All Your Worries

Good Morning,

1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

Question of the day: What cares, anxieties, worries, or concerns are you carrying on your shoulders today? Okay, there's more than one question today. Here's another: Why are you carrying those cares, anxieties, worries, or concerns when we receive clear and concise direction from God, through these words we read in First Peter, that we ought to give them to God?

I would ask that all of us take these questions seriously and spend time in prayer and meditation to find out what it is that keeps us from being obedient to the direction given in this verse of Scripture. I would suggest that we listen to what the Holy Spirit would tell us concerning our carrying around useless worries and concerns and anxieties that interfere in our lives in, sometimes, a huge way.

Is it easy to simply rid ourselves of these thoughts, feelings and emotions? Nope. It certainly isn't. Is it possible to do it? Yes. However, more than likely we will not be able to do it on our own and in our own power. No, we will need God's help, for sure, and often the help and love from a brother or sister in Christ in order to get it done.

Is it worth the effort and time it will take to obey what Peter has written for us? Oh, yes! No matter what it takes, if we can simply rid ourselves of our cares by giving them over to a God who loves us enough to take them from us, the life we can live will be so very much more than one lived carrying around unnecessary burdens.

We aren't meant to live under the pressure and strain of worry, concerns, and anxieties. We are meant to live a life filled with God's love and, therefore, sharing that love with others.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Train To Be Godly

Good Morning,

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

I read this verse today and it struck me just how much time, effort, and money is spent on "physical training [that] is of some value." My mind recalled all of the gyms and fitness centers that I've seen as I have traveled about in my daily life, something that I'm sure you have seen, as well. I couldn't help but smile at how much some of us put into our bodies, but yet, perhaps, at the cost of our spiritual well being...Godliness.

There's not a lot to say about these verses of Scripture. Paul tells us through these words that we ought to "train yourself to be godly." He does mention that being physically fit does have some value...in this world...but that "godliness has value for all things" and then goes on to remind us that our training in godliness, the spiritual things, has "promise for both the present life and the life to come."

Okay, I'm NOT going to say that we all ought to give up any kind of physical fitness and training and spend 100% of our time on only spiritual things. That would be silly and, I would have to say, unproductive. Most of us, I think, could actually use more time and effort on our physical well being. I know I'm among those who need it, that's for sure. What I AM saying is that for many of us, maybe even too many of us, we are too focused on the physical and not any where near enough focused on the spiritual.

Paul gives us some good advice here. We ought to take it.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Volunteer

Good Afternoon,

1 Timothy 6:7-8 (NIV)
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

I have just returned from our monthly volunteering at Angel Food Ministries (http://www.angelfoodministries.com/). I knew that I got up late today and didn't have time to sit down this morning and peruse Scripture to see what God might have me send along, so I also knew that I would have to do it when we got home...that's now. I also know why God had me dawdle a bit this morning and not have the time I felt necessary to send out the daily message.

This verse from 1 Timothy is very revealing and puts God's word into my mind with a reality that I would not have felt had I not been where I was today. Yeah, that sentence is a bit convoluted, but, well, it speaks my heart and mind.

You see, there's nothing more humbling than to be placed somewhere which puts you into direct dealings with those who are hungry and in need. That's where I was today. Those who read these words should fully understand Paul's words to Timothy. We are blessed to have food and clothing. There are those who are not.

Today I witnessed people who had very little. I saw people who obviously were not as well off as every single person who can read this message is. I witnessed people who were hungry. I met people who didn't have good clothes. I spent time with people who were truly in need. And, I was blessed to have been able to do just a little bit in perhaps easing some of their need. Not in a monetary way, but by being able to do something and to be there.

My friends, I am humbled this day. I have been shown, although I should have seen many times before now, just how blessed I am. God...today, for whatever reason...brought close to my heart and mind just how much He has give me and allowed me to help Him in a very small way. I can't even really express what God brought clearly to me today. But I know that I'm very, very pleased that He did.

Here's my point: When you have the opportunity to help out in feeding, clothing, housing, or otherwise helping those in need, do it. If you don't take your valuable time to physically go and help in some way, then you are missing one of the hugest blessings that God allows you to have. If all you do is to help with your checkbook, you are really missing the point. (Now, that doesn't mean that if you are financially able that you shouldn't write large checks! Because, YOU SHOULD!) But, the feelings and emotions and true blessings that you are being offered cannot come through giving only your money. No, the truest blessings come from the doing...even in small ways.

If for any reason you doubt what I'm saying today is true, then I challenge you to dirty your hands a bit and get out of your comfort zone and help. When you do, you will know the truth of being obedient to what Jesus has asked us to do and truly help His children.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

The Holy Spirit Helps Us

Good Morning,

Romans 8:26 (NIV)
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.

I know that there are many who, like me, often find themselves at a loss for words when trying to pray. Well, we have certain hope and can have total confidence that we have someone who understands and will speak up for us when we just don't know what to say or how to say it. God tells us today that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us during these times when we simply do not have the words to communicate our deep and true needs and desires in our prayers.

I can't think of a better or more powerful voice than that of the Holy Spirit of God to speak for me when all I can do is to cry out, weep, and be totally unable to articulate what is in my heart. This is, truly, one of the mysteries and wonders of God, I think. The fact that God, Himself, His Holy Spirit, would be there for me...for you and for all of His children...when we most need Him: in our time of deep prayer.

Today God wants us all to remember, or maybe even to know for the first time, that we are not alone in our prayers, even when we are physically alone in our prayer closet...the Holy Spirit is with us. God wants us to know that even when we cannot find the words to express our deepest needs...the Holy Spirit will speak to the Father for us. God wants us to know that even when all we can do is to cry, weep, moan, and babble like little babies...the Holy Spirit is there and completely understands those deep prayers that we don't even understand.

God wants us to know that the Holy Spirit never rests, never sleeps, and is always with us in our prayer time. Always!

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Anger

Good Morning,

James 1:19-20 (NIV)
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

I read these words and they caused me to bow my head and begin to ask forgiveness for the many ways and many times that I've not been obedient to what James so clearly tells us in these verses. Quick to listen? Not me so much in my life. Slow to speak? Well, those of you who know me fairly well can attest that I don't have a problem with letting people know my opinion on things. Slow to become angry? I wish! But, I'm one of those "hot heads" who sees what I consider a wrong and my anger flairs immediately...if not sooner! All right, I've confessed. How about you?

God is telling us clearly, through James' pen, advice that every one of us needs to take to heart and begin to work on. There's a saying that goes something like, "God gave us two ears and one mouth. I would guess that means He wants us to listen twice as much as talk." I think that pretty much says what James writes, don't you? Quick to listen is pretty difficult sometime when we're not agreeing with what's being said. Sometimes it's tough even when we DO agree, if, perhaps, we don't care for the way it's being said. I thought about this and wondered how one is "quick to listen." I think it's simply going on to the next thing we read...slow to speak. We all know, I'm sure, that we cannot listen as long as our mouths are talking. So, if we are slow to speak then I guess it stands to reason that we'll be quick to listen. Makes sense, doesn't it?

