Proverbs 19:2 12/28/2021*

 “Desire without knowledge is not good —how much more will hasty feet miss the way!”

Do you have a plan… or just a desire?  You need a plan if you don’t want to miss the mark.

My 2022 plan deals with who I am going to be, not what I am going to do. 

It is comprised of six words which build on each other…. Faith, Love, Wisdom, Courage, Peace, Joy. 

It starts with FAITH…Faith has always been our path to God. Hebrews says it’s impossible to please God without faith. That is a significant statement that we sometimes ignore. Faith comes from God so I must continually pursue it in prayer.

The next ingredient is LOVE… Love identifies me as God’s child. Scripture says anything I do without love is irrelevant. Even great faith without love is meaningless.

Once these foundational pieces are set, I need WISDOM to see God’s plan.  Scripture says if I lack wisdom, it’s because I haven’t asked for it…So I will ask God for the wisdom to know what He wants me to do. 

Knowing what to do is different than doing it… God’s way is not always popular. So, it’ll require COURAGE to stick to His plan. 

Next, I need PEACE. I often have anxiety over problems that have not yet happened. Peace will allow me to stay focused on what is in front of me. Philippians says to stop being anxious and tell God my needs. If I do this, His peace which is beyond comprehension will guard my heart and mind and allow me to deal wisely with issues I face today.  

The final component is JOY. Nehemiah says the Joy of the Lord is my strength. I cannot dispassionately serve God – I must see life from God’s perspective and tackle life Joyfully…Doing so, will produce unstoppable enthusiasm and strength and will attract others to Him. 

So that’s the plan. Pray for FAITH, radiate LOVE, seek WISDOM, COURAGEOUSLY follow where wisdom leads, relax in God’s PEACE, and lean on His JOY.

Post these six words where you’ll be reminded to pray through them every morning.  Go “All In” this year and become a part of the victorious plan of God.

“God’s plan is to make much of the man… Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.” – E.M. Bounds

Luke 2:11-14 12/21/2021*

 “… today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Mankind was lost – We had been given the requirements for righteousness and had failed miserably by rejecting God and rebelling against His law…We had no hope of redemption, and our eternal destiny was set.

Then out of nowhere - Christmas exploded into history.

Can you imagine the panic in the hallways of hell when this baby was born?  Can you fathom the terror that surged through the enemy at this proclamation from a throng of powerful angels?

A heavenly host appeared and said: Today changes everything! 

In that instant history pivoted and God proclaimed that His love would not allow us to get what we deserved…. Since we couldn’t save ourselves – He would save us…So on the first Christmas morning God launched the greatest rescue mission ever undertaken. 

The Commander of the universe sent His Son as a child – to go behind enemy lines, live a life of perfection, die for our sin, and rise again to set us free. 

This birth began the process of turning the jungle back into a garden.  It signaled an end to my slavery to sin, restored the relationship I had forfeited with my creator, and canceled the debt I had accrued. 

Don’t be confused by the commercial hysteria – The holiday we celebrate is an historical event that has nothing to do with Christmas trees and reindeer.  

Christmas was a tactical invasion by The Lord of Host to rescue His children…It provided us a path back to Him.  It restored peace with our maker, and brought hope to this broken world. 

Don’t get so distracted by the hype that you miss the only Christmas gift that matters … “there has been born for YOU a Savior, who is Christ the Lord … Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

“The Son of God became a man, to enable men to become sons of God.” - C.S. Lewis

Deuteronomy 6:5 12/14/2021*

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Are you an alien living here as a foreigner, fully committed to Christ? 

Or are you a local that dabbles in religion?

Because you can’t be both. 

God sent His Son to die for our sin…Centuries before He did - He wrote this verse to make it clear that something that costly can never be a side hustle…Christianity is not a part time job. You are either all in – or not in at all. 

So, what does loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength mean?

Your heart is your engine. – Is it committed to pursuing God at all costs? Is your worship filled with passion, gratitude, and commitment? It should be if you love the Lord your God with all your heart. 

What about your Soul? C.S. Lewis said, “You don’t have a soul, you ARE a soul...”  What a profound statement. Your soul is the essence of who you are…Your soul is what is everlasting and made in the image of God.  So, God expects you to love Him with ALL that you are. Everything in you that matters should be clinging to your Heavenly Father. 

And finally, how do you love God with all your strength?  Your strength is about what you DO every day? Is your energy spent chasing trinkets this world offers, or do you pursue your King? When you are exhausted is it most often because you were battling for lost souls - or chasing temporary fame and fortune?

With all of that in mind, let me ask you again… Are you an alien living in a foreign land fully committed to Christ? Or are you an earthling that dabbles in religion? 

If you don’t like the answer to that question – Change it…The invitation is open, and God has paid your way.  

Abandon all hesitation. Go “all in” with Christ with every part of your heart, your soul, and your strength. You were created for one purpose… to be with God – Anything else is just a distraction.

“If Christ is not all to you, He is nothing to you. He will never go into partnership as a part Savior of men. If He be something He must be everything, and if He be not everything, He is nothing to you.”

 – Charles Spurgeon

1 Kings 13 12/7/2021*

“The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying to him.) So, the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.”

There is a difference in listening to men who claim to serve God - and listening to God. 

The prophet lied, proving all can sin …The man of God followed the prophet’s advice – though God had instructed otherwise – and costly consequences followed. 

We must never elevate man’s words above the Word of God.

This principal is reinforced in the New Testament when Berean Jews are praised for their devotion to scripture: “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Even when listening to the Apostle Paul, they checked the content through existing scripture.

The danger in not doing this, is the temptation to look for agreement instead of direction. We tend to search for sources who encourage us to do what we already want to do. 

There is wisdom in having righteous advisers…but no matter who your advisers are, final confirmation must come from scripture and prayer.

