Declare That Which Is Profitable

The Sin of Self-Reliance

2010-09-19T15:08:00.001-07:00

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!”
(Isaiah 5:21 NASB)

As I began this school year, I made many different decisions about what activities my children would be involved in. From piano to soccer to Bible study, again and again I was faced with the question, “Should we do this?” And that’s not where the decision-making ended. Weekly, I have to decide what to buy at the store and where and when to spend our money. Daily, I make decisions about what we should eat and what the kids should be allowed to watch on T.V., and second by second, I decide what I’m going to spend my time doing. Often, I make these decisions on my own. I’m self-reliant. And honestly, I’ve always liked being independent and doing what want. But my self-reliance is a sin.

Israel was self-reliant, too. They were prosperous, and in their prosperity they stopped depending on God. They gave God outer devotion when they filled the temple, offered sacrifices, and prayed without trusting God, but their worship was detestable to God (Isaiah 1:13). Their sin was that they trusted themselves. They listened to the religious teachers they wanted to believe instead of the prophets sent by God who spoke the truth. They chose the lifestyles that they desired and were apathetic to the moral commands that God gave them. When they made their decisions, they trusted what they thought was right, or at least pleasing, instead of turning to God with contrite hearts to learn and obey what He declared as right.

If you are like me and are trusting your own judgment instead of God’s, then join me in praying for God’s forgiveness and memorize Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (NASB)

Lord, please forgive me for trusting my own judgment instead of your wisdom. I pray for your help to make my decisions based on your Word, the Bible. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading Plan:

Week 1 – Psalm 119:1-40
How have you wandered from God’s commandments (vs. 10)? What habits can you begin today to treasure His commandments in your heart (vs. 11)?

Week 2 – Psalm 119: 41-88
Will you pray this week for God to give you understanding to learn His commandments?

Week 3 – Psalm 119:89-128
Do you use God’s Word as a lamp for your feet (vs. 105)? Will you schedule a time to make daily Bible reading a habit this week?

Week 4 – Psalm 119:129-176
What do you find wonderful about God’s Word (vs. 129)?

Previously published in Salem First Free Methodist newsletter.

More Than Sufficient

2010-09-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21 KJV

As this summer began, I diligently spent time with God in the mornings. It’s my regular schedule to wake up at 6 am, drink a cup of tea, and read my Bible and pray. Later in the summer, and especially when I struggled with a bad cold, I slept more in the mornings and never made time later in the day to read the Bible and pray. Soon, I felt the guilt. Why had I set God aside? Was the rest of my life more important to me than Him? I confessed to God that I didn’t make time for Him, and this is the verse that comforted me.

God’s grace is more than sufficient to cover all my sins. I do not frustrate His grace. There is nothing I can do that’s so grievous His grace can’t cover it. If my sin was too big for God’s grace, than that would mean that I’d attain righteousness by doing good things (by fulfilling the law). It’s impossible to do! My righteousness is given to me by God through His grace only. It’s like taking a bath in the ocean. My dirt is my sin, and the water is God’s grace. There’s more than enough of it to make me clean!

Bible Reading Plan:

Week 1 – Galatians 1-2
What is the gospel that we should not depart from? (Gal. 1:9)

Week 2 – Galatians 3
How do we gain righteousness? (3:21)

Week 3 – Galatians 4-5
What does it mean to walk by the Spirit? (5:25)

Week 4 – Galatians 6
What good do you need to not grow weary in doing? (6:9)

Previously published in Salem First Free Methodist newsletter.

We're All Different

2010-07-16T14:34:00.001-07:00

“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.”
John 21:7 NASB

Peter and John were unique in how they responded to Jesus. Enthusiastic Peter requested Jesus to wash not just his feet but his whole body at the Last Supper. Peter also declared that he would die for Jesus right before Jesus told him that he would deny knowing Him three times before the rooster crowed. In contrast to Peter’s impulsiveness, John watched and thought deeply about what he observed Jesus say and do. At the tomb, Peter rushed in to see what had happened while John hung back. John had reached the tomb first, yet he entered after Peter. Likewise, in John 21, it was observant John who first recognized that Jesus had filled their net with fish. Although John knew first that it was Jesus, in response to John’s statement, it was Peter who leapt into the sea.

We’re all different. Jesus used Peter’s enthusiasm for evangelism after Jesus returned to heaven while John became the author of the gospel of John; the letters 1,2, and 3 John; and the book of Revelation. Our unique character traits are tools in God’s hands. Sometimes we want to be like someone else, yet if we were like them, we wouldn’t be able to fulfill the work He planned for us.

Dear Lord, Help me to surrender all that I am to you to be used as you have planned. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Bible Reading Plan:

Week 1 – John 21:1-8
What work has Jesus done in your life lately that you can recognize and praise Him for?

Week 2 – John 21:9-14
How has Jesus fed you this week?

Week 3 – John 21:15-18
What sheep or lambs does Jesus want to you care for?

Week 4 – John 21:19-25
Jesus said, “Follow me.” (vs. 19) Have you chosen to follow Him?

Previously published in Salem First Free Methodist newsletter.

Jesus in Us

2010-07-16T14:32:00.001-07:00

“I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”
John 17:23 NASB

When Jesus lived on the earth, He was still one with His Father just as He was before His incarnation. He enjoyed unity with the Father, He prayed to Him, and He lived in peace carrying out His Father’s will. John 17:23 says that His Father was in Him. Jesus’s life was without anxiety and worry because He spent time talking to Him and knew exactly what He was to do every day. Jesus dwelled in true intimacy.
Just as the Father is in Him, Jesus states that He is in us when we confess Him as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). His relationship with the Father gives us a picture of the relationship He wants with us. He abides in us. We can talk to Him just as He talks to His Father. Just as Jesus lived in peace everyday regardless of His circumstances, so we, too, can live in peace daily because we can pray to our Lord and ask Him His will. When we are carrying out His will, He will take care of the details. We don’t need to worry, and indeed we shouldn’t worry. If we did, we wouldn’t be telling Jesus we didn’t trust Him.
Jesus wants this type of relationship with you today because He loves you this much. He enjoys you and delights in you. He wants to dwell in true intimacy with you. Have you confessed Jesus as Lord and do you believe that God raised Him from the dead? If you have, are you talking to God daily and dwelling with Him in peace? If not, why not?

Dear Lord, I want you to be Lord of my life, and I want to dwell with you in peace. Please show me how. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Bible Reading Plan:

Week 1 – John 17
Jesus wants to show you His glory (vs. 24). What do you think that looks like?

Week 2 – John 18
Why do you think Peter denied Jesus? What would you have done?

Week 3 – John 19
Who has authority over you (vs. 11)? Who gave them that authority?

Week 4 – John 20
Do believe like Thomas (vs. 28)? What does that mean for your daily decisions and commitments?

Previously published in Salem First Free Methodist newsletter.

Do As I Have Done

2010-07-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
John 13:3-5 NIV

Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew it was almost time for Him to return to the Father, and He wanted to show the full extent of His love to His disciples (vs. 1). We can picture Him in our minds as He rose from the table to do a servant’s job of washing the vile, dirty, and smelly feet of those He loved so much. Just as He left the table at Passover to serve His own, Jesus had left the table of heaven to save all who would trust in Him for salvation. He removed His outer clothing of royal robes to put on the towel of humanity and pour the water of His blood in order to cleanse us of our vile, dirty, and smelly sins. He served us with all He had because of His deep love for us before He returned to His Father in heaven, and He commands us to do the same.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (vs. 14) We are to go and serve others out of the same motivation – love. Just like Jesus, we’ll also go to heaven someday if we’ve confessed that Jesus is Lord and have believed in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). But before we go to heaven, we need to realize that our time here is limited and must wash others feet by doing the good deeds God has given us while there is still time.
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (vs. 15) Jesus leaves us with the command to do as He has done. How can you serve others today?

Dear Lord, Please show me the good deeds that You have planned for me to do today. Help me to do them out of love. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Bible Reading Plan:

Week 1 – John 13
How are you loving “one another” today?

Week 2 – John 14
How have you taken Jesus’s peace upon you this week? (vs. 27)

Week 3 – John 15
In what area of your life do you need God’s pruning?

Week 4 – John 16
What does Jesus say the Holy Spirit does in our lives?

