Sufficient Grace

Lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:7-10 (NKJV)

The idea of sufficient grace is probably not as exciting as that of amazing grace, and yet, the sufficiency of God's grace is what makes His grace so amazing! Sufficiency speaks to the idea that God's grace is always greater than the burden of our sin. His grace is up to the challenge of our human weaknesses. For me personally, that is good, no make that GREAT news!! How many times have I struggled with the same sins and weaknesses, come before the Lord with a repentant heart, only to discover the mystery of His sufficient grace all over again...

There is no question that most of us share a common malady with the Apostle Paul. We too have some sort of thorn in our flesh. A thorn could be anything ranging from a sin problem to an attitude problem, or perhaps a quirk in our personality that we just can't seem to shake. Once again, as in the case of Paul, these thorns serve to remind us of how much we are dependent upon God's grace. No one really wants to be afflicted by a thorn in the flesh and yet we are humbled by such. God uses all things in life, both good and bad, to bring about His purposes in us.

Just how sufficient is the grace of God? Paul asks a similar question: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Romans 8:35 (NKJV) The answer to Paul's rhetorical question is a resounding "no!" These things do not have the power to overwhelm the sufficiency of God's grace. God's grace is up to the challenge of overcoming the collective failure of our flesh.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day of opportunity. Opportunity to serve Your purposes; opportunity to love the people that You want me to love; opportunity to share the message of the Gospel. I pray that you would open doors for me to share my faith today. I am struck by just how good the Gospel message is, and how powerful and sufficient Your grace. Lord, You have been more than good to me! Blessed be Your name!!" Amen

Redeeming the Time

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph 5:15-20 (NKJV)

There are some moments in life that I would like to do over--but, I have a lot more moments that I would simply like to relive. (The day I was married--the days on which my children were born--my first date with Jody--the day Gina was voted Home Coming Queen--Michael's Valedictorian speech--Performing "The Witness" at New Life...) This is the reason that we need to live in the moment, maximizing and squeezing the most out of life's experiences; because, we do not get to relive these great events. I think that we need to make a conscience effort to let the love that we have in our hearts shine through in the actions of our everyday lives. Loving our children while we can still hold them in our laps. Loving our parents while they are still alive. Loving our spouse through every phase of life.

I am not preoccupied with thoughts of my own demise; however, I consider the words that I speak every time Jody walks out the door to go to work or shopping, because, should something happen to her or to me, I want the last words we speak to be words of love and grace. Since we do not know the day or the time of our departure from this earth, we need to make the most of this very moment while we are yet living. We can redeem the time by doing the things that we should be doing. By loving the people that we need to love. By serving God in a way that is pleasing to Him. Making the most of our living years.

As a young man I played a lot of sports. I did not like losing and so I played hard and gave it all I had when I was in the game. I could even handle the losses if I had left it all out on the field. In the same way, I do not have a death wish. I enjoy life and I want to make the most of it. But, when my appointed time has arrived I don't want to view my life as a collection of regrets based on what I did not accomplish. I want to accomplish the works that God has prepared for me to do and leave this world with no regrets.

Prayer: "Dear Father, You are awesome in every aspect of Your character. I am amazed at the handiwork of Your creation. That You, who are not bound by time, redeem the time by asserting Yourself into the lives of Your creation. I would like to change, but fall short in making those changes; so, Father, would you please continue to transform me. Cause me to live with passion for Your Kingdom--love for my family and friends--and a work ethic that helps me do the things I need to do! Thank you for hearing me!" Amen

Love

"A new command-ment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

When you read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) you get the distinct feeling that the original twelve disciples did not always get along that well. That does not bother me in the least, because, if you took any twelve of your friends on an extended ministry trip (say, about 3 1/2 years) there would probably be a bit of friction before it was all said and done. Anytime you get a diverse group of people, with various backgrounds, baggage, preferences, personalities and desires, you are going to have some friction, disagreements and perhaps worse.

Jesus knew His disciples very well, and He did not want to leave them without directly giving them the ultimate challenge. "Love one another, as I have loved you." I am sure that Jesus considered the following: That the church would never survive a splintered, fighting, arguing group of Apostles; much less, take the Gospel message to the ends of the earth. Jesus needed the early Apostles to be bound together by love in order to be effective. Jesus went on to say that the love they showed to one another would be the sign that they were His disciples.

The Apostle Paul talks about love in 1 Corinthians 13: "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." Love is still the glue that holds the church together. Love is still the sign that lets the world know that we are Christ's disciples. Love is still what allows us to charge forward with the Gospel message. The Gates of Hell can not stand against the love of Christ!