The last part of these verses is for many of us the most difficult. Yes, we can...with some effort...keep our ears open and our mouths shut, so as to be obedient to God's command in these verses. But, slow to anger? When we see all of the things that we observe as we go about our daily business? I get angry too easily, I'm sure, and I know that I'm not alone in this. I read the newspaper and see things that I get angry about. I hear something on the radio and I get angry at that. Lord forbid I should watch television because then I pretty much stay angry at so much of what's being broadcast about the goings on in the world. And that's when I watch ESPN!!! Imagine if I were to put on CNN or Fox News!!!

Yes, it's difficult for us to get a handle on our anger. We justify by saying that it's a "righteous" anger. But, um, let's read verse 20 here. "For a man's anger does NOT bring about the RIGHTEOUS LIFE that God desires." Uh, oh. There goes my "righteous anger" argument. Our anger simply does not please God. It's as straight forward as that. Now, one might ask, "Okay, David, then how, exactly, do I get a handle on my anger?" You know, if I had an easy answer to that, I'd use it myself! No, there is no easy answer to that one, I'm afraid. I believe that it's only by God's grace in our lives, the help of the Holy Spirit, and the assistance of our Christian brothers and sisters that many of us will be able to rid ourselves of the anger we often feel. I certainly know that I can't do it on my own.

Of course, there are times when we SHOULD be angry at something. Certainly there are things that happen where our anger is justified. Even Jesus got angry from time to time as we read in various places in the Gospels. Those kinds of things aren't what we're speaking to this day. It's that anger which means very little, and often nothing at all, that we really need to get a handle on and, simply put, stop.

If you are among those...like me...who have a problem with getting angry easily at things you can do nothing about and really don't amount to much, please, go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to help. Ask your accountability partner, good friends, pastors, spouses, even children, to gently remind you when your anger is inappropriate and not under control. We can't do it alone, I know. Let us help one another.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Where's Your Head?

Good Morning,

Philippians 4:8 (NASB)
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Whenever a verse of Scripture comes across my "desk" more than once in a day or two, I believe that's a sure sign that it's to be placed before all of us; that it's my job to put it out there for all of us to read.

That's what has happened today. I received one e-mail yesterday that contained this verse and then the first one I opened this morning also contained this verse. So, I'm doing my job here, even though I know that we've spoken about this verse many times over the years of this ministry.

I would venture to say that this verse is more than extremely important to us...ALL of us. No matter what denomination we belong or what congregation we choose to worship in, these words speak loudly and clearly to every one of us. This verse begs the question, "Where is your mind today?" and also, "What have you been thinking of in the recent past?" God is speaking to us through this verse of Scripture and it is He who asks these questions of us. I wouldn't hesitate to say that when He asks us these kinds of questions, well, we need to take the time to examine ourselves and go directly to Him with our answers.

One of the messages I received which contained this verse concerned secular music. The question was asked if it was okay to listen to secular music and if it was the mind and heart of the writer of such music or the mind and heart of the listener that was more important. Sort of that chicken and the egg sort of thing. Of course, both are important, but in my mind it's the listener's mind and heart that is more on point of the questions we ask today. That's because we're told that we ought to be dwelling on, focusing on, thinking about, and meditating on (all of these words are from different translations of this verse) that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise. If our minds and hearts are about these things, then we are being obedient to what God wants of us.

I'm not going to go into any specific music, films, television, radio, or any other media where our minds might wander or be focused on. I believe that we're all mature enough in our Christianity to understand what should and should not occupy our minds and time. What we're to do...today and every day...is to weigh what our hearts and minds dwell on and where our time is spent. Then, of course, we're to make adjustments in our lives in order for us to be obedient to what God is saying to us.

One last point. PAY ATTENTION!!! Often what we see, hear, and read...those places our minds sort of wander off to...are not purposeful on our part. Often what our minds go to is somewhat accidental because of where we might be at some particular point in time through no fault of our own. So, we must pay close attention to that which is going on around us. Then, if we find that there's something that we ought not to see, hear, or read we need to remove ourselves from that situation. Therefore, the PAY ATTENTION!!! admonition.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Love and Faithfulness

Good Morning,

Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV)
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

"The Wisdom of Solomon." We've heard that saying over and over for all our lives. It's something that's said by many people, not just us "church goers". Now, those of us who believe in God and know that the Bible is His instruction book, His basic book of what to do...and NOT to do, we know that it was God who gave Solomon the wisdom that we find, especially in Proverbs.

Love and faithfulness. Toward God and toward our fellow man. Should we embrace those and live them out, then, we will have what we call "character" that will be seen and known, as we read, by both God and people.

God advises us that we should hold to love and faithfulness and never let them leave us. That we should "bind them around" our necks and "write them on the tablets" of our hearts. I would imagine that all of us who read these words would know and understand that already. But, I would also guess that we need to be reminded of this from time to time. There are times when things are difficult for us in some way that we might forget about the love and faithfulness that we have had in our lives, both given by us and also that we've received.

So, at the risk of being too brief, let's just read these verses and allow them to speak into our minds and hearts and our very being.

Love and faithfulness. A life lived with this truly etched on our hearts will be a life well worth living.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Act Like Jesus?

Good Morning,

John 8:1-11 (NIV)
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

We know that as Christians, those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that we are supposed to do all we can to act as much like Jesus as we can. We have the popular "WWJD" bracelets, T-shirts, and the like being worn and seen in many places. But, here's the tough question now, do we really act like Christ?

I'd like us all to put ourselves, individually, into a situation where someone in one of our congregations, some woman or man it doesn't matter which, is caught in an outright act of adultery. That is, he or she is seen with someone who isn't a spouse leaving a motel room, or some other evidence equally as damning and unexplainable. Okay. Got that? Now, I want each of us to stop a moment and think about what it is we would do when that person is confronted with this evidence and is accused openly of an act of adultery. What, really, would you do? What, honestly, would I do?

Unfortunately, what we most often see...and it borders on 100% of the time...is that we, like the Pharisees of those thousands of years ago, would condemn and ostracize such a one, wouldn't we? Be honest now. We've all been involved in some situation or other in our congregations where someone was "caught" in some sinful act or other. After all, our congregations are filled with people, not angels from heaven! So, I know, without any doubt, that every one of us has been exposed to something at least akin to the woman caught in adultery that we read in today's Scripture verses. Think now, what happened? What did people say? What did people do? How was this person treated? How was this person thought of?

All right...Now, what we learn from our reading is that Jesus did NOT condemn this woman. Not at all. What He did was to gently tell this woman that He, now let's not forget exactly WHO Jesus is here, He did not condemn her or ostracize her in any way. God didn't condemn her. No, He just advised her to "Go now and leave your life of sin."

So, back to the original premise of what we're talking about today. We KNOW what Jesus would do if He were here today and someone even in this day and age were caught up in some kind of sinful behavior or other. After all, we read EXACTLY what He DID do in a similar situation, don't we? So, now we need to examine ourselves and our congregations to see if we are acting like Jesus would when we face something similar.

Act like Jesus? Or, act like other, worldly, "normal" human beings?

