At All Times

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be continually in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. Psalms 34:1-4 (NKJV)

I can tell that I have spend a lot of my time singing songs of praise to the Lord, because they are firmly entrenched in my brain. Often, in the midst of stress, I hear them playing back to me and bringing words of encouragement. "Yes," you heard it right--my brain plays back worship music like an endless MP3 loop. I am pretty sure that I'm not going crazy, but the habit of worshiping of God has found a place deep within my psychological makeup.

Life is full of opportunities for the creation of stress. They come rolling our way in waves as varied in size as the waves of the ocean. We know that the waves are coming, we just don't know how big they are going to be. A couple of years ago, Jody and I went on a cruise to Alaska with my parents and siblings to celebrate my father's 80th birthday. For about 12 hours the ocean became unexpectedly rough and suddenly it was a challenge to walk and keep lunch down. I actually found the experience somewhat exhilarating, but was sorry for those who suffered with sea sickness.

Life can be rough! Waves of different sizes roll over our lives and it is daunting just to keep our equilibrium. If you feel overwhelmed by the happenstance of life you just joined a global network that includes every sane person on planet earth. At some point in life everyone faces a crashing wave that is beyond simple solutions and trite platitudes. So, how can we cope with the stress that is a product of the unwelcomed, unexpected, overwhelming circumstances of life? Well...I sing to the Lord...I sing and pray until I am touched with the peace that passes understanding.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I love to sing Your praises, in fact--I could worship You every moment of every day and it would not be enough to completely express the deeply held gratitude of my heart. It is an understatement to say, 'You are worthy of praise." You are worthy of honor, glory, power, adoration, and all the passion that I can muster. Thank you for the love, goodness, blessing, mercy and grace that You consistently send my way. Amen"

Completed Work

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:13-15 (NKJV)

I know a young man that was raised in the Church, who was convinced by a group of religious people that his faith was somehow incomplete. Over a period of about a year they convinced him that Christ alone was inadequate--that he needed to embrace the traditions and ceremonial laws of the Old Testament. As he began to walk according to the laws of the Old Covenant I made a couple of observations: Firstly, he was filled with pride, because he was convinced that by observing the ceremonial laws his faith was superior to those who cleave to salvation by grace. Secondly, it seemed that he picked and chose only the parts of the Old Covenant that were somehow convenient.

There is a big philosophical fly in his ointment. If a person is saved through the keeping of the Law, they must keep all of the Law; and if they fail in one point of the Law, even one time, then they are guilty of violating the entire Law and cannot be saved by their own effort. This is the reason that Jesus' atoning work was necessary. Jesus had to do for us through grace what we could never do for ourselves through works. If the grace of God is sufficient for the work of Salvation, what possible value is it to make a half-hearted attempt to keep only the Laws that are convenient? Seems that all the effort is a waste of time.

The Apostle Paul made it abundantly clear: In Christ we find the completed work where all of our trespasses have been forgiven--where all the handwriting of requirements have been removed--and all that stood between us having a relationship with God the Father was nailed to the cross! Jesus paid the complete price for our sin. Jesus sacrifice is wholly sufficient for our salvation. Jesus Himself declared: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father, but by Me."

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of amazing grace. I rely on Your grace to do for me what I cannot possibly do for myself--to cleanse me from my sins--to release me from the failures of my past--and to set my feet on the straight road that leads to eternal life in You. Lord, I pray that You would give me the ability to discern between right and wrong and that I would bring forth the kind of fruit that would bring You glory. Please be the Lord of my life. Amen"

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

I have read the 23rd Psalm in numerous funeral services. Saying, "goodbye," to a friend or a family member is an occasion that causes us to cling to the thoughts and ideas that comfort us. The 23rd Psalm is a song of hope and comfort. Without question it is one of, if not my favorite chapter in the Bible. It speaks of the relationship that I enjoy with my creator.

I have lived long enough to experience the fullness of what life has to offer--both the good and the bad. I have been stabbed in the back by people that I considered friends. I have put my faith in the institutions of man only to be disappointed. I have engaged in ministry where I fret over the losses and rejoice in those that forge ahead. Through it all I have decided that anything not built on the sure foundation of Christ is indeed sinking sand. The answer to the challenges of life is always the same--lay aside all the empty promises of the world and build on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Being a "man after God's own heart," David understood the shepherd heart of God. Even before the Father sent Jesus into the world, David entered into a covenant relationship with his creator. What he discovered in this relationship caused him to pen the 23rd Psalm. In his relationship with God, David discovered that God is good--that He loves us--that He guides us--that He is with us through the good times and through the trials--that He protects us--that He provides for our needs--that He corrects us--that He holds our hand as we face death--and that His ultimate plan for us is eternal. What an encouraging truth: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!"