Previously published in Salem First Free Methodist newsletter.

God gives strength

2010-05-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

When I read 1st Samuel 17 I learned that God gave David the strength to face Goliath. So that means God can give you and me the strength when we face tough situations.

Alyssa age 7 almost 8

The Cost of the Truth

2010-05-09T15:04:00.000-07:00

“He then answered, ‘Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know,
that though I was blind, now I see.’” John 9:25 NASB
“’If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.’” John 9:33 NASB

Jesus and His disciples passed by a man who’d been blind since birth. His disciples questioned Jesus whether the man was blind because of his sin or his parents’s sin. “Jesus answered, ‘It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’” (John 9:3 NASB) He then compassionately made clay with his spit and dirt, applied it to his eyes, and had him wash in the pool of Siloam. The man was miraculously healed, and everyone around, many who’d probably known him since childhood, asked how this had happened. The man told the truth, but they didn’t believe him.

“Others were saying, ‘This is he,’ still others were saying, ‘No, but he is like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the one.’” (John 9:9 NASB) After repeated questioning, the man didn’t change his story - he kept telling the truth. He was blind, and now he could see. Finally they brought him to the Pharisees, the religious leaders, to tell them what had happened. The Pharisees questioned him, yet they refused to believe that Jesus was from God because He’d healed on the Sabbath. They even summoned the man’s parents to make sure that he really had been born blind. Afterward they questioned the man again. He concluded, “’If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.’” (John 9:33 NASB) With this statement, they kicked him out. This meant that he was never allowed in the synagogue again and would be rejected in society. The townspeople that he grew up with, and possibly even his family, would never welcome him again. He lost everything.

Jesus heard that he had been put out and went and found him. Jesus asked him if he believed in the Son of Man. The man inquired who this was so that he could believe. “Jesus said to him, ‘You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.’ And he said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ And he worshiped Him.” (John 9:37-38 NASB) Jesus revealed more of Himself to him. This formerly blind man had acted upon the truth of healing that he’d already had by testifying before the townspeople and religious leaders, and thus Christ rewarded him with more. Jesus had said that the man was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him. These works were not just the miraculous healing. This man brought God glory when he risked everything to proclaim his limited understanding of Jesus in from of the townspeople and the religious rulers. The pool that he’d washed in was Siloam which means Sent. He was sent to testify to the truth. The cost of the truth for him was everything, but Jesus rewarded him with more of Himself, which more than made up for it all.

What is the cost of the truth for you? Are you willing to pay it? When we act upon the truth that we already have, He will reveal more of Himself to us. He is worth more and is more satisfying than anything we could give up.

Dear Lord, I give all that I have to you! Help me to testify to the truth that you have given me today. I look forward to knowing more of who you are. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Bible Reading Plan:

Week 1 – John 9
What did the formerly blind man do when Jesus revealed Himself as the Son of Man?

Week 2 – John 10
Do you hear Jesus’s voice today as one of His sheep? What is He saying to you?

Week 3 – John 11
What does Jesus’s miraculous act of raising Lazarus from the dead say about who He is?

Week 4 – John 12
Who did the Jews think Jesus was when they laid palm branches down for Him? What did they expect from Him?

Previously published in Salem First Free Methodist newsletter.

Streams of Living Water

2009-12-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:37-39 NASB

The feast in this passage was the Feast of Booths (John 7:2) also called the Feast of Tabernacles. During this week long celebration, the Israelites rejoiced in God’s provision during their time in the desert where they lived in tents (booths or tabernacles) as well as His current provision in their harvest. Each year at this time, the Israelites made booths out of palm branches and lived in them for the week. The Israelites thanked God for His care of them, and they remembered their dependence upon Him as their provider.

On the last day, the priests drew water and poured it out in the temple before as a remembrance of God giving them water to drink in the desert. While they were traveling in the desert under the leadership of Moses, God gave them water out of a rock which was Christ. Now Jesus is speaking to the crowd on the last day of this feast, the day when the water was poured out, and declared that He was the source of water. Not just physical water that temporarily sustains us, but living water that gives us eternal life and that can spill out of us onto others.

How do we get rivers of living water to flow from us? First, we must believe that Jesus is God, that He is the only payment for our sin, and that He rose from the dead and is living in heaven today. Second, we need to study the Bible so that we can obey Him, and we must pray to Him for ourselves and others. Third, I am reminded of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5: 22-23 NASB, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” When I picture water flowing from me, I want these fruits to spill over onto those around me.

Will you pray today that rivers of living water will flow from you?

Lord, we thank you that you are the source of living water. Please help us to obey you and to have the fruits of the Spirit to spill your water onto those around us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Bible reading plan:

Week 1 – John 5
Which was more important – the man’s physical healing or Jesus forgiving his sins?

Week 2 – John 6
Why did the crowds seek Jesus the next day after the miraculous feeding of the 5,000? Did they want physical or spiritual food? What do you want from Jesus?

Week 3 – John 7
Are you willing to do Jesus’ will? (vs. 17)

Week 4 – John 8
What was Jesus’ response to the adulterous woman?

Previously published in Salem First Free Methodist Newsletter

Growing My Saplings

2009-11-25T16:10:00.000-08:00

My children are young, and each are unique. My daughter is energetic, enthusiastic, and completely engaged in whatever she is doing. My son loves to build, is more cautious, yet he keeps up with his sister. God made them with gifts, interests, and potential. However, in parenting them, I wonder, "What is my main goal?" I certainly work to feed their curiosity and grow their minds academically, but most of all I seek to feed them spiritually.

"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law He meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not whither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers."
Psalm 1:1-3 NASB

They are my saplings. I want them to be trees planted by streams of water, but it is my job to plant them there. If I put them in sports that have games on Sundays instead of having them in church, that is where they will be planted. Or if I plant them in front of the T.V. instead of teaching them from God's Word by acting out the story of Noah's Arc, than they will be planted in whatever the T.V. teaches them. They will learn whatever they experience whether or not I'm intentional. So I pray to be intentional. As I put my three year old down to bed at night, I say, "Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you. But most of all, God loves you more than we do, and He made you very special." This is what I want him to know; this is where I want him to be planted. If he knows that God loves him even more than we do, than God is who he'll want to know when he grows up.

What Can God Do?

2009-11-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

By, Alyssa R. M.

God can do everything He wants! He can turn people into animals (remember King Nebuchadnezzer ate grass like an ox and grew hair and claws found in Daniel 4?), and He is the boss of His angels. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1), God sent him with the message. God can even keep people safe from fire like when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were kept safe from burning in the fire by God's angel. He can make animals talk like Balaam's donkey talked to him, and He can provide people with food when they don't have food like when Jesus fed 5,000 people. God can do everything!

Dad

2009-11-19T08:37:00.001-08:00

My Dad,
Faithful,
Generous,
Kind,
Steadfast,
Dependable,
Love.

You've given me an image of God. Thank you for all that you've done and continue to do. I'm an expensive investment, yet you have invested in me anyway. I love you.

With much love, your daughter,

Joanne

Time to Rest and Pray

2009-11-16T06:51:00.000-08:00

I often procrastinate in prayer. Bible study is exciting for me because there is always a new thought or idea. It's an adventure to find what God says, and how He applies it to my life. But prayer and reflection? Now that's difficult for me. I have so much to do (or think that I need to do) that I don't stop to think! But I learned that even Jesus probably was tempted not to pray.

It's recorded that Jesus took His disciples away to rest and pray. "And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.'" (Mark 6:31 NASB) Other places in Scripture record how He drew away by Himself to pray, but Hebrews 4:15 NASB says, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." So while Jesus made the time to talk to God, I suspect that He was tempted not to. The difference? I fall into the temptation to not pray while He was perfect in His victory over temptation.

If you, like me, are tempted to avoid rest, prayer, and reflection fear not. We can ask God to help us through the Holy Spirit so that we can have Christ's victory over temptation. And in all situations you should pray and take your problems to God.