Which will it be?

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Glory

Good Morning,

Romans 8:18 (NIV)
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

When I read this verse of Scripture I realize that I, unlike many millions of people on this planet, have a promise that I can rely upon and that those who don't know the Lord simply do NOT have. There will come the day, the time, when the glory that we experience will far outweigh any suffering or pain that we experience while we live this human existence. Maybe, and this is my own personal thinking here, just maybe, those who suffer and hurt the most will reap and know the greatest glory.

Yesterday we spoke of the promises that God has given us concerning His plans and purposes in our lives. The fact that He HAS plans for us and that one reason Jesus came to this earth was so that we would have life to the fullest. As we said yesterday, though, even with these promises from God, that doesn't mean we won't have to face trials, troubles, suffering, pain, and difficulty in our lives.

Today we read yet another of God's wonderful promises. That, of course, is the fact that what awaits will wipe out all of those trials, troubles, sufferings, pains, and difficulties we might be facing...even today.

Simply put, let's not forget that what we go through now is temporary and passing. The reward that awaits is eternal...forever.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

God's Plans

Good Morning,

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
John 10:10 (NIV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

We all face difficult times and troubling circumstances in our lives. There comes a time in everyone's life when we wonder about the "why" of it all and begin to question God about what is going on in our lives. There are those of us who read these words who are probably having problems and tough circumstances in our lives right at this very moment. It happens all the time and, unfortunately, it seems like these things happen too often.

Okay, first I want to say that I have no idea WHY God allows things to happen in our lives. That's not for me to know or fully understand. I DO know that often we are allowed to face tough times because after we've lived and learned through those times then we can help others who face the same or similar situations. But, I know that's not always the reason that bad things happen to good people.

In Jeremiah we read that God said, "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Yes, today...or in the past...we might be going through difficulties and even extreme difficulties, but we've got to remember that God DOES have a plan for each of us and it is a plan for good. We also have to remember that He also said, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." This, my friends, is so very, very important to remember. We have to call on God and continue to pray to Him. He IS listening when we pour out our hearts. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." This, I think is a key. We have to seek God with ALL WE HAVE! With all our hearts. THEN we will find Him.

Now, we know what God said in Jeremiah. Let's not forget what Jesus told us about our lives.

Some of the reasoning of the troubles we have are because of the enemy, the thief, who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy." You see, some of our problems are caused because we listen to that siren's song of the devil and go places, do things that are NOT of God...and then we have to face the consequences. I'm not saying that ALL troubles come in this way, but many do. We sometimes bring it on ourselves by our own actions which give a sliver of entry for the enemy to come in and do what it is he does...steal, kill, and destroy.

HOWEVER...Jesus came so that we "may have life, and have it to the full." The exact opposite of what the devil does, you see. Jesus tells us with His words that He came so that the plans God told us about in Jeremiah could be and would be fulfilled. Jesus telling us about having life to the full is the same as God telling us that He has plans to prosper us, give us hope, and give us a future.

These two verses are so very closely related, I feel. At least they are speaking to me today to tell me that the hard times we face are only temporary and that Jesus promises us a full life that will be according to God's plans for us.

So, when the times we face get difficult, let's not forget God's promises!

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Legacy

Good Morning,

1 John 2:17 (NIV)
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Many...if not most...of us work hard and save for all our lives. One of the reasons we do this, for a lot of us the main reason we do this, is in order that we can leave behind things and money for our children so that they might enjoy the things that are available in this world. I guess there's nothing wrong in this, but a thought that came into my mind after reading today's Scripture was: Wouldn't it be better to leave behind a Godly legacy rather than all the riches of the world?

John tells us clearly that those things we work for and put back...for ourselves or our children...will not last. "The world and its desires pass away." Couldn't be any clearer, could it? All of what we have, as far as "creature comforts" and things of the world, truly NOT last. "But the man who does the will of God lives forever."

Yes, those who are like this...those who do the will of God in their lives on this planet...will truly live forever with the Lord in heaven. We know that and we are assured of that by what we hear directly from the mouth of the Savior. Our salvation is assured and we have the peace of understanding where we will spend eternity.

However, there is another way in which we live forever. That is in the legacy we leave here on earth when we join God in heaven. You see, "The man who does the will of God," will truly live forever in the hearts and minds of his family, friends, the people he touches as he passes through this human life.

I guess that's what is tantamount in my mind and heart this morning. Thinking about what I've done that will be considered "the will of God" is, to me, extremely important. Perhaps the most important thing in my life. Thinking about how I may have meant something in the lives of people as I reached out and did what I did truly humbles me. This...this idea of legacy, a Godly legacy...should be of utmost importance in all of our lives. What we've done and how we've lived will determine the legacy we leave behind. For those fortunate enough to understand being God loving, God fearing, and Godly people, then what we've done...large or small...will have been more than important in the lives of many.

Stop a while today and think about the legacy you will leave behind. For some of us, well, we'll not be overjoyed at that look back. And what I know about that is the fact that it is NEVER too late to begin DOING the will of God and, therefore, living forever both in heaven and in the minds of people on this earth.

Please join me in prayer:

"Lord, please, help me today...and every day hereafter...to live a life that is in your will and to do that which you would have me to do. Let people be touched by me in such a way that they would know I am doing your will and attempting to accomplish your purpose on this earth. Father, please, lift me up and help me to leave a legacy that will please you and that will be pleasant in the minds and hearts of those who have known me. I pray this in Jesus' precious name. Amen."

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Divorce...Prayer Request

Good Morning,

Malachi 2:16 (NIV)
"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty.
So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

I don't even know how to begin today. You see, I am extremely sad and my heart is being broken. In one day I have had news that there are three couples who are having marital problems and that splits in those marriages may very well occur. It's hard even to sit here and type as the screen is blurred with my tears and my hands shake in grief even at the news of difficulties in the marriages of people that I love and care deeply about.

The enemy is attacking these people and I feel that the devil is trying to disrupt any relationship that he can.

So, rather than spend a lot of time today trying to send out all the reasons that we should NOT ever go into the courts to dissolve marriages, I would ask...PLEASE!...that everyone who reads these words just take some time today and pray. Pray hard! Pray long! Pray from your heart. Pray that ALL marriages for ALL of the people we know can be repaired if they are in any way broken. Pray that ALL marriages, all couples, will be filled with love and compassion and forgiveness for wrongs.

Please pray that these three couples that I know of directly, and that everyone who is right now facing difficulty in a marriage, pray that they will seek proper guidance. First from God and then from people who can help them get through these times of difficulty.

Pray, please. Join me in my prayers. Pray together with your spouses and loved ones. Pray with your individual congregations. Pray in your groups.

Be in agreement with Betty and I as we pray for these people we love so much. Help us to fill the heavens with our prayers and cries for God to come into their lives and put back together that which is coming apart.

Help me in my prayers, please.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

She Told Me To!

Good Morning,

Genesis 3:17 (NLT)
And to the man he said,
"Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it."

I guess we human beings just never learn, do we? Adam "went along" with a suggestion from Eve and the consequences of his actions have been felt by the earth ever since.