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, too often I have lived the life of a prodigal son. When I come to my senses and realize that it is time to head home--You have always been there to greet me with love and restoration. I am not worthy of Your love and forgiveness--I know this to be true--and yet, You ignore my failure and remove my sin as far as the east is from the west. You are the great shepherd and I trust in You. Cause me to seek You with my whole heart--leaving the duplicitous heart behind. I love You Lord! Amen"

Facts Straight

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Prov 14:12 (NKJV)

I grew up in an opinionated family. Around the dinner table we (siblings and parents) would discuss and argue everything from politics to religion. In order to temper our tendency to argue recklessly, my mother made sure that if we found out, through the documentation of the dictionary or encyclopedia, that we were wrong on the facts, we would have to say the words, "I was wrong." Just saying those three very difficult words made us a lot more careful in our handling of the facts.

Not too long ago I was in a "discussion" with my brother and I was sure that I was arguing on the right side of the facts, I was so sure that I would have bet the farm if I was a betting man. We went online to double check the facts and I was wrong. "Impossible! How could I have missed it and been so wrong?" I thought. I was so sure and yet, totally and completely wrong. It reminds me of a Proverb that is so important that it is one of the few scriptures that is stated twice. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

In recent years a new wave of intellectuals has emerged who claim to be atheists. They write their books and articles with great conviction, claiming that they are right and that anyone and everyone who has faith in a higher power must not be very bright or enlightened. They also speak of the Church with unending hubris, putting that ancient institution at the center of the world's problems.  That is their opinion, but are they on the right side of the debate?  In the words of Jesus: "Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." One day, every knee will bow before Jesus and confess Him as Lord--even those who scoff at Him now. When it comes to the issue of eternal life--this is the one issue where we need to humble ourselves and make sure that we have our facts straight.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, through our lives, through Your glorious creation, through signs and wonders, through the preaching of Your Word, through the blessing of life, please make Yourself known to those who are so sure that You don't exist. Touch their lives and plant a seed of faith in their hearts, so that they are brought to a place of salvation. I also pray that the Church would represent You with integrity, humility and above all, love! Amen"

Power to the Weak

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV)

God gives "power to the weak." Isaiah goes on to tell us that there will be circumstances that will test the exuberance and efforts of young men, to the point of utter and complete failure. What hope do any of us have in meeting the substantial challenges that life throws our way if even the strongest and most resilient among us fall short? It is somewhat disheartening to know that when it comes to life even the strongest--the most intellectual--the most influential--the most wealthy and the most powerful will all face failure. BUT, take heart, for our help comes from the Lord!

Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset made the following observation: "We cannot put off living until we are ready. The most salient characteristic of life is its coerciveness: it is always urgent, 'here and now,' without any possible postponement. Life is fired at us point-blank." In a life that is literally coming at us at the speed of light we face the reality of the daily grind. The Lord can obviously use the process of life to shape us and to grind away that which He wants removed. In fact, Romans 8:28 indicates that He takes coerciveness of life and works it to our advantage.

So, who can survive this rat race? "Those who wait on the Lord!" What does that mean? It means that we rest in Him--we trust in Him--we run to Him--we find our joy in Him--we give our burdens to Him--we abide in Him--we find ourselves in Him--we are renewed by Him--we find forgiveness through Him--we raise our prayers to Him--we renew our minds through Him--we worship Him... You cannot invest in Him and lose ground. In the midst of life's trials I have always found my strength to endure and to emerge victorious--in Him.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I have put all my eggs in the same basket--Your basket. If I am wrong about You, then I have no hope and nowhere else to turn. But, through the experience of life I have indeed learned to trust in You. You have never failed me and You have been true to Your promise to love and forgive me. I am blessed! Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"

Old?

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing. Psalms 92:12-14 (NKJV)

Most of the time I am oblivious to the fact that I am getting old. There is no getting around the aging process. There are many things that I can do in order to "age gracefully"; however, make no mistake about it, I am getting older and there is nothing that I can do to stop it. So, as I look to the future, will I be relevant in a culture that worships youth? Will my life have meaning? Does God have something yet that He wants me to accomplish?

The answer to my plight is clear and hopeful. "Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish...they shall still bear fruit in old age." This is a promise that should act as an encouragement to every Believer as they approach old age. Is it possible that my best days are before me? It is possible, in fact I am convinced that God has some very specific and important ministry that I have yet to accomplish. I will need to bear fruit in order to walk in the design of His destiny.

I may not always be able to work as long and hard as I do today, but I am not planning to retire from the ministry anytime soon. I'm sure that my job description will change as God raises up another to take my place, but as long as I am breathing and my heart is beating, I endeavor to be a worker in God's harvest. The Bible is full of "old guys" that made a difference. I want to be another one of those guys!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of life! Thank you for the beauty of Your creation. Thank you for the numerous promises that are documented in Your Word. Thank you for the many blessings that I experience day by day. As my life proceeds, every day is one day closer to my ultimate destination, but until that day I pray that You will open new opportunities to work in the service of Your Kingdom. May I live to see the day of a mighty sweeping revival! Amen"

Giants in the Land

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in itare men of great stature. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." Num 13:30-33 (NKJV)

God had promised a land that flowed with milk and honey to the children of Israel. Through many great miracles God delivered them from the land of Egypt and Moses led the upstart nation to the cusp of realizing the promise. Moses send twelve spies into the Promised Land and the host of Israel waited for their reports. Ten out of the twelve spies brought back a report which confirmed that the land was just as God promised, truly a wondrous land; However, they concluded that the God of Israel was not powerful enough to enable them to overcome the inhabitants that lived there.

