught in a mess or choose to believe the truth of the Bible. However if I do not know the truth of the Bible then how can I use it as a weapon against Satan? Studying the Bible and memorizing scripture is huge for me to be able to hold onto the truth when faced with a lie. Like Christ I can quote His Word and fill my mind with truth and not be tripped up by a lie. That is if I memorize it. I would safely say that scripture memory and prayer are two of the most potent weapons I have against Satan and yet are the most under used. That I pray is changing.

Father I want to fill my mind with truth so that as Satan comes at me with lies I will first recognize the lie and replace it with truth. Give me a hunger for your Word and the grace to memorize it in order to battle our great enemy.

God Where Are You?

Psalm 27:13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Ever felt like God where are you? Why don't I feel your presence? Why don't I feel like your listening? Why? Why? Why? I know for the last several month's I was heading down a road that was leading to despair. A place where I could not see anything good in my life. It wasn't that there wasn't anything good, it was that I was unable to see it. I had turned away from my first love and was no longer feeling the connectedness I needed to feel to my Father God. Why? Was it that He moved or was it that I moved? God does not move, I do and that is exactly what I realized as I came to the end of myself once again and realized this is ridiculous, I am believing and living a lie instead of holding onto the truth and living out the truth of God's Word in my life. I have to return to believing that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Again it isn't that it wasn't there, it was and always has been I just had something blocking my view, sin. Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay. So recently God kicked my butt and I finally confessed (agreed with God) the issues that were going on and I also confessed them to my wife and man it was as if the blinders came off and now I can see again. God is restoring my passion for Him and serving Him and giving me the ability to see once again His goodness. Oh may I never return to that dark road of despair.

Father thank you for your love that is everlasting and your faithfulness toward me. Thank you for removing the blinders and giving me eyes to see the goodness of you in the land of the living. Ever keep my eyes fixed on you and may I run from those things that would zap my sight.

Trust and Obey

1 Samuel 17:45,48-49
45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. David's example of both trusting in God and being obedient to God's call could not be any clearer than in this passage. David was up against a giant and in what seemed as an impossible task, David obeyed God and trusted God to take care of the rest. This must be true of my life as well. Charles Price said, "Whatever God has given you to do and will give you yet to do, He is totally adequate for. This will be made real in your Valley of Elah, with a giant against whom you have no reasonable hope of victory were you to meet him on your own. But with the promise of God behind you, and the life of God within you, step out and enjoy a display of the glory and goodness of God." The question is do I really trust Him, do I really believe that God can and will do what He says He will do? Do I even trust Him that if I obey and I seemingly fail that He knows best and is in control?

Father give me the faith of David to trust you and to obey no matter what giant I may face.

When God Speaks

Psalm 29:3-5
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

"God's voice is unmistakable. When He speaks He speaks with clarity. God's voice is powerful because it is backed by His character. He's not making bogus claims. He's not saying stuff that He can't back up. He's not just bragging, boasting or speculating. No He's the God of the universe and He speaks with moral, holy integrity and demands to be listened to and not to be ignored." Crawford Loritts

David wrote the voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is majestic. Today that voice rings out through His Word, the Bible. If we want to experience real power through God's voice we must spend time in His Word. For it is there that I hear the voice of God and can through His spirit experience the power of that voice in my life. What blows me away is that God chooses to use me in order proclaim that message and in a way transfer His power to others.

Father give me a hunger for your Word and may I be able to hear your voice through it and experience your power. May your voice speaks volumes into my life and may it be heard by others as they see my actions.

God Is In Control

Romans 8:28-29
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Do I really believe this? Do I really trust God that He will work all things to the good? My heart cries out "yes" but often my life says the opposite. If God is in control than nothing that happens in my life takes Him by surprise. Not one thing catches Him off guard, nothing sneaks up on Him and freaks Him out. I am certain that God allows things to happen in our lives in order that He might work it out for our good. Now it may not seem so good to us, but I am certain that once you look at whatever it is, you will see the good if you are looking from God's point of view and not my own fleshly point of view. God is in control and either I can choose to except that or I can choose to ignore it but it does not change that He is still in control.

Father help me to trust you and look at things through your vantage point rather than my own and help me to see the good that you are working out in my life.

First Things First

Colossians 3:1-3
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

It's so easy to read this verse and say ok no problem. However living it out is quite another. Having an eternal focus is crucial to living for Christ on a daily basis. The choices I make are they eternal in scope or just the necessary to get by for that moment. Living the life of a follower of Christ is all about choosing and looking to our eternal home and not satisfying the moment. Today may I fix my eyes on Christ and my heart on things above so that I might live for Him.

Father give me the strength to live for you and the desire to set my heart on things that would honor you.

God's Good

Romans 8:26-28
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

"In all tings God works for the good." To often and I know I have been guilty of this, we use this verse as a crutch to tell others don't worry God will work all things out to the good. The problem is that telling someone that and then something that to us is "bad" happens and all of a sudden you find yourself questioning and doubting God. For example, my brother for over nine years battled cancer and then on Christmas Eve passed away from complications due to the cancer. Most people would look at this situation and others and say man that is horrible where was God. The problem is that God's "good" and our "good" are not the same. We think good is a feeling or if the right thing happens in a circumstance or makes us feel good or you will in the blank. But God's good could and often is completely different. I absolutely believe this verse but I must trust God that He knows what is best for my life and that the good He works out is for my best. You see in the case of my brother I believe He did work all things to the good because through it God called me into the ministry, several people gave their hearts to Christ at his funeral and the instant he died, he awoke in the presence of God completely healed from the cancer. I also know that one day I will see Him again and he is in a far better place than I am currently.