Faith or Fear

2009-11-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

“The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ Jesus replied, ‘You may go. Your son will live.’ The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” John 4:49-50 NIV

While Jesus was in Cana, a royal official came and begged Jesus to travel twenty miles to Capernaum to heal his dying son. Jesus’ first response sounds like a rebuke. “‘Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,’ Jesus told him, ‘you will never believe.’” (John 4:48 NIV) However in these words Jesus pointed this official to something greater – faith. Then He performed a physical miracle as well as a spiritual one.
Jesus answered the official’s plea to heal his son. “You may go. Your son will live,” Jesus said. Think about this man’s situation. His son lay dying twenty miles away with nothing to heal him. The father’s last resort was a man named Jesus that everyone was talking about. This royal official was not Jewish, yet he went in search of Jesus as his last hope. He begged Jesus to come to his home and to heal his boy, yet Jesus wouldn’t come. How devastating! When Jesus said that the boy would live but that He wouldn’t come, the official ceased his begging. Amazingly, he let Jesus go, took Him at His word and chose faith instead of fear. When he returned home without this mysterious man who performed miracles, his faith was rewarded. Jesus gave him the physical miracle, his son was well, but He also performed the spiritual miracle - his entire household believed. They believed because of the his testimony. He gave the credit to Jesus for the healing.
Where do you need to choose faith instead of earthly fear today? Do you need faith that God will help you overcome an addiction or a negative behavior that is getting in the way? Do you need God’s help with an illness, a divorce, or fatigue? Bring your plea to Jesus.

Lord, you know exactly where I am and what I need. Help me today to chose faith instead of fear, and help me to wait in eager expectation for what you are going to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible reading plan:

Week 1 – John 1
Who did John say Jesus was? Who do you point those around you to?

Week 2 – John 2
Who saw the miracle of the water being turned into wine? Who believed because of it?

Week 3 – John 3
What was Nicodemus’ true need? What is your true need?

Week 4 – John 4
Who believed because of the Samaritan woman’s testimony? Who do you share your testimony with?

Previously published in Salem First Free Methodist Newsletter.

Is Death a Bad Thing?

2009-11-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

Ever since I was diagnosed with cancer, I didn't want to die. I hung onto my life, still do at times, like it was everything. The hardest part was envisioning my family's loss. My husband would lose his wife, and my children would lose their mom. It would leave a devastating hole for the rest of their lives, and I thought that it would cause irreparable harm to my children. I didn't want that for them or for me. I wanted to be there for everything - for kindergarten, graduation, marriage, and to see my someday grandchildren. I thought that I would lose everything. Then I met a man named Scott.

My husband works at a Christian camp and conference center. We meet a lot of people almost every week of the year. Earlier this year we had a helping hands weekend and a man named Scott came to volunteer. After talking to him, I learned that his wife died of colon cancer 5 years ago. They had small children at the time, and the loss was devastating for all of them. Their youngest was adopted and required a lot of help and attention. To parent this little girl alone was difficult to undertake. But then Scott wove the story on. God used her illness to ignite their faith once again. They already believed in Jesus, but they had grown comfortable and complacent. Now they were excited about God once again. After she died, God used her death in the children's lives to grow their faith in ways that they would not have experienced before.

I saw as never before that if I died, God would still be at work in my family's lives in ways that I cannot understand now. Death is not a bad thing. It is not the enemy, and God's hand transcends death. When I am in heaven, I will be someday, God is still here at work here. And my family is now and always will be in His hand.

What do you need to trust God with today?

"Look, the Lamb of God"

2009-10-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

I enjoy people. Their different lives and stories fascinate me, but I also hear their heartaches and their problems. I hear people talking about problems with their children (regardless of how old their children are), problems in their marriages, and financial troubles. Sometimes I have advice to offer, but often there isn't anything for me to say. What should we do when friends share their hearts with us?

1. Be careful when offering advice. Sometimes I give my own, human solutions to their problems. This is dangerous ground, and one that I need to be better at avoiding. I should never point to my own intelligence as the solution, and I should not rely upon myself. This misleads the person that I am trying to help.

2. Always point to the Lamb of God. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, He pointed everyone around him to Christ himself. When he saw Jesus, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29b NIV). When John gave all of his followers to Jesus, he gave up his ministry. John knew that it was not about him because it was about God. He listened to God so closely that he knew the Christ when he saw Him, and he wanted everyone else to know Christ as well. We need to follow John's example and point those around us to God as the solution to their problems. Jesus cares about our struggles, and He wants to help us.

Are you willing to point your friends to God as the solution to their problems? What else should we do when people share their hearts with us?

Has God Given Me Enough?

2009-10-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

What is my godliness dependant on? Is it dependant upon me? Do I need to make myself righteous? I try so hard every day in every situation to make the right choices and to have all of the right attitudes, yet I still fail often. At times my kids ask non-stop questions, and I sigh because I've run out of patience. Or a friend makes a comment that stings, but it stings only because of my useless pride. Has God given me what I need to lead a godly life? What should I incorporate in order to achieve this godliness? Good Christian books? Perhaps I should have a Christian role-model either from my community or through Christian media? What has God provided so that I can become godly? Has God given me enough?

1. Jesus Christ has been provided as my example. Philippians 2:5 (NIV) says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" which means that Jesus is who I need to pattern myself after. Hebrews 1:3a (NIV) "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." I am to follow Jesus' example because He is the only exact representation of God. There are wonderful Christian people all around me, but in reality they are just people. They fail just like me at times, and they come and go in my life. Some move, some change jobs, and some just drift away. If they are who I rely on, then I may be choosing behavior that isn't as godly as I think, and they may not always be there when I think that I need them. I enjoy their fellowship, and if I learn something valuable from my Christian friends, that is great. But I must be completely dependent upon Christ for my godliness training. He will never let me down. I must regard good Christian books in the same way. They can benefit me, but I should depend on the Bible's teaching of Christ for my Christian growth. Nothing should replace God's direct word - the Bible.

2. Jesus begins and ends His work in making me godly. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:22-24 (NIV) When Jesus died on the cross for all the wrong things I think, say, and do, He provided the only way for me to be right with God. This is the foundation of my godliness, His payment for my sins. He will also finish the work He began in me because Philippians 1:6 (NIV) states, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

God is faithful to transform us into the image of Christ. In the end, if we have placed our trust and faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and have been adopted into God's kingdom as His sons and daughters, we will be changed to be just like Jesus. We will be complete in every way.

Jesus My Hope

2009-09-21T06:39:00.001-07:00

I have a lot of faults. Struggles with irritability, criticalness, and fear become overwhelming to me. Sometimes I feel like I will never overcome these sins that creep up time and again. But then I read about Jesus.

"He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God" John 1:11-12 NIV

My hope lies in Him because He came to make me God's child. Jesus is holy; He is without sin. He is what I will become because God will not leave me alone. He continually changes me and is making me more like Jesus. Jesus is my hope because He is my future. I will someday be completely like Him, and I will dwell in God's presence like He does. For that, I am grateful. Because of Him, I have hope.

How has God given you hope?

Productivity

2009-09-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

As I embarked upon my schedule this fall, productivity was at the top of my list. How can I claim every moment of every day and make the time submit to what I want, and feel I need, to get done? I want to work with all of my heart and strength as unto the Lord since it is He that I serve and my days here on earth are fleeting. So I created a schedule that I felt was divinely inspired. Every moment was accounted for. Now that I am in week two of this schedule, God has opened my eyes to see that it is just a guide. The schedule is a framework, not a task master. I must make room for God to interrupt my schedule with what He wants accomplished in my day. Yesterday a dear friend needed help and asked if her son could play at our house, and without hesitating I said yes. This morning my son wanted to snuggle in the rocking chair. So I took a half an hour and held him. Is my schedule off this morning? Yes. But are people's needs met? Yes, and that is God's heart.

Fear

2009-09-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

Fear is my constant companion. Everyone experiences fear to some degree in their lives, and some people are like me - I wrestle through it daily. I am afraid of failing as a parent, of people's criticisms, of not achieving success in my work, of disappointing my husband, and I worry about my health. My husband, however, hardly ever struggles with this tyrant. He views life in a completely different manner than I do. He is seldom afraid and walks confidently forward in life while I cower in fear. He takes risks, while I avoid them. It is limiting, and I find myself passing by opportunities that God wants me to engage in. Why? Because I am afraid. But I am missing out on some the colors that could make the portrait of my life beautiful. I am only painting with black and white while leaving out all of the color.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." 1 John 4:18 NASB

God wants us to trust completely in His love. It is His love that casts out fear, and it is Him that has not only created me but has cared for me everyday of my life. Do I fail sometimes? Yes. Do I sometimes suffer? Yes. But should I be afraid of these things? No, because even in the midst of the most terrible and distressing situation, I can trust His hand to be in it. He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28), and He will work it for my good. If I avoid all of the situations that I am afraid of, then fear wins, and I pass by opportunities for not only myself to grow, but to involve myself in other peoples lives. Perfect love roots out and removes fear, and I should not be afraid to step forward.