The Church faces a very similar situation. We have the promise that "The Gates of Hell" will not prevail against us--and yet, we look at the giant challenges that are facing us and are too often overcome with timidity. So--how big is your God? Is He up to the challenge, or is He afraid to take on Hollywood? Is He all-powerful, or is He hiding away from the influence of the pop culture? What do you believe concerning God? What does the Church believe concerning their God?  Is He with us--will He enable us to be an influence--to be salt and light--can we make a difference?

Let me confirm what I believe. I believe that our great and almighty God is more than able to take on challenges that face us. I would like to believe that had I been one of the twelve spies sent into the Promised Land that I would have come back with a report like Caleb's."Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." The Church may be facing some cultural giants--but, in the name of Jesus, we will overcome them and prevail. Let us lay aside all timidity and fear, and with a loud voice proclaim the Gospel with the knowledge that in our future we will see the time when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord! Even the giants will bow!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, mighty God, giver of visions, keeper of promises and maker of mighty warriors; raise up an army--a mighty army of people who simply believe in You. I know that You are able and will bring about all that You have promised! You will bring all things into subjection by Your power and accomplish Your will on this earth. While there is yet time, cause Your people to believe, to step out in faith and take on the cultural giants with courage and with wisdom. Amen"

The BIG Question

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darknesswas on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. Gen 1:1-3 (NKJV)

There is a new wave of writers and thinkers who claim to be atheists. They believe in an expanding universe that came about...because...when... Actually, they have no answers, because their answers are illogical. The great French mathematician and philosopher René Descartes (1596-1650) talked about the idea of the existence of God. Descarte believed that mathematics and the laws of physics proved that God existed. He applied the following logic based those disciplines:

1. Nothing can come from nothing.
2. More cannot come from less.
3. More objective reality cannot come from less formal reality.

Decarte was putting his finger on the BIG QUESTION that science has been unable to answer: "Where did this all come from?" And I'm sorry, but, it just evolved into this--doesn't answer the question...there was a big bang in outer space a long time ago, does not answer the BIG QUESTION. Scientists are trying to explain the process by which our world was created, without considering the who or what that made it happen. "Nothing can come from nothing!"

Genesis 1:1 tells us where "something" started. "In the beginning, God..." About the time a Believer introduces God to answer the question of existence, there will be a skeptic who will challenge us: "I suppose that you don't believe that dinosaurs existed." "You probably think that the earth is less than 10,000 years old." "You probably don't believe in the Big Bang theory." Wow...seriously--is that the best challenge science has to offer? Let me tell you what I believe in: I believe in a God who created the process by which all things were created. Do I believe in theistic evolution? No, I believe in a theistic resolution! God resolved to create the heavens and the earth, and then He resolved to redeem that which He created.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, great creator of all that is, I worship You, for You alone are worthy of praise and adoration. I give You praise for my existence and for the salvation of my soul. I deeply appreciate the gift of life and the promise of eternal life. I do stand in awe of Your power, Your creativity and Your plan to rescue me from my sin. I will forever be grateful! Amen"

Peace

The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalms 29:11 (NKJV)

Solomon made an interesting observation: "Better is a dry morsel with quietness,Than a house full of feasting with strife." Prov 17:1 (NKJV) We all live in a world that some have described as a "dog eat dog" kind of a world. Where the strong pick on the weak--where the rich take advantage of the poor--where the educated rule over the uneducated--where the advantaged take "advantage" over the disadvantaged. If you are looking for fairness or an even playing field, you are living on the wrong planet. The real question is this; How can we find peace when living in the middle of strife?"

One cannot be a part of the solution if they are a part of the problem. So, in our quest for God's peace, we need to drop out of the worldly activities and pursuits that create the strife in the first place. What does that mean? We cannot afford to "buy in" to the world's system and values. The Apostle John said, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world." 1 John 2:15-16 (NKJV) The bottom-line is this: The pursuit of worldly advantage will generally lead to a life of spiritual disadvantage.

I have asked myself this question many times; "What do I want out of life?" It invariably leads me to a much more important question; "What is God's destiny for my life?" As I pursue God as my first love--desiring to please Him--everything in life begins to fall into place. My daily steps are ordered. The path ahead is straight and full of light. The circumstances of life beyond my control start working out for my good. I view the future with hope. I am renewed with strength daily. And last, but of great importance--when I am walking with God I am filled with the blessing of peace.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You are my treasure. You are more valuable than gold, diamonds or lands. You have given to me the gift of abundant life. A life of joy, peace and love. I agree with the Psalmist who said, 'I would rather spend one in Your courts than thousands elsewhere!' Thank you for a peace that passes understanding in the midst of tribulation. Thank you for being my strong tower in the midst of the raging storm of life. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"

Like a Tree

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jer 17:7-8 (NKJV)

Central Texas is in the middle of an unprecedented drought. It has been tragic to look across the hills and see numerous trees either dead or dying for lack of moisture. Some of the trees that died were ancient and had survived for hundreds of years, but nothing survives without a source of water. Water is the lifeline for trees and with a steady source from which to draw, trees, such as the great Red Woods, can live for over a thousand years.