(As an aside, I'm sure that you notice another aspect of humanity by Adam when he said, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it." (vv 12) By using these words Adam was the first "finger pointer" as well as the first man. Good old Adam tried to put the blame off on Eve, of course, and even on God because it was God who gave him the woman! Pretty human, huh?)

Well, back to our point this morning. How often have you done something that you know wasn't quite right because another person sort of suggested that you do it? What have you looked at or read, knowing it was something you shouldn't be doing, because someone told you how good or cool it was? How many movies have you gone to or how much music have you listened to simply because of someone's recommendation? We've all done it. Me. You. Probably every human on the planet as some point has done something that in their hearts and minds they knew wasn't right...just because someone urged them to do it.

Eve gave Adam the fruit after the serpent (the devil) told her it was okay for her and nothing would happen because of it. “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” (vv 13) You see a pattern here? Everyone involved here going along with something they knew was wrong just because someone advised them it was all right. Oh, how weak and gullible we humans are.

Today, the consequences of our actions of doing something against God's will aren't as all consuming and long lasting as what Adam and Eve did, of course. But, those consequences CAN...and often DO...have a huge impact on the life of the person who does what it is he knows he shouldn't. And, of course, those consequences can also affect the lives of those around such a one. But, here's the thing of it all, our actions WILL HAVE consequences! Just as something dropped from a height will fall to the ground, so also shall what I do affect my life in some way. Just as there are laws in physics (gravity, for instance) there are laws in the living of life.

I guess that what we're being advised of today is that we take a long, hard look at what's being presented to us for us to take part in or do. You know, we DON'T have to go and see that movie the critics are raving about. We DON'T have to buy or listen to that latest, greatest band "everyone" is so excited about. There are many things that we just DON'T have to do that others say are cool or fun or exciting.

Deep inside we know. We know the right thing. We know the wrong thing. Let's make the right choices and put aside that which we know is wrong. Let's not be Eve or Adam and do something just because someone says we should.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Journal?

Good Morning,

Job 19:23-27 (NIV)
Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,
that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
or engraved in rock forever!
I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!

Do you journal? What I mean is, do you write down your thoughts during your quiet times with the Lord? Do you put your prayers and prayer requests down on paper (or, perhaps, type them into your computer word processor)? Do you have any record of what you've felt in your heart and mind and spirit? If you don't answer "Yes" to this query, maybe it's time that you consider doing it.

Job, it seems, didn't "journal" in any way and if I'm reading these words today correctly, he is kind of beating himself up a bit because of it. My mind clearly heard his voice today as he said, "Oh, that my words were recorded," and they brought to mind all of the words that I should have written down, but did not. All of those thoughts and feelings and prayers that I can no longer go back to when similar times come upon me.

Someone asked me this same question a couple of years ago. About journaling, I mean. My answer was "No, I don't." But then, the next morning when I sat in front of the computer screen and began to type the message that God had given me, I realized that maybe I did journal, write down those thoughts and feelings God gave to me, every day. The difference was, and what caused me to answer in the negative, was the fact that I sent along those words to other people and didn't keep them privately to myself. You see, I just didn't equate the two...journaling privately and sending out what I had been given...as the same thing. Of course, God showed me my error. If it were to happen today I guess I'd have to say, "Duh! What do you THINK you're doing?"

Our Scripture verses today tell us clearly that all of us ought to journal in some way. We really need to take the time to put our thoughts down in some written form or other. Um, I don't think the iron tool and lead would work today, but, hey...if it's good for you, go for it! Seriously, it is not only just good to write down what comes into our minds and what our feelings are, I think it's necessary; a real need in the life of all Christians, if it is physically possible to do it. And, for those who can read these words, it IS possible, of course.

I think that the most important part of journaling, writing down our thoughts and feelings, is the fact that when we spend time with God, read Scripture, and listen for the Holy Spirit to guide us, then the thoughts that we have are, very often, from God directly to us. Yes, that thought you had when you read your Bible was probably something to YOU from your creator, your heavenly Father.

Think about it, please. Take the few moments to write something down. Even if it's only a couple of words. It can be extremely important. It can also be life changing.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Guard Your Heart

Good Morning,

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
Matthew 6:20-22 (NIV)
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

At first glance these two sections of Scripture don't appear to be about the same thing. But, when I read Solomon's words in Proverbs this morning what Jesus said in Matthew immediately jumped into my mind. So, I figured that, truly, the verses we read today are closely related.

God tells us, through the pen on Solomon in Proverbs, that we are to "guard" our hearts for that is really where living a life of worth begins. Jesus tells us that whatever we place of most importance in this life we have, well, that will be where our hearts will be.

So, where, exactly are our hearts today? What is of most importance in our lives? Are we guarding hearts that are actually worth guarding?...In other words, have we placed some earthly things first in our lives and therefore have our hearts in the wrong place?

No long dissertation today. Nothing needs to be added to God's words today, other than the fact that we need to seek the Holy Spirit to come and show us where we are in regards to the verses we read this day.

Look at these words. Let them come into your mind. Allow God to speak and let you know exactly where your heart is. Once you find, or can put, your heart in the right place, then guard it so that the life that can spring from it will be worthy.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Heirs

Good Morning,

Romans 8:15-17 (NKJV)
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

I think, sometime, that we forget who we are. I mean, who we REALLY are. We lose track of the fact that once we realize who God is, who Jesus is, and then accept Him into our lives as Lord and Savior, then we do, truly, become God's children, and as we read today, heirs with Christ. That would be, heirs of the Kingdom of God. This fact...yes, IT IS a fact... seems very often to escape us and leave us feeling abandoned and alone. We are anything BUT abandoned and alone once we become a child of God.

As far as being children of God and heirs with Christ, well, that means that we have been adopted by God the Father, the creator of all things, the maker of the universe. That means we have a Dad, have always had a Dad, and always will have that very same Dad...Abba, Father. A loving, caring, feeling, and forgiving Father. More of all the good than any father could be here on this planet.

I share the joy of those who have had a father, a dad, who was always there for them and who always cared and showed love. I love to read about, and listen to, those stories of a wonderful dad who shared his life with his children and was always there for them. That is a wonderful thing and I feel honored to be able to share those feelings with those who have been so blessed. I also, on the other hand, commiserate with those who did not have such a parent. Who never really knew a dad who was all that a dad could be. Maybe a dad who was abusive or one who simply could not show love and maybe didn't eve have love in his heart. Remember, we are told, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." (Rom. 12:15)

However, let us never lose sight of the simple fact that we have been adopted into the family of God; adopted truly as children of the living God of the universe. THAT fact cannot be changed or altered. It simply is. It will always be.

So when we seem to have lost our place somehow, let's bring back into our minds that we are what God says we are...and He says that we are His children. We are heirs with Christ.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Tax Collectors and Sinners

Good Morning,

Luke 15:1-2 (NIV)
Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Let me ask you something. If you were seeking to do the work that all Christians are called to do...that would be to preach the good news and Jesus' Gospel message...who, exactly, would you want around you to listen? Wouldn't it seem logical that if you were to be seeking the lost to expose them to the Gospel, that you'd be AMONG the lost? So, taken the next step, wouldn't that mean you'd have to be associating with "the tax collectors and 'sinners'" in order to have your words heard by the right people? I guess the up to date answer to this would be, "Duh! Yeah! How else would they hear it?!"