What are you afraid of? Go ahead and share in the comments.

Forgive As the Lord Forgave You

2009-08-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

Recently I held a grudge against someone that I see often. This person has consistently given me the "cold shoulder" when I can't think of anything that I have done wrong. In addition to this, the "cold shoulder", I perceive, has extended to my family. How have I responded to this injustice? By nursing a grudge. I have been angry to the point of wanting to avoid the offender. I want this person to go away, permanently. How sad. God wants me to love and to pray for the one who insults me (at least I feel insulted, even if it very well may be unintended), but my first inclination is to be angry and to alienate. Then I came to this passage:

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12 NIV

What has the Lord forgiven me? Everything. Every wrong thought and action I have done, He has forgiven. I am to forgive whatever grievances I have against others. I should forgive even when the other person isn't sorry, even when they continue to treat me poorly, and even when I don't want to. So I did. I forgave this person, and you know what happened? As I was friendlier in how I greeted the other person, the response was kinder. We have even had a couple of brief, friendly conversations. I am happier, I pray for this individual, and life is better. God's forgiveness works. I have been set free.

Book Review: Blue Like Play Dough

2009-08-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

I am skeptical when it comes to books. I am downright picky. A book has to really be good to get on my good side. Tricia Goyer's book, Blue Like Play Dough, has earned this right.

The subtitle of this book says it all, "the shape of motherhood in the grip of God." Goyer shares her experience of becoming a mom and all that it entails while illustrating how God has molded her in His hands. With each chapter, I saw myself. I felt understood and challenged to allow God to change me. I even prayed to be changed.

This book is published by Multnomah and more information can be found at www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.

Aroma

2009-08-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the privilege to attend a writer's conference where I got to have sweat pour down my spine and had to rub my hands on my pants in order to greet people with a friendly handshake. This was my first conference where editors and agents were available to chat with, but there was one drawback - the heat!

Now, I am not usually a pansy when it comes to heat. Sure I get a bit uncomfortable when it gets over 90 degrees, but hey, I can't change it. I might as well deal with it and get on with life. But at this conference, the first day was 107 degrees, and the second day was 108 degrees and HUMID! Even while I was just sitting, sweat would run down the side of my face. There is a bi-product to sweat that we all know about and with which I am very well acquainted now - body odor.

On the second day, around 3 o'clock I realized that I was starting to stink. I was not an overnight attendee, therefore, I had no room to retreat to in order to reapply my deodorant. And the evening session didn't end until 8:30! So I am sure that while I could tell that I had a cloud of stench emanating from my body, it probably affected my fellow conferees. While our body odor is noticeable to those around us, what else do we exude that others are affected by?

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?"

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NIV

At the conference I may have been the smell of death physically (maybe not the smell of death, but I am sure they didn't want to stick around to talk), but I hope to also be fragrant spiritually. If how I smell physically is so influential, am I as influential spiritually? I can increase my influence by drenching myself in God's Word and prayer. These things change my heart and my perspective. They cause me to be more focused on others. They are my perfume. I truly want to be the fragrance of Christ.

What causes you to be the fragrance of Christ?

If You Abide in Christ, You Will Bear Much Fruit

2009-07-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

As I walk through my day, my goal is to accomplish a lot. I usually start with a mental checklist of what I want to do that day. It generally feels like a list of what I need (instead of want) to do, but theoretically I suppose that I don’t need to do very much at all. While I work through my mental list, I often become impatient (because the list is long), and I forget to interact with the people around me. I become so task oriented that I forget about my relationships which should be my first priority. My husband, children, friends, and others that cross my path are set aside while I chase the idol of “getting everything done.” Is this bearing fruit? Before we look at what fruit is, we should address life. What is life? Well, we typically define a person as living when they can breathe and their heart beats. But this only addresses physical life. Many of us have met people who can do these functions and yet are dead - either emotionally, physically, or spiritually dead. So if we are in this category, how can we find life? It is only in Christ. We are all born with sin which is all the wrong things we think, say, or do. Ever since the first man and woman were alive, sin has been in every human heart. Romans 3:23 NASB “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” We want to do things our way. Because God loves us so much, He provided for our sin to be paid for. Sin requires a price, and that price is death. If we don’t want to pay the price for our sin, spiritual death which is eternal punishment in hell, then we must accept Christ’s payment on the cross for our sin. To do this, we confess to God that we are sinners, that we believe that Jesus is God and paid for our sin on the cross, and that we want His payment for our sin. When we do this, we become God’s children, we receive eternal life which is life in heaven forever after we physically die, and we also receive His Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts. This leaves the questions we began with, what is fruit and how can we produce fruit in our lives?

Galatians 5:22-23 NASB says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” This means that while I work through my to-do list, I am to embody all of these things. If I do the dishes yet don’t show my daughter kindness when she interrupts me with a question, then I am not bearing fruit. If my husband asks me to fill our car up with gas when I go to the grocery store yet I don’t show him joy in saying yes, then I am not bearing fruit. John 15:5 NASB states, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” These are Jesus’ words. If we don’t believe in Jesus, then He doesn’t live in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and we cannot bear fruit. If we don’t spend time reading the Bible and filling our minds with His Word, then we can do nothing. He is the vine that gives us life here on earth and in eternity. We must abide in Him if we want to bear much fruit. Will you chose life today? If you don’t chose life, then you are choosing death, and that has eternal consequences.

Grace, Love, and Fellowship

2009-07-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV

How much do you love people? Paul loved the Corinthians. They weren't easy to love. His letters tell us that he had to rebuke them and work through misconceptions. The relationship was not easy. But he ends this letter with love and blessing. Do you want to bless others, even those people in your life that are difficult or hurt you? You can pray this scripture as a prayer for them. The more we love, speak the word in truth, and pray for the others, the more opportunities they have for coming closer to God.

Lord, help me to love even when it is difficult. Help me to be generous in my prayers for other people. I pray that I will labor on their behalf. In Jesus' name, Amen.

My Grace is Sufficient

2009-07-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

God wants me to turn my weaknesses over to Him. He will make me strong and all the glory will go to Him. What are my weaknesses? Being afraid, misusing my time, fear of failure, shyness, and my list could go on and on. When I wallow in my weaknesses and neglect to turn them over to God, then I am not letting Him work in my life in those areas. Other people suffer because what I do affects them as well. Find your own weaknesses and list them before the Lord. Hand them over to Him and He will show his power in your life to His glory.

Lord, please help me to overcome these areas to your praise and glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Gospel of God Without Charge

2009-07-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

"Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?" 2 Corinthians 11:7 NASB

Paul kept himself from being a burden to the Corinthian church so that his needs would not distract the church from the message of Christ. Paul trusted God to take care of his physical needs while he ministered. Do I? Sometimes we feel our needs acutely. However, He will be faithful to provide all that we need physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. We do not need to worry. We can step out and obey what God wants us to do even when it means a sacrifice because He is faithful to give us what we need to live as well as what we need to give.

Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. You supply all our needs in every way. Thank you for providing for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Divinely Powerful

2009-07-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

"For though we walk in the flesh, we don not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NASB

We live, move, and breath in our physical bodies, yet there is another very real dimension to our existence. The spiritual world. It isn't difficult to believe in our own spirituality, that we have souls, for many people believe this. But it can be difficult to believe that there are evil spiritual forces at work which we are battling against in living out Christ's commands. The apostle Paul reminds us that the weapons we use are powerful and able to destroy Satan's footholds.

Lord, please help me to be obedient to the do the work that you have called me to do. As I do it, destroy the fortresses that Satan has set up in people's lives so that they will be free in Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.

He Who Supplies

2009-07-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

"Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God."

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NASB

Paul is addressing the Corinthians' readiness and willingness to minister to the saints monetarily through a bountiful gift. They had committed to it and now was the time to follow through and do it. He assured them that God would supply the means to minister liberally. Do I have faith that God will use my gift liberally? That He will supply what is needed in every way? What do you need to step out in today in faith that He will supply what you need so that you can serve others?