The Prophet Jeremiah compares such a tree with a man who has put his trust in the Lord. What does that mean? It means that we have put down spiritual roots that are deep and wide. These spiritual roots are connected to God through the working of the Holy Spirit. As we remain in this continual state of being renewed by the Holy Spirit we become resilient. Just as a tree planted by the waters is able to reach down and touch the source of water with its deep roots and survive in the face of drought, so is the Believer who has deep roots in the Lord able to survive all the nonsense that surrounds us in this world.

Let me tell you what my spiritual roots have meant to me personally. From the time I was a child I always had a sense of well-being. I was convinced that things would work out for my good, because God was with me and He liked me! Although I was aware of my own failings and weaknesses; I also was convinced that the promises in God's Word were true. I was convinced that I could do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I was positive that I was more than a conqueror with God on my side. I knew that there was always hope, even in the face of hopeless situations, because with God all things are possible. In my life this is more than a hopeful mindset--it was and to this day "remains" the fruit of putting my trust in the Lord! I always knew that I was a tree person.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You are the strength of my life. You are the reason that I have hope and remain optimistic in a world full of pessimism. I believe in You and I know that the 23rd Psalm is an accurate understanding of how You function in the lives of Your children. You walk with us every step of our journey through life. And there is no reason to fear the future, because I will dwell with You in the House of the Lord forever! Amen"

Desperately Wicked

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jer 17:9 (NKJV)

Our lives were once again rocked by the events of yesterday as bombs went off at the finish-line of the Boston Marathon. Killing and forever maiming the innocent. Of course, gun control is the issue that is presently being debated in the halls of Congress, and who knows, more thorough background checks probably will stop a few acts of violence; However, we will never be able to pass enough legislation to stop people on people violence. As far as I know--making and planting bombs is an illegal activity, but it does not detour those who are determined to commit crimes against others.

For most people--the idea of going on a shooting rage at a grade school or exploding bombs at a marathon race is not an act we would ever contemplate much less carry out. Such acts of violence simply make no sense to us. We share this tiny planet with a lot of people who have nothing in their character that acts as a conscience--that causes them to feel remorse or to reconsider their actions. Therefore; we have drug lords and cartels, people driving under the influence, the molestation of children, religious persecution, sexual slavery, terrorists, and never-ending string of violent acts. I think that Jeremiah the Prophet got it right: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can figure it out?"

In his book, "People of the Lie", the late, great M. Scott Peck wrote about the nature of evil in mankind. He said, (RJ's paraphrase) "When normal people are around evil people, the normal people are confused. The actions of an evil person and the rules by which they live are as indecipherable as a foreign language." When I think of yesterday's events or the events of 9/11, I would have to agree with Peck--it is simply confusing. "Who can know or understand the heart and mind of a person who engages in such activities?" Above all, it is just one more sign that mankind needs--make that--desperately needs God!

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I pray for the families of those who were needlessly killed yesterday in Boston--I also pray for those who were forever maimed. Please ease their pain and bring a peace, Your peace, which passes understanding. I also pray that you will enable law enforcement agencies to bring the culprits to justice. In light of these events I also pray that you would protect my family and friends as they walk through this dangerous world. Keep them safe from the Enemy and keep them safe from the people that are being used by the Enemy. I put my full trust in You. Amen"

New Life

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

Doctrinal Point #5: As a Believer walks according to the Spirit, they are free from condemnation and the consequences of sin.

As a college student I had a great appreciation for the end of the semester and the beginning of the new. It was the opportunity for a fresh start. I always found the uncharted waters of a fresh start to be exhilarating! The Apostle Paul spoke of the New Life that we have in Christ: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Cor 5:17 (NKJV)

What are some of the opportunities that are offered by our new life in Christ? Here are just a few: To be free from the burden of a guilty conscience. To be free from the compulsion to sin. To be free from the condemnation of my past sin. To walk with new purposes. To believe in new possibilities and to have the hope of glory living in me. To love and accept others without worrying about how they feel about me. To know that my very steps are ordered by God. The list of God's blessings are without end...

The Apostle Peter contrasted the old life with the new. He made reference to some known proverbs of his time: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:22 (NKJV) When the old life, before Christ, is compared to the new life with Christ--the gulf between the two is huge. Feasting at the table of the Lord is always better than scrounging for spoiling morsels in the land fill. "OK, you get the point!" Our new life in Christ is great--life without Christ, not so great.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You have given me a future. Not only do I have hope for the future, but, even now--in this moment, I have an abundant life! I am free--I am clean--I have purpose--I have a place being prepared for me. I will forever be grateful for Your love and the work of Your Son's blood which has washed my sins away. No wonder You are great and greatly to be praised! Amen"

Confession

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:8-9 (NKJV)

Doctrinal Point #4: People are delivered from their sin when they proclaim their faith and when that faith is birthed in their hearts.