In the gospels Jesus often says, “it is written”. That is the standard – You can read Christian books and devotionals – and they may be good additives to scripture…But the thing that matters, is your knowledge of God’s Word.

You cannot follow what you do not know. And you cannot know what you have not studied. 

Read your bible. Set up non-negotiable daily routines. Learn to ask questions through prayer and find answers in scripture. Study and learn to handle The Word well. Counselors are good – but their only purpose is to help you understand and apply what God has already written in your bible. 

We have the perfect compass. Memorize it – follow it relentlessly – and never entertain advice that conflicts with its guidance, no matter who that advice comes from. 

“What we need as Christians is to be able to feed ourselves.  How many there are who sit helpless, with open mouths, hungry for spiritual things, and the minister must try to feed them, while the Bible is a feast prepared, into which they never venture.” – D.L. Moody

PSALM 139:7-12 11/30/2021*

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take up the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me.”

 This is a passage that completely mystifies us if we delve into it. 

God is incomprehensible. We see Him through a dark glass but even that glimpse is too much for us to grasp. 

You cannot hide from God – He knows where you are…and He is there…. there is no darkness around God – He is light. 

Most things in this life are relative and shifting, but God is not. He is eternal and permanent. 

How amazing is it to be loved by a God like that? A God who sees behind the façade and loves you still. In Jeremiah God says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart”. In other words, you didn’t earn it…

God is omnipresent. He is everywhere…All powerful, omnipotent, omniscient…and any other “omni” word you want to throw in…. You are literally incapable of overestimating His power.

After you recover from trying to comprehend that - throw into the mix that, that same God adores you! … He not only loves you – He likes you…He longs for fellowship with you. He stands knocking at your door. 

He is the perfect Father. It doesn’t matter how far you run or how well you hide…He is already there. Nothing you have done can separate you from Him…Nothing is stronger than the blood of Christ. 

The question asked in this passage is “where can I go from your Spirit?” … The answer is “nowhere”.

What a gift… Once I claim the sacrifice made on my behalf, I am permanently His child… and nothing can separate me from His love. 

Boldly walk out of your door today with confidence in that undeniable truth. The extravagance with which God loves you combined with His incomprehensible power is all you need to face today without blinking.  

“On the whole, God’s love for us is a much safer subject to think about than our love for Him.” C. S. Lewis

Joshua 1:9-11 11/23/2021*

"…Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are going to cross this Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving you…”

God tells His children to be strong and courageous …. Then He says - get ready to move – prepare to go into battle. 

I love talking about being courageous when I am telling other people to do it. But I am not as excited about moving courageously into conflict myself. 

Courage matters when there is a battle – bravery is important when facing danger…. So, as I sit in my easy chair this morning and write these comments – what danger am I willing to face? …What battle am I prepared to wage? God wants me to move – not just talk about moving. 

God is more interested in what we do than what we say. James 1:22 says “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”  So, what are you willing to do? As you sit in your easy chair this morning – Ask yourself what battles you are willing to fight today. 

Consider the illustration of the pig and the chicken and their role in breakfast …The chicken is supportive - the pig is committed. So, which are you? Are you committed to the gospel or just supportive of it? 

God wants soldiers who are committed to sacrificing for the Kingdom. Courageous men and women ready to risk it all, leave their comfort zones, cross the Jordan, and take possession of the promises God has given them.

Moving forward is uncomfortable… And at times risky because it pushes you out of cover and opens you up for others to shoot at…But that can be a good thing, since it will force you to stop talking about courage - and actually have some.

So, it’s up to you today…Will you cross the Jordan that God has put before you…or will you sit in your comfort zone and talk about it?

"You do not write your life with words... You write it with actions. "

- Patrick Ness.

1 John 4:21 11/16/2021*

“And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.”

There is no wiggle room in this commandment. 

You can do all the “theological open field running” you want, search every commentary, point your finger, and deflect blame…but there is no getting around that statement. The one who loves God - must love others.

This is reinforced when Jesus says if you are angry with someone don’t sacrifice to God until you talk to them…. Matthew 5:24 “leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”

There are no loopholes…. Love is not just a commandment, it’s an identity. God is love. If He lives in you - and you don’t love others, there is a problem. 

You can dress up with feathers and wings – and tell everyone you’re an eagle – but if you don’t fly – they’re going to know you’re not an eagle. 

You can dress up like a Christian – go to church every week – But, if you don’t love others – according to this verse their going to know you’re not a Christian. 

If you are unable to love people because of their skin color, or who they voted for, or because they have a medical opinion you don’t agree with…then you have an identity problem. Those stipulations are not allowed for in this verse, and you need to make sure you’re not claiming to be something you’re not. 

God loves you and wants you to be His…And If God lives within you…. how can you not bleed love when you are cut?

This is one of the last books written in the bible and God is making sure we “get it”. Love is the element that defines us… it is not just something we do – it is something we are – it is the foundational component in our DNA and identifies us as His children.

You cannot love your brother without loving God – neither can you love God, without loving your brother…So, reject this world’s tendency to divide us - and start praying for your neighbor, serving others, and loving those who don’t love you...that is your identifying mark.

“I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Jeremiah 9:23-24 11/9/21*

 “Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD …”

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

Do you strive for attractiveness, intelligence, stylishness, wealth? … When you boast is it about money, success, power…what identifies you? 

We all see ourselves with different assets…but this verse says only one thing is worth boasting about and that is knowing the Lord. 

So, tell me where “knowing the Lord” lands on your list of identifying attributes. How often do you find yourself boasting about God? If it is not high on the list, you need to evaluate why?

Scripture says, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What you love – controls you. What you think about is who you are. So, is God your focus or just a compartmentalized component of your life?

This is an interesting question because the answer can reveal idols that have been hiding in plain sight – comfortably using the approval of our culture for cover. 