But, too many of us are much like the Pharisees and teachers of Jesus' day. We avoid those "kinds" of people like the plague! Oh, we put up billboards that speak of the Gospel and we take out ads in newspapers and on the Internet to get people to come to our local congregations. But, oh, God forbid that we might be seen in the company of sinners and others considered the dregs of society...those people who MOST need to hear the message we've been charged to bring.

Then, again much like those Pharisee types of Jesus' time, we even sometimes look down on people who DO go out and try to bring the message to where it is needed. "How in the world can he (she) associate with those people?" we hear. "I would never go down there like her (him), that's for sure," we say.

So, something to think about today...If we don't go to the sinners, how will they hear the message?

You know, they AREN'T beating down the doors of our church houses, that's for sure. Yes, we are pretty good at getting believers to come into our churches to hear the message that they already know. But, well, we're NOT so pretty good at actually having the Gospel heard by those who DON'T KNOW the message we have.

Maybe we ought to change some of our practices and basic beliefs? You think?

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

No Greater Love

Good Morning,

John 15:13 (NIV)
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

We know that Jesus came to this earth, became "poor" (at least as compared to what He had in heaven!), taught His Gospel message, then He suffered and died for all humanity. We know this. We know we're covered by His blood and by His love. We know that there is nowhere we can go and not have His Holy Spirit with us and in us. We know all of these things and more.

Yet, we are often dissuaded from what we know and drawn away from God the Father, Jesus who came to save us, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We see the world around us and we become tempted by carnal things: be it money, or pleasures, or power, or any of a myriad of other earthly things. So much that the enemy shows us and tempts us with. And, unfortunately, we sometimes...even often, I'm afraid...fall into this trap of the here and now; that trap of pleasures, riches, power, and all the worldly things.

So, when we fail our God, does that mean we are once again returned to being lost? Fortunately for us, the answer to that is "NO!" God loves us. He cares for and about us. He is aware of our weaknesses and falling down. He knows us thoroughly and completely. His love for us never ceases. His grace to us is forever and forever.

Lest we forget, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 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." (Romans 8:35, 38, 39)

Today I viewed a video that was sent to me by someone I do not know. Now, I'm extremely hesitant to ever look at what comes my way from time to time. I don't forward all of the "chain" e-mails, nor do I suggest that people go to this site or that which has been suggested to me. I've tried, over the years, to be true to what God has asked me to do and to just be obedient to Him; to what the Holy Spirit would have me to do. Well, the video I watched this morning is, I think, worth watching and I believe it shows the lesson that I heard and spoke above. Take the few minutes, please, to watch. It's beautiful, moving, and truthful. Just so you know, and I DO know how busy people can be, it's about 8 minutes long.

http://www.higherpraisetube.com/video/919/Lifehouse-Everything-Skit

As I said, I don't know the person who sent this along to me, but I must say "Thank you" for it.

Be blessed.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

A Vision

Good Morning,

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

I read these verses, sat back, closed my eyes, and I saw what some would call a "disturbing" vision in my mind. I say it might be considered disturbing because what I saw was totally against almost everything that people know, have been taught, and believe in...in this day and in this age. What, you might ask, did I see?

I had a vision of people going off to work each day, those who were of working age, and going to school each day, the children and young people, all well fed, all appearing happy, and all filled with the joy of the Lord in their hearts and minds. I saw people who were left behind doing the normal, everyday tasks of cooking and cleaning, taking care of the small children and the aged who were not totally capable of taking care of themselves. These, who were left behind as others went out into the world, were just as those who left. That is, they were happy in their tasks and joyful in their words and deeds...filled with the joy of the Lord. I saw people who praised God daily and broke bread with one another daily, that is, celebrated what we call "Holy Communion" regularly. All the while, singing praises to God, reading and discussing Scripture, smiling, laughing and truly enjoying their lives because of the sharing that was being done.

I saw no poverty in my vision, no need, no want. I saw no one with huge wealth, as all was being shared equally with everyone else. There were teachers and carpenters; lawyers and janitors; mothers and fathers; little babies and octogenarians; policemen and firemen; workers of every kind and students learning. There were, as I looked, every kind and shape of people; every color and nationality of people. None had more than others and none had less.

I saw people gather daily to sing praises to God. I saw many teaching people who did not have a knowledge of God. I saw people looking in wonder at this and truly desiring what they saw. I saw people coming to the Lord in great numbers and joining with those already gathered in His name and for His purposes.

I saw a people truly filled with the Holy Spirit and doing wonders that we don't think can be done, and cannot be done in our own power. I saw, in my mind, and felt, in my heart, a kind of perfection that pleased God and truly blessed all people.

I saw all of this and more, but it would take a tome to convey all of what I felt and saw in only a few moments. I am often filled with wonder at how God can show us things sometimes in just the blink of an eye!

Now, what I saw would be disturbing to many because our society would call this a "commune" and, therefore, those who were there some kind of socialist or communist folk. But, what I saw was what we read in today's Scripture verses in a modern application. What I saw I can only say that I wished could even be partially some kind of reality. That is, where brothers and sisters in Christ had no need or want. Where we all shared what we had, both physically as in food, shelter, clothing, and the like, and also shared our love of God in a way that we don't normally see today.

I guess the point would be that we CAN be better at being Christians and being more like what we read in Acts of the early Church. (You notice the capital "C" there, because there was, at that time, ONLY one Church!) I would venture to say that God wants us to read these verses today and think about ways in which each of us can become a more loving, caring, giving person.

Just thought I'd share.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Joy in Heaven

I'm going to do something today that I've not done in quite some time. For those of you who have received messages for a long while, you will remember that I used to do little more than forward along something I had received. Then, by God's grace and touch, it changed, gradually, over time into what occurs now. Okay. Saying that, I'm sending along a message I received this morning from Christian Fellowship Devotionals. I read it, and I simply heard...very clearly...that it was important for many people to read what Tim had written. So, without further comment, here's what I received.....

Today’s verse: “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Today’s topic: Summer Question #6 Today’s Question: “I think I have sinned beyond grace.”

A little background here, because I am not giving the whole story and this is not really a question. This came from someone, male or female. It doesn’t really matter; it is from someone who names Christ as Lord of their lives, says that they are trusting in Jesus for all hope from the wrath of God, forgiveness of sin, peace with God, and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, but over the last couple of months has found that they have slept with both sexes (male and female) outside of wedlock. This person recognizes that their life is in a spiral out of control. There is a conscience that bothers them and tells them that they are continually crossing new lines into sin, and this person wonders how God can really love them. So putting that aside, let us ask the question, “Can we sin more than grace can forgive?”