There is more written about St. Augustine than any other person alive during the 4th or 5th century. St. Augustine wrote a 13 book autobiography called, "Confessions in Thirteen Books." It is now commonly called "The Confessions of St. Augustine." How about you? Can you imagine having thirteen books written about your life dedicated to the purpose of exposing you...warts and all? In Augustine's mind it only took thirteen books to cover his conversion to Christianity and to confess his faith.

The Apostle John stated: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us oursins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 (NKJV) What this tells us is that "we" approach confession from two different aspects. Firstly, we acknowledge our need of Christ by "confessing" our sins. Secondly, we acknowledge the Lordship of Christ by "confessing" our faith in Him. Both components of the confession are important and necessary.

The first confession is an expression of sorrow towards our state of sinfulness. Which is the first step to repentance. The second confession is an expression of submission to the purposes of God as they relate directly to us. It is possible to be sad about sin and not submit to God, leaving the work of God in our lives incomplete. The power of God is released in our lives when we, "Confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus..." Why is this so important? According to the Apostle Paul, "Jesus has been given a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord!" It is not a question of whether or not you will submit to Jesus--it is a matter of when. Embrace His Lordship now--walk in His favor--enjoy His blessings--submit to His goodness and experience the glory of the Lord.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, it is a joy to confess what everyone will one day acknowledge--that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He has been given a name above every name and I loudly and enthusiastically confess that Jesus is the Lord. He is my Lord--my Friend--my Brother--my Savior--my Hope--my Salvation--my King--my Example--my Teacher--my Rock--my Healer--my Shield--my Refuge... Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"

Good News

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

Doctrinal Point #3: God loves sinners and made provision to save them through the atoning work of Christ. 

The most popular Bible verses, according to statistical data on the internet, are as follows: 
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (NKJV) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jer 29:11 (NKJV) You probably noticed that both of these verses would have to be considered "Good News" verses.

If you were to stop people on the street and ask them to describe the Christian religion; many would use words such as, "somber, strict, stiff, stoic, superstitious..." And that is only a few of the "S" words. What this tells me is that God is really, really good; and that the church has done a poor job in representing Him to the world. Most non-Christians are not interested in taking on the bondage of religion. Too often rejecting our brand of Christianity without understanding that Christ brings real freedom and a life of joy. If you are a Christian--please hear me--we need to do a better job in representing Jesus and His message of "Good News!"

Does God hate sinners? Does He hate Muslims? Does He hate homosexuals?* The answers should be so obvious as to render the questions as rhetorical in nature, but just in case you are not sure--let me answer each question in turn. "No"..."No"...and "No." Please note the following truth: "God demonstrates (an ongoing process) His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." So, if God does not hate sinners, what does He hate? God hates the sin that enslaves them--the sin that is so self-destructive--the sin that does so much damage--the sin that separates people from their Creator.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, too much of my own preaching has made it sound as if You are an angry God looking for ways to punish mankind. I have no doubt about Your position as to being the perfect judge, but I also know that the word that defines You above all others is 'love.' Please help me to be a better representative of Your love. May I demonstrate more of Your grace, mercy, patience and other character traits when I preach the Good News. Amen"

* When asked by The Barna Group what words or phrases best describe Christianity, the top response among Americans ages 16-29 was “anti-homosexual.” For a staggering 91 percent of non-Christians, this was the first word that came to their mind when asked about the Christian faith. The same was true for 80 percent of young churchgoers. Do I believe that homosexuality is a sin? I simply believe that the Bible represents the truth. (There is no way to parse the Apostle Paul's words concerning homosexuality and come away believing that it is an equal and blessed lifestyle) However, I do not classify homosexuality as a bad sin while classifying other sin as less or "good" sin. I have a number of homosexual friends that I love and pray for. I have not be called to persecute homosexuals or anyone else. I have been called to "preach the truth according to God's Word"--to "love my neighbor as myself"--and to "leave all matters of judgment in the hands of God." The danger of making the above statement is this: The pro-homosexual crowd will consider it a "hate crime." The anti-homosexual crowd will believe that my position was not stated as clearly or strongly as it should have been. It is indicative of the Satanic maneuvering that has placed "The Church" between a rock and a hard place. Time for "God's people to humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways and pray."

Circle of Death

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

Roman Road Doctrinal Point #2: The consequence of our sin is a death sentence. Death in this life and separation from God in the next.

Years ago Disney turned out an animated film that was a giant hit--"The Lion King." One of the songs from the movie that caught on was "Circle of Life," sung by Elton John. In the movie, the animals celebrated the circle of life--the birth of baby animals--the coming of spring--the dawn of a new day... But, the focus of the song was only on the front end, where the new life was happening. Come to think about it, the circle of life is not an actual circle; that would be wishful thinking. Life--all life birthed on planet earth comes to an end called death. This is like "Going directly to jail without passing Go or collecting $200.

We rejoice when a baby is born into our family, and we cry when someone in our family passes from this world, because we know that we will never see them again in this life. The Bible tells us: "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned..." Romans 5:12 (NKJV) If we need proof of our need of God, we do not have to look any further than the specter of death that looms on the fringes of our consciousness. The finality, inescapably and inevitability of death is a constant reminder that our planet, though teaming with life, is under a curse. It is the curse of sin and the consequences of the curse is death.