Money is not evil unless it leads you…. Professional success is good unless it becomes too important… Your physical wellbeing is a gift from God that should be enjoyed but was never intended to consume your every thought and action. 

Pursuit of good things in life, is not the problem…The problem is the lack of pursuit of the best thing in life - a relationship with your Heavenly Father. 

Eliminate the noise in your mind that this world produces and recognize what Jesus did for you… If you want to boast, boast about God. If you want to brag, brag about His rescue mission that changed your life. Remember who you were when God found you and be amazed by the renewal He has produced. 

Money, success, popularity, health… all will eventually let you down. But the love of God is just beginning…it is an eternal blessing that will not only never let you down – it will forever increase in value and power the more you pursue it. 

"The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God. We were made for this." - John Piper

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 11/2/2021*

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.  Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 

Why does God double down on telling the Thessalonians to “build one another up” … even though it says they are already doing so?

Maybe they are like us - and encouraging others doesn’t come naturally …. This world pushes self-esteem… not esteem for others - and we tend to build ourselves up – even if that means stepping on others to do it.

But Christians should be different – building our brothers up should be our full-time job. We ought to constantly be helping others prepare to face life in a broken world.

But how do we do that?  

We strengthen others by reminding them that they are no longer destined for wrath and that they have been delivered from eternal punishment by the sacrifice of Christ…Focusing on our redemption can make todays negative news cycle lose its impact. 

The encouragement of Christ is not just something we offer when someone is having a bad day. Reassuring our brothers is not just done before the battle… it is done constantly.

You don’t lift weights the day of the game - you do it every day for months prior to the season. 

Spiritual strength is the same…. We must be each other’s full-time Strength Coaches…. Discussing daily the blessing of redemption - and the joy of being loved by God.

 In this age of pessimism and fear - we must build the confidence and faith of our brothers. In a world that preaches anxiety, we must advocate faith so we will not be shaken when we face trials. 

This won’t happen by accident; we must encourage each other on purpose. Make it your goal to be the greatest spiritual trainer you can be to the people in your circle.  Set daily targets for encouraging others and then relentlessly pursue those goals. 

You can’t do it alone, and neither can I – So find someone this morning to encourage …build them up and make them stronger today, so they will be ready to fight beside you tomorrow.

“The most valuable player is the one who makes the most players valuable.” – Peyton Manning

PSALM 121:1-2 10/26/2021*

“I will raise my eyes to the mountains; From where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

It is amazing how much power is in scripture when we slow down and read it.  Just two verses this morning but they contain a remedy for anxiety.

“I will raise my eyes to the mountains” is a choice…a difficult choice.  There are real and devastating problems out there. There are heart breaking sorrows and hard seasons that drain us of strength…. Raising my eyes is an intentional response to those trials. 

This passage explains why we look up – help comes from the Lord… The implication is my support is there waiting for me. I just must raise my head …. God is waiting for me to turn around…to reach my hand toward my Father.  

And in case I don’t realize the value of that opportunity, the psalmist explains who God is… “The Lord, who made heaven and earth”. The all-powerful ever-present King of kings…the Great I AM. The question is not can He deliver me…the question is will I turn to Him and be delivered?

It doesn’t say look around for a path of escape. Nor does it instruct me to look to my friends to bail me out…it says look up. 

At the end of the day, it is just me and God…and He loves me.  I either believe that or I don’t. If I believe it – it changes me. I am no longer a lonely victim. I am a beloved child of God waiting for my deliverance. 

This is not a “positive attitude” message it is much more powerful than that – It is a message about faith…Faith in a very real God who loves and protects me.  So, when I am downtrodden and exhausted, I have a choice to make… I can hang my head – or raise my eyes.  If I choose faith, I will receive strength and be protected in His shadow. 

So, in two verses we go from defeat and fatigue - to deliverance and confidence. With one decision the trajectory of my day is altered. 

So, what is your choice today?  Will you raise your eyes…or hang your head? God is waiting - the choice is yours. 

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” - Oswald Chambers

1 Thessalonians 2:4 10/19/2021*

“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts.”

Who is your target audience? 

In this age of Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms, we seek mass approval not truth. Information is not evaluated on accuracy, but on popularity. 

The news outlets now report twitter reaction to events instead of the actual event. Our daily focus is on pleasing people we don’t know - and who don’t know us.  

Canceling what we don’t like, we ignore facts, and paint a fantasy that satisfies our emotions. All the while projecting the “perfect” life we want others to believe we have - as we envy the manufactured lives our “friends’ display.

It is exhausting, and this verse says it is a foolish way to live your life. 

As Christians we have an audience of One. 

You have been approved by God and that is the only “like” you need.  You have been entrusted with His message and your assignment is not to trend well - but to speak the truth in love.

Imagine waking up today without any objective except to please the God that already loves you.  How liberating it would be if you didn’t know, and didn’t care what the world wide web thought of you?  

What a relief to release the burden of pleasing a thousand online judges - and replacing it with enjoying the Grace of God. The peacefulness that generates - is how you were intended to live.  

Only God sees your heart and only His opinion matters. Stop carrying around the expectations of others. Your goal is to please God, not people.

As Christians we are not to be fragile.  We are fortified by our Father and our value has been established.  We must focus on loving other people - not on impressing them.…Sharing the gospel with them and being intentionally oblivious to the negative opinions of those who don’t appreciate us.

A work of art is not offended by a bad review…. that is between the critic and the artist. Let your critics speak to your creator if they have a complaint - and you just keep joyfully doing what He designed you to do.

“What other people think of me is none of my business.”- Mark Twain

2 Corinthians 6:18 10/12/2021*

"And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

The one name God is never called in scripture is “grandfather”. He is the Father of Abraham, and the Father of Isaac, and the Father of Jacob.  