Father help me to trust you in every circumstance of life that you know what is best for my life and that you are working out the details to see that best made reality in my life.

Live Out The Truth

Titus 3:9-11
9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

I remember in college many guys that would sit around in the evenings and "debate" theological topics. It always cracked me up because they were not really debating at all they were each just simply talking and trying to outwit the others with their self-generated intellect. The sad part about these guys was that they would spend more time in this pointless exercise than they ever did in ministry or putting into practice the very topics they were "debating". I know that there is nothing wrong with discussing things and working through theological topics but when all those very truths of God's Word are not practiced then we have become nothing more than a pharisee. My prayer in my life is that I would be ready to give an answer but that my answer would not simply come from my lips but more importantly from my lifestyle.

Father give me the strength to live out the Word of God and not simply be able to argue my point.

Every Step I Take I Take In You

Acts 17:24-28
24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

God is in control. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He is the creator of life. He is all powerful, holy, just, righteous, everywhere all the time, He is God. Yet as it says in verse 27 he is not far from each one of us. Man that is awesome and comforting and convicting all at the same time. To know that God is not far from us that He is with us and longs for us to draw closer to Him is an amazing promise. God will take care of us and the Bible says He will meet all of our needs. Not only is He not far but verse 28 says that in Him we live and move and have our being. God gives us each breath we take and each step me make. Without Him life would cease to exist and become meaningless. God is so amazing and yet so I often I question Him or doubt Him or just plain take Him for granted. Why? Why when I see that He is in control, why when I believe that He meets all of my needs, why when I know that He can see the beginning from the end? I must like Proverbs 3:5-6 says trust in Him with all my heart and I must not lean on my own understanding and in all my ways acknowledge Him and then allow Him to direct my every path of life.

Father today help me to trust you and to allow you to show me the steps you want me to take. Help me be quick to praise you and give you thanks for everything.

Do I have to?

Galatians 2:6
6As for those who seemed to be important—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance—those men added nothing to my message.

These men that this verse refers to were those who were focusing on being religious instead of being in a relationship with Jesus. They were acting out of obligation and not out of love for the Savior. How easy it is to get stuck in a rut and lose site of what is really important. It's so easy to do things to make myself look good but have no heart in it or passion for it which ultimately leads to failure. Why? because if my heart is not in xy or z then it will not be long and I will stop doing it because it has made little difference in my life. Being religious may be all well and good for a time but it will not last, only what is done for eternity will last and that is to pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ. A relationship implies love, meaning, passion, intimacy and work. I do not want it to be said of me that I had little or no impact on another persons life, but the only way that I will have an impact on others is by drawing closer to Christ and falling more in love with Him everyday.

Father help me to pursue you out of love and not obligation. May my life be marked by our relationship and not religious duty. May I impact others because of your son working through me as a result of our relationship.

Turn the World Upside Down

Acts 17:5-7 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."

Wow what an awesome thing to have said about you, "these men have turned the world upside down." Through their fearless proclamation of the Gospel, their expectant prayers, and their full-hearted willingness to obey they lived out radical Christianity and turned the world upside down. This is what I want to be said of me. This is what I want to be said of my family. This is what I want to be said of my church and youth ministry. Could it happen? Is it possible that God could use us to turn the world upside down again? I believe that yes He can and it starts with me living out my faith in a radical and yet normal way that others see Christ in me and as I live it out my kids, my wife, my peers, my students will see it and I pray God would put in them something that says I want to live like that, I want to live for Christ.

Father give me the passion and hunger to live out a radical devotion to you and use me to turn this world upside down.

The Gospel

The other day I heard on the radio something that I have been meditating on since. "The Gospel is not the A,B,C's of the our faith it is the A to Z of our faith." Many times our church has been accused of being shallow when it comes to preaching and that we should preach the deep things of God. Sadly I believe these people have believed the myth that The Gospel is just the elementary things of God when in fact The Gospel permeates everything we need to know and should know. Think about it Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again for my sin. Without this everything would be a farce, with Christ everything the Bible teaches would lose it's meaning and significance. Without Christ our faith is meaningless and hopeless because everything we believe stems from Him. The reason I follow the Word of God is because of Christ, the reason I live out my faith is because of Christ, the reason I do anything of eternal value is because of Christ. Without Christ I would be just existing, but with Him I am living life to the fullest.

Father help me never to take for granted the good news of Jesus Christ and what He has done for me. May I never fall prey to the empty belief that The Gospel is good for me at the point of salvation but rather help me to find the significance of it in every area of my life.

Make My Better Great!!

Matthew 10:38-42 38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

It's so easy to get wrapped up in doing good things only to miss the best thing. Martha in verse 40 was distracted by all the preparations. How often do I allow ministry and those proverbial tings that come up to distract me from experiencing the best thing? It is so easy to be great at doing things for God instead of being a man of God. Mary got it and in verse 42 Jesus tells Martha that Mary had chosen the better course of action. What was that action? Verse 39 tells us Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to what He had to say. Mary was experiencing the presence of God and listening to His voice. So often I try to do ministry without experiencing the presence of God or listening to His voice. This morning I am reminded that I need to stop, sit and listen and allow God to speak to me so that I might experience His presence. You see it's not that what Martha was doing was bad, simply seeing Jesus response tells us that because Mary chose the better indicating that what Mary was doing was good but not best. I want to choose what is best so that my better might become great. Without God or His presence guiding my better it will never become great. Only God can take my better and make it great.

