TRICKLE DOWN

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 29-32

"At the same time, God's hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them a strong desire to unite in obeying the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord." 2 Chronicles 30:12 NLT

What happens when one person starts leaning hard into the Lord? Others are impacted.

Revival is often referred to as a wave that washes over, but I'm not so sure that a more apt description might be a change that trickles down.

For example...

When a momma or daddy begin to draw close to the Lord, it trickles down on the family.

When a pastor gets stirred up by the Holy Spirit, it trickles down into the congregation.

When a leader turns his heart and mind to his Creator, it trickles down onto those he is called to lead.

Our lying, cheating, stealing and conniving enemy, wants us to believe that on our own we cannot make a difference. 

He lies!

Listen more closely to God.

Spend more time in prayer--speaking and hearing.

Get your nose in the Word and the Word in your heart.

Tell others about what you hear, see, feel from your time following Christ.

Your heart change can make a difference. 

NO MIDDLE GROUND

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 7-9

"Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who hate him." Deuteronomy 7:9-10 NLT

In a day and age where people prefer to live in the gray areas, this might be a hard portion of Scripture to swallow.

These two verses simply state that you will either LOVE God or HATE him.

There is no middle ground.

No neutral territory in which to live your life.

No gray area.

If you don't love God, you hate him.

It's not that you consider God. Or that you tolerate God. Or even, that you believe there is a God. It has nothing to do with your allowance of others to serve God. Or that you accept him.

Either you love him, or you hate him.

This is not a decision upon which you can be impartial, nonpartisan or open-minded.

Either you love him, or you hate him.

What's your life saying your choice is on that matter of God?

EARNEST & RIGHTEOUS

Today's reading: James 4-5

"...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." James 5:16 NLT

Powerful prayers that provide wonderful results? Yes, sign me up!

Isn't that what we all want--prayers that are answered, answers that are life changing and lives that are changed in ways that honor the Lord.

But it takes earnest praying and righteousness.

If, like me you think you know what those are but could use a refresher, read on...

Earnest-resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction about.

Being earnest is being desperate, being determined, being willing to do what's necessary to get what you need.

Too often we are lazy pray-ers. We want, sure we want, but we don't want badly enough to dig in and pray hard, pray long, pray intently and pray Scripture.

Righteous-being morally upright and in good standing with God, which involves God's perfect character and His standard for human conduct.

Friends, I will admit I prefer to be right rather than righteous. Wrong attitude to have! Righteous is living in a godly way, an intensely godly way--because you walk so closely with God.

We tend to be pray-ers that want to receive our entire laundry list of desires, but never pause long enough to check our desires against His character, His plans, His purpose or His glory. We want because we want, not because we want to be made more like Him with every prayer.

Earnest and righteous pray-ers are rare treasures. They aren't scattered liberally throughout our churches, but when you see one you know it! God's desire is that there be more James 5:16 prayer warriors than there are--won't you strive to be one?

Are the prayers you're praying worth the extra effort?

WALKING AROUND

Today's reading: Acts 9-10

"Peter traveled from place to place to visit the believers, and in his travels he came to the Lord's people in the town of Lydda. There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed! And he was healed instantly. Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord when they saw Aeneas walking around." Acts 9:32-35 NLT

The Lord certainly changed Aeneas's life, wouldn't you agree?

From bed-fast to bed-maker.

From laying around to walking around.

From invalid to evangelist.

From invalid to evangelist?--and yet the passage says nothing about him saying a word!

Friend, whether we quote Scripture or invite someone to church, we are influencing those around us.

By how we walk through this life, we are being given the opportunity to reach people for Jesus.

Our reactions and responses, our gestures, our countenance, they can all point people to the One who has changed our lives!

Walk out your salvation.

WAITING TO SEE
Today's reading: Habakkuk

"I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the Lord will say to me and how he will answer my complaint." Habakkuk 2:1 NLT

How sure are you that God's going to answer your prayers?