Our relationship to God is always first generation… You are not a Christian because your parents are Christians. You cannot inherit salvation from your relatives.

Unfortunately, many approach God that way…Their parents knew Him, therefor they consider Him their “Heavenly Grandpa” – It is a comfortable arrangement since grandparents seldom discipline and are easily manipulated by their grandkids.

However, this is an inaccurate, and dangerous supposition.

God only relates to people on an individual bases.  This is made clear in one of the most frightening verses in all of scripture found in Matthew 7 when Jesus looks at some “religious” people and says, “I never knew you”.

If Jesus doesn’t have a personal relationship with you, then He has no relationship with you at all…You must have an individual connection with Him. God does not have distant relatives…no grandchildren, nieces, or nephews… He only has beloved children.

To become His child, you must understand the gospel message. Then you have to agree with the truth of your sinful condition… and finally – (the step that many miss) You must accept redemption by faith and claim God as your Lord and Savior. 

These steps make God your Father.  And that changes everything. 

It alters every aspect of your existence. No longer an orphan, you are now in close connection with your Heavenly Father and you can begin living the life you were created to live.

Stop observing other people’s relationship with God from a distance and trying to live vicariously through them. Accept God’s invitation and live each day connected to Him, enjoying His love and protection as His child.  

Only you and God are involved in that transaction, and He has already paid the price for your adoption. 

Claim the birthright that was purchased for you on the cross. And with Christs’ righteousness now accredited to you, you can securely walk hand in hand with your Heavenly Father.

“God’s children are God’s children anywhere and everywhere, and shall be even unto the end. Nothing can sever that sacred tie, or divide us from his heart.” — Charles H. Spurgeon

 

James 1:17 10/5/2021*

“Every good thing given, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

Only the things of God are truly good. The world can only offer cheap imitations. 

Drugs and alcohol may offer a temporary numbing peace…Promiscuity can offer false intimacy to briefly mask loneliness…The love and pursuit of money can offer superficial feelings of self-worth. But none of it last - and when the respite passes, you are worse off than before. 

Things that are authentically good at their core only come from God. Which makes sense because He is the creator and designer of your life. He knows your needs and offers perfectly designed gifts that are eternally beneficial. 

The inner peace you long for can only be found in a relationship with a Heavenly Father who loves you and controls your life accordingly. 

Loneliness disappears when Jesus Christ lives within your heart and your relationship with God is a moment-by-moment reality.

Your self-worth has been eternally established by the fact that you were chosen and redeemed by God Himself.  He loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son…How could anything the world offers compete with that? 

What is stopping you from deciding to only accept authentic gifts from now on? …Is there any reason not to make a life changing decision to insist on the best from this day forward? 

It is after all – up to you. 

The key is that God will not share the throne of your life. So, you have a decision to make…. Reject the sin and tiny idols that contend for your attention, and you will see clearly enough to receive the incredible gifts of the one true God.

Clean house today.  Put God on the Throne and evict the false gods you have allowed into your heart. Reject the temporary scams that sin offers and insist on the authentic and perfect gifts from God.  

Confess your sin, Repent, and establish God as the ruler of your life and the provider of your needs…  and you will be amazed at the good and perfect gifts He has in store for you. 

“Be prepared at all times for the gifts of God … For God is a thousand times more ready to give than we are to receive” - Meister Eckhart

John 4:39-41 9/28/2021*

“Now from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” So, when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word”

After meeting Jesus, how long should you wait before telling other people about Him? ... Apparently, just as long as it takes to find someone to tell.

The woman at the well was not qualified…. She had been married multiple times and was living with a man she wasn’t married to…but immediately after meeting Jesus she started a revival in her hometown. 

It doesn’t matter how bad your life has been…It doesn’t matter how sinful yesterday was – If you have met Jesus - you have a story to tell. 

Too often we think we are not qualified to share Christ because we haven’t been to seminary - or we have made mistakes that exclude us from talking about Jesus.  

This woman didn’t preach, she didn’t argue theology. She wasn’t qualified to answer questions with scripture, and she had a bad reputation…. but Jesus had touched her heart and that was enough to send her on a missionary journey. 

Many of us have been saved, changed, and educated – We have been in church for years…and yet we don’t speak up.  Fearful someone will know our history and call us hypocrites. We believe we are not competent to reach out to others – so we don’t. 

The difference between the woman in this passage and us - is focus – she wasn’t focused on her credentials; she was focused on Jesus. It wasn’t a religion or a program she was pushing - it was a relationship with a man who knew her every flaw - and loved her anyway.

What about you? Has Jesus impacted you in a way that compels you to talk about Him? Is your love for Christ more important than your reputation? Are you willing to be ridiculed to get some folks in front of Jesus?  

Regardless of your background or education…If you know Christ, you are qualified. Find the courage to say,” Come see the man that changed my life” ... and leave the rest up to Him.

“Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” 

– Charles Spurgeon

Joshua 24:15 9/21/2021*

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua is not politically correct. 

He proclaims an inflexible right and wrong…He declares The Lord as the only true God …. He is not being inclusive - And he is no doubt offending the Israelites by rejecting their ancestor’s religion. - Yet his desire to speak truth overpowers any need for approval from men. 

Are we as zealous as Joshua, or are we in danger of allowing “virtue signaling” to become an idol in our country?  

The church has attempted to recruit God to our team - instead of joining His. We like the concept of Christianity, but we want to control the details so as not to risk upsetting our emotionally “woke” congregations. We claim “functional deity” for ourselves allowing us to remove anything offensive from the scripture. As Voltaire said, “God created man in His own image, and we have been trying to repay the favor ever since.” That never has, nor ever will be acceptable to the Great I Am. 

When Joshua issues this challenge about false gods to his people, they knew exactly what false god’s he was referring to…. Do we?