Father help me today to sit at your feet to hear your voice and to experience your presence as I strive to serve you faithfully today. I know that I cannot possibly serve you apart from you. Fill my life so that as I serve you, you impact the world around me.

Meeting My Needs

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 ⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." ¹⁰Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. ¹²This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

There is so much in this passage to really be able to give it all equal time but one verse really stand out to me in this time in which we live. "⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Wow what an amazing verse for the times that we find ourselves and country struggling through. But the question is do we really believe it or not? I believe the way we show that we believe it is by practicing the verses preceding it by giving back to God. Call it tithing call it whatever you like but giving back to God is absolutely a practice taught in scripture. What is amazing is here Paul is speaking of money, but giving back to God involves every aspect of our lives, from time to relationships. Notice what happens when we give back to God, He meets all of our needs, not wants, but needs. Big difference and one that often I think we overlook and then blame God because He has not met our wants. Today as I go through this day may I find myself believing that God can and will meet all of my needs at all times.

Father may I trust you as you see the bigger picture and know what is best for me. May I not lean on my own understanding but in everyway acknowledge you and live for you as I go through this day.

Jars of Clay

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 ⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Just one question what is inside your jar of clay (your life)?

Father may what is inside of me be revealed, oh how I want you to be that treasure, but oh how I know so often I replace the treasure of you with fool's gold. Help me today to live for you and allow the treasure of you to be revealed.

Shine Make Them Wonder What You Got

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. ³And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Newsboys have a song entitled "Shine" in it they challenge us the listener to "shine make them wonder what you got make them wish that they were not on the outside looking on." Obviously Satan has blinded people to the truth of the Gospel and it is God that make His light shine into our hearts illuminating the darkness and giving us the knowledge of Him. We must live our lives in such a way as verse 4 exhorts us to be servants for Jesus. However I must remember that without God it is impossible to shine, it is impossible for men to see the light. God is the only one who can save, I am just a vessel, a demonstration of what His light can do in a heart that was once filled with darkness. Today may the light of Christ shine through my life as I serve Him.

Father give me the strength to shine out your light as I serve you. Help me to be obedient to whatever task you call me to do today as a servant of your son. As I serve may I serve not to preach myself but your son.

Attitude Check

Philippians 2:5-10 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Wow what a statement to try to live up to in my life. So easy to say but so hard to do. So what was Christ attitude, a servant's heart. A willingness to be obedient to anything His father told Him including dying for sinful man. But it did not stop with just willingness but resulted in action. To have an attitude like that would mean to be completely taking the focus off myself and placing it on God. In myself there is no good thing, nothing righteous of my own making. It is only Christ in me the hope of glory that gives me anything of eternal value and allows me to be used to do eternal things. Today I wonder is my attitude reflecting Christ?

Father give me the determination to say yes to whatever you direct me to do and give me the strength to do it, so that I might reflect Christ.

Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you, must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

James and John's mother comes to Jesus and asks her to let her sons be the one's who would sit next to Jesus on his throne in Heaven. To her she was asking for them to be in a place of great significance. This made the other disciples upset and Jesus then pulled the disciples together to teach them the principle of being a servant. Greatness in God's eyes does not come from power or authority but rather the willingness to put others before yourself. As a father and husband this principle is huge. Maybe just as in our fathers eyes greatness comes from service, maybe in our kids and our spouse greatness would be seen in our service. May we learn to put their needs before our own and may they see in our life a lifestyle of service that would translate into seeing God through our actions.

Father give us the heart of a servant and may we learn from the example of your son to serve others just as you came to serve and not be served.

The New You

Colossians 3:5-10 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

The key to putting the things mentioned in verse 5-9 is verse 10. "Put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge in the image of its Creator." Pjillippians 4:8-9 gives us some insight to this new self, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Now obviously the new self begins with a relationship with Christ and is developed over time as we walk with Him. However in these verses we find the exact opposite of the Colossians passage and one that I believe is crucial to putting on the new self. This putting on carries with it the idea of getting dressed and getting ready to face the day. We would not face it naked, no we must cloth ourselves and we will. Either we will choose to cloth ourselves in righteousness which comes from Christ or self-righteousness which comes from ourselves. The choice is our today may we choose to put on the new self.

Father give me the strength today to put on the new self which you began in my life some time ago. May I live in such a way that others see in my you and may my life and actions reflect that of putting on the new self.

Chewing Your Cud

Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

This man's delight is the Word of God and he meditates on it everyday throughout the day. The word meditates carries with it the idea of a cow chewing its cud. A cow does not have a very good digestive system and it has to continually cough up its food and re-chew it as it breaks down the food in order for it to be digested. That is why you always see cows jaws moving because they are chewing and re-chewing their food in order for it to pass through their system. This is what mediating on God's Word is all about, throughout the day continually chewing on it utill we are able to digest and live out what it says. As we do we become like a tree planeted near streams of water strong, vibrant and fruit bearing.