The answer, thankfully, is “no.” The answer is not “no, unless.” The answer is an unqualified “no.” We cannot out-sin grace. There is forgiveness in Christ for all who come to Him for it. There is forgiveness right now for the one who has never, until this moment, given a second thought to their sins. There is forgiveness right now, to the one who knows they have done wrong, even gone into sins they never imagined were possible for them to commit, for them, for the backslidden Christian to the inmate on “death row” who not only has no remorse, but who wishes he could do it all over again, for all who will come to Christ. There is forgiveness of sin, all sin, dark sins even that only God knows. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins, 1 John 1:7.

The truth is that we all sin. Nobody will deny this; no one who is clearheaded and honest will deny this. We all sin. In Jude 21, we are admonished “keep yourselves in the love of God.” So we have an active role in the process of rooting out sin in our lives. We are to be active in this. We are told, “keep yourselves in the love of God.” This strongly suggests something that is active within us. Someone who is theologically astute might say, “We are kept by the power of God, through faith. For you to exhort us to keep ourselves is useless, carnal, and shows a legal/works righteousness understanding of God’s grace.” I would respond that the argument against our need to keep ourselves in the love of God, if there be such a one, is an argument with what the Spirit tells us in God’s Word. I don’t recommend arguing with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always wins. So Scripture, and the Spirit by Scripture, tells us we have an active roleto play in keeping ourselves in God’s love.

We now have the question before us, of one who professes faith in Christ, but is a prodigal (Luke 15:11-32). Here is someone who says they love Jesus, is active in church attendance, but has fallen into sin. What do we say? We say, “return to the Lord.” It is, in fact, what we see the prodigal doing. He returns home. So the sinner must return to Christ and never play the prodigal again. That may mean changes in lifestyle. It may mean a renewed reformation of life, but we tell the wayward sinner, the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7), to flee to Christ while forsaking their sin. The broken-hearted sinner returns to the Savior and seeks to keep himself or herself, and to be kept as well, in the love of God. When the sinner comes back to Christ, there is much rejoicing in Heaven.

The Christian cannot long live in sin and not desire change. If you can go on in sin, and not have it affect you in life, conscience, fellowship and soul, then you cannot be a Christian. You may need a first repentance of coming to Christ. Either way, the charge, for all sinners, is to trust in Christ. God has shown great love to each of us. He has sustained us, provided for us, even given us more than we require. He has been loving to us beyond what we deserve. His love ought to compel us to return to Him, or seek Him for the first time. His love toward us should melt our hearts. Sins, our great big sins, can be and are forgiven, when we come to God seeking forgiveness through Christ’s atonement for sin, and by our personal faith in Christ’s work for us. We trust Him and seek forgiveness for our sins. God gives us the grace to trust. God has done much for the sinner. It cannot be that the new life God gives His children is in your soul, if there isno love to Him on account of the many blessings He has granted you. The Christian loves God, and that love is but a reflection of the great love with which He has loved us.

God’s grace is bigger than our sins. He grace not only out weighs our sins, but His grace takes our sins and removes them from us. Our sins are so far from us that the Bible says, “As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our sins from us,” Psalm 103:12. East and West never meet, and what we are told in God’s Word is that when God forgives our sins they are no more. He has removed them from us. They are gone. Our responsibility is to own our sin, confess them (1 John 1:9) and then seek anew to live faithfully before Jesus, forsaking sin and seeking keeping ourselves in the love of God.

Soli Deo Gloria, T-

I hope that these words meant as much to you as they have to me. Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Prayer Struggle

Good Morning,

Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I wonder sometime how many people are somewhat like me and have difficulty with prayer. It would be a huge undertaking to try to count the times in the Bible that prayer is mentioned. Needless to say, it would probably be in the thousands. Prayer is spoken of throughout the Old Testament, and, indeed, many of David's Psalms and in so many other places, the words that have been written were prayers sent up to God. In the New Testament Jesus talks of prayer quite often and we read of Him going off to pray and helping His disciples in their quest to know how to pray. The Epistles are filled with prayers and mentions of prayers by Paul, Peter, James, and John.

So, I wouldn't hesitate to say that prayer is an important part of our walk with God. I'm sure all would agree.

So then, why do so many of us have such a difficult time praying? This is, once again, one of those questions that I don't really have an answer to. The reason that you might have some difficulty in prayer is probably not the same reason that I might struggle with prayer. What I do know, however, is that even if we struggle with and have difficulty in praying, we need to constantly pray.

I think one important aspect of prayer is the fact that we do NOT have to be eloquent and flowery of speech in order to pray. As much as I love to listen to the prayers of those gifted in being able to pray beautiful prayers, I don't do it well. I mean, I find it very hard to find the words that I hear others so easily saying. I am so very pleased that God doesn't think it necessary for us all to be able to pray as we hear others pray. Another problem that affects people is that they feel so, well, so very insignificant and don't think that their prayers are important enough to be heard by the Creator of all the universe, our Lord, our King. That, again, just isn't true. Though I struggle, I know that my prayers are heard with the same importance and given the same priority as any other believer who offers up prayer to God.

I think, I really believe, that today's verse of Scripture is especially meaningful for those of us who struggle with our prayer life. You see, Jesus tells us that we are to "go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father." This instruction is multi fold, I'm sure, but today it speaks to me and tells me that I don't have to be all that I might think in order to pray. No one will see me in my prayers. No one will hear me in my prayers. No one will judge me by the quality of my prayers. No one will even know that I'm praying. Well, except for the ONLY one that truly matters...God.

So, today and for all our days, let those of us who struggle with our prayer lives remember that their is only one that we should think about when we pray.

He knows our hearts. He hears our prayers. He loves us.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

I Know Nothing

Good Morning,

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NIV)
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

This sentiment expressed so eloquently by Paul to the church at Corinth over 2,000 years ago is exactly what I wish to emulate in the writing that I do each day and send along to you. The obvious humility that Paul has in these words make me more fully understand that it is God who does the writing and I, really, only hold the pen...type the words.

What Paul explains here is what we all should want to do. That is, "...to know nothing...except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." If we approach our lives and our evangelism with this thought firmly etched into our minds, then we will have all we ever need to help people know and understand God's plan of salvation and to bring people to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

If...when...you find that I'm overstepping my bounds and going beyond that which you know in your heart I should do, please, don't hesitate to point it out to me. I think all of us fall to the sin of pride on a fairly regular basis, and that is surely true of me. So, feel free to criticize when you know in your heart that I've given MY words and not God's.

As a reminder today...Let us all keep one another in prayer. Even if it's a simple, "Lord, please, bless ......." I covet your prayers.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Smiles and Good News

Good Morning,

Proverbs 15:30 (NIV)
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.

After reading this verse from Proverbs this morning I wondered if we wouldn't all be much, much better off if we totally swore off ALL news...from TV, radio, newspapers, the internet. I say this because, as we are all more than well aware, there seems to be nothing but BAD news being shown and broadcast everywhere we look. Now, especially in this day and age, it would be pretty much impossible to divorce ourselves completely from all of the bad news that surrounds us...and, we do sort of need to know what's happening so we can protect ourselves and our families from some things. Ah, enough proselytizing!