Do we realize that popularity can be a god? Do we understand that “fitting in” can be an idol that leads us away from Jesus? Is comfort and tranquility tempting enough to stop us from following God?   

I wholeheartedly approve when Joshua says to other people “choose this day whom you will serve” … But how do I respond when God says the exact same thing to me? My idols of prosperity and comfort are just as repugnant to God as the gods “beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites”.

Joshua’s message is unbending.” …We WILL serve the Lord.” That sentiment could get you canceled today… but Joshua had decided whom he would serve …. It is time for us to decide as well. 

“If I am going to know who Jesus is, I must obey Him. The majority of us don't know Jesus because we have not the remotest intention of obeying Him.”

Oswald Chambers

GENESIS 1: 27 9/14/21*

“So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them...”

You can act like an atheist…but you cannot react like one. 

God’s image has been stamped on your core and it shows in your reactions.  If someone steals from you – you will insist on justice. There is no other species on earth that does that…and the reason you do it - is because you were created in the image of a righteous God.  

You have knowledge of a higher power written on your heart. (Hebrews 10). The question has never been “Is there a God?” … It has always been “Who is God?” … People who call themselves atheist have simply decided that they merit the job. 

No one argues we should live by the “law of the jungle” where “might makes right” as atheism would logically advocate …. No one actually believes there is no right or wrong…. The dispute arises over who gets to decide the parameters. 

So, the argument is over relativism not atheism…and the question becomes – Who is in charge?

You need to deal with that question – 

You are the only created being that has been given a moral compass. You can attempt to use “science” to excuse your unresponsiveness to that compass. But in the end, you must deal with your unique awareness of good and evil… You are not an animal with no conscience - and that makes it complicated.  

Scripture says that God is Spirit - and so are you - and your Spiritual aspect is far more important than the physical one… Search for what you already know is there.  Nothing will fill the void you feel except your Heavenly Father. Study the Bible. It is an accurate, historical document that reveals a living Holy God who loves you. 

You are not a highly evolved organism who somehow developed a sense of virtue. God created you as His child - and your desire for justice is a family trait. 

You are an eternal being - in need of eternal truths…. Face the reality of your heritage and it will answer the nagging questions in your heart and fill you with peace and purpose. 

“You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.”

― C.S. Lewis

PSALM 25:19-21 9/7/2021*

“Look at my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with violent hatred. Guard my soul and save me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.  Let integrity and uprightness protect me, For I wait for You.”

I don’t have many enemies who hate me with violent hatred….  Is that a good thing or a bad thing?  

I know the prince of this world “hates with violent hatred” anything that relates to holiness. I also know that Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

Do I not look enough like Jesus to be hated at times?  Do I not sound enough like Him to be rejected occasionally?  Do I blend in a little too well with people who have no desire to be righteous?

Scripture says this world is not our home…. We are aliens, foreigners…just passing through. But has the church adopted so many of the world’s habits that we appear to be local citizens?   Are we chameleons, who say enough to ease our conscience - but not so much that we stand out in a crowd?

I don’t desire to be hated – but there are opposing forces in this world, and they pursue opposing goals. 

It is our job to light up the darkness. Some people prefer darkness - and do not appreciate what the light exposes.  So, we cannot always expect applause when we shine, but when it is dark, our light is needed most. 

We need to choose this day whom we will serve.  Start looking to integrity and uprightness for protection, and stop counting on our own ability to fit in. 

It would be easier if righteousness was met with approval…and one day that will be the case…. But that is not the offer here on earth. The offer here is to die to self and live for Christ. Our goal is to please God and pursue holiness.

If it is up to us, we should be at peace with all men - but it will not always be up to us and at times holiness will demand unpopular words and actions. 

Saddle up anyway…Speak the truth in love…Walk straight…unashamedly choose your side and wait on the Lord.

“Persecution shows who is a hireling, and who a true pastor.”

- Bernard of Clairvaux

1 CORINTHIANS 4:14-16 8/31/2021*

“I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, imitate me. ”

Two Questions: 
1. Are there people in your life you could say you have “begotten through the gospel”?

2. Are you walking with God to the degree you can encourage others to imitate you?

Paul sees the Corinthians as his children in the faith. He has earned the right to speak by accurately sharing the Word. There is a hint of annoyance in his comment about the 10,000 teachers because the truth he preached was being polluted by others with ulterior motives.

I think God may have that same annoyance at my insistence on new ways to worship…new ways to interpret scripture…new music…new pithy ways to preach… I may have 10,000 teachers but the Holy scripture is what birthed me. I need to cling to that…I need to meditate on the unvarnished, unenhanced, accurate Word of God…and use it to reach others.  

Adding creativity is fine, but the core of my faith is walking through scripture daily. As Darrell Royal said I need to “dance with the one that brung me”.

Secondly Paul has earned credibility with the Corinthians based on his conduct.  His walk matches his talk…. It may seem humble if I am hesitant to say “live as I live” - but it is not so much humility, as it is disobedience.

So, do I continue excusing my defiance – or do I change it? Do I continue to explain my sin, or do I put the bar back were Jesus set it, and strive to reflect Christ?

Constantly using “humble brags” to rationalize my failures gets old.  Talking one way and walking another leads to my actions speaking so loudly that people cannot hear my words.

 

We have been commanded to make disciples…. It is time to invest in people by accurately sharing scripture …it is also time to start living in a way that allows us to say, “do what we do” … not “do what we say.”

“Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.”

- A. W. Tozer

 

PSALM 23:4-5 8/23/2021*

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 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”

This passage is often quoted in an almost boastful manner…But it hit me differently this morning… It had a comforting, but ominous tone.