Father today help me to meditate on your Word and allow it to impact my life as I live out all that you are teaching me.

Wait for the Lord

Proverbs 1:10-19 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.

Cutting corners, taking short cuts, not reporting things that should be reported and more seems to be a trend these days in our society and sadly our economy is taking the full force of many peoples ill-gotten gain. Notice the verse says the their very lives will be taken away. Is this not what we are seeing happening today. Sadly the innocent are effected right alone with the guilty. That is the curse of sin because really none of us are innocent. We are all born with a sin problem. However maybe all is not lost maybe through this people will turn to God and put their faith and trust in one who is really in control and sees the end from the beginning. Psalm 27:13-14 says "I will see the Lord in the land of the living, wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage, wait for the Lord." May I today wait for the Lord and rely on His strength and may I look to Him to guide me.

Father guide my heart today and may I be found faithful in serving you and proclaiming you throughout this day.

Understanding Spiritual Things

1 Corinthians 2:10-16 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?"But we have the mind of Christ.

As I read this passage I am reminded why so many that so greatly stand against the Word of God do so. "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." The creation story, abortion, homosexuality, men and women's roles in marriage, the Ten Commandments just to name a few all are rejected by men because they do not have the spirit of God to discern the teachings of the Bible. Yet I find myself sometimes treating or thinking about such people that they must be fools when in fact it's not that they are fools but they lack one thing, God. I assume they just accept the Bible as true and that is simply not true. Sadly we are living in a time that is increasingly rejecting the Bible as a truth source. We must pray that God will open men's eyes and hearts to see their need for Him spiritually.

Father as I go throughout my day may I be mindful that you are at work in people's hearts and that you call all men to yourself. Help me not get caught up in judging men for rejecting your truth and instead determined to live out how your Word has impacted my life. Use me today to be a light for you in this dark world.

More Than Conquerors

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Often we here some to say that "God wants to bless us and give us His best", of which I totally agree. However often what they are speaking about is wealth, health and luxuary. I am not really sure where anybody gets that idea from but all I can say is that it is a complete misinterpretation of scripture. Yes God does want to bless us and allow us to live life and life it to the fullest, but sometimes those blessings come in the midst of a storm. Hardship and trial is something that every believer will face, non of us are somehow exempt. Actually the Bible makes it clear if you live for Jesus you will endure many hardships. But it is those hardships that make us stronger and challenge us to move forward. Do we feel like giving up? For sure but then we are reminded as in the verses above that nothing can seperate us from God's love. In the midst of the trial is God holding out His hand of mercy to guide us through. Just as David said God goes with us through the valley of the shadow of death. I am thankful for the storms of my life because I would not be where I am today if it had not been for them.

Father today as I face a new day with many challenges help me to gain my strength from you and not try to tackle it alone. May I sense throughout the day your presence as you guide me through this life.

Walk the Line

Colossians 2:6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, walk in Him.

Walk in Him, what an amazing phrase yet one that I so often take for granted as I walk through this life. I take it for granted because so often I find myself trying to live life on my own. Trying to do righteous things without Christ strength or guidance and I often find myself floundering and not really accomplishing much. It is when I know that I am being directed and that walking is in His strength that I find rest and success. I think Hebrews 12:1-1 really sums it up for me that I must throw off the sin that so easily gets me tangled up and slows down my walk and fix my eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of my faith. I must as 1 Corinthians 9 says run in such a way as to get the prize. Today as get up and walk this road called life may I find myself doing so in Christ strength and with Him as my guide.

Father take my hand today and lead me along life's road so that I might go where you want me to go and do what you want me to do.

Leaping Like A Calf

Malachi 4:2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

If you have ever watched a calf leap around like a crazy animal than you can appreciate this verse. Really any animal that gets let out of it's cage or stall begins to do a little jigg upon release. There is something about freedom that gives way to joy and expression of that joy. Spiritual freedom should give us even more reason to celebrate, even more reason to be filled with joy. I know that the day I surrendered my life to Christ and sought forgiveness for my sin by accepting Christ sacrifice I was set free from my cage of sin. The freedom that has followed has been amazing. The joy that has followed is unmatched. Has it been easy? No there have been some very serious difficult times that have followed but the son of righteousness has always brought me through and given me even more reason to have joy. Today as I face whatever comes my way may I continue to fear the Lord and watch as He works out the details.

Father may I trust you in every situation. Thank you for setting me free through the sacrifice of Christ and allows me to experience a joy that cannot be matched apart from you.

Temporary or Eternal?

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Wow what a great verse as we are facing uncertain times today. Is it possible that God may have allowed this troubling time in order to bring us as believers back to a right relationship with Him and that through that others might see Christ at work in our lives again and desire to know Him more? Troubles will come and go, trials that may seem like an eternity are really only temporary, but the key is not what trouble may come but what result comes from being through one. During these difficult days we must as the verse says fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Those unseen things are what is eternal and obviously just as Hebrews 12 encourages us to do we must fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith. Do we really believe that God is in control? Do we really believe that God sees the bigger picture? Do we really believe that God has our best in mind? Our answers will be pivotal in determining our focus. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in God with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge God and He will direct our paths. Have we been leaning on our own understanding or trusting God? We cannot have it both ways. One is temporary the other eternal. Today may we choose to follow what is eternal.

Father give me eyes that see the eternal, give me a heart that desires to know you and willingness to trust you no matter the circumstances I find myself in today.