Lord, please supply all I need for my ministry to your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

For the Glory of the Lord Himself

2009-06-27T20:48:00.000-07:00

"And not only this, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this glorious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness"
2 Corinthians 8:19 NASB

Paul discusses his ministry to the churches in this letter to the Corinthians. He went about his ministry with "earnestness," and he wanted to show his "readiness". He wanted to outwardly demonstrate to God what was in his heart through the zeal with which he served. How we go about our work is as important as what we choose to do. This is directly shown in the quality of our labor. With what effort do you go about your daily tasks? Would others consider you earnest in how you serve God every day? Sometimes serving God is simply going to a regular job daily with all your heart and doing your best. Sometimes it is doing an excellent job mopping the kitchen floor, or smiling at our children or grandchildren. Paul also states that he was doing his work "for the glory of the Lord Himself". This is why we should serve with enthusiasm - for His glory and His alone.

Lord, help me in all that I do to be earnest and to prove my readiness. May it be for your glory, not mine. In Jesus' name, Amen

What Earnestness

2009-06-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

"For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter." 2 Corinthians 7:11 NASB

Paul sent a letter to the Corinthians to convict them of their sin. This caused temporary pain yet eternal fruit. The Corinthians repented and became earnest and zealous for God. What do I need to be convicted of that will bring about good when I repent and change? Who do I need to speak truth to in order to bring about good in their lives?

Lord, help me to do your work and say your words today. Help me to love others as you do and desire to do right in my own life so that I will bless them. In Jesus' name, Amen.

What am I Restrained by?

2009-06-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

"You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections."

2 Corinthians 6:12 NASB

Paul and Timothy tell the Corinthians that they are not hindering them but that the Corinthians are held back by their own affections. What could those affections be? Paul goes on to say that they should not be bound with unbelievers which was one of their affections. He also explains that they should come out and be separate from the world and separate themselves from the unbelievers. God promises to welcome us when we are obedient to that command. So what are my affections that restrain me today? I must be willing to give them up at any moment to go and follow God.

Lord, help me to sacrifice my own desires in order to serve you and my family. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Be Reconciled to God

2009-06-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB

In Christ, God reconciled the world to Himself. He no longer counted men's sin (all of the wrong things we think, say, and do) against them that put their faith in Jesus. Now Paul begs the Corinthians to be reconciled with God through Christ, and we must be sure to be reconciled to him as well. If we are not reconciled to God and our sins count against us, then we suffer the consequence of death and eternal hell. We all have a choice to make - believe in Jesus (that He is God, came to die on the cross to pay for our sins, was raised from the dead and now lives in heaven) or refuse to believe and someday suffer death and hell. Will you make the choice today? If you want to believe in Jesus today, you can pray a prayer like this:

Lord, I come before you a sinner. Please forgive my sin and thank you for paying for my sin through Christ's death on the cross. I want you to be Lord of my life today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

An Eternal Weight of Glory

2009-06-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NASB

My children are the main work of my life. They require my all - my every thought, effort and plan. They also require much training and discipline. It takes effort to mold not only their behavior, but their very character. Teaching them to think about others - how they feel and how certain actions affect them - takes time. Yet as I pour my whole being into them and labor for these dear children not only physically but also in prayer, God assures me that this time of what can feel like affliction is producing in them an eternal weight of glory. What is not visibly seen in them is what lasts for eternity. It is all worth it, every moment.

Lord, help me to continue in this task. Let me expand my prayers for my children. I am preparing them to serve You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Our Adequacy is From God

2009-06-07T21:36:00.000-07:00

"Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God."

2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB

Paul and Timothy address their ability to serve. It is not because of their strength and knowledge that they are able to teach and minister, but it is God's. So it is with me. Whatever I do, I must do it dependant upon God. If I don't, then I fail, and there is not eternal fruit. Regardless of what my job is, even if it isn't a "job", I must be seeking to please God in it and trust Him to work through me. There is also relief in knowing that my adequacy is from God. I am acutely aware of my shortcomings, and I praise God that He can make me adequate to complete the task before me. When my task is finished, all glory will go to Him because surely it was Him and not me.

Lord, help me to depend on you today. I praise you that it is by your strength and wisdom that I am able to accomplish what you have set before me. In Jesus' name, Amen

Forgive in the Sight of Christ

2009-06-07T21:28:00.000-07:00

"If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven -- if there was anything to forgive -- I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NIV

Recently I was deeply offended by an individual. I would consider myself someone who is not prone to anger nor easily offended, but I was filled with anger whenever I thought of this person. I knew that my attitude wasn't right even though I felt justified. The solution I wanted to the problem was for this person to just be removed from my life, yet this was not God's plan. God's plan is forgiveness. I forgave. Not only for my sake did I forgive, but to save all involved from Satan's attacks. When we are offended and angry, we are divided. God wants God's people united in Christ.

Lord, please forgive me my anger and help me to forgive others. Fill me with compassion for them. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Rely On God

2009-06-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

"Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." 2 Corinthians 1:9 NIV

Paul and Timothy suffered in Asia. They were under so much pressure that they thought they could not endure it, and they even despaired for their lives. Paul writes that his circumstances happened so that he and Timothy would not rely upon themselves but on God. They state that the Corinthians' prayers helped them and that many will give thanks because of God's gracious favor granted them. When we suffer, we have the opportunity to rely upon God and not upon ourselves. It is when we do this that we glorify God and can give Him thanks for how He works through our difficult situations. We also grant others the chance to praise God in what they see in our lives. When we are able to handle everything that comes our way, all the glory goes to us instead.

I give thanks to you today, God, for granting me this time on earth. What gracious favor you have bestowed upon me. Thank you that Paul and Timothy struggled and relied upon you. Help me to rely upon you as well. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Do Everything in Love

2009-06-06T15:23:00.000-07:00

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith, be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

Be on your guard - from what? From fear, doubt, attacks of many kinds - physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, lies, temptations, and the list goes on and on. Be on your guard from anything that takes you away from the truth and from passionately serving the Lord. Don't become apathetic and lukewarm. Stand firm, steady, and sure in the truth. And do everything in love. Do you ever do anything out of duty or for something in return? I do. Where is the fruit in that? I must do it out of love. Without love, I am nothing and fruitless, like a withered plant.

Lord, help me to do all things in love. Forgive me for my fear and doubt. In Jesus' name, Amen.

O Death, Where is Your Sting?

2009-06-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NASB

There is no power in death when one has accepted Christ's payment for their sin on the cross. Death has no sting, and no eternal dominion. Even here on earth, ones days are marked before one is ever born. I can trust God's will for my life and not live in fear because my destiny is held by God. My life, death, and eternal life are already set by Him. Often with suffering, I try to control it. I try to make the outcome what I want it to be, and I plead with God to do my will. Yet, my attitude must be one of submission. Thy will be done, O Lord, on earth as it is in heaven. There is no fear in submission.

Lord, thy will be done in my life as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Clanging Cymbal

2009-05-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." I Corinthians 13:1 NIV

Regardless of what my gifting is, if I don't have love, I am nothing. I am worse than nothing, I am a noisy, annoying person. How can God use that? 1 Corinthians 16:14 says to do everything in love. So what is love? Love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not easily angered, does not keep record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, rejoices with the truth, always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

Lord, help me to love others. Use me as you desire. Help me to persevere in my love for those around me even when it is difficult or I am tempted to be easily angered. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Manifestation of the Spirit

2009-05-31T20:41:00.000-07:00

"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."

1 Corinthians 12:7 NIV

God has placed me where I am in the body of Christ. He has assigned me certain gifts for the good of everyone. Verses 8-10 list different gifts including wisdom, knowledge, healing, and prophecy. We are all different and are used in different ways. It is important to understand that our gifts are not for ourselves, and when we don't use them, we are not the only ones affected. They are for the common good - the good of everyone. Verse 11 says, "he gives them to each one, just as he determines." I am not in charge of who gets what gift, nor am I able to choose which gift I have. God determines who gets which gifts and how we are to utilize them. I need to simply obey and allow him to use me as he determines. I need to be completely submitted to Him so that I can be effective in the role He has given me.