Sure enough, you'd 'climb up to your watchtower and wait'? 

Do you believe enough that you speak in terms of 'it's already in the works'?

Assured to the point that you 'watch the horizon' for signs of the answer?

At peace with your request because you know it's as much His will as it is your want?

That's how sure Habakkuk was that God had heard and that God would answer.

I want that!

I want to pray and then believe, really believe, it's going to be.

I want a faith that is so sure of Him that it pushes any doubts of my own aside.

I want to know His Word well enough that I can quote it back to Him, and myself, as needed.

I want to climb up to my watchtower and wait to see what all He is going to do in regards to each and every prayer I have presented to Him! 

NOTHING TRULY CHANGES

Today's reading: Ecclesiastes 1-2

"Generations come and go, but nothing really changes." Ecclesiastes 1:4 NLT

Do you realize that there are no 'new sins'?

The same sins that were committed thousands of years ago are being repeated today.

The. Same. Sins.

Sure, today they're televised, published and Facebook-ed, but the sins are not new.

There haven't been any new ways to disobey God.

And, there is still the one and only way to find forgiveness for those sins--Jesus.

So, Solomon had it right, nothing really changes!

SUNDAY'S COMING

Today's reading: Psalm 122-124

"I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord." Psalm 122:1 NLT

It's only Saturday and I am already looking forward to time in the Lord's house tomorrow!

The fellowship, the music, the Spirit, the Word...I can't wait.

It's not always been like that.

Nope. It's not.

There was a season of my life when I didn't want to attend, and took every excuse not to attend. The gathering didn't do much for me. The Lord wasn't in 'it'.

But now?

Now I fill up daily upon God, and that leaves me wanting more.

Could I experience God at home? Yes, and I do.

But with His people!

In His house!

A group of us singing His praises!

Pews full of us hearing the Word spoken over us!

Congregants leaving the church ready to pour into the lives of others, planning to live by Jesus's example!

Ooh, I can't wait for Sunday! 

GODS
Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 25-28

"When King Amaziah returned from defeating the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and presented sacrifices to them! This made the Lord very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, Why have you worshiped gods who could not even save their own people from you?" 2 Chronicles 25:14-15 NLT

I have to admit, I have 'Amaziah tendencies'.

I find cast-off, defeated, little gods that others have disregarded, and set them up for me to worship.

The religious nature within me urges me to do it. The part of me that wants to be seen as 'doing something' rises up. The box-marking desires of my personality keep me at it.

And yet, these gods don't do a thing for me.

They didn't do a thing for their previous owners.

They can't.

And when the realization comes to me, I box them all up, drag them to the foot of the Cross, and ask for God's forgiveness through His Son, Jesus.

I wish I could tell you that I don't pocket some of them, for later use. I would love to tell you it has only happened once and I learned my lesson after that. But I won't, because I can't.

Little idols have a tendency to draw our hearts and eyes away from our only hope--God. But verses like these, shine a spotlight on their inadequacy to help me in any way, shape or form.

Check your pockets--got any little gods that you're rubbing for good luck, bowing to or waving over your needs?

 JUST OBEY THEM

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 4-6

"Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you from the Lord your God. Just obey them." Deuteronomy 4:2 NLT

Our Creator certainly knows our tendencies, doesn't He?

When He gave the Israelites, and us, his rules and regulations, He chose to plainly state that we must not lean into our pattern of trying to add to or take away from what He had said.

He knows we like to dig so deep that we seem busy about religious things--and all the while are ignoring the command itself.

He is fully aware of our propensity to adorn God's Word with our own decorations--to make it more user friendly.

He understands our innate traits that lead us to debate, discuss and disagree--traits that bring about chaos, feuds and denominations.

So He stated simply, Just obey them.

How different might our world be if we just obeyed.

Just obeyed.

Just. Obeyed. 

 WHATEVER

Today's reading: James 1-3

"Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was declared right with God because of what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, he was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do. His faith was made complete by what he did--by his actions." James 2:21-22 NLT

Oh, to have the faith of Abraham!