Prayer: "Dear Father, You know me well and yet You love me. You also know the personalities that test the limits of my love. You love seems to know no end, and continues to express itself with patience, kindness, mercy and grace. I need to be more like You--I need to love more like You do--I need the world to look at my actions and know that You are living through me. Fill me with Your love today. May I express that love in obvious ways this day, and may I turn away from the personal pettiness that would weaken my testimony to others." Amen

Contentment

I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:11b-13 (NKJV)

I was sitting on the beach, my feet buried in the sand watching the sunrise. I was aware of the ocean smells, the sounds of the waves and seagulls, the gentle breeze...I drank it all in and thanked God for giving me life. In that moment I realized that the richest man on earth, in terms of material wealth, could not possibly enjoy that moment anymore than I did. I was content and I was basking in the moment.

However; I don't live on the beach and not every morning brings a beautiful sunrise. There are other moments in life that present a greater challenge: When you find out that a close friend passed away; when you were just informed that you were laid off from your job; when the doctor's report came back with some bad news; when you are feeling stressed, because the I.R.S. just dialed your number. Can contentment be found in the midst of these real life situations?

The Apostle Paul made an amazing claim, he said, "Yes, I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." I think that Paul and Silas' singing gig in prison is confirmation of Paul's claim of contentment. He was beaten, in chains, in the darkness of the dungeon awaiting judgment...and Paul begins to sing? What was Paul's secret? It isn't a secret, Paul stated, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The Bible tells us that, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." What this means is that there is no external force in the world that can match the internal force that is living in you. Knowing that God is with me gives me peace and makes contentment my normal life experience.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, when I think about the fact that the power of the creator is living in me, I am filled with courage. You are with me--you make all things possible--you fill me with a peace that passes all understanding--you give me the resources to deal with the challenges of life. Thank you for the gift of Your ever-abiding presence. Your strength is my strength. Your peace is my peace. Your will becomes my destiny. Blessed be Your name!" Amen

A Virtuous Wife

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. Prov 31:10-12 (NKJV)

Was I wise as a young man? The answer is emphatically "no!"  In spite of my apparent lack of wisdom I personally know and have experienced what it means to be married to a virtuous wife. I have now been married for 37 years and during those 37 years I have never had a moment where I felt even a slight twinge of jealousy. Why not? Because, I am married to a person of virtue. How deep does my trust run? Deeper than I trust myself.

I cannot put a price tag on my wife's virtue, because, quite simply, it is priceless. I love this particular phrase in this Proverb: "The heart of her husband safely trusts her." The conditions of the world that surround me fill my heart with misgivings and insecurity. Experience has taught me to be suspicious of flattery, to be leery of promises, and to be cautious in whom I trust. I started the journey trusting and naive, putting my trust in people. I quickly learned that I could safely trust--completely trust--two persons. (God and my wife)

How has Jody earned my trust? She always protects me. She speaks of me highly behind my back. She is a continual source of encouragement. She is extremely low maintenance. She is a problem solver and never creates problems. She is fiercely loyal. I could go on and on...ad nauseum. You get the picture. I am married to a virtuous wife and life is good! I had been married to Jody for about 5 years when my parents informed me that I needed to do everything in my power to hang on to this lovely gal, because if things did not work out--they were going to stick with Jody and throw me out of the family. Glad we never crossed that bridge!

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, please know that I am thankful for Your many gifts in this life. I have enjoyed a better life than what I deserve. Thank you for my family, my friends and my wife. For my part, I desire to be a virtuous husband. I want to live in such a way that my wife can safely trust that her heart will be safe with me. My I prove to be a husband that brings a measure of joy, love, peace and security to my wife and family." Amen

Words of Grace

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Eph 4:29 (NKJV)

There is a common children's rhyme that goes like this: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Unfortunately, this rhyme is about as true as most Old Wives' Tales. Which is to say that there is no truth in it at all! Words have a tremendous effect on the people that are on the receiving end of those words. This is the power of the tongue, and it can be used to edify and encourage others, or it can light a fire that destroys any chance of relationship.

Paul's instructions were clear: No cutting, biting, destructive, derisive, corrupt words should ever be projected out of our mouths. We do not have God's permission to speak in such a manner. By contrast, God has given us a green light to speak words that impart grace to the hearers. What is grace? It is unmerited favor. How are we instructed to speak to people who do not deserve our kind, edifying, uplifting words? We exercise grace, giving to them our unmerited, unsolicited, and certainly unexpected kind words.

There is no exception to this rule. "But...what about the times they really deserve to be put in their place?" Somehow find words of grace that pro-actively change the situation. There is no doubt that there are circumstances where it may seem that someone deserves our verbal wrath; but grace does not return evil for evil, and love does not demand satisfaction, and mercy does not require us to pass judgment. The challenge: Try to go one day where you speak only words that impart grace to the hearers...just one day.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I have failed too many times to count. In my remorse I try to hide away like Adam and Eve and yet You find me. Even when You chasten me it is obvious that You are loving me and saving me from my own foolish ways. I pray Lord, that you would help me to treat others as You have treated me. May my life and words demonstrate grace towards others. May I be a reflection of Your amazing grace. Put a guard on my tongue and may I be a source of encouragement to those who hear me." Amen

Steps of a Good Man

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalms 37:23-24 (NKJV)

Let me forewarn you, you might not agree with the following statement--OK, you have been warned. I don't believe that we need to waste any time or concern ourselves with finding the will of God--I believe that if you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength that the will of God will indeed find you. Before you reject this idea, please understand that it did not originate with me. In the 37th Psalm David asserts that "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." It means that when your feet hit the pavement everyday that they are guided by God and your journey through life is filled with God's purposes.