I Woke Up This Morning With My Mind Stayed On....

Psalm 5:3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice, in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

I have never been one that would dogmatically say that devotions should be done in the morning. However looking throughout scripture especially in Psalm and in Jesus life there is a definite pattern of seeking God in the morning. I personally dislike mornings, I guess you would say I am not a morning person. I used to use the excuse that I don't spend time with God in the morning because I can't think straight. But the real reason is cuz I want to sleep longer and be lazy. For me spending time with God in the morning is about sacrifice. It is hard for me to get up but I have never regreted getting up and spending time with God first thing in the morning. It is amazing to me how God throughout the day brings back to mind the things to which I read or heard in the morning. Honestly I feel better throughout the day at least mentally and spiritually when I do seek God in the morning. Whether I spend time with Him in the morning or not, I must spend time with Him, our relationship depends on it and that relationship must be first and foremost in my life.

Father as we meet together this morning thank you for the reminder of how important it is that we meet. As we meet help me to grow in my love for you and desire to serve you. Throughout today may I meditate on you and what you have shown me this morning.

Out of This World

Proverbs 4:23-27 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Wow as I read this passage I am blown away at how difficult it is to live up to this exhortation. The world's influence is so unbelievable you can't go anywhere without being seemingly hit from every side. That is why practicing the actions of this verse are so important. However apart from God it is impossible to even be able to live up to this. But the Bible makes it clear that with Christ all things are possible and through His strength we can do all things. This is why pursuing God through a relationship is so vital to my life. Erwin Lutzer said, "Only when we are intoxicated with God will be inoculated against the world."

Father give me the desire to know you more and the determination to pursue you and the discipline to daily develop my relationship with you so that the world becomes less and less appealing and the influence of it becomes less and less.

Love and Marriage

I Corinthians 7:1-7 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Wow I think I just found one of my new favorite passages of scripture, just kidding. In our sex crazed society and world I am glad that Paul reminds us just as he did the sex crazed society of Corinth that sex is for marriage and marriage only. Sex is a gift from God that should be cherised and protected. Unfortunately in our culture like in Corinth sex was more of a commodity than a gift. Verse 3 challenges me to fulfill my marital duty to my wife. But what is that duty? First I believe that it means I need to be very aware of her needs and what I can do to meet those by asking her regularly how I am doing and then put action to my inquiry. Second for me it's not just having sex but learning to make love without ever getting to the bedroom, by dating my wife and helping her see that she is beautiful and noticed. Third by being what I need to be spiritually so that I can love her as Christ loved the church. Fulfilling my marital duty to my wife is a privelege and great responsibility, one that brings honor to her and honor to God.

Father help me to fulfill my marital duty to my wife not because its just something I should do but because I long to obey you and grow in my love for you. As I fall more in love with you help me to fall more in love with my wife.

Get Your Cloths On

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. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Each morning I get up and get ready to go about my day, one of the key essentials to that process is getting my cloths and then putting them on, because the alternative is not an option for so many reasons. As a believer it is absolutely important that I cloth myself with Christ each day. That I put on Christ through spending time in the Word, prayer and other practices that the Bible makes clear should be put on as well. However where the rubber meets the road is whether or not I allow these practices to impact the way I live my life. The Bible exhorts us to not only be listeners to the Word but we must put it into action. Here in lies the problem. So often I allow "time constraints" or some other excuse to keep me from getting clothed spiritually each morning. As a result I face my day naked, exposed. As I face the challenges of that day my mind is not thinking about what the Word says and how to live it, but rather what I think and how I am going to live and without fail, I fail.

Father give me the determination and discipline each day to cloth myself with you. Help me each day to cloth myself with you so that I might face the challenges of each day depending on you and your strength and not my own.

Love is In the Air

Ephesians 5:25-33

I love and dislike this passage simply because as I find it to be absolutely true I struggle in living up to it's instruction. I love this passage because very simply Paul instructs us to love our wives unconditionally. No where in the passage does it give room for feelings or circumstances another words it does not say love if you are loved, love if you feel like it or if your wife does something in return. However I find it interesting that most men focus on the last part of the last verse, "Wives respect your husbands." It's as if we put this as the qualifier for love, well if she would respect me then I will love her. What a terrible way to look at this passage. My wife should respect me because that is what the Bible instructs her to do but it does not say that I should love her because she respects me. I guarantee that if I love my wife as is described in this passage then respect will come so much easier for my wife as well as many other benefits. The problem is I am selfish and want it my way and my theme song becomes Frank Sinatra's hit "I Did It My Way." I want something in return for my hard work and instead of looking to God for that return I look to things around me, like sex for example. We should love whether we get anything in return from this life or not because that is how Jesus loved the church. My motivation for loving my wife should not be her, or the return but rather just simple obedience to Christ.

Father teach me to love my wife as you loved the church. May I learn each day to love her without expecting something in return. May my love for you grow and may that love cause me to love my wife more each day.