A trust that was deeply rooted in the WHO of God, that the WHAT of God was without question.

Abraham didn't wake up one morning with that kind of faith. He didn't inherit it from his father or grandfather. He wasn't given a special card to carry that allowed him to have faith that reached farther that most of ours.

He chose faith.

He made the decision, every day--and with every decision, to trust who he knew God to be.

Abraham's faith was not in what he was able to do. It was not in what he knew he could easily, or with a little determination, accomplish.

Abraham's faith wasn't in his surroundings, his talents or his circle of friends.

Abraham's faith was fully and entirely grounded in who he knew God to be!

And that, dear friends, is what pushed him to say 'yes' to the Lord, go where the Lord wanted him to go, believe for years that a son would arrive and hope for a promised land/

If that's what you want--that kind of faith, then choose it.

You needn't wait for it to fall into your lap. You must not depend upon your pastor to bless you with it. You can't even read your Bible enough to lay hold of it.

You choose it.

Will you trust God, or not?

EVERYWHERE PREACHING

Today's reading: Acts 7-8

"...A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria...But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus." Acts 8:1-4 NLT

Most of us will never experience religious persecution.

It's the truth. 

We might face religious discrimination or religious hazing, but not true religious persecution--the kind that would make us flee our homes and run for our lives.

The new Christians did.

Their decision to follow Jesus put a bull's eye on their backs.

It moved them, geographically, and moved them, spiritually, to take their testimonies on the road!

New surroundings did not stop their sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hard times did not silence them from sharing what Jesus had done in their hearts and lives.

Discomfort did not tie their hands in regards to giving to others the best gift they had ever received--the gift of salvation.

So what's stopping you?

Tell the world about your Jesus.

Share the ins and outs of your story of salvation, redemption and sanctification (a fancy church word that means growing to be more like Jesus).

Talk about what it's like to live for a King who will rule eternally.

Express your excitement and anticipation of being promised a home in heaven.

No matter where you are. No matter how easy, or hard, it might be for you.

The world needs to know!

 

CHOOSING A SIDE
Today's reading: Nahum

"The Lord is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him. But he sweeps away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He pursues his foes into the darkness of night." Nahum 1:7-8 NLT

Whether you realize it or not, you are choosing a side with every single choice you make.

Will God be your leader, guide and refuge?

Or will you choose yourself, your abilities and your preferences--and in turn choose to be an enemy of the One who can help you most? 

We cannot do both. We cannot straddle the fence. We cannot attempt to swing back and forth between options. We cannot trust and fret at the same time.

We will either be His--or be His enemy.

MY HELP

Today's reading: Psalm 120-121

"I look up to the mountains--does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth!" Psalm 121:1-2 NLT

What decision/problem/choice/situations looms before you?

God is there to help you.

To guide you.

To counsel you.

You do not need to handle it on your own, Google advice or even poll your friends on Facebook.

God is your help.

The one Who created the heavens and earth will not be stumped by your situation! 

FOLLOWING THEIR ADVICE

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 21-24

"Following their evil advice, Ahaziah made an alliance with King Joram, the son of King Ahab of Israel..." 2 Chronicles 22:5 NLT

Do you remember as a child using 'they are all doing it' as an argument when asking Mom and Dad for permission to do something?

If your parents were anything like mine, their response was, 'Well, who are 'they'?'

Seldom if ever could I provide them with a good list of names. 'They' usually ended up being one, single solitary friend. Maybe two friends, if it was a real enticing offer.

Ahaziah took the advice of 'them' and made an ungodly alliance that cost him his life--and left another scar in Judah's history.

Ahaziah held office because of God. He sat on a throne God had promised to Ahaziah's great-grandfather, David. He continued a line of kings God had covenanted to maintain.

But God is not whose advice Ahaziah sought.

He asked counsel of men who tickled his ear, bowed to his role as king and would eventually lead him to make ungodly alliances with countries that didn't serve God.