The Apostle Paul also reinforced this idea in Ephesians 2:10: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. What this tells me is that if your are in Christ you simply need to walk in obedience and complete what God has already ordained that you should do. If you insist on discovering just how committed God is to seeing you accomplish the works that He has already prepared for you to do--just try a Jonah move--and God will do whatever is necessary to bring you back to the calling that He has for you.

How good--how amazingly good it is to know that I'm in the center of God's path for me. My daily steps are ordered by God. My destiny is sure. God is with me and has given me a purpose in His Kingdom. Now, from time to time, I do stumble along the way. I am living proof, "That all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Even in my failure, I am not down for the count, "For the Lord upholds me with His hand." You really are in good hands when the Father picks you up!

Prayer: "Dear Father, my father--thank you for Your loving kindness--which is constant and encourages me to just keep walking forward. I am so thankful that I do not have to guess at what I should be doing with my life, but rest in the fact that You are ordering my very steps as I journey ahead. I am on the road to meet my destiny and You have prepared the way. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!" Amen

Thankful

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col 3:12-17 (NKJV)

"OK...I hear you...It's true...America has been going through a difficult time." I would still contend that all of us, regardless of the condition of our country, have a lot to be thankful for! As Believers in Jesus Christ, it all starts with the wonderful transforming work that Christ is doing on our behalf. He is literally making us new--cleaning us up--changing the way we think--giving us strength to overcome temptation--calling us to a greater purpose--sending us peace that passes understanding--surrounding us with His love... WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED!!!

In writing about the "last days," the Apostle Paul stated that a characteristic of that time would be the problem of people being ungrateful. Let that never be the case in the lives of Believers. Let us swim against the current of ungratefulness by rejoicing in the grace of God. Let us continually lift up worship for Who He Is. Let us continually rejoice for What He Has Done. Let us continually be thankful for What He Has Provided. Let us continually speak of His greatness, so that the whole world knows that there is hope for all who call upon Jesus.

As a child we used to sing a hymn at church called, "Count Your Blessings."

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Wow...where would I start? (Jesus, Jody, family, provision, music, beauty, trees, friends, Pizza, mountains, camping, cars, Church, health, money, turkeys, air conditioning, colors, salvation, books, inspiration, coffee, children...it is endless!)

Prayer: "Dear Father, I have much to be thankful for. I could not possible count every blessing, they have been too numerous to keep track of. Thank you for being a wonderful Father, and for receiving me with huge doses of love, mercy and grace. Please guard my heart against the kind of discontentment that would lead me to be ungrateful; and may I look to You for that which is truly satisfying. You are a good God, a kind Lord, and worthy of all praise!" Amen

Sanctimonious

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matt 7:1-5 (NKJV)

When is the last time you read somebody writing about the problem of being sanctimonious? Not a common topic of discussion, but a common enough of a problem among religious types. What does it mean? Sanctimonious defined: "Making a show of being morally superior than others." This is a subtle shade of pride that enables a sanctimonious person to pass judgment on others without adequately considering or evaluating themselves.

Jesus told us to be very careful and circumspect when passing judgment; because, God will judge us by the exact measure that we use when judging others. God is able to see through the "sanctimonious" fog and judge us fairly. We can, in most cases avoid God's judgment by judging ourselves before He deals with us. It has been said, "We judge others by their actions and we judge ourselves by our intentions." How true! Before we leap into the judgment business we need to honestly and with a large dose of humility, evaluate ourselves--grab a hold of the plank in our own eye and pull hard!

Wow! Sanctimonious is an ugly word and an even uglier attitude. I am so grateful that God doesn't suffer from this problem--because, if anyone should be proud of the accomplishments of their hand--it should be the creator of the universe. Instead, we know Jesus as Emmanuel (God with us). Jesus humbled Himself and came to earth to save "whosoever believes in Him"...including the sanctimonious.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, I am ever grateful for Your love and for Your only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who came to earth to rescue people like me. I truly have nothing to boast in that You did not give me or make possible for me to achieve. I am a beloved part of Your handiwork and if there is any glory in what I have accomplished, You deserve the glory. Please help me to be aware of my foolish pride and wrong attitudes that I might humble myself before you." Amen

The Golden Rule

"Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matt 7:12 (NKJV)

The Jesus version of The Golden Rule is quite pro-active. According to Jesus, the world would be a much better place if everyone would actively treat the people in their lives in the exact manner that they want to be treated. Let's be honest; we like the people that treat us nicely and not so much the people that don't. As a species, we like to be edified, encouraged, strengthened, complimented, helped, respected, loved, defended...and the people that treat us this way are generally considered our friends. What this means is that everyone has the capacity to make friends and to influence their world by following this one simple tenant.