Finding Significance in Creation

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." As you follow the account of the creation story we know that God created everything in six days. Each day the Bible records that He spoke and whatever He spoke came to be, animals, plants, solar system, etc.... But as I was studying the creation account I could not help but notice the difference between how God created humanity and how he created everything else. Everything came as a result of God speaking and it came to be with the exception of man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 2:19) But the creation of man and woman was different. Genesis 2:7 says that God formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed into him life and man became a living soul. Also when He created woman we caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and performed surgery on him by taking a rib and then formed woman (Genesis 2:22). The word formed or made means to squeeze into shape. It carries with it the idea of a potter carefully squeezing and molding a lump of clay to make a masterpiece. I think its safe to assume that God got His hands dirty and created humanity. But before you go off and say something like well He also formed the animals so how r we different? The answer lies in the last part of verse 7, "He breathed into man the breath of life and man became a living soul." God not only formed us but gives us the breath of life that only human beings have, sorry all dogs don't go to heaven. But as you think about this I find great value in knowing God created us with His own hands and to me that means God looks on us with great love and value. Before you go all skeptic on me and say well this applies great to Adam and Eve but not me maybe you should read Psalm 139. You are loved and loved so much that God created you to be with Him, to have a relationship with Him.

Long Time No Write

Hey hope you all have a had a great week. I have not been able to write because we just got back from spending a week in Georgia with our middle school students (you guys rock, ILOVEU). We served a ministry called "Hope for the Inner City" check out their myspace in "my friends". Hope is a ministry to inner city youth, children and adults. They are driven by their passion to reach the physical needs of people who are desperately in need of spiritual healing and through these avenues share Christ in many ways. One of things that stood out to be was right of the bat was how off my rural upbringing causes me to fear the inner city and completely misjudge them. What I found was that they are much like me, needy, longing for acceptance, desiring to know God. They were loving, compassionate, considerate. I was throughly impressed with the kids and youth as they would open doors for each other, say things like "Yes Mam or Sir", full of life and passion. I want to encourage you to pray for the inner city of Chattanooga and pray for Hope as they bring the good news of Christ to that area and abroad. Love in Christ, PJ

Our Lives Profess.....

Read Isaiah 12:1-6 Today we are going to look at how we profess through our lives that Jesus is Lord. The first profession of our lives is found in verse 1 in the word praise. Praise according to Webster means an expression of approval, commendation, or admiration. There are lots of ways in which we praise Jesus Christ. Probably the most used is through song. However we also praise Him through our lifestyle in the way we live, act and react. We can praise Jesus through our talk about Him and what He has done in our lives. We praise Him through excellence in our work or in the use of our talents. Does your life praise Jesus Christ? Does your life in a sense sing the praise of our great King? Do your actions and reactions praise Him? Does the reflection of your work (homework) praise Jesus Christ? Father may we praise you all day long in everyway with our very lives.

Worldly Thinking

Read James 4:7-10

 

We have been looking at humility in light of our view of God and man.  Also we have seen humility demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ and how our attitude should reflect Christ’s.  Today we are going to see how humility overcomes worldly thinking.  Worldly thinking is all about self-centeredness; humility is all about others centered.  Specifically in this verse our humility should turn us toward God and away from the world.  The worlds pull is so strong, temptation is all around us and we must be willing to resist it or succumb to it.    The way that we resist temptation is humility, made real through drawing near to God.  How do we draw near to Him?  Through prayer, devotions and just spending time with God.  That takes humility because it is not natural for us to pursue after God.  We must be willing to say no to our desires and say yes to God.  Listen either your pride will keep you from God, or humility will draw you close to Him.  Which will you strive for in your life?  Understand it’s not just a one time decision, it’s an everyday decision, because everyday we are faced with temptation and the lure of the world. 

 

Father humble us so that we might pursue a relationship with you.  God may the lure of the world not attract us more than you. 

Attitude Check

Read Philippians 2:5-11

 

We have been studying what humility is all about.  We have looked at true humility before God and men.  Now let’s look at the greatest example of humility, Jesus Christ.  Verses 6-8 gives us the description of Christ’s humility.  Jesus is God and Jesus became a man, but not just any man he became as one who was the lowest of class and reputation.  Jesus became a man to do what verse 8 describes.  He became a man to die on a cross for our sin.  We celebrate His becoming human at this time of the year.  What an incredible truth that Jesus was born to die.  He gave his life so that we can have life and have life to the fullest.   Jesus true example of humility is one that all of us must follow according to verse 5.  We should have the same attitude of Christ which is described in the above verses.  What’s your attitude like?  Would you be willing to humble yourself like Christ? 

 

Father thank you for the example of your Son, give us the same attitude that He demonstrated for us.

"Tolerance"

Read Ephesians 4:2 Humility reveals itself through many avenues. So far we have seen it show up in our view of God and others. We also saw how humility reveals itself through child-like faith. Today we are going to look at humility revealed through our tolerance of others. Now today tolerance is a huge word basically today it refers to accepting anyone and everyone no matter what they do with the exception of Christians. In this passage it is called “bearing with”, which refers to continual love for others that is unconditional. Another words I should love others no matter who they or what they do. You may say how is this different then tolerance today. The difference is that in tolerance they want you to overlook the sin issues and just put up with it, in “bearing with” you cannot out of love look over the sin issues. If you really love someone you will warn them about something they are doing that could potentially hurt them. For example if my son is playing in the street and I see a car coming, I don’t just sit there and say oh look a car is coming and its going to hit my son, but I don’t want to interrupt the fun he is having. How ridiculous is that, of course I am going to warn him of the impending danger that is coming his way. Humility is shown in how we “bear with” because it must take a person who is not haughty or stuck up to approach a person in love. Is there someone in your life that out of humility you need to confront in love. Listen there life may depend on your wiliness to let go of your pride and do the right thing. Father give us strength to bear with others in love.