But not God.

Why do we do that?

Why do we ask around, or Google for answers, but won't ask advice of our Creator, Redeemer and King?

Might it be because we know what He will tell us...

Because we know what the right answer is...

Because we have heard Him tell us before, but we chose not to obey...

 

THEN ALL OF YOU

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 1-3

 "I said to you, ‘You have now reached the hill country of the Amorites that the LORD our God is giving us. 21Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!’22“But you all came to me and said, ‘First, let’s send out scouts to explore the land for us. They will advise us on the best route to take and which towns we should enter.’23“This seemed like a good idea to me, so I chose twelve scouts, one from each of your tribes. 24They headed for the hill country and came to the valley of Eshcol and explored it. 25They picked some of its fruit and brought it back to us. And they reported, ‘The land the LORD our God has given us is indeed a good land.’26“But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God and refused to go in. 27You complained in your tents and said, ‘The LORD must hate us. That’s why he has brought us here from Egypt—to hand us over to the Amorites to be slaughtered.Deuteronomy 1:20-27  NLT

After 40 years of wandering.

After watching, first hand, the miracles of God in providing manna, quail, the Red Sea, a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire.

After observing that their shoes did not wear out.

When they stood on the border of the wilderness and the Promised Land-

Instead of thanking God.

Instead of praising God.

Instead of stampeding into the land in order to receive all the Lord had provided.

Instead of believing what God said.

They said, First let's...

Let us send out scouts--to see that it's really as good as You say it is.

Let us think about the people living there--they are too big, too strong, too many.

Let us consider whether or not we can do what's necessary to keep this land God has given to us.

Standing on the edge of all that God had promised.

Having arrived at the destination they had been straining to reach for 40 years.

About to step into what had been given to them generations before.

We are so like them!

All that God offers, we doubt.

All that God desires to give, we question.

All that God has promised for us, we become incredulous to.

All that God has done, we forget.

Maybe it's time we take a leap of faith and take our first step across the border into what it is He has led us to!

APPROVED

Today's reading: Hebrews 11-13

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith." Hebrews 11:1-2 NLT

I've known what faith is, based upon this Scriptures definition, since I was a child.

We had lessons on it in Sunday School.

We sang songs about it in Vacation Bible School.

We colored pictures, we read accounts in the Bible, we even had flannelgraph boards depicting what faith is.

But what I've noticed this morning is the second verse...

God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith.

God's approval.

For believing God...

For trusting in what He said...

For living out what He promised...

Faith is going forward based upon God's promises--even what you don't see a thing pointing in that direction.

When it's still dark.,,

When events do not line up...

When it only gets harder, instead of better...

When your eyes cannot see what your heart wants to believe...

When you have to trust Him because you don't have it in you...

That's the point at which God approves us as faithful, as His faithful.

 

WOULD I DO IT?

Today's reading: Acts 5-6

"...They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. They apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and in their homes, they continued to teach and preach this message: The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus." Acts 5:40-42 NLT

Arrested. Beaten. Ordered.

Which one of those things would have kept you from sharing the message of Jesus, raised and righteous?

What keeps us quiet today--in a country of free speech, international access and border-less possibilities to share Jesus?

Peter and the disciples faced imprisonment, pain and possibly death, and still shared the Good News.

We won't share because we might be inconvenienced, embarrassed, harassed or labeled. We keep quiet as not to be seen as judge-y, holier than thou or religious. We hold our tongues believing that it's the pastor's job to talk about Jesus.

I'm praying today that the power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that wouldn't let Peter stay quiet, would fall on me. On you. On all those who claim the blood of Christ over their lives.

Why?

Because the Messiah, Savior, Redeemer, Deliverer, Friend, Comfort, we are all looking for is Jesus!

  

INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES

Today's reading: Micah

"The Lord will settle international disputes. All the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end." Micah 4:3 NLT

If you are scanning the news channels waiting for word of peace, you are looking in the wrong direction.