So, what makes it so difficult to apply this wonderful rule to our lives? At least in part; most of us live reactive lives rather than pro-active lives. We react to negativity with negativity and therefore, multiply the negativity. We are judged, so we lash out in judgment. We are offended, so we act offensively. We are misunderstood, so we stop trying to understand others. By reacting to the negativity of others with more of the same, we can become a fountain of anxiety for others. This is where many parents lose their children; they react to the immaturity of their children with...immaturity?

Too often we justify our actions, because, we feel that we have been mistreated. Let me let you in on a little secret--everyone has been mistreated by others. We live on a planet that is accurately described as being a place where, "Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Everyone has sinned!) So, you have a choice: Treat people poorly, because you have been treated poorly; or, treat people the way you want to be treated.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, all blessing and honor and power belongs to You! I delight in the fact that there is no shadow of turning in You. You are always good, always right, always loving, always merciful, always awesome. Lord, I want the Golden Rule to be evident in my life. Help me to see myself as I really am and to treat others as I want to be treated. Expose the hypocrisy in my heart that I might see those areas in my life that need to be challenged and transformed by Your mighty power!" Amen

So Many Possibilities

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other'swell-being. 1 Cor 10:23-24 (NKJV)

Adam and Eve fell into sin by doing the one thing, (count it) the one thing that they were told not to do. This means that there was a whole world of possibilities waiting to be discovered--a million or more things that were lawful for them to do and they chose to do the one thing they were told not to do. Are we any different?

In a number of conversations with non-believers I always hear the following excuse: "I don't want to become a Christian, because of all the 'things' I would have to give up." By "things" they are referring to sinful activities. I have a couple of responses to this kind of thinking: Firstly, sinful activity is not very creative. In other words, there still exists a world full of a million or more things that a person can do that are not sinful. Sin, on the other hand, usually boils down to the same few wrong attitudes and foolish activities. Secondly, sinful activity generally creates collateral damage that hurts and harms innocent people.

As a Believer, I have great latitude in the activities that I can engage in. There are only a few things that God asks me not to do--and believe me--this are things that I and the people around me are better off without. (Really, no-one wants to be stolen from, no-one wants to be lied about, no-one wants to be killed... The point is simple: Most people do not want to be on the receiving end of another person's sin) So, how should we live? In a way that glorifies God (which can be a lot of fun!) and in a way that is beneficial to the people around you--especially, the people that are the closest to you. I believe that living for God is a win-win situation and God's design for a great life!

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father. Thank you for creating a beautiful planet with amazing vistas, interesting animals, a plethora of plant life, and a million possibilities of things to do. I stand amazing at the handiwork of Your hand. Lord, please direct my attention away from the activities that are not profitable and give me a desire to engage in activities that build Your Kingdom and bless the people that surround me." Amen

The Temple

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 1 Cor 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Like most children, when I was a child I was full of energy. Being a "good church going family," my parents volunteered to clean the church building; that meant that I was volunteered as well. I just finished cleaning the men's restroom downstairs and took off running up the staircase for the next assignment. I was feeling good, because, we were almost finished. My euphoria was cut short as I heard the voice of our Pastor, "Ronnie, stop running in the house of the Lord!" I stopped in my tracks--turned around, looked at our Pastor and apologized for my behavior.

Years later it dawned on me that I was not running in the house of the Lord, in actuality, the temple of the Lord was running up the staircase in one of the ugliest buildings in my hometown. Not only that--the temple of the Lord was rejoicing, serving, and at times singing, as it was cleaning the men's restroom! Did you know that the church is not a building where we gather--the church is you, if you are a Believer in Christ. It might not be proper to run in a public building, if there are a bunch of people that you are disturbing; however, I'm convinced that God was not displeased with my exuberant run up the stairs those many years ago.

What troubles the Lord has nothing to do with the building that I call my church home, rather, it is my behavior. Do I glorify God with my actions, or do I act in such a way as to discredit His name? I know what the Temple should look like. A place of love, goodness, kindness, patience, mercy, humility... Is that what I look like to others? It is worth my consideration and effort, because, I am the Temple of the Lord.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, you are perfect in every way, a picture of what I need to be. I am so grateful that You are patient with me, allowing this imperfect Temple to be a part of Your Kingdom. Lord, help me to continue to grow and transform into what You ultimately want me to be. I desire to be a living witness and to bring glory to Your name." Amen

Authentic Christian Community

They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (NKJV)

This short passage of scripture near the end of the second chapter of Acts gives us an excellent snapshot of what the "early" church looked like. Although it might be challenging, this would be a great blue-print for building a church that desires to experience authentic Christian community. What the early church was doing is not hard to understand; but, without a doubt, it would take a real commitment to both God and one another to accomplish such a lofty goal in this post-modern era.