Death does not need to be the end. For those who turn to God, death can be the door that takes us from this life into the next. The Apostle Paul called the life on the other side of death, "Eternal Life." Which means a life that has no end. Disney missed it when they called what is happening here on planet earth, the circle of life; but, for those who put their trust in Jesus, eternal life is waiting...an unbroken circle...a true circle of life.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You are my future hope. I know that this life will come to an abrupt end...I have lived long enough to know that my death and the death of those that I love is inevitable. But, I know that Jesus conquered death, hell and the grave. I know that the sting of death is now of no consequence, because You have granted eternal life to all who put their trust in You. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"

The Bad Guys

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

The Roman Road Doctrinal Point #1: Every member of the human race needs God.

As a kid I used to watch Roy Rogers movies--at least every chance my Mom let me. In almost every Roy Rogers movie it was very easy to "see" the difference between the good guys and the bad guys. Most of the time Roy actually wore a white hat--and good always trumped evil--and the good guys really were good. It was an era when Hollywood avoided what has now become popular; that is a protagonist with a lot of baggage. Many of the modern movie heroes are presented as conflicted characters, full of flaws, vices, weaknesses and questionable moral values. This is probably more true to life than the good guys with white hats.

According to scripture, the world is full of "bad guys." They are commonly called sinners in church circles. Romans 3:23 boldly declares the following: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This is a truth that is disputed in some circles. The American Humanist Society slogan is simple and to the point: "Good without God." Essentially all Secular Humanist thinkers believe in the basic goodness of man. Furthermore, they believe that the main factor standing between people and good behavior can be fixed by social engineering. By improving environmental factors such as education and prosperity, along with greater social control and less personal freedom--they believe that utopia on earth is possible.

Is it possible for humanity to achieve "goodness" apart from God's grace? Are the Secular Humanists correct? I read the news every day and every day, without fail, the news provides me with a plethora of evidence that indicates and supports the idea that mankind is fundamentally flawed. In Christian circles this is often referred to as original sin. Meaning--all of us are born with the natural inclination to engage in behavior that is self-centered and by God's standards, sinful. When I view our world full of self-inflicted wounds, such as hatred, violence, greed, laziness, jealousy, anger, prejudice, exploitation and foolishness, I am forced to come to the conclusion that collectively mankind has a screw loose. We are either a species that is naturally "crazy" or we have a sin problem. The bottom-line is this: We need God's help to transform and to achieve a level of goodness. Can we become "Good without God?" Maybe..."When pigs fly!"*

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I am reminded of the following lyric: 'I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee...' I know that I cannot, and I will not achieve a level of Godly morality and good behavior apart from the working of Your Holy Spirit actively working to change me. I can no more save myself that I can grab my shoe strings and lift myself off the ground. Please continue to work in my life and wash me white as snow. Amen"

*The phrase "when pigs fly" is an adynaton—a figure of speech so hyperbolic that it describes an impossibility.

Romans Road - Introductions

This is not my typical devotional. I am introducing what is commonly called "The Romans Road to Salvation." The devotional material the rest of the week will be dealing with the different doctrinal points of the Romans Road. So acquaint yourselves with the following verses that make up the Apostle Paul's Romans Road to Salvation. (If you memorize the verses they will assist you greatly as you are given the opportunity to lead someone to Christ)

Doctrinal Point #1: Every member of the human race needs God. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

Doctrinal Point #2: The consequence of our sin is a death sentence. Death in this life and separation from God in the next. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God iseternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

Doctrinal Point #3: God loves sinners and made provision to save them through the atoning work of Christ. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

Doctrinal Point #4: People are delivered from their sin when they proclaim their faith and when that faith is birthed in their hearts. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:8-9 (NKJV)

Doctrinal Point #5: As a Believer walks according to the Spirit, they are free from condemnation and the consequences of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

Well, now you know the subject matter for the next 5 devotionals. It is my hope that this series of devotionals will help you more clearly understand the gospel message and make you more effective in sharing your faith. Blessings! Ron

Save Some

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to thosewho are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. 1 Cor 9:19-23 (NKJV)

The book of Leviticus declares that the people of God are not to tattoo their bodies. How clear is this command? "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord." Lev 19:28 (NKJV) (Before I offend anyone, let me say that this devotional is not about tattoos) Here is the point that I am trying to make. I have a friend who has been called to preach the gospel message to bikers. I'm talking about hardcore bikers. To reach this particular group, he has big, colorful, Christian-message tattoos covering a good portion of his arms. One could make the case that he is literally living out the Apostle Paul's words of "becoming all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

Not being under the ceremonial Levitical laws, I would not say that I have an issue with tattoos, other than being deathly afraid of needles, or even more afraid of being stuck with some really tacky meaningless art on my body that I end up regretting later. On the other hand, what would I be willing to do to reach a group of people that God called me to reach? Would I be willing to move to a remote part of Africa? Would I be willing to learn a different language--study up on my Apologetics--serve in a soup kitchen--share my testimony with strangers? What price am I willing to pay to save some?