Child Like Faith

Read Matthew 18:1-4 First of all we must have a right view of who God is and our relationship to Him. That our relationship with God is not based on what we have done but what God has done for us through Christ. Second we must have a right view of our relationship to others. We must be willing to put others needs before our own even those who we might not consider valuable or important. In this passage Jesus disciples ask Him who is the greatest in the kingdom. What an interesting question, one must ask what was their motivation in asking this question. I believe they were hoping to hear that they were the greatest because they were following Christ. But Jesus pulls a child over in front of all of them and tells them they must humble themselves and become like a little child in order to even enter the kingdom of Heaven. Think about this children do not care about whose the greatest or the most powerful like adults would. Children have so much faith based on what they know and hear. A child’s faith is simple not based on a bunch of do’s and don’ts but just simply on faith. To be great in God’s kingdom simply means that you have child like faith and truly believe in Jesus Christ. Are you seeking to be great in the kingdom by what you do, stop, be great by being who you ought by trusting in Christ with child-like faith. Father give us child-like faith so that we may be great in your eyes.

Eternal Focus

Read 1 Timothy 6:3-19

 

Today as we finish our look at stewardship of the money entrusted to us, let’s look at verse 19.  Paul tells Timothy to tell those with money to store up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come.  What perspective is he sharing here?  Paul is talking about having an eternal focus.  The phrase store up actually could be said amassing a treasure, what treasure?  The treasure of knowing that you have done what you could on this earth for eternity.  As we look at stewardship of money we must understand that our money has been given us for the purpose of building the kingdom of God.  So often we use our money for worldly things and please do not misunderstand me, we must pay our bills and cloth ourselves, but how often do we invest our money into eternal things.  Organizations, missionaries, church or other similar things that being used for eternity and building the kingdom of God.  Statistics say that only about 6% of Christians give to the church or missions organizations, that is sick.  Could you imagine what could be done if 100% of Christians gave.  When you think about your wallet what do you give the majority of your money to, worldly things or eternal things?

 

Father help us to see the need to give as you would direct us to give.

Can't Buy Happiness

Read 1 Timothy 6:3-19

 

We have been looking at stewardship and specifically stewardship of our money.  Today I want us to focus on verse ten.  So often when people read this verse they come away saying that money is the root of all evil.  But that is not what the verse is saying at all.  Money is not the root of all evil.  The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil which results in rejecting Christ and a life of sorrow.  Just think about it, the desire for money can cause all kinds of problems.  Many fathers spend countless hours at work for money.  Many teens today work and go to school and do this and that and are extremely stressed because they have to have money.  Listen money is not the problem; it is the love of money that is the problem.  You can say money will buy you happiness and that may be true but as we found out yesterday that those who pursue happiness through money will only find themselves wanting more and that wanting will lead to a life of sorrows.  We must be very careful in our handling of money because life a wild fire it can spread so quickly into our minds that money will solve all of my problems.  If I just have more than I can…..  

 

Father help us to see the futility in thinking that money can buy true happiness.

Money, Money, Moneeeeeey

Read 1 Timothy 6:3-19

 

We have begun to look at stewardship and specifically stewardship of our money.  Stewardship as you recall begins with the understanding that none of what we have is ours but is God’s and that our call is to take care of what God has given.  Now that really flies in the face of what our world teaches that you earn your buck and that this money is yours to do with however you see fit.  That is not the way it is in God’s economy.  The only reason you have a job or your parents have a job is because God has made it happen.  Just like that God can unmake it.  If we depend on our job to get us through then when it falls out from under us we are left desolate.  However, if we put our faith and trust in God then when those times of uncertainty come we have a solid rock to stand on.  Today let’s look at verse nine.   Paul address those who want to get rich warns them that with that pursuit comes many dangers.  He does not specifically say what dangers, but he does say that this pursuit will bring many temptations and lusts.  Lust is a very difficult thing to combat and here is refers to the desire to have more.  When you get a taste for something it is very hard to stop eating.  Money or wealth is not the problem the problem is ourselves.  Are you pursuing material things in your life, be careful that you do not fall into the desire to have more, a desire that can never be fulfilled.

 

Father thank you for giving to us your Word, help us to understand the danger of pursuing money or wealth.  Give us understanding to see when that pursuit is a problem in our lives.

Taking Care of What We Have

Read 1 Timothy 6:3-19

 

This month we are going to be looking at stewardship, specifically stewardship of our money, time and opportunities.  Today we begin looking at stewardship through the eyes of Paul as he is writing to Timothy.  Let’s focus today on verses 6-7.  Often when it comes to money we seem to never have enough.  For the poor they always are trying to get more and for the rich they are also always trying to get more.  Stewardship of money begins with the understanding that there is much more to life than money.  That godliness is the true pursuit of believers.  That is why Paul can write godliness with contentment is great gain.  Why because instead of someone pursuing wealth or money, they are pursuing godliness.  Verse seven gives the reason why godliness is more important because we will not take any money with us when we die.  A country artist puts it this way, “I have never seen a luggage rack on a hearse.”  Stewardship is about taking care of what you do have not about what you do not have.  Stewardship of money then becomes a pursuit of godliness.  Another way to say godliness is “God likeness”.  Another words in relationship to money what would Jesus do?   Stewardship begins with understanding that nothing you have is really yours but has been entrusted to you by God.  God wants you to take care of the things He has blessed you with in order to become more like Him.