Most of you have lived long enough to realize that in life you can not have it all. Our lives are full and we are already too busy, which means that we may simply not have enough time to become a part of an authentic Christian community. To be like the early church we would have to make our commitment in forming such a community a very high priority. Without question, other things that require our time would have to go. I would venture to say that this is where most churches fall short; authentic Christian community is not formed, because it is not a goal for those attending.

So, the question needs to be raised: "What would be the benefit of being a part of an authentic Christian community?" (Using the early church as our blue-print) In other words--what would Bible Study, Corporate Prayer, Fellowship, Eating Meals Together, Taking Care of Each Other's Needs, Corporate Worship and People Being Saved, all of it happening on a daily basis, do for us? How would your life have to change in order to be a part of such a community? It is at least something that each Believer should consider.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, confession is good for the soul, so let me start by declaring that I am too busy and that my life is too cluttered with non-essential, non-spiritual and some not too helpful expenditures of time. Lord, I want to surrender to You, and that does include my time...which is really Your time. May I use Your time and my life to bring about the purposes of Your Kingdom." Amen
 

How Much More...

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"  Matt 7:7-11 (NKJV)

Not everybody grows up with good parents who love them. That is a fact that is hard for me to understand, because my parents consistently demonstrated tremendous love, and in turn I felt and still feel overwhelmed by love for my own children. As a parent, I absolutely want whatever is best for my children. I look out for them--I pray for them--I cheer for them--I have sacrificed for them. Jesus indicated that if I, as a human father, know how to be a good father, how much more will God exceed my best efforts as our heavenly Father!

When I was 14 years old, my brother and I were having a contest skipping rocks across Granite Creek. My brother, who is a few years younger than I am, had a champion rock that must have skipped 20 times as it cut across the top of the water. As the "big" brother I needed to once again establish my place in the pecking order of life; so, I found a perfect, big, flat rock and put every bit of energy into throwing it. The rock flew about 15 feet before it came to an abrupt stop as it hit my father in the back--right about where the left kidney is located. It hit him so hard that it knocked him off his feet. He groaned...and slowly rose to his feet...turning to find the culprit. So, many things he could have said in that moment. He looked me in the eye and said, "Son, next time you need to be more careful." Those were the last words he ever spoke on that subject.

The point is this: My dad was a really great dad, but there is even better news... Our heavenly Father is the best father anyone could ever have. You may have been a very difficult, if not an impossible child for God; but, in spite of your worst antics God's love, mercy and grace remain.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, thank you for loving me; especially in those times when my behavior does not merit Your love. I am often reminded of Your grace as I stumble and fall and still find myself being received with patience and mercy. You are a good God and a great Father. I pray that I would be more like You in the way that I respond to people. May I treat others with love, grace, mercy and patience." Amen

You Are Light

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. Eph 5:8-10 (NKJV)

The earth relies upon the sun for light and heat. What would happen if the sun just ceased to shine? Sounds like a bad Science Fiction movie. It is estimated that without the sun, all life on the surface would completely disappear in about a month. (At least according to scientist writing on Yahoo) Without a light source, there is only darkness and extreme cold.

In a spiritual sense, the Church serves planet earth as the source of spiritual light. If you have any doubt about the significance of Christians manifesting God's light on earth, think again. Jesus said to His disciples, "You are the light of the World!" The Apostle Paul declared to the Church, "You are light in the Lord!" What this tells us is that the Church makes a significant difference in our world as we walk as children of light. We are bearers of God's light and life.

Light is revealed in the life of Believers as we walk in "all goodness, righteousness and truth." The witness of God's Spirit living in us and being revealed through our actions should serve as a bright light shining in the midst of darkness. It is hard to imagine what the conditions would be like in our world if there were no Christians, because the Church is acting as God's light on earth. Do not forget--You are light!

Prayer: "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." Amen

A Good Imitation

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Eph 5:1-2 (NKJV)

When Jody and I first got married, we were given a green couch that had the words "Genuine Naugahyde" embossed in small letters on the backside. What did that even mean? (What is a Nauga anyway, and are they naturally green?) This is what the words meant: "Our couch was made out of a genuine fake leather."  It did not take a genius I.Q. to glance at our couch to realize that it was not real leather. At least the makers of our green couch realized that their product could never be passed off as anything other than vinyl.

There have been times in my life when I have felt as if I was a genuine fake Christian. Masquerading and pretending to be something that I had not yet become. It is a common experience among Believers, because we have not yet fully appropriated what we are striving to be and one day will be. In the meantime, we are completely dependent upon the never-ending fountain of God's grace and mercy.