If you are tuned into the latest world politics expecting an announcement of worldwide peace, you won't see it.

If you are leaning towards one party or another, one peace treaty or another, one military move or another, to bring peace, you are about to find out they won't provide what you are looking for.

The Lord will settle international disputes.

His mighty hand will bring about peace. He will move in the hearts and minds of people. He will settle wars. He will restate the boundaries He has had set in place for many generations.

The Lord will do it.

Are you watching Him? 

There will be absolutely no doubt as to it being Him at work. No one will be able to explain it away. No party will be able to take credit for the final move. 

The Lord will settle international disputes--are you keep your eyes on Him?

SOLOMON'S WISDOM
Today's reading: Proverbs 29-30

"Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection." Proverbs 30:5 NLT

Of all the things King Solomon knew...

Of all the information he gathered over the course of his rule...

Of all the books he read and literature he absorbed... 

Of all the scientific evidence he studied...

He found the Word of God to be true, and protective of those who depend upon it.

Every word.

True.

ANCHORED

Today's reading: Psalm 119

"Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your law." Psalm 119:61 NLT

Did you learn Bible memory verses as a child?

For points? For candy? For the challenge of it? For competition?

Because your parents made you?

Interestingly, the pieces of candy we nabbed out of the 'prize bucket', the glow-in-the-dark cross we were given and the compliments we received for a job well done--well, they have all vanished.

But the words of the Bible?

They remain in our hearts and minds.

Probably, if you're anything like me, in King James Version English!

These are anchors that occasionally pop up to remind us of the long-lasting power of being in God's Word.

Maybe they show up in a conversation. Possibly a song reminds us of the words of a specific verse.  A sermon takes us back to the words we had memorized so long ago.

What a blessed gift it is to have this storehouse of verses banked in our minds.

And what a gift we have given if we have chosen to do the same thing with our children.

We have implanted, in their hearts, the same anchors.

Anchors that will keep them tethered to the Lord--no matter how far they drift.

Anchors that will be lifelines to God's goodness--when the world baits and switches at what is right or wrong.

Anchors that will keep them safe, lead them home, draw them back--from the enemy, from the far country, from the empty promises of life outside of Christ Jesus.

I'm so very thankful for the anchors of Scripture in my heart this morning! 

JAHAZIEL

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 16-20

"...the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel. son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendent of Asaph. He said, Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:14-15 NLT

Here is what I have noticed in regards to this man named, Jahaziel...

His 'fathers' mattered.

His bloodline was important.

His history was important.

How do I know that--because it was recorded. His daddy, granddaddy, great-granddaddy and great-great granddaddy were mentioned.

Oh, sure, what he said mattered, too. But what he said was prefaced by who he was.

Did you catch that?

Only by knowing who he was, his background, his 'people', did his message carry weight.

So what do I do with that?

I pray for a Jahaziel to come into your life today.

Someone who you know to be godly. A person whose history shows God's track record. A brother or sister in Christ whose life has been saved by, led by, encouraged by and strengthened by the blood of their Father.

Does that make sense to you?

I don't want you listening to just anyone. Especially in regards to the tough times you might be going through. I want you hearing the truth, God's truth, from God's people.

I want a Jahaziel to come alongside you and build up your faith, remind you of God's truths, point you to His feet, cheer you on along your faith walk...in Jesus's name.

I pray that a Jahaziel steps in and steps up in your life. Someone with credentials. Someone with a trust that goes so deeply into the Lord that they will not and cannot be swayed. Someone whose bio shows exactly Who they have been leaning on in their life!

I'm praying for a Jahaziel to bless your life!

 MY ITINERARY

Today's reading: Numbers 33-36

"This is the itinerary the Israelites followed as they marched out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  At the Lord's direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places they stopped along the way." Numbers 33:1-2 NLT

To think, the Israelite's journey, all 40 years of it, was documented, stop by stop.

I wish I had written documentation of my faith walk. Stage by stage. Lesson by lesson. Eye opening moment by eye opening moment.