Lord, forgive me for trying to control you and your will. Help me to be still, know that you are God and do your will not mine. Thank you for your patience. In Jesus' name, Amen.

When We Are Judged

2009-05-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

"When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians 11:32 NIV

God judges us. He judges us while we are still on earth, yet He judges us with a purpose. He disciplines us so that we will not follow the path of the world, because we don't want to be condemned with the world. Just as Israel was to live differently than the nations, so I am to live differently than the world. I am to raise my family differently as well. What areas has God brought to light that you are going to be judged on? What do you need to change today? How has our culture affected your thinking, and where do you need to bring it into alignment with God's?

Lord, I know what you want me to do differently. Please give me what I need to do it and help me to be obedient to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Nevertheless

2009-05-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

"They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. . . . Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert."

1 Corinthians 10:2-5 NIV

Here is a warning from Paul that God grants us in the example of Moses and the Israelites. The Israelites are God's people. They were baptized into belonging to God through following the cloud (God) by day, His fire by night, and passing through the Red Sea when chased by the Egyptians. They were fed spiritually by the rock that followed them - Christ Himself. However, even though they belonged to God, many died in the desert because they did not please God. Why didn't they please Him? Here is our warning. They grumbled, worshiped idols, tested God, and committed sexual immorality. We must not commit these same grievous mistakes. Like the Israelites, we are God's people. We have been baptized into Christ, and we are fed spiritually by Christ just like the Israelites. And God is the same today as He was then, and His standard for His people has not changed. We are admonished in 1 Corinthians 10 to stand firm when tempted because our sin will be judged like theirs was. Here is our hope, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV.

Lord, you are faithful. Help me to stand firm in you so that I might not sin against you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Woe Is Me If I Do Not Preach

2009-05-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

"For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion, for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me." 1 Corinthians 9:16-17 NASB

Those God has called to teach must teach. If I teach voluntarily, then I am rewarded. If I teach against my will, then I will be judged by God according to the stewardship given to me. I have been given the stewardship of teaching and thus if I do not, then I am guilty of not being a good steward. Others have been given a different stewardship. Some are gifted to serve, some in giving, and others in hospitality. We are all to be good stewards with what we are given and will thus be judged accordingly. But we must use them voluntarily and when we do, we will be rewarded by our Father in heaven who will be pleased.

Lord, help me to serve you with all of my giftings. May I do so voluntarily and not under compulsion. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I Will Not Cause My Brother to Stumble

2009-05-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

"Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble." 1 Corinthians 8:13 NASB

Under the new covenant of Christ, we are freed from sin through Christ's power. Through our knowledge of Him, we have freedom. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul talks about eating food sacrificed to idols. We know that we are no better nor worse if we eat food sacrificed to idols since there is only one God -- our one true God. However, if there is a weaker brother who does not understand the truth and would be tempted to eat the food in idol worship by seeing you eat the food, that would be sin for them, and you would have caused them to stumble. In what area are we guilty today of causing the others to sin? What about drinking alcohol? If you drink alcohol around someone with an alcohol addiction, then that causes them to stumble. What about food? Do you know of someone who has a food addiction? Then be careful how you eat around them so as to not tempt them to sin. What may be permissable for you can be a stumbling block for someone else.

Lord, help me to not cause others to sin. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Each Man, His Own Wife

2009-05-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

"But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband." 1 Corinthians 7:2 NASB

Paul addresses marriage. He states that it is better to remain unmarried because then you can be completely devoted to God, and your attention will not be divided. However, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:9, "But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion." So, rather than commit immorality by having sex outside of marriage, Paul says that each should have his own wife and each woman should have her own husband. Marriage is not a sin. It is provided by God for our good. What if you have already sinned through sexual immorality? 1 John 1:9 states, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Then go and choose to do right.

Lord, help me to confess my sins to you today and then go and obey your commands. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Such Were Some of You

2009-05-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. . . Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Once we accept Jesus' payment for our sin, we become His children and heirs to the kingdom of God. Paul is reminding the Corinthian church that unbelievers are unrighteous because they have not accepted Christ's righteousness as their own and thus they are not going to inherit the kingdom of God. However, Paul also points out that the Corinthian believers used to be just as unrighteous. But the key word is "were". The believers were washed, yet they are to live apart from their sin now. They are to forsake their immoral behavior and "go and sin no more."

Thank you, God, for washing me clean. Help me to live in obedience. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Not Even to Eat With Such a One

2009-05-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

"But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler -- not even to eat with such a one." 1 Corinthians 5:11 NASB

Paul writes to the Corinthians that they were arrogant by not removing a man from their midst who had sinned by having his father's wife. Paul reminded them that a small amount of yeast contaminates a whole lump of dough. Our sin is like yeast and a little bit can contaminate our whole church. Paul's reprimand was for the good of the church but also for the good of the person. "I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that his Spirit may be saved in the day of the LORD Jesus." 1 Corinthians 5:5 NASB. When we remove someone from our churches because of sin, we hope that they will repent and be restored to fellowship. It is out of love for them, for God, and for the body of the church that such an action is required.

Lord, help me to faithfully cut out sin from my life and guide me in my church relationships. In Jesus' name, Amen.

When We Are Cursed, We Bless

2009-05-09T05:32:00.000-07:00

"We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly." 1 Corinthians 4:12-13a

Paul and the apostles worked hard and suffered slander and abuse. Did they answer back and become defensive? No. They pressed forward in obeying God and left it in God's hands. What should I do when I suffer? What about when someone, even someone who my know God, says things about me? I should do the same. I should bless them, endure the slander, answer kindly, and even pray for that person. For when I pray for them, God will help me to love them. That is true leadership. It happened just two months ago that my husband endured slander. He pressed forward and obeyed God, and he let God deal with the individual. It was easy to dislike the person, and I was tempted to talk about the individual to others. However, I did my best to keep my husband's confidence and follow his example to let God defend him. And God did defend him and even removed the person from his life. Obedience brings blessing. I have prayed for the person and am filled with compassion. I realize that healing from other wounds needs to take place. If we don't follow God's instructions with how to handle slander, we tear down God's ministry and distract others from the gospel.

Lord, help me and my family to imitate Paul. Help us to turn to you with our own pain and frustration so as to continue in love to the people around us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

One Purpose

2009-05-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

"The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. " 1 Corinthians 3:8 NIV

Paul is talking about each persons role in the church and about the fact that each person is directed by God for the purpose of making people grow in Christ. At the time, the people were divided according to who they followed. Some followed Paul, and some followed Apollos. But really both leaders followed God, so they shouldn't have been divided. Only God makes things grow (v.7). What about us? Some of us are Baptist, some Presbyterian, some Methodist, and some Free Methodist. There are many denominations that hold to the basic principle that salvation from our sins is only found in Christ alone who is God in human form. But really, only God makes things grow, and He is the only one that can impart to us life eternal. We should not be divided because of the small differences that we have. We should be thankful for our leaders who help us and impart to us spiritual wisdom if it is straight from God's word, but as different denominations, we should not let the denomination title keep us from loving one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. We, too, will be rewarded according to our labor, and without love, we are nothing.

Lord, help us to love one another and be united in Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Spiritual Man

2009-05-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

"The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment" 1 Corinthians 2:15 NIV

Paul teaches that we are not to seek the wisdom of this world, but the wisdom of God. We receive the wisdom of God through the Holy Spirit which knows the mind of God. Through the Holy Spirit, we are able to make judgments about all things. I want to not have a critical heart, but to simply evaluate different situations so that I know what God's judgment is about them. This is because I want to walk in the Holy Spirit and lead my children in true wisdom. However, while we make judgments by the Holy Spirit, we are not to be concerned about others judging us. Since we follow God, we don't make sense to the world. We should simply be concerned with God's opinion and no other.

Lord, help me to seek your wisdom and approval only. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Agree with One Another

2009-05-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you, and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV

Paul exhorts the Christians in the Corinthian church to love one another and to agree with each other. We are not to have meaningless quarrels and disagreements. How are we to fellowship, live together, and share the gospel if we cannot even get along? It takes effort to work out disagreements and to become united. Should we compromise the truth of the Bible so as to agree? Absolutely not. We should still live in obedience to God's Word. But it is the meaningless disagreements that can divide us so much. So how can we agree when we are so different than each other? Through humility and prayer. We must think of others as better than ourselves.