OK...perfection is off the table in this life; however, you can imitate God. Paul put his finger on a good place to start. Love...walk in love. This may sound like the words of an escaped flower child from the early 70's; learning to love--loving God--loving your neighbors--loving your family--loving your friends--loving your enemies--is the most Godlike action you can take and most valuable commodity that you can give. The more we learn how to love others, putting their needs before our own--the better is our imitation of God.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, I want to be more like You. I need to be more like you and less like me. Show me how to walk in love this day. Give me opportunities to love others as You would love them. May I begin to see people as You see them and not be so quick in my judgment of their actions. In the places where I am weak, be my strength. In the places where I am duplicitous, reveal Your truth. In my life be glorified today!" Amen

Heritage

You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but arenow the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)

I know a bit about my heritage. On my father's side of the family, I am a second generation Italian/American. (That means that my grandfather was born in Italy and had already immigrated to America before my father was born) I have very few family heirlooms from this side of the family; however, I do have an old-fashioned baseball glove that was passed down from my grandfather, to my father, and finally to me. When I first got the family heirloom I noticed that the name on the glove is not "Dugone." It says, "Merrick." Which means that my family heirloom is probably stolen property.

My heritage in God is more savory. In Christ I am a part of a chosen generation--a royal priesthood--a holy nation--dare I say it? "I'm special!" Talk about a contrast. From a line of lowly immigrants and now in the Kingdom of God I have become royalty. This is the heritage that every Believer in Christ enjoys. The Apostle Paul was right when he said that not many of us are mighty, or noble, or particularly wise; but, evidently in spite our humble roots God has welcomed us as His Sons and Daughters.

On the other side of my heritage is another consideration called "legacy." With all that God has given me, I must make the most out of my heritage in order to forge a Godly legacy. I have been richly blessed by God. My life is full of light and hope, because of God's mercy--but, I do not want enjoy this heritage of blessing without passing it on to my children. The heirloom that I give to my children and grandchildren needs to be more than a stolen baseball glove, it needs to be the legacy of a man who gratefully embraced the heritage offered by a God of grace.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, the fact that You loved me enough to send Jesus to rescue me gives me a glimpse of Your goodness. You owe me nothing and yet You gave the best of what Your Kingdom had to offer to save me. Thank you for such an amazing heritage. To think that I am a child of the creator of all that is. That I was chosen and given the opportunity to walk in the light. I will be forever grateful. Blessed be Your name!" Amen

The Father Knows

When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matt 6:7-8 (NKJV)

My youngest grandson has not learned how to talk yet; at least not in a language that I understand. In spite of the language barrier, most of the time I have a good idea of both what he needs and what he wants. I know when he is hungry. I know when he needs his diaper changed. I know when he is getting sleepy and needs a bottle. I know when he didn't get enough sleep. I know these things, because I really know my grandson.  

How well does God know you?  The Bible tells us that He knows the number of hairs that cover your head.  (Which is a constantly changing number)  In addition God knows everything that you've done...everything that you're thinking...everything that you desire...everything that you're planning to do...He knows everything!   Therefore; when it comes to prayer requests, remember that God understands the how, what and why of your petition, even before you ask Him.  

Even more importantly, God loves you; which means that He is favorably inclined towards you. As a grandfather I anticipate the needs of my youngest grandson. I take care of him and meet most of his needs, because I love him. How much more will your Heavenly Father anticipate and meet your needs? This is not to say that you shouldn't present your requests to Him; but keep this in mind: Not one of your prayers requests are a surprise to God. He is often in the process of answering your prayer even before you articulate the first word.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, blessed be Your name. You are worthy of praise, honor, power and glory! In addition to holding the universe together by Your mighty power, You make the time to know me. I stand humiliated and ashamed of what You know about me, and yet it only makes Your grace all the more amazing. Thank you for knowing what I need, and for the many times when You answered my prayers. You are a good God!" Amen

My Help

I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day,Nor the moon by night.The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;He shall preserve your soul.The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalms 121:1-8 (NKJV)

Famous German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche believed that the most basic drive in human nature was to be in control of one's own life, and if possible, to control the essential environmental factors that impact said life. Sadly, this basic drive will not be fully satisfied in this life, because, life is impossible to control. We simply do not have the foresight or the power to do so. This makes all of us vulnerable to the circumstances and happenings of life.

That said, we are not helpless. Like a young child running to a parent for affection and protection, we run to our Heavenly Father. God is our place of refuge; our hope in the time of despair; our strength in our time of weakness; our comfort in our time of sorrow; our joy in our time of challenges... We are not helpless. With God, even that which is deemed impossible is suddenly made into a possibility.