I could look back and see...

-some things weren't as bad as I had 'worried' them to be.

-few things demanded the attention I gave them--attention that took my eyes off the Lord.

-very, very few things were worth the fear level I had attached to them.

-time gives me the perspective that I should have stopped and enjoyed certain 'detours' longer than I did.

-lessons come in the good times and in the bad times.

-I was never alone, never left to my own abilities, never without an audience to my faith and trust in the Lord.

The itinerary of my faith is not one I would have written, but also not one I would ever change. 

In the 47 years I have been walking with God, the path has been uphill and downhill, has been in rainy seasons and had plenty of sunshine-y days, has grown me, shaped me, honed me and amazed me. 

There have been times I have rushed ahead--and had to backtrack to find Him again, and times when I dug in my heels and refused to go any farther. I have given Him 'yes-es' immediately and have had times when I have had to have corrective discipline applied to my backside in order that I see things His way.

This walk with the Lord has proved to me over and over again that only He can be trusted to hold the map and lead the way!

So I'll keep walking beside Him--where ever it is He takes me!

ENTERING BOLDLY

Today's reading: Hebrews 8-10

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus." Hebrews 10:19 NLT

This verse is one of my favorites.

Why? Well, because of the 'word picture' I have of it in my mind. How I've applied its meaning to my life. The picture in my head of how it plays out in reality.

You see, to know I can boldly enter into God's presence sets my thought into full blown hyperspeed...

I can come bursting into the throne room of God's grace yammering on and on about my day--and He will listen to it all!

I can slink in the back door of the Most Holy Place and crawl up on my Daddy's lap to tell him all about what I've done wrong.

I can drag to His feet, mud and all, any doubts and concerns that I have been wrestling with--and He will soothe me fears. 

I can approach my Father, without appointment or protocol, and talk to Him about all that's on my heart.

I can tattle to Him. I can whine to Him. I can rattle non-stop to Him. Then He will send me back out to the world to minister for Him.

I can cry--not just sniffle, but sob in His presence. I can spew my emotions in front of Him. And He will still love me.

I can stand in front of Him with my arms crossed, mad as a wet hen, until He soothes me and changes my attitude, corrects my thinking and softens my heart.

I can repeat to Him his promises and remind Him of them.

I can shake my fist at Him, mutter my complaints, question His timing and He takes me into His arms and holds me tightly until the 'temper tantrum' has passed.

Why can I so boldly approach the God of the universe? Me? Little, ole me? Imperfect and far-from-holy me?

Because when I step into His presence, He doesn't see me. He sees the blood of His Son Jesus on me, allowing me entrance into His personal space!

HOW I AM KNOWN

Today's reading: Acts 3-4

"The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13 NLT

What greater aknowledgement might one receive than to be known as 'one who had been with Jesus'?

An educational degree doesn't compare.

A stack of patents pending isn't comparable.

A grand monument inscribed with one's name cannot compete.

But to be seen as having spent time in the presence of the Lord? 

There is no greater honor in life.

Time spent with Jesus impacts one's words, deeds, responses, reactions, desires, relationships.

It intrudes upon one's thoughts, changes one's attitudes, increases one's awareness of those around us.

A daily time with the Lord will change the course of your day, the steps you might take and the lives of those to whom God might call you to minister.

Have you spent time with Jesus--are you ready for today's mission? 

MY RUNNING

Today's reading: Jonah

"Then he told them that he was running away from the Lord. The sailors were terrified when they heard this. Oh, why did you do it? they groaned." Jonah 1:10 NLT

Jonah didn't realize that when he laced up his tennis shoes to run from the Lord that others would be effected.

Nor do we.

There is 'fallout' related to disobeying the Lord. 

We must consider who else might be compromised when we choose to run from the Lord and what He is asking us to do for Him. We must weigh disobedience against the possible consequences. 