God, please help me to think of others as better than myself. Help me to be in agreement with my friends while standing firm in your truth. In Jesus' name, Amen

Test His Own Actions

2009-05-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:4-5 NIV

Paul addresses various topics in chapter 6 including reaping what you sow, sharing good things with your instructor, bearing others burdens, and doing good to all people. He teaches that we are to evaluate what we do individually and not compare it to what someone else does. We are to each carry own own load. The jobs that God gives me are different than what He gives someone else. My responsibilities are unique and my abilities are unique. I do compare myself to my friends at times and find myself lacking. This is wrong to do because God made me different than them with different jobs to do.

Lord, please forgive me for comparing myself to others. Help me to be faithful with what you give me to do. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If You are Led by the Spirit

2009-05-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." Galatians 5:18 NASB

Paul had been talking to the Galatians about living according to the freedom of Christ instead of the Law. He said that they had been running well, what hindered them from obeying the truth (5:7)? Someone came and told them that they needed to keep the Law. How often do people come into our lives and give us rules to live up to? I struggle with the messages that I must do certain things to be accepted. These messages come from different people, and at times I feel that I and my family must "measure up" and meet the criteria. But Paul says that if I am led by the Spirit, I am not under the Law, even their law. I must obey as the Spirit leads me and pray to God and all things in my life. Strife is of the flesh, Paul says. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. May I live in peace today.

Lord, help me to obey as you direct and live in peace today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Jerusalem Above

2009-05-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

"But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother."

Galatians 4:26 NIV

Paul taught that there are two covenants. One began with Ishmael, born to a bondwoman, born according to the flesh, a covenant that came from Sinai -- the law which is slavery to sin. This is the Jerusalem on earth. The other covenant is Isaac, the son of the promise, the son of the free woman, and freedom in Christ. This is the Jersulam above. Paul ends, "So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman." Galatians 4:31 NIV Which covenant will I live in today? Slave or free? So often I try to measure up under the law. But I was redeemed from living under the law. I do not need to return. I struggle to measure up, but Jesus freed me. He knew that I wouldn't ever be good enough. I can live today free from feeling that I will never measure up and do all out of love for my LORD.

God, help me to live today in joy and freedom. You are my true Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Because You Believe What You Heard

2009-03-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

"Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?" Galatians 3:5 (NIV)

The Galatians wanted to observe and follow the law, but Paul points out that God gives His Spirit through faith and works miracles through faith. He does not accomplish His work through us following rules and self-righteousness. But what I need most is to have faith in God. He will work His Spirit and miracles in my life when I have faith in Him.

Lord, please help me to trust you to work in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I Do Not Set Aside the Grace of God

2009-03-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

"'I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!'" Galatians 2:21 (NIV)

Paul writes that he confronted Peter about first eating with the Gentiles (people who are not Jewish) but then separating himself from them when certain men from James came. When these Jewish men from James visited, Peter chose to outwardly follow the law again because he was afraid of them. This also led other Jews to join him in the hypocrisy, even Barnabas. What we choose affects others and their choices. The Gentiles were hurt by Peter and the others, and the Jews in Antioch joined him in his sin. In Paul's public admonishment he makes clear that we are justified through Christ alone, no the law. We should not turn back to following a set of rules for salvation for that cannot save us. We are saved by faith in Christ whose death on the cross paid for our sins. Often I try to make myself more holy by being good, and I like following rules. But under Christ alone am I set free.

Lord, please help me to live today for You set free by Your death on the Cross. God, I believe that Jesus is God and that He died for my sins. Thank you that I have life forever because of Him. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Am I Trying to Please Men?

2009-03-24T11:26:00.001-07:00

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

Paul is writing to the Galatians about Christ but is first establishing who he is at the beginning of his letter. He is a servant of God. He is not trying to please men. If he was trying to please people then the Galatians could not trust him and would not listen to his letter. They would be suspicious of his every word wondering what his intentions were. Who am I trying to please? Sometimes I try to please people. . . not God. When I do this, I am not a servant of God. How can I have two masters - people and God? I must singlemindedly seek to serve God and let people think what they want. This is the only way I can bear fruit.

Lord, help me to seek to please you only and be your servant. In Jesus' name, Amen.

He Rebuked Them

2009-03-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

"Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen."

Mark 16:14 (NIV)

The disciples were skeptical and didn't believe the report that Jesus had risen from the dead. Why didn't they? Was this the same lack of faith that plagued them during the storm when Jesus asked, "Where is your faith?" And why did Jesus rebuke them? Jesus had important work for them to do, and in order for them to do it, they had to have faith. Without faith they could accomplish nothing. Through His rebuke, He was challenging them to believe Him. We must have faith in God today. We must trust Him to accomplish His purposes through the work of our hands in whatever He has given us to do. Without Him, we can do nothing.

Lord, help me to have faith in You today and to trust that You will accomplish your plans through the work You have given me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Son of God

2009-03-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

"And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, 'Surely this man was the Son of God!'" Mark 15:39 (NIV)

Jesus was condemned to death on a cross. He was crucified at 3 o'clock, darkness came over the earth from 6-9 o'clock at which point He died and the curtain at the temple was ripped in two from the top to the bottom. The centurion watched Him die, and even the way Jesus died was different. The way He died made the centuion conclude that He was surely the Son of God. What was it that was different? Was it the darkness? The veil? Or was it His manner and how He accepted His death? Whatever it was, it made him believe. Will you choose to believe Jesus today? If you do believe in the Son of God, will you trust Him to be your Lord today? He is our strength, and we must trust in His plan. He is the mighty Son of God.

Lord, you have a plan for us. I trust your plan today for my life. Your will be done today, not mine. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Watch and Pray

2009-03-23T14:49:00.000-07:00

"'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the body is weak.'" Mark 14:38 (NIV)

Jesus went away to pray before He was arrested after the Passover. He brought Peter, James, and John with Him to keep watch and to pray, but they were so tired that they kept falling asleep. Jesus knew what His friends would face and how they would be tested, so He admonished them to keep watch and to pray. Jesus knows my temptations as well. I am tempted to gossip, judge, criticize, become irratable, impatient, lack self-control, be lazy, and to lack love among other things. I, too, need to keep watch and pray daily so that I don't fall into temptation. When I grow too confident and think that I am a basically good person, then I don't pray, and I fall into sin and lack fruit.

Dear Lord, please help me to pray to you for help so that I can resist temptation and bear fruit for your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen

Keep on the Alert

2009-03-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

"Therefore, be on the alert. . . in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep."

Mark 13:36 (NASB)

Jesus says three times in Mark 13 to keep on the alert becasue we don't know when he is going to return. So what does it mean to be on the alert? It means to be obeying the Bible every day, and praying. If we are living the way God wants us to every day then He will show us what to do each moment. The warning is to not fall asleep, become apathetic or complacent. Don't forget that we are God's people who should be doing God's work at every moment of every day. If we keep Him in mind, when He comes back He won't find us asleep.

Lord, my life belongs toyou. Help me to obey you and your Word every day. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Love the LORD Your God

2009-03-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

"and you shall lovethe LORD your God with all your heart,and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" Mark 12:30 (NASB)

God wants me to love Him completely, with all my affection, all my substance, all my thoughts, and with all my effort. This includes all my time, money, intentions. It includes all that I think about, listen to, read and watch. All that I put my hand to, spend my time doing, buy, well,and pursue. This includes all my relationships, say, give, andlove. It all belongs to him, and I could do better in all these areas.

Lord here I am. Forgive me for all that I haven't done. Thank you for this time to regroup and refresh. You are gracious and giving. I pray that you will clear my mind and help me to do your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.

He Would Not Permit

2009-03-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

"and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple"

Mark 11:16 (NASB)

People were buying and selling doves in the temple and changing money perhaps to "provide a service". But Jesus did not see it as a service. He saw it as a contamination. The temple was always holy, set apart for sacrifice to and worship of God. In Old Testament Israel, people who violated the holiness of the temple were punished. Here it says that Jesus would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. It was a place for worship of the Holy God. What about today? Is there anything that we are doing in our churches today that violates the setting apart of our churches for the worship of our Holy God?