As a child is used to feel so safe in the presence of my parents. I trusted them to protect me and to take care of my needs. When they tucked me into bed at night and prayed over me, I had an enduring sense that everything was going to be alright. I no longer live in the house of my parents, but I am still surrounded by One who is watching over me. I know the answer to the Psalmist's question: "From whence comes my help?" "Yes...yes indeed, my help comes from the Lord--the creator of heaven and earth!"

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You are my source of strength and the One who is always on duty watching over me. Thank you for loving me--thank you for being there in my times of difficult circumstances--thank you for being my peace. Guide me by Your Spirit this day. May I serve Your Kingdom purposes by being a source of light in this dark world. When assailed by the things that catch me by surprise, may I stand with courage, knowing that You are with me." Amen

A Remnant

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chron 7:14 (NKJV)

God was obviously poised and ready to judge Sodom and Gomorrah when Abraham asked, "Lord, if there are five righteous people will you spare the cities?" And God said, "Yes," to Abraham. Sodom and Gomorrah would have been spared by God's grace, because of five righteous people. (Count it--5 people would have made the difference) This is in keeping with Peter's declaration concerning God's heart. "God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.
 
This tells me that God is serious when He calls upon His people to humble themselves, pray, seek His face and repent--because, we do have an effect on the outcome. How many righteous people will it take for God to withhold His judgment upon our nation? Although we want people to be converted to Christ, a small remnant of people committed to God could be the difference between judgment and blessing.

If there is one thing that I have observed in my lifetime, it is the fact that righteousness cannot be legislated. Laws do modify some behavior, but do not change the intent of the heart. Therefore, we cannot expect righteous behavior from unrighteous people. If there is to be a national spiritual awakening--it will begin and end with God's people getting serious about pursuing God. We do have this promise--we can make a difference if we turn our hearts to God . God will forgive and cleanse us of our sin and heal our land.

Prayer: "Dear Father in heaven, thank you for Your patience with me--with Your church and with our nation. Based on our behavior, Your judgment should have already fallen on us and yet You continue to tarry. If possible, I pray that you would raise up a remnant of people in our nation that would make a difference, and please know that I want to be a part of that remnant. Create in me a clean heart. Create in me a helpful vessel. Create in me a person who loves you, my neighbors and even my enemies. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!" Amen

The Great Sponge

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. Phil 4:8 (NKJV)

The human brain is a great sponge.  It works like osmosis, with our brain absorbing and storing whatever data and information it happens to make contact with.  If you have any doubt about it--try not to think about the sights and sounds of a thunder storm.  Try not to see the lightning or hear the thunder.  Just a simple suggestion sets the great sponge into action.

The Apostle Paul set a high standard for the "things" that should have access to our brain.  In a practical sense this means that you must screen the books that you read, the magazines that you subscribe to, the television programming that you watch and the movies that you attend.  In terms of the internet--it is a loaded gun...  Be very careful of the places you visit, the pictures that you view and the data that you input into your brain.

Always ask the question--"Does what I'm viewing meet the standard of whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous or praiseworthy?"  Goodness, that does eliminates a lot of possibilities; however, my brain will serve God's purposes more effectively if I eliminate those things that are not profitable and fill my brain with the things that are.  This is not a new legalism, because "you" are your own censor.  Choose wisely, "Grasshopper."  (Now you are seeing a grasshopper...and it's green)

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, blessed be Your name!  The depth of my sin is only further proof of Your amazing grace, and the weakness of my flesh is only further proof of how much I need You in my life.  Please guide my thoughts, and when my mind strays into those places where it has no business being, bring it to my attention so that I can refocus my thoughts on You.  Lead me to think on Your Word--Your Goodness--and on all those things that are praiseworthy."  Amen  

Stressed Out?

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:4-7 (NKJV)

Most of us are aware that we are living in the "real" world and in the real world there is real stress. Jobs, children, finances, health, disappointments, failures, reversals, unexpected-unwanted changes; the level of stress begins to add up. Jesus identified these stress factors as "the cares of the world." He went on to explain that in some situations they literally strangle the spiritual life of a Believer.

There is one solution... Give it all to God. It sounds trite to the person who is stressed out, but it remains as the best solution to the challenges the world presents. According to the Apostle Paul this is the solution that Believers should apply to "everything." By definition, "everything" should have every stressful situation covered. Rather than stressing out, we need to pray. Rather than worry, we need to give our burdens to the One who cares about our lives as much as we do--and who has the power to act on our behalf.

Never forget that, "The Lord is at hand." He is with you! Spanish Philosopher Jose Ortega y Gasset stated: "We cannot put off living until we are ready. Life is fired at us point-blank." His observation was accurate; life and its circumstances cannot be avoided, they must be faced. We can face life with a good bit of courage knowing that God is with us. So, put this truth into action--take the first stressful situation that is fired at you this week and give it to God! What will be the result? If you really give it up to God, you will be filled with a peace that passes understanding!

