Matthew 6:25 7/11/2017*8*

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"

We are a nation of worker ants, never disconnected from a phone that drives our lives minute by minute.

Personal computers did not emerge until the 1980's.  And Apple didn't introduced the Iphone until 2007.  Yet somehow we survived prior to that.  We paid bills, and balanced check books without computers, and managed businesses, and relationships without constant contact.    

Computers were introduced as a way to make us more efficient and provide more leisure time. But we now work longer hours than ever before with electronic leashes that allow us to be on call 24/7. Anxiety and stress have skyrocketed, and our battery and reception level dictate our mood.

Jesus said life is more than that.

Relax and simplify.

Don't allow the urgent to replace the important.  Stay focused on the things that matter.  Answer the question that Christ asked ... Isn't life more than what you have made it?

If it is, do something about it.  You do not have to mindlessly follow the crowd.  Make your own plan based on what you think matters.  Don't waste another minute chasing things you don't need.

Try an experiment today and turn off all your electronics for a few minutes. Open a bible, spend some time in prayer and enjoy being still.  Determine what is important in your life, and what is not.

Life is much more than what you purchase. Go deeper.  Simplify your life and make sure you don't miss the dance obsessing over what you are going to wear.

"Our life is frittered away by detail....Simplify, simplify."
- Henry David Thoreau

2 Corinthians 5:2 Romans 8:38 7/4/2017*1*

"For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling"

We are spiritually homeless.

Paul refers to our earthly bodies as tents, as temporary dwellings that we live in, while our eternal dwelling is being prepared.

We are in essence staying on the street until we reach our heavenly home.

Why then do we waste our days trying to avoid death, rather than living life?  Why focus so much on postponing dying,  that we don't take time to live?

What if we changed our mind-set?  Not a morbid obsession with death, but a change in the way we view it.  If we are in Christ, death has lost it's sting.  In fact, it is a graduation, a promotion.  Not something to be feared, but instead a natural part of our pilgrimage.  And certainly not the part that deserves all our attention.

We don't have much input into the beginning, or the end of our lives...but we have lots of control over the middle. Let's live today focused on today.  Trust God.  Don't toss the word "faith" around flippantly...really use it.  Trust God and stop obsessing about things that are in bigger hands than yours.

Remove that constant undercurrent of fear and dread in your life.  Exercise your faith in God and use your energy to live with reckless joy and abandon.  Live each moment to its fullest,  comfortable in the fact that God has ordained your days.   If you'll do this you may discover that the enemy has continually robbed you of today, by making you worry about tomorrow.  

Why worry about an event that takes away your tent and gives you a mansion?  Instead enjoy the camp out....you have things to do now, so do them.  But know that the joy to come will be beyond your ability to imagine.

Death is a paper tiger...it has been gutted by the cross.  Don't let the fear of it rob you of another minute.

Rest in the fact that today is a simply a glorious continuation of the eternal relationship God purchased for you at Calvary. And "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)


"Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see." - Helen Keller

Psalm 103:12 Isaiah 43:25 6/27/2017

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

God has so thoroughly removed your sin from you, the distance is described with the largest measurement the world has to offer.  If there was a distance on earth, farther than the East from the West it would have been used here. The simple fact is that we do not have words to describe how completely God has forgiven His children.

Your salvation is based on your acceptance of the greatest sacrifice ever offered.  The shear magnitude of the price paid at Calvary makes the obliteration of your sin the only feasible outcome. The cross was love's nuclear weapon.  Your sin has been destroyed. Nothing of what you have done remains.

How else could scripture truthfully say that God, who is omnipotent, has forgotten you ever committed the offense?  God, who sees all and knows all, does not remember your sin (Isaiah 43:25)...has there ever been a more glorious statement?

The enemy is called the "father of lies" and your guilt is his biggest one.  He wants you to believe you are damaged...you have a stain...you can never be clean.  But when you again ask God to forgive the same offense, God by His own decree, is unaware of what you are talking about.  All He sees is a child standing in the righteousness of Christ.

Don't cheapen the sacrifice by doubting its potency.  It is finished. There is no stain, no blemish and you are free to enter His glory, and rest in His love.

Live today free in the justification that was purchased at so high a price.  Hate the sin that made it necessary, but know the blood of Christ has emptied sin of its strength.  What we confess, and repent of is gone. Not hidden, not reduced....gone.  Stop carrying it around with you, and walk free in His amazing grace.