Paul's "whatever-it-takes" attitude made him a very effective evangelist-missionary. He paid a tremendous price to "save some." We are talking being arrested, whipped, beaten, stoned, imprisoned, ship-wrecked, persecuted, and eventually paying the ultimate price of being a martyr. Paul had a personal conviction concerning the sharing of the gospel. In the church today, we often teach people techniques of how to engage the "lost" in personal evangelism. Techniques and methodologies are fine and helpful, but they are no substitute for a personal conviction. The most effective personal evangelism that I have ever observed comes from people who have the personal conviction that they need to win the lost, and they invariably become all things to all men, that they might by all means save some.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, continue to break my heart for those that are lost and dying without You. May I not become complacent or withdraw from the mission to tell people about You. You have made all the difference in my life and I know that You can do the same for them. Use me--use my voice--use my intellect--use my talents--use my gifts--use my testimony and life to save some. May this become a conviction and a passion in my life! Amen"

New Beginnings

10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel." Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off. Ezra 3:10-13 (NKJV)

The Book of Ezra is all about new beginnings. The children of Israel were coming back to their homeland after their long exile in Babylon. It was a new beginning to establish their nation and a new opportunity to serve God. For every Hebrew that it made it back home, there were hundreds, if not thousands that never made it back to the Promised Land. But, for those that made it, they recognized that God made their return possible.

They declared, "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever!" One of the first reconstruction projects in Jerusalem was to rebuild the temple of the Lord, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians. The builders, with the whole nation assembled and accompanied by the fanfare of trumpets, cymbals, shouts of praise and singing, laid the foundation for the new temple. There was a strange mix of bitter-sweet sounds that burst forth from the vast crowd. There was both weeping and shouts of joy.

When a life is turned around and given a new opportunity to begin with a clean slate, it stirs the emotions of our heart. Like a family greeting a prodigal son, we find ourselves running alongside the Father, bursting with hope as we spot the lost sheep returning home. As the prodigal returns--the angels of heaven rejoice--the Father wraps His arms of mercy around them--and we stand in awe with weeping and joy as we witness the grace of God in action. No wonder we call God's grace "amazing!"

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You are good and Your mercy indeed endures forever. Your patience is beyond human understanding, because You continually give to us--sinner all--prodigals all--the opportunity to start again. Thank you for Your love and for looking beyond all that is wrong with me and seeing the possibilities that You bring about through Your transforming work in my life. I will forever be grateful! Amen"

Conformity, Part 3

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. Dan 3:19, 24-26 (NKJV)

Nebuchadnezzar made good on his threat and threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego into a fiery furnace. The three Hebrew teens had taken a stand and were now living with the consequences of that decision. Make no mistake about it, nonconformity comes at a price, and the outcome of taking a stand may not always what we might wish for. That said, I believe that when I take a stand, God is standing with me. In the words of Job,"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

In the case of the three Hebrew teens, God directly intervened. There in the midst of a fiery furnace (that was so hot that it killed the guards that tossed the teens in) a fourth person joined them. This being looked like the Son of God and all four of the persons in the furnace were not harmed by the heat nor the flames. King Nebuchadnezzar really had no choice, but to recognize that he was witnessing a miracle. He called out, "Servants of the Most High God, come out..."

What can we learn from this story? That in the toughest moments of life--God is with us! That we need to stand by our principles--stand on the Word of God--and stand for what is right, regardless of the consequences. That God's power is often released when we put our faith in Him and step out on the basis of that faith. Last, but not least, we cannot make compromises with evil. We need to fight the good fight and have the courage to defy the enemy.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I know that I have often found myself living a lifestyle of compromises. And often, I was completely unaware of the compromises that I had made to fit-in and to be anonymous. But, I would ask that You would give me the courage to stand when others are bowing down. May I be faithful and truth--an enemy of all that is evil. With Your help, wisdom and strength, I intend to stand for You. Amen"

Conformity, Part 2

Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Dan 3:14-18 (NKJV)

While it is true that teens are susceptible to the pressure of conformity, it is equally true, that if convinced that a cause is just, they are willing to put everything at risk in its defense. That was the case with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego; when everyone else was bowing down and caving in to the intense pressure, they refused to capitulate. They were brought before the King, and he carefully explained what was expected of them and then further explained what would happen to them if they did not comply.

With the whole Babylonian crowd bowing down to Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Statue, the three Hebrew teens literally "stood out" from everyone else. The King could not let such nonconformity go unchallenged. This is similar to the culture that surrounds us today. Under the guise of Political Correctness there is pressure to accept concepts and practices that are considered evil by Biblical Standards. We have a choice to make. Either we bow down or we stand.