 

Father help us to understand that everything we have is a gift from you and may that motivate us to take care of those things.

Who or What is Lord of Your Life?

Read Hebrews 1:1-12

 

Today let’s go back to where we began and take a similar yet different look at this passage.  As you read through this passage look for all the ways the author describes Jesus Christ, phrases like heir of all things, brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person and so on.  According to Webster the word Lord means:  master, ruler, supreme being.  I wonder can any of things said in this passage be said about any other person ever throughout history.  Think about how awesome that is that no one throughout all of the history of men is their one who all of this can be said of except Christ.  Wow what an awesome God we serve.  Jesus is Lord because no one in the history of men can compare to our great King and Savior Jesus Christ.  How is this passage different to you since we have been looking at Jesus as Lord? 

 

Father thank you for the picture of Christ today that you have given us, help us to honor Him as Lord today.

Jesus Lord Over Creation

Read Hebrews 1:1-12

 

As we continue to look at the Lordship of Christ we need to look at verse 8-9.  Look closely at what the author rights actually quotes from Psalm 45.  Here the writer of Hebrews is clearly establishing the supremacy of Christ over creation.  This vital because for Jesus to be the one true Lord He must be supreme to His creation.   Those who would attribute Lordship to Jesus Christ are His creation.  Jesus has been anointed as the one who is ruler over all creation.  To often what happens is that the created becomes greater than the creator.  Lordship is given to created things rather than to Jesus.  This is why it is important to understand that Jesus is supreme over creation.  We must be careful in our lives not to give created things to much of a place in our lives.  However often it is those things that control the vast majority of our time, money and energy.  Are things more important to you than your relationship with Christ?  As Lord of your life, He is to be over those things.

 

Father it amazes me how easily I put things before you and let them take up my time, money and energy.  Give me strength and the determination to put you first and allow the things of my life to take a back seat to you.

Jesus Role in the Trinity: Lord of My Life?

Read Hebrews 1:1-12

 

We began looking at the Lordship of Christ by looking at how Jesus is able to be called Lord.  One of things that is very important is to understand Jesus position in heaven.  While it is true that Jesus is God, it is also true that He serves a different function then the Father or Holy Spirit.  In verse three we find out that He is seated at the right hand of the Father.  The right hand is the place of power, authority and honor.  In verse four we find that He is greater than the angles and given a name that is more excellent.  That name is Lord and no angel has that name.  How can Jesus be Lord, because He has been given the place of power, authority and the name that is above every name.  Question is there any other name that is more important than Jesus in our lives?  What do I mean?  Is someone in your life more important than Jesus, if so He is not Lord of your life. 

 

Father help us to see the real Jesus and to understand His desire to be Lord of our life.

Jesus The One and Only

Read Hebrews 1:1-12 This week we will be looking at the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We will look at how He is Lord, Why He is Lord and what ways we confess Him as Lord of our lives. Today we begin by looking at how is Jesus Christ Lord. Well as you read through this passage look for all the ways the author describes Jesus Christ. Phrases like heir of all things, brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person and so on. According to Webster the word Lord means: master, ruler, Supreme Being. I wonder can any of the things said in this passage be said about any other person ever throughout history. Think about how awesome that is that no one throughout all of the history of men is their one who all of this can be said of except Christ. Wow what an awesome God we serve. Jesus is Lord because no one in the history of men can compare to our great King and Savior Jesus Christ. Father thank you for the picture of Christ today that you have given us, help us to honor Him as Lord today.

Compassion for Those Less Fortunate

Read Luke 14:7-12

 

Today we wrap up our beginning looks at humility through two parables of Jesus Christ.  In the first we saw humility in light of our relationship with God.  In this parable we see humility in light of our relationship with others.  As we examined the first half of this parable we found that Jesus specifically addresses putting others needs before our own.  In the second half he addresses just whose needs we ought to be putting before our own.  Look at verse 13 Jesus gives four different types of people, the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind.  Jesus says don’t just invite your friends and family invite people who will not be able to repay you.  How often are we aware of those around us who are in very terrible positions?  How often do we do what we can to help meet the needs of these individuals?  

 

Father help us to have a heart of compassion for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.  Give us opportunity to be a blessing to them in whatever way you see fit.

Putting Others First

Read Luke 14:7-12

 

Today we are going to look at a different parable that Jesus gave.  We finished looking at the two men who went before God.  Now we are going to look at humility before men through this great parable.  Let’s look at the first part of this parable.  Jesus had been invited to a dinner party.  The people were coming in and sitting at the most important places at the table.  Jesus then shares with them a parable (earthly story with a heavenly meaning).   In a nut shell He basically tells them that when you go to a dinner party don’t rush to sit in the best of seats but let others go before you and choose.  Then you take what is left.  The second principle of humility is putting others needs before your own.  In this case allowing everyone to get a seat before you sit down.  True humility is shown when you can put others before yourself.  How are you at doing that?  How about at home with your brothers or sisters or parents?  When you go somewhere do you look to see if everyone’s needs are being met or do you just pay attention to your own and not worry about others. 

 

Father help us to see that humility is putting others before ourselves.  Give us the opportunities to put others before ourselves in order to practice humility.