The passage doesn’t say IF I walk through the valley of death…It says I WILL walk through it…. I am not carried, I don’t fly…I walk. It doesn’t say I am strolling through a plush garden …it says I am in a deep dark valley, and I am at times assigned the task of putting one foot in front of the other just to get through it.

It is the valley of the shadow of death…the ultimate predator - a dark frightening place. A table is prepared for me but not with friends …sometimes I must sit with enemies who want to destroy me.

Yet, in the midst of all of this- I do not fear, I am protected by the Shepherd, and I am not alone – through the struggle, this is what comforts me.

Too often we try to portray the Christian life as a carefree walk in the park…but you were not given the full armor of God so you could walk in the park…it was provided so you could walk through the valley.  You wear armor to do battle.

People don’t identify with the prosperity gospel because it doesn’t sync up with what they see in the world… The lost see our pristine steeples and our flawless veneers - and look elsewhere for comfort.

We need to get rid of the “perfect life” social media façade, and speak the truth… We’re in a raging battle – the war is all around us…. but we are not alone, we are not afraid - and though bloodied and bruised at times - we are more than victorious.

Drop the perfect Christian charade – be transparent, show your wounds…and others will seek you out …Then you can do battle together… Armor on - walking through the valley without fear, fighting right beside each other.

“There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they are.” - Brennan Manning

Galatians 2:11-12 8/17/2021*

 “But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.  When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore.”

In Antioch Peter shared meals with Gentiles until some men arrived from Galilee. He then separated himself from his Gentile brothers because he didn’t want to be snubbed by men he perceived as important Jews.

Paul confronts Peter because he had permitted separation in the church based on ethnic and cultural differences.

Whether it is racism, classism, culturalism, or any other “ism” …If it divides the body of Christ, it is “very wrong”.

These divisions show a misunderstanding of the gospel.

Our salvation does not enhance us - it annihilates us and replaces us with something new.  “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5).

As new creations we recognize no separation based on race, class, traditions, or lineage…. You are not a white Christian, or a black Christian, or a brown Christian … You are a Christian - period - the adjectives are superfluous.

“Christ follower” is all encompassing and definitive. It establishes your identity, sets your value, and determines your behavior.

God made us beautifully different, and we are not called to uniformity – He even created us with our own unique fingerprint – but we are absolutely called to unity.     

If the first thing you see when you look at your brother is skin color, economic status, or ethnicity…you have missed the point. The cross makes all those things incidental.

How can the church unite society when we tolerate divisions amongst ourselves? …Labeling, categorizing, and avoiding each other – cannot be allowed in the house of God… Speaking the truth in love, combating sin, promoting harmony, and valuing each other is what Jesus requires.

Do something today to promote unity.  Educate those who wish to separate us – stop tolerating and enabling unwarranted divisions.

As Christians we must demonstrate the path to becoming blind to things that are unimportant, and completely focused on things that are eternal.

“Until we take seriously God's definition of the church and stop just 'having church,' we will not see transformation in our society.”

- Tony Evans

2 Peter 3:1-3 8/10/2021*

“Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder, to remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.”

Do I treat people in such a way that I can open a letter to them with the word “Beloved”? Do I conduct myself in a way that makes that greeting seem normal?  

To call someone beloved there must be an intentional granting of importance…a spiritual adoption that sets their value as one made in the image of God.

We know Peter was an “A” type, man’s man.  He argued with Jesus, he cut off ears, walked on water, brashly stated opinions…. So, tenderness did not come naturally to Peter…Yet he begins his second letter with this gentle word. The letter addresses sin and failure by the recipients but to Peter they are still “beloved”.

This is a great template for my own ministry. It reveals an important requirement if I am to be a disciple…affection.

Ministry is fun – but dealing with people can make it a burden…If I allow that to be my approach, I have not earned the right to speak…If I cannot view others as beloved, I have nothing to offer them. 

After a decade of coaching, I figured out that the kid that was the most trouble, and least needed on the team – was usually the one that needed the team the most. And that kid naturally knew whether you cared about him or not, since because of his conduct, he had experienced hostility and rejection before.  

That kid is who I was before I knew Christ - and he will resemble others that God brings across my path. 

Hurt people, hurt people - and I need to look past their behavior and see them as an opportunity to share Christ - not a burden.

I must love them at a level they recognize as “other worldly”. My love must be undeserved…the way Christ loves me. 

Only then will I have earned the right to share the gospel. Only when they see that they are valuable in my eyes will they listen to me sharing God’s plan of salvation. 

 “Don’t tell them Jesus loves them, until you’re ready to love them too.” 

– Steve Camp

Psalm 90:12 8/3/2021*

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Is numbering your days part of your decision-making process?... Each of our lives on earth will have a first and last day – so our limitedness should probably be part of our planning method. 

Only today is guaranteed…but statistics say most of us will be given approximately 29,000 days on earth… How are you spending yours?  What are your goals? More importantly are those goals meaningful? … They should be because you are literally giving your life for them.  

Many people don’t achieve what they intend to accomplish in life…Often it is not because they didn’t have time but because they didn’t use it well.  

If you don’t number your days, then there is no drive in your strategy - which leads to procrastination and waste. 

Procrastination is not always a product of laziness; it is sometimes just allowing the urgent to usurp the important. There will always be pressing issues so handle them after you have dealt with the things in your life that have eternal consequences. 

Many of us habitually waste time… which is odd since time is the one thing, we cannot get more of…Still we throw it away staring at a screen watching videos or sitcoms … or debating online with people we don’t know…or sacrificing relationships to make money when we already have enough…. None of that reflects a heart of wisdom.

This verse says to number your days - use them well. Use the life God has given you to do the things God would have you do. 

Realize that choosing an activity - is choosing not to do something else…. make sure the selection makes sense.  Max Lucado suggests that you make major life decisions in a cemetery… which will keep the trivial from distracting you. 