The real concern is this: "What will happen to us if we stand up for what we believe?" Will Pastors be charged with hate crimes for preaching the Bible? Will churches lose their tax exempt status? Will there be state-sanctioned hate crimes committed against Believers? Will the American Church face real persecution? All of these things are possibilities. The King's threat to the three Hebrew teens was real--but, it did not matter to them. They boldly met the Babylonian Political Correctness with the following statement: "We have no need to answer you in this matter...let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up!" This historic moment of nonconformity was pulled off by three teens who decided to put it all on the line.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, we live in a day and age where the threat of persecution looms large and is growing. Everything is at risk, including life itself. I am concerned for the well-being of my children and grandchildren...concerned that they only have two choices available; to bow down and sell their spiritual heritage for a pot of beans, or to stand for You and be the object of persecution. Please give us Your wisdom in this challenging time, and give us the courage to stand for You. Amen"

Conformity, Part 1

Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." Dan 3:4-6 (NKJV)

I think that it is safe to say that most people bow down before the dictates of the culture without giving it a second thought. We indulge and consume what the culture skillfully lays before us before considering the implications of what we are participating in. Like frogs in the kettle we are slowly lulled into a false sense of security never realizing that we are being cooked by the values of a culture headed in the wrong direction.

Young minds are the most susceptible to the pressure of conformity, and many Christian parents were not aware of the real dangers and the full impact of the cultural influence on their children until their children were in full-blown rebellion. The real challenge for Christian parents is this: How can you effectively pass your faith and values down to your children without being sabotaged by the influence of world that surrounds them?

There are probably two actions that Christian parents will need to consider: Firstly, we must limit the exposure of our children to those things that pose danger to them. Having a "whatever-it-takes" mentality in eliminating unwanted influences. Secondly, we must be much more pro-active in exposing them to a list of influences and experiences that are good, pure, right, positive, spiritual, productive and meaningful. (We cannot send our children to public schools, take them to church a couple of times a week and assume that they will be "OK." It will demand more time, energy, interaction and discernment than that!) Ultimately, we want to raise children who take a stand when the music of the culture begins to play, who absolutely refuse to bend or bow. May the Lord help us and guide in raising children who are unwilling to be "Conformed to the pattern of this world."

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, please hear my prayer for the generation of children that are in the church today. Give us the wisdom so that we know how to effectively raise them up to be followers of Christ; and give us the courage to stand against the cultural influences that we know to be detrimental to their walk with You. We desire our children and grandchildren to be a part of a mighty revival that sweeps around the world. We want them to a spiritual salt that challenges and changes the culture! Amen"

Preeminence

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Col 1:13-18 (NKJV)

Preeminence is not a word that we commonly use. (Just think about it--how would you use "preeminence" and McDonald's in the same sentence?) Preeminence can be defined as: Something that stands out from among the rest--Number One--Something of great importance--The highest. The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God and that He has preeminence over all of creation.

As we walk and sometimes stumble through life, we often forget who is standing with us. Life seems hard and cruel--circumstances seem to work against us--times seem to be growing more evil and dark; and we are filled with the unwanted feelings of fear, worry, stress and despair. Time to remind you that the One who lives in you is preeminent over all things--even the worst of what life is firing at you. There simply is no greater power in this universe than the power of our Lord!

God has delivered us from the power of darkness and has conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son. What does this mean? It means that, "No weapon formed against you will prosper." It means that even when, "You walk through the valley of the shadow of death, there will be no reason to fear evil." It means that, "The one living in you is greater than all the forces that are arrayed against you." Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords--He has been given a name above all other names--and He has preeminence over all that is and is the substance of the things that we hope for.

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You do all things well! You have proven to be worthy of my trust. You have been the source of my hope. You have been consistent in forgiving me and restoring even though I have been unfaithful. I take great comfort in two facts: Your love is greater than my sin, and Your power is greater than the power of my enemy. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"

A Prayer for Those I Love

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Col 1:9-12 (NKJV)

I have a list of people that I pray for on a regular basis. The list is so important that I do not write the names down. Let me explain--these people are so precious to me that there is never a day that passes where they are not predominate in both my thoughts and prayers. I think of my wife--my children--my grandchildren--my extended family--my church family--and my close friends...no doubt about it, they are always on my heart and love inserts them into the middle of my prayer life.

When I pray for the people that I love, what do I hope for in their lives? Prosperity, fame and power? No doubt, I want the people I love to do well in this life, but prosperity, fame and power are not very high on my list. I have watched too many "Mouseketeers" flame-out, because they could not handle their own overgrown egos caused by too much, too soon. So, what do I want for the people that are close to my heart? When praying for the Colossians, the Apostle Paul prayed that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, wisdom and spiritual understanding.

What chance do my grandchildren have making their way through the challenges of this world in one piece apart from God's grace? I have lived long enough and observed enough human behavior to conclude that I'm going to make Paul's prayer for the Colossians the prayer that I will be praying for my grandchildren. I can not think of a better prayer or a better gift than to be filled with God's wisdom, spiritual understanding and to be walking in the center of God's will. As they embrace these precious gifts of God's grace, I already know that an abundant life in Christ awaits them...and ultimately, they will "Be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." Paul's poetic way of saying, "Eternal life is waiting!"

Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I already know that You love my family and friends; and I am persuaded to place them into Your tender care and mercy. I pray that You would be the treasure in the hearts of my children and grandchildren. May You--and You alone be their first love. Fill them with the knowledge of Your will--fill them with Your wisdom--and fill them with a deep spiritual understanding by Your Spirit. Thank you for Your amazing faithfulness and blessings! Amen"