A cheerful look. Now, tell me that someone with a genuine smile and twinkle in their eyes doesn't make you feel good. God tells us that a cheerful look from someone will bring a bit of joy to us. It's so very true. So, if someone's cheerful look and smile makes ME feel good, then doesn't it just make sense that MY smile and cheerful look will make any number of people feel a joy and happiness that they didn't have before it? So, moral here: Smile!

Good news brings health. I know that is also true because it's been shown time after time, over and over, that when people are ill or just not feeling well, good news makes them perk up and just not feel as badly as they did. It's so very simple, really. Our inner self can be lifted high with good news and, of course, cheerful looks. When we feel good inside it takes the sting out of whatever illness we might be struggling with. And, as we said, good news tends to give us that good feeling deep inside which will affect our physical bodies.

Such a simple...yet oh so meaningful...verse of Scripture.

Give it a try. Put a smile on your face and bring good news. Then, watch what happens.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

A Difference

Good Morning,

Psalm 118:24 (NIV)
This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

There will be no moralizing or really any interpretation or explanation of Scripture today. Just a story of how just one verse of Scripture can make a difference in a life.

When I was 47 years old, after almost a lifetime of having NOT gone to church or walking with God, I came back to Him. It's a long, drawn out story about that, so we don't need to go into it. Suffice to say, God wanted me back and I was at a point where it seemed like the thing to do. My return was to a Catholic church as it was the only kind of church I had ever known and the only one I would have felt comfortable with. Needless to say, there had been many changes in the 30 or so years that I spent away from the Lord. One of the differences that was immediately noticeable...and extremely enjoyable, as well...was the music being played as I entered the church. Gone was the organ music filling the church and that was replaced by people playing guitars, drums, and singing by a small 4 or 5 piece band. I was surprised and pleased. So, how does this relate to the one verse of Scripture?

The song that was being played was a song based on the verse we read today. It would be nice if I had the music for you to listen to, but I don't. The chorus was:

Today is the day that the Lord has made,
Let us rejoice and be glad and be glad.
Today is the day that the Lord has made,
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

To be truthful, I didn't even know that the song was based on Scripture. You see, I'd never studied the Bible and really didn't know any Scripture. It wasn't until later that I learned where the song came from. What I DID know was that the words to that song filled my heart with joy and happiness. What I DID know, right at that moment...or maybe a moment later...was that I knew I had made the right decision to do what I could to return to God. For whatever His reasons, God opened my eyes to the beautiful and meaningful words from that verse as presented in that song. That song, that verse of Scripture, opened my eyes to a world that wasn't filled with evil and horror, but a world that had hope and joy. My ears heard and my mind understood the fact that every day is a day created by the Lord and we should rejoice in that fact and be very, very glad we have that day.

So, you see, one verse of Scripture from God's instruction book to us, the Bible, can...truly...make a difference in a life. One short verse can open eyes. One little verse can enter a heart. One verse can take a person from lost in the world of hate and evil into a world of joy and gladness.

So, remember TODAY, this very day you read these words, IS, indeed, a day that has been created by the Master of the universe, our Lord God. TODAY, this very day, is a day when we should be rejoicing in that fact and show our gladness and thanks to Him.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Godly Advice

Good Morning,

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV)
He who answers before listening—
that is his folly and his shame.

I've no idea for whom this verse of Scripture is aimed today. But I know that it's for someone who reads these words. I was having a difficult time this morning trying to find the right Scripture and I wasn't hearing anything clearly about it. So, as I sometimes have to do, I read many, many sections and verses of Scripture that have come to me over the weeks and months knowing something would "pop" and that's what I would send along.

A message? I think, like most of the verses in the Book of Proverbs, that this verse stands on its own quite nicely and speaks its meaning very clearly.

It gives advice about speaking up on some matter or other before one knows all of the facts surrounding that matter. It tells pretty clearly what happens when one DOESN'T listen to everything and yet gives an opinion or makes a decision.

Want to be foolish and put to shame? Okay. Speak without knowing what you're talking about. Want to be considered wise and smart? Easy. Listen and get all the facts about what you speak on.

There is someone, perhaps even several people, who need this Godly advice today. Please, take it to heart and follow God's direction.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Why Go?

Good Morning,

Hebrews 3:12-14 (NIV)
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

We are all bothered, in one way or another, by sin in our lives. It can be often or occasional, but it happens and will happen again in the future. I guess it's part of being a human being...that returning sometimes to sin and/or doubt. We might fight against it and refuse to believe it, but eventually...even often for some...we will fall into what the writer of Hebrews says is "a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God." Yes, reality is often harsh, isn't it?

But, we also read today that there is a way to keep this sinful and unbelieving behavior at bay and help our brothers and sisters do the same. He says, "...encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." You see, in our own strength and under our own power, we are pretty defenseless when it comes to falling into some sinful behavior or other. However, if we are to believe what God placed in the Bible for us to read today, there is strength in our encouragement of one another. That's where we can find the will and power to resist much of the sinful desire that comes to us from the temptations of the enemy. I guess that old saw, "There's strength in numbers," is really true, isn't it? It is definitely what we're reading today in how to keep from turning away from God.

So, that brings me to sort of another point today. I've been asked by a few people why they should go to church. I hear the arguments and the reasons why church isn't for them. I'll not go into all of the details, but there are many Christians who simply have lost hope and trust in our local congregations. Some for good reasons and some for not so good reasons. However, the fact remains that there are people who are just kind of turned off by organized religion and local churches or congregations.

Okay, so what does this have to do with our Scripture today? The problem as I see it is the fact that if we don't attend regularly a local congregation of believers then we lose contact with our support structure in helping us keep from having that "sinful, unbelieving heart" that we read in these verses this morning. Our local congregations are the places where we meet and get to know other believers who can help us...and who we can help...with our "strength in numbers" against an enemy that is waiting to tempt us and lead us away from God. It's really sometimes as simple as that for a reason to go to "church" regularly. If we don't go, we lose contact (that is an unfortunate fact, I'm afraid) with those we really need to help us and who might just be the ones who depend on us to help them.

Yes, there are many, many other good reasons that we should attend our local church services at least weekly and be an active part in our congregations. But, I believe, what we read today is one of the most important reasons. Simply put, it would be so you can encourage me and I can encourage you...Today!

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

What Must I Do?

Good Morning,

Luke 18:18-23 (NIV)
A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"
"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

What do these verses say to you this morning? For some of us what they speak of is only that it's difficult for the wealthy to achieve heaven. But, there's much more, I think, that Jesus is saying and that these verses speak to.

What I heard this morning was, "What am I willing to forgo, give up, put aside, do without, or...for lack of a better word...sacrifice, in order to get that treasure in heaven of which Jesus speaks?" Jesus isn't only speaking to the wealthy or rich in these verses that we read. No, He's speaking to every one of us. I say that because I believe that we all have things in our lives that need to be left behind when we accept Jesus as Savior and put our hope in God. Yes, for some people it IS giving up wealth in order to be able to follow Jesus. But, that's not true for us all, of course. For many of us there are other things that simply must be left behind.