Prayer: "Dear Father, thank you for being with me as I journey through this life. I confess that I am not equipped to cope with all the stress and all the problems that seem to find their way to me. Lord, You are my strength and I trust in You--so, take all the cares of the world--all the disappointments that are crushing me--and all the situations that seem to be spinning out of control; and deal with them according to Your loving kindness. Fill me with Your peace--the peace that passes all understanding." Amen

Soldiers

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Tim 2:3-4 (NKJV)

If you ask around, Pastors would tell you that one of the greatest challenges for the local church is to find enough workers.  I think that it is safe to say that most armies do not have this problem, if there is a need, there are always plenty of "volunteers."  "What's that...what's that you ask?"   I am aware that soldiers volunteer, because they have no choice.  They either volunteer or they are volunteered by an authority over them.

The Church should not suffer with a lack of workers--and would not suffer for a lack of workers if "we" conducted ourselves as Christ's soldiers.  The work of the Kingdom would suddenly be an important priority, because, pleasing our Commander (Jesus) would be our first priority.   It is so easy in our busy lives to get entangled by all the life demands and offers.  To the point that we have nothing left to give to the cause.

As a pastor I am continually reminded that I am working with an all-volunteer army.  People attend or not--people support financially or not--people work or not--people get involved or not--people join or not...  No doubt, they view the Church from the perspective of a civilian and not as the soldier they are called to be.  Maybe it's time to reevaluate our view of God's Kingdom work and our obligation as soldiers of the cross.

Prayer: "Dear Father in heaven.  I owe you everything that I am and all that I hope to be.  You have given me life and a future beyond this life.  I pray that You would help me to remember all that You have done for me and create in me a soldier that You can count on. May I serve Your purposes--accomplish Your will, and do the works that You prepared for me to do.  May my life bring glory to You and be a blessing to others."  Amen

Faithfulness

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Tim 2:1-2 (NKJV)

When a person has the reputation of being faithful, it means that they are the kind of person that other people trust.  Think of the various synonyms that further describe this character trait: "Dependable, dedicated, trustworthy, loyal, steadfast, reliable, responsible, accountable, resolute, determined..."  It is no wonder that the Apostle Paul advised Timothy (a young pastor) to entrust the ministry to those that were faithful.

There is no easy way to ask the following question--no way to soften the blow--no way to get around this fundamental qualification that says so much about your character:  "Are you a faithful person?"  Before you throw in the towel consider this second, even more important question: "Do you aspire to be a faithful person?"  If you desire this good character trait, with God's divine help (grace), you can become a person who is faithful.   

Notice that Paul did not advise Timothy to entrust the ministry to people who happened to be talented, spiritually gifted, or any other criteria other than the character trait of faithfulness.  The ministry thrives and God's Kingdom expands under the steady work of those that are faithful.  You can be a part of God's plan to minister His grace...there is only one requirement: Faithfulness!

Prayer: "Faithful Father, thank you for being good; that there is no shadow of turning in You.  You are trustworthy, the One that I can always count on.  In the words of the Psalmist, You are my rock, my shield, my fortress, my strong tower and my deliverer.  Please hear my cry: I want to be a faithful servant in Your Kingdom.  Build this character trait in me--may I build a reputation of faithfulness as I serve Your purposes.  Start this work today!"  Amen

Getting It Right

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 (NKJV)

I was teaching a course on hermeneutics (a fancy word for the rules governing Bible interpretation), and I stressed the following point.  If you are a Bible teacher and you twist or manipulate a passage of scripture, whether by intent or through ignorance, you are no longer teaching God's truths.   People are not enlightened by a manipulation of the Bible, they are enlightened by teachers that "get it right!"  

The Apostle Paul gave his young  protégé Timothy some great advice.  "Pay close attention to your doctrine, for it will save you and those who listen to you."  With all the different winds of doctrine that seem to blow through the church, and all the differing views of the Bible is actually saying; how can we rightly divide the word of truth?

Let me give you a few practical ideas:

1. Apply the "Golden Rule" of Bible interpretation: "When common sense makes perfect sense seek no other sense."
2. Make your Bible study times Bible-Centric.  Spend more time reading and thinking about the Bible, and less time reading another person's opinion about the Bible.
3. Stop reading sensational books written about spiritual things from people without theological credentials.  (This is how cult groups get started)
4. Apply the principles and commands from the Bible that you clearly understand and do not spend a lot of time trying to read between the lines. 

You may not know all that you want to know about God's Word today; however, if you study and read the Bible on a regular basis, you cannot even begin to imagine how much spiritual knowledge you are going to accumulate over the years.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I know that your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  Its truths need to be my truths and its wisdom, my wisdom.  Create in me a new hunger for Your Word.  May I desire to read it, to study it, to meditate upon it, so, that I might be a worker in Your Kingdom that does not need to be ashamed.  Lord, help me to apply your Word to my life this day and may my obedience bring You joy."  Amen