Your Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for you today… If you seek Him, you will find it. So, chase after the things that matter… God, your family, your ministry, helping others…Seek those things of eternal significance first.

The number of days in our lives is finite. Make sure that when your head hits the pillow tonight you are pleased with how you spent today.  

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." 

-- Michael Altshuler

PSALM 139:23-24 7/27/21*

^“Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me …”

Have you ever let shame stop you from praying that prayer?  Have you ever been afraid to ask God to Search your heart? …You might as well - He has already seen it. (Psalm 7)

Every selfish thought, every hypocrisy. Your pride, your lust, your perversions…The dark things you don’t even admit to yourself…He already knows.

But there is something YOU need to know…He has seen it all and He loves you. 

Regardless of what immorality turns up when your heart is examined…. God loves you; and proved it by dying for you while you were still rejecting Him.

Because God has seen it all…because He has faced it all - so can you. You don’t have to hide anything anymore – because it has all been viewed, paid for, and redeemed. 

Pray the prayer. Ask God to search your heart…and be ready to deal with whatever He finds…No more hiding. There is no sin that He cannot release you from, and there is nothing He can’t forgive…Face the hidden failings that you have been ashamed to confess and allow Him to restore your freedom.  

When you hide sin in the dark, it grows …Drag it out in the light of God’s grace and watch it disintegrate.

There is freedom in transparency - and there is bondage in hiding. It has been said that “we can endure all kinds of pain, but it is shame that eats men whole”. Confess it, knowing that nothing can separate you from His love. (Romans 8)

Cling to Christ and lay your sins at the cross - God has promised to make those sins as far from you, as the east is from the west, they are no longer part of your story. You don’t have to put up a façade. He knows all and loves you.

No more deception. Your value is based on His love not your past… Now you can walk in integrity and tell others about His grace offering the same forgiveness and freedom that has been given to you.

“An exciting and inspiring future awaits you beyond the noise in your mind, beyond the guilt, doubt, fear, shame, insecurity and heaviness of the past you carry around.”- Debbie Ford

Romans 15:14 7/20/2021*

 “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”

Admonishment is defined as a firm warning or reprimand.

When is the last time someone admonished you? .... How did you respond?  The bible is clear that as Christians we are called to do this for each other.

It is hard to admonish because we don’t like confrontation.  And it is hard to be admonished because we present ourselves as perfect.

Most people want “friends” who praise them and revere them…but seldom do we want to be corrected or reprimanded.

In other words, we want fans, not friends. 

If a fan sees a destructive flaw in my life, they will look the other way…If a friend sees one, he will call me on it.  

The bible tells us to love one another, be at peace with one another, be devoted to one another and those things are pleasant and provide fellowship …But it also says to admonish one another…and while not always pleasant, it is valuable because it improves and protects us.

I am thankful for people in my life who are willing to correct me…I seldom enjoy it, but it forces me to look in the mirror and it makes me better.

Having a friend that cares enough to admonish is like having a knowledgeable coach in the press box. It provides a vantage point that you cannot see for yourself. And if there is someone you trust in the press box, you will make better decisions on the field.

The key to being a successful “admonisher” is your motivation… If you correct me because you want to elevate yourself by pulling me down - your admonishment will be useless…but if you admonish me because you love me and want what is best for me…your words can be life changing. 

We all need friends who love us enough to be uncomfortable. That is the difference in an acquaintance and a brother.

Determine to have that in your life. Love your brother enough to tell him what he needs to hear – And love your brother enough to listen when he tells you what you need to hear.

“If you don’t love your friend more than you love your friendship then you don’t have either one.”

– Anonymous

1 Peter 5:12-14 7/13/2021*

“With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love.”

This letter was addressed to "resident aliens" scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. It was from “She who is in Babylon” which was the church in Rome. It calls for unity that crosses cultural, race, and community boundaries.

Peter’s instructions to greet each other with a kiss may be discouraged while practicing social distancing - but the concept is to be enthusiastic and loving when we see each other. Not just cordial, but really cherishing each other.

His refusal to allow unwarranted division is illustrated with his support of both Mark and Silas …These two were the counterparts to Paul and Barnabas after their argument regarding the mission team. Their spat was one of the first “church quarrels”, and it shows Peter’s refusal to pick sides and divide the body of Christ…This stubborn unity is noticeably missing in the church today.

We divide into opposing camps over the smallest issues. So much so that we are viewed as petty and insignificant, instead of powerful messengers of God, and when we stand against actual sin - it is seen as just one more negative in our confrontational organization.

We need action to change this perception…Peter does not say to march for unity…He says to love each other at a granular level. Stop bickering about the lack of love and spread some yourself. Mother Teresa said, “If you want to change the world go home and love your family.”

Don’t preach about it - model it. You cannot legislate love, but you can demonstrate it. We are God’s children, stop pointing and start hugging. Speak the hard truth – but speak it in love.

To clean up a garbage dump you don’t have a discussion about it - you start picking up trash. Examine your heart and remove any rubbish that has separated you from your brother. Love each other tenaciously and change the world one heart at a time...starting with yours.

“Love one another. We don't need more instructions; we need more examples.”

Bob Goff

Romans 6:1-2 7/6/2021*

 "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?  Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"  

Humans can be slippery…We can rationalize anything. We are chameleons, taking on the colors of our environment…Behaving one way on Sunday, and another way during the week. Although the law is clearly laid out before us - we find a way to profess righteousness without living it.

The problem with that is there is no end to it… 

Sin is never satisfied, perversion is never appeased, selfishness never has enough, anger never subsides…it is a slippery slope with no base - sending us into spiritual free fall. 

That was never God’s plan…as a Christian I cannot biblically rationalize continually living in sin…Nor can I ignore it.  Lack of confession keeps me from acknowledging sin…Lack of repentance keeps me in it… Confession is not so God knows ….it is so I know…and it must lead to remorse and repentance.