The problem is that it is difficult, just as it was for the rich ruler, for us to give up the things that are not of the Kingdom of God. For some people it's impossible. For those, we must pray. Then, for others of us, we leave this or that behind only to sometimes turn back and pick it up again. Then, leave it...pick it up...leave it...pick it up...in an ongoing struggle that seems never ending. What our problem might very well be is the fact that we're trying to do it in our own strength and under our own power. Wrong way to go about it, I'm afraid. What we need to do is to lay whatever hinders us from being totally unburdened for the Lord at the foot of the cross and allow Jesus to free us.

So, one might ask, "If I do that, will I never go back to it?" I wish I could say an unqualified "Yes" to that question, but the fact is, some of us continue to struggle in this. Why that is, I cannot answer. I wish I knew why and I wish I knew how have those struggles cease...and then to be able to tell others of the "secret" of it. But, fact is...I don't have the answers or the secret.

What is placed before us all today, however, is that we must all look to see what, if anything, we have that must be left behind in our walk with Jesus. First, we've got to be able to recognize it. Then, we can begin to leave it behind.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

We Will Not Fear

Good Morning,

Psalm 46 (NIV)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

There are many times in our lives when we need the reassuring words that are found in the Bible.

As I read these verses this morning I sort of looked around me (metaphorically speaking) and I saw that much of the world, even my brothers and sisters in Christ, were afraid. I saw, as we read in these verses, nations in uproar and kingdoms (nations) either falling or ready to fall. I see wars that it seems can only be stopped by God Almighty. I see so many man made atrocities, more than we can even count. Again, what I see at almost every turn, is fear.

It seems that there is nothing really good going on in the world so when we read our news papers or watch the news programs on our televisions it appears that there is no good news to report...that there's nothing good going on in the entire world, for the most part.

Well, when I read this Psalm written so many thousands of years ago, it occurred to me that we...children of God...DO have good in OUR world and we DO have good news that should be shouted from the rooftops. What also occurred to me, even though the words are right here, plain and simple, easy to understand, is the fact that God tells us, "God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore WE WILL NOT FEAR..." You see THAT fact, the fact that we have God in our lives and is with us in every trouble, problem and trial, that fact is...if nothing else...the good that is in our lives. And, it goes without saying, that the GOOD NEWS which should be heard in every ear is that God offers His plan of salvation, and thus good in the lives of all, through Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection for the for the forgiveness of sin and a life everlasting with Him in heaven.

Uh, oh! Looks like I've started preaching this morning. Well, I guess that happens sometime, doesn't it? What I really wanted to say, clearly and without doubt, is the fact that "The LORD Almighty is with us," always and ever. And, no matter what goes on in the word, no matter what happens, we should not fear. We have the Lord God of the universe right here, right now, forever more, at our side.

Thank you Lord!Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Offering Your Gift

Good Morning,

Matthew 5:22-24 (NIV)
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

We have a simple principle to think about today. Jesus is telling us that we really ought not to have anger one against another. We are not to call one another "fool" or use any other derogatory words for one another. We are not even supposed to "offer your gift" if there is a problem with another brother or sister.

We are taught here that even anger will be judged as murder and be held to judgement. Now, that's pretty strong, isn't it? And Jesus tells us that when we use words such as "fool" toward a brother or sister that we "will be in danger of the fire of hell."

So, simply put, today we are being asked to examine our relationships with one another to see if there is any anger toward someone, or if we know that we've done something to anger someone. We are asked to think about the terms we've used in describing one another to see if we've gone against Jesus' teaching about this. And, we are being reminded to ask forgiveness and forgive before we next go to church to offer our gifts at the alter.

I think that we can probably all think of someone with whom we need a bit of reconciliation. I also think that we need to ask God for His forgiveness for some of the things said about someone.

I'm thinking today would be a good day. You?

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

The Priviledge of Sharing

Good Morning,

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NIV)
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

"...they urgently pleaded with us for the PRIVILEGE OF SHARING..."

I ask you to stop a moment and think about that statement. Okay. Now, think about everything that God has provided to and for you. For some of us our provision is great. For others our provision is meager. For most of us our provision is adequate...not great and not meager...but enough and even more than enough. Now the tough part. Let's think about HOW and WHAT we feel about the statement above. That is: How, exactly, do we feel about sharing being a privilege?

It's unfortunate that we've been taught from an early age (most of us anyway) that we are to think about "number one" first and foremost, above everything else. Again, for most of us, the idea of sharing, especially if our provisions are meager, is just sort of out there...in this me, me, me world. But, we read in today's Scripture about the Macedonian churches who shared with others even out of their "severe trial" and their "extreme poverty" and, still, it welled up in "rich generosity." Seems sort of amazing, doesn't it? That those who had so little thought that sharing was a privilege?

To take it a step further, there is the fact that it is the least among us who give and share the most. It is those who have been blessed with little who seem to be those who want to share even the very little that they have. I don't have the numbers easily at hand I'm sorry to say, but I know that I've read several studies which have reported research that bears this out. The results of the research done prove that it is the poorest among us who give, at least proportionately, much more than the wealthiest among us. Kind of strange, isn't it? You'd think those results would show exactly the opposite. But, time after time...over and over...from times reported over 2,000 years ago, this fact continues to be just that...a fact.

So, how DO you feel about sharing what it is that God has blessed you with and provided for your family? Do you feel it a privilege? Or, like many of us, is it an obligation?

Think about it. I know I have to, as well.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

Into The World

Good Morning,

John 17:18 (NIV)
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Seems pretty simple doesn't it? God sent Jesus...came as a human being...to this world and He, in turn, has sent all of us out into the world...for His purposes and do to His will.

I guess I don't have to remind us all that this does, truly apply to everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ into their lives as Lord and Savior. I mean, that seems clear to me.

So, I guess what we need to do is to take a look and see what we've done about it up to this point, what we're doing even this very day, and what we plan on doing in the future...as far as this being sent out into the world thing goes.

We have a myriad of ways in which we can "go out" and touch people with the Gospel message. The differing ways we can and should do that are too numerous to go into here, as it would take a very long time to list them all. What we ought to do is to examine the ways that are right at our door step, so to speak. We all have different likes and enjoy various things in our lives. The ways that we should first go out into the world with God's message and plan would be to use those easy, comfortable ways that we have here in front of us right now. Going to the gym to work out? Then, you're going into the world, aren't you? Heading to the library for a book or video? Again, out into the world. To the mall? The grocery? The park? Maybe, for some fortunate souls, to the beach?

Then, of course, there are all the "new" ways that we go out into the world...without actually leaving our homes. Checking e-mail? (No, not those "chain letter" things, but just your personal contacts, friends, and colleagues.) Have a web site? Facebook? Twitter? All of the literally hundreds or even thousands of ways we "go out" while using this electronic medium?

The point this morning is that God has sent us out into the world to bring the world His message and plan of salvation. I think we all know that. The thing is, are we actually presenting His message while we're out there? Do we speak about Jesus when we communicate?

Yes, this could be a very, very long message about all of the ways we can do that which we know we're supposed to be doing. But, maybe God just wants this to be a reminder to us all that we have been sent out for His purpose and to do His will.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David