Lord, help us to truly worship you at church and not violate the holy worship of You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

No One Who Has Left

2009-03-19T19:22:00.000-07:00

"'I tell you the truth,' Jesus replied, 'no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.'" Mark 10:29-30 (NIV)

God blesses those who sacrifice for Him. I wonder about the phrase, "and with them, persecutions." The more people we have in our lives, the more persecution we are open to. With people come opinions; and with differing opinions comes conflict. Yet we should consider it all joy to undergo trials for Him. We are promised that trials bring about perseverence which leads to maturity (James 1:2-4). As we interact with those we are around and love them with Christ's love, He will reward us and transform us into who He wants us to be.

Lord, all that I sacrifice for you is blessed and multiplied. It is holy to you even though I am unholy. Thank you for your encouragement that it is worth it to endure persecution. I give You today and all that I have. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Taking Him in His Arms

2009-03-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

"He took a little child and had him stand among the. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.'" Mark 9:37 (NIV)

Jesus loves all people that He has made. He desires that all come to Him. When we welcome them, we welcome Jesus and the Father. Do I take people into my arms? Do I welcome them? Or do I criticize, become frustrated with them, or get mad at them for not obeying God? Do I shun them or distance myself because they do not fit my mold? Those who don't know God won't fit my expectations. They cannot serve someone they don't know. Even Christians won't always meet my expectations because we imperfect here on earth. My job is to love them and welcome them. This allows God to work through me in their lives.

Lord, help me to love and welcome those you love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If Anyone is Ashamed of Me

2009-03-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

"'If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous nad sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.'"

Mark 8:38 (NASB)

Jesus asked the disciples who they think He is, and they said that He was the Christ. Jesus then began to teach them that He must suffer many things, die, and rise from the dead. Peter rebuked Him, and Jesus said that he didn't have in mind the things of God but the things of men. Do I expect God to do what I think He should do? If so, then I have in mind the things of men. The Israelites expected a king who would rule and make right all wrongs. Perhaps they expected Jesus to free them from ruling nations, disease, hunger, and economic woes. We have the same concerns today. Are we open to God working as He sees fit?

Dear Lord, please help me to embrace your plan and work. Help me to let go of my expectations. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Children's Crumbs

2009-03-07T11:33:00.000-08:00

"'Yes, Lord,' she replied, 'but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.'"

Mark 7:28 (NASB)

Jesus traveled to Tyre and entered a house yet He wanted His presence to be kept a secret. However, people learned that He was there, and a woman with a possessed daughter came and begged for her daughter's healing. Oh, I would beg, too, for my child. Jesus said that the food was for the children, meaning Israel. However, she had faith that the crumbs were sufficient to heal her child. She knew that it would not be hard for Him to do. I have areas in my life that need God's healing and freedom. The truth is that this is not hard for God to do. Jesus can easily free me from my sin and heal me, and He wants to. It brings Him joy. But I must ask and believe.

Lord, please heal me and free me from my sinful thoughts and attitudes. You can do it easily for even your crumbs have enough power. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Don't Be Afraid

2009-03-07T11:25:00.001-08:00

"Immediately he spoke to them and said, 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.'"

Mark 6:50 (NASB)

Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him in a boat while He dismissed the crowd. He then went onto the mountainside to pray. I wonder if He was praying for their faith. They didn't udnerstand about the miracle with the loaves that they just witnessed because their hearts were hardened. How much do I not understand because of my hard heart? Do I pray for the faith of those that I am around? When evening came, a storm arrived with strong winds. They strained at the oars, and He walked to them. It was so unexpected that they were scared. How many times does God meet me where I am at, afraid? He doesn't want me to fear. He wants to build my faith and help me. He wants to use me for great things yet to accomplish those things I must trust Him. I think that perhaps He orchestrated their struggle on purpose - to build their faith in Him.

Lord, please meet me today and help me to trust You so that You can accomplish great things through my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Your Faith Has Healed You

2009-03-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

"He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'" Mark 5:34 (NASB)

Jesus was surrounded by a large crowd that pressed him on all sides. He was walking to Jairus's house to heal his daughter, and in the crowd was a woman who suffered from bleeding for twelve years. In Israel, bleeding makes you unclean, and she suffered not only physically but socially as well. She also spent all that she had on medical treatment only to remain uncured. I can imagine that when she heard about Jesus, she was desperate to come and be healed. She approached Him in the crowd and touched His clothes in faith that Jesus' power could make her well. . . and it did! She believed He was so powerful that just that small amount of contact would be sufficient, and He rewarded her faith. He knew that she had touched Him and had been healed. He searched for her to speak to her. Did He know all along who it was? Of course He did. But He wanted to talk to her and affirm her. Her faith had made her well. God wants to relieve our suffering, too. In our faith in Him, there is power, peace and freedom. He wants to free us from the guilt of our sin and also from our bondage to sin. Freedom is found in Jesus, and even a small amount of His power is enough to set us free.

Lord, please help me to have faith that you will help me with my problems and free me from my sin. Grant me peace, healing, and freedom. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Accept It and Bear Fruit

2009-03-04T16:05:00.000-08:00

"And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit; thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." Mark 4:20 (NASB)

Jesus told the parable of the sower and the soils. A farmer scattered his seed, and some fell beside the road and birds ate it up. This is where Satan comes and takes away God's word which was sown in our lives. Some seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up but was scorched when the sun came up because it had no root. This is when we receive God's word with joy but fall away when affliction and persecution come because of the word. The third is when the seed is scattered among the thorns but the worries of the world, riches and desires for other things choke out the word. We sometimes let our concerns in life take the primary focus, and this chokes out our dedication to obeying God. This does not bear any fruit. Finally, the seed lands on good soil and produces fruit - thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Which one am I?

Lord, please help me and my family to have good soil today and produce fruit for you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Jesus' Brother, Sister, and Mother

2009-03-03T10:26:00.001-08:00

"For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother."

Mark 3:35 (NASB)

Jesus taught in the local synagogue and healed a man's hand on the Sabbath. Because of this, the Pharisees began to plot how to kill Jesus. Then people traveled to come see him when they heard about all that he was doing. They came from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. He healed many and cast out evil spirits. Jesus' mother and brothers came to him because they wanted to protect Him. They thought that He had lost His senses, and the crowds hounded Him. The scribes said that He was possessed by Belzebul, the prince of demons because he was driving out demons. However, He was doing God's work and had done nothing wrong, yet they opposed Him. How often do we oppose God's work because it doesn't make any sense to us? Perhaps we don't participate in the work because it doesn't make sense. Or do we criticize others when they have done nothing wrong? Maybe we are being criticized like Jesus was? Jesus said that if we do His will, then we are his brother, sister and mother.

Lord, help us to do your will today and to support others in your work. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Let Down the Pallet

2009-03-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

"Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying." Mark 2:4 (NASB)

How determined am I to bring people to Jesus? Do I persevere to make sure it happens? Do I overcome all obstacles so that I bring their needs to God, the only one who can heal and forgive? These four friends carried the paralyzed man to the roof, removed the patch of roof, rigged a pallet to let down with a rope, humiliated themselves in front of a crowd, and lowered him in front of Jesus risking rejection so that their friend might be healed. This is true love! It is about the heart. When we love much, we will persevere in our prayers for people.

Oh, Lord, please help me to love people much and persevere in bringing their needs to you. Help me to make it important and forgive me for not praying and loving more. In Jesus name, Amen.

While It Was Still Dark

2009-03-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

"In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there." Mark 1:35 (NASB)

Jesus had taught in the synagogue in Capernaum, healed a man from an unclean spirit, went to Simon and Andrew's house and healed Simon's mother-in-law, and then healed many from the city who were ill after they gathered at the door. After this, He retreated in the early morning to pray. He didn't stay in bed because He was tired from His busy day or late night. He went to seek His strength from His father. Ministering to people is not only physically draining, but also emotionally taxing. They were suffering. Life is hard, and people have difficult problems. From physical illness to providing food to forgiveness for sins, people came to Jesus for deliverance. My guess was that He was also praying for guidance for His ministry. Where was He to go next? Who was He to preach to, and what was He to say? These are all questions that we need to be asking our Heavenly Father. We, too, should pray each morning (even when we are tired) and seek His strength and submit our plans to Him.

Lord, please show me what You want me to do every moment of my day. In Jesus' name, Amen.