 

TENDER CONSCIENCE

Today's reading: Proverbs 28

"Blessed are those who have a tender conscience, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble." Proverbs 28:14 NLT

Medical degree or not, we all have a way of soothing the hurts and bruises of the people we come in contact with.

Thoughtful gestures, kind words, hugs and smiles are 'tablets of healing' we pass out all throughout our day.

Are you conscience of the needs around you?

Are you slowing down to notice frowns, furrowed brows, tears?

Are you tuned in to tones of sadness, discouragement, frustration and hopelessness in the conversations you have with others?

Blessings come, according to God's Word, to those who have tender consciences towards others.

Want to be blessed? Notice others.

HIS UNFAILING LOVE

Today's reading: Psalm 117-118

"Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For he loves us with unfailing love; the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 117

I often ask you to look at what the passage of the day says, but not today!

Today I am asking you to take a look at what it doesn't say...

It doesn't say, Would you praise the Lord?

It doesn't say, Would JUST the church praise the Lord.

It doesn't say, Praise Him because of our unfailing love, our unwavering faithfulness, our enduring commitment to Him.

It says, Praise Him because He is wonderful, His love for us never changes, He is (with all that He is) faithful to us.

We don't have to come up with reasons to praise God--He is worthy, entirely and utterly, worthy of all the praises we can muster!

 

SEEING A CHANGE

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 11-15

"The prophet Shemaiah then met with Rehoboam and Judah's leaders, who had all fled to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah told them, This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned me, so I am abandoning you to Shishak. The king and the leaders of Israel humbled themselves and said, The Lord is right in doing this to us! When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah, Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief..." 2 Chronicles 12:5-7 NLT

The king and the people could have declared a day of prayer...

They might have attended Temple more regularly...

They could have even voted a new law into effect that would have added to the Temple offering plate...

Instead?

Instead, they changed their hearts.

They humbled themselves.

They allowed the eyes of their hearts to be opened to their own sins.

They repented, which is being sorry for AND turning away from sin.

And God saw the change.

And God chose, after a time, to reward them.

I'm reminded this morning that God sees my heart--the intentions, the conscious acts, the deliberate choices, the willingness in what I do. Does He see that I am purposeful in staying away from yesterday's sins?

Does He see a change in my heart?

THE TRANSJORDAN TRIBES

Today's reading: Numbers 29-32

I'm intrigued by the account of Numbers 32, subtitled, The TransJordan Tribes.

It baffles me as to what might have led this group of 2-1/2 tribes to want the land on the east side of the Jordan River, instead of inhabiting the Promised Land.

Did they settle for less? 

Upon reading the chapter, they were willing to put the blood, sweat and tears into obtaining the land of Canaan--they just didn't want to live there.

After all they'd been through? 

Following a 40 year journey?

Knowing all they knew about the bounty and blessing of the land on the west side of the Jordan?

And God let them?

I have lots of questions about this arrangement. I can't wrap my head around the agreement. I just don't understand the 'how and why' of it all. But I've come to this conclusion:

God had a reason for His people to be there, or they wouldn't have been there.

Isn't that the point at which all of our unknowns should converge?

God has a reason.

And He doesn't need to explain it to us--as if He could!

LEARNING OBEDIENCE

Today's reading: Hebrews 5-7

"So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered." Hebrews 5:8 NLT

I'd never really thought about it, but Jesus taught us obedience by the hardships he endured during his 'tour of duty' on earth.

He could have told God, 'No, thank you', when it came to his earthly mission.

He might have become so intolerant of the human race, in his mere 33 years, that he wiped us all out with one spoken word.

He, understandably so, might have refused the pain of the cross.

But where would we be?

What hope would there be for us IF he had called the legions of angels instead of enduring punishment, crucifixion and death?

So friend, consider your own suffering. While not in the league of what Jesus endured, might it be a lesson for you in obedience?

Will you obediently trust God through it all?

Will you believe His promises even when you cannot see His hand?

Could you endure for the purpose of another coming to know your Lord and Savior?

Are you willing to learn obedience through the things you suffer?