Paul asks, should we just get our “fire insurance” and keep living unchanged by the Cross? And His answer is unwavering … Bewildered by the thought, he ask how can we live in sin if we died to it? 

If your conversion did not produce change, you missed something. The entire purpose of the cross was to pay for your righteousness and break the chains that held you in sin…those are the reasons for the greatest sacrifice ever given.

It is easy to find preachers who will say what I want to hear…but if I justify my sinfulness, if I don’t fight against temptation…then I am ignorant of a fundamental biblical truth … Our old sinful life died on the cross with Jesus… “How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”

So, decide… There should be fruit in your life and that fruit shows itself in continued transformation…Hate sin and fight to be a man of God – or do not.  But don’t fool yourself by talking one way and walking another. Jesus didn’t die to make you comfortable in your sin…He died and rose again to free you from it.

“The religion of both Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent outspoken testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity.” 

- Charles Spurgeon

James 5:16 6/29/2021*

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

We don’t confess our sin to each other very often.  Because that would infringe on our national pastime of presenting a perfect self-image to the world. 

 
We use “filtered” photographs, staged activities, and blatant lies to present a deceptive picture of who we are…. 

Why would we ruin all that by telling someone the truth?

 
We might “humble brag” by confessing a struggle with pride or self-discipline.  But our propensity to tell the truth diminishes as the sin gets less socially acceptable.

Pornography, alcohol abuse, and drug addictions are less likely to be shared and the probability lessens as we get into sexual deviance, theft, and acts society deems as “darker” sins.…. We not only don’t confess these… we deny them.

  
This obsession with hiding our flaws and fighting our addictions by ourselves is the enemy’s greatest tool.  Our insistence on handling problems alone makes us vulnerable like an antelope that has wandered away from the herd. 

We hide our sin in the dark and put up a façade…. but sin flourishes in the dark, so God tells us to drag it out into the light.

  
Your first step is to find some loyal brothers and come clean about your struggle, then together you devise a plan to eliminate this sin from your life. 

The unmentionable wickedness that has paralyzed you for so long is a paper tiger… and if you will stop trying to be The Lone Ranger - stop hiding in the shadows - and reach out to some friends … its lack of power will become evident.

That does not mean to post it on Facebook or shout it in the streets.  It means to find some buddies you trust – tell them you need help and get their commitment to hold you accountable and to pray for you …. Resolve to remove this sin from your life whatever it costs …and according to God, the prayers of your friends will “accomplish much”.

  
Life is not an individual activity…it is a team sport, and we must have each other’s back…Be courageous enough to tell the truth, and watch the truth set you free. 

“The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” - Saint Augustine

PSALM 23:1 6/22/2021*

 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

This Psalm begins with a massive truth - and then immediately inserts what should be the result of that truth.
 
The Shepherds in David’s day lived with their sheep. And unlike western Shepherds, they did not drive them - they led them. The sheep recognized their Shepherd and followed him wherever he went. In times of danger, they would move toward their protector.
 
Does that describe your relationship with the Lord? 
 
It seems at times I run to God only after I have run everywhere else.  I turn to Him after I have tried to fight the wolves on my own. Then after struggling - I come bruised and bloodied to Jesus so He can rescue me.

Sheep are not the brightest animals in the pasture, but at least they know what to do when they are threatened. It would seem useful for me to learn that principle myself.
 
The second phrase, “I shall not want”  means I will have all I need - but the wording also illuminates another important message for me.  
 
Not only will I not be in need - but If the Lord is my Shepherd - I should not want anything more than I have. I should understand that He knows what I need - and He knows what I don’t need. I ought to trust in what I am given and what I am denied with equal enthusiasm.  In other words, I should practice contentment.
 
How about you? ...When you wake up in the morning would you describe your mood as content? Or would you use words like anxious, worried, or exhausted? Those are words used to describe Sheep with no Shepherd. Those are words that describe someone fighting their own battles.
 
A lamb is safest when he is close to the shepherd.  Do you trust Jesus as your Shepherd? Do you move close to Him when you are threatened and rest comfortably in His protection…or do you “want”? 
 
Practice relaxation and contentment today…He has given you what you need.

Even though the wolves prowl nearby - if you stay close to The Shepherd, all they can do is growl - Because He that is in you, is greater than He that is in the world.
 
“Safety comes in our nearness to God, not in our distance from our enemies.” ― Dillon Burroughs
 
 
 

Numbers 12: 1-3 6/15/2021*

 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.…. At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.”

This may be the first recorded “trip to the woodshed” in biblical history.

Miriam and Aaron didn’t agree with some life choices Moses had made so they spoke out against God’s chosen leader.  The part of the passage that gets my attention is … “the Lord heard this”. 

That should be enough reading for the day. That should stop us in our tracks and give us something to think about.

At times I say things about God’s children that are not uplifting… this is usually done to elevate myself….and the problem is, the Lord hears it.

Miriam and Aaron started belittling Moses and God’s immediate response was “the four of us are going to have a discussion”.  I bet that was a long walk out to the tent for Aaron and Miriam. 

I remember in High School my typing teacher sent a message to my coach asking him to visit with me and my buddies at practice about being quieter in class…Coach sent back a message instructing her to have us come see him immediately…. that was a long walk as well.

I am aware that my kids aren’t perfect…but I would not respond well to someone degrading them - and it would be downright dangerous to demean them to their mother.

God is like that.  His servants aren’t perfect, but you should be careful if you plan to ridicule a child of God in public…because this scripture says God hears that…and He is partial to His kids.

Decide this morning to only say things that are “helpful for building others up according to their needs”.  If you do this, you will strengthen others - and avoid future long walks out to the woodshed with the Father.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
- Leo Buscaglia