“If God has justified a man it is well done, it is rightly done, it is justly done, it is everlastingly done.”   ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 6/20/2017*24*

 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Your pain has purpose.

It allows God to comfort you, and it makes you better at comforting others. Struggles and difficulties equip us to do our job.

Great military leaders, are those who have been in the firefight and can assure their troops that there is a way to survive the battle, and defeat the enemy. The same is true of Christians.

Our scars are validation that we can lead others through the war. When you see a decorated veteran you know two things: he survived the battle, and he didn't quit. You know you can count on him to have your back.  Your scars tell other Christians the same thing. So train yourself to count the battles as joy, and realize their value, and use your experience to bless others.

The key is focus.  No athlete trains without their mind set on the benefits. How difficult would workouts be if just getting through them was the goal?  Instead you run one more sprint, or lift one more repetition, because you are pursuing the results, the benefits, the victories.

Today approach your trials as workouts. Not trying to avoid them, but knowing God will carry you through them.  Concentrate on the fact the God will use these times to give you endurance and equip you to build His Kingdom. It wont take the pain away, but it will change the focus and give you the strength to endure.

There are no problems in Heaven today, only plans. God is working in these circumstances to accomplish the mission He has for you. Trust Him and take the next step.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
- Joseph, to his brothers who sold him into slavery (Genesis 50:20)

John 14:6 6/13/2017*17*

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."

This is what Jesus said about Himself.  It was not a sales pitch, it was not sensitive, and it was not vague.  In fact it was so politically incorrect that it culminated in His execution.

Those who argue that all religions lead to the same god will find this offensive...and yet it is clear, concise, and from the mouth of Jesus.

To disagree you  must assume that God allowed His own Son to brutally die for our sins when it wasn't necessary.  You must conclude that there is more than one way to salvation.  And with these words, Jesus makes it clear there is not.

He is the way. Without Him you are lost.
He is the truth.  Anything that opposes Him is a lie.
He is the life. Without Him you die in your sin.
No one comes to God except through Christ. Period.

Some take offense, and ask why God would restrict our salvation to only one path?....The better question is, why did He give us a path at all?   Why did He sacrifice His Son to purchase us back after we chose to rebel?... and the answer to that question is incomprehensible love.

But Jesus was not a politician.  He was not trying to win approval with His statement. His words were not meant to offend, or appease...they are simply the truth. Your choice is to accept or deny, and that choice, will determine your eternal destiny.

It is time to abandon illogical arguments.  What Jesus said is either true, or it is not, there is no middle ground. If it is true, it requires a life changing response.

Give up the idea that you can somehow earn your righteousness, and instead humbly accept God's gift of grace through faith.  Jesus alone will show you the way, teach you the truth, and lead you to eternal life.

"God in his infinite mercy has devised a way by which justice can be satisfied, and yet mercy can be triumphant." - Charles Spurgeon

Philippians 2:17 6/6/2017*10*

"But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you."

Are we this unconcerned with receiving credit for our good deeds? Even workers dedicated and consistent in their service can struggle with motivation.

Well meaning compliments, social media accolades, and peer approval can be distracting.

But Paul says that even if his life is seen only as a secondary offering,  poured out to enhance the main offering of other's ... he will rejoice with them.

This is the litmus test of your ministry... Do you need the spotlight?

The group that Jesus most harshly rebuked was the pharisees and religious hypocrites, who used God's work, to bring attention to themselves.

So the question is are you content to remain anonymous when you serve?
The answer to that question dramatically impacts your effectiveness.

"Dying to yourself" and "living for Christ" it is not poetic language ... it is a requirement if you want to be used by God. Understanding what Christ has done for us removes the necessity of accolades, as well as the need for any motivation other than gratitude.

The real "all-stars" at your church may not have titles, and probably haven't been introduced to the congregation.  They set up chairs, care for children in the nursery, and clean up after fellowships. They donate money they don't have, to help people who have even less, and are often almost invisible to earthly eyes.

They seem like regular members of the church but if they become aware of a need in your life, they will show up to meet that need, and then they will be gone again, off to the next secret service project.

The best way to find them is to look for the brightest smiles in your congregation ... Their joy gives them away,  because they have figured it out.

It is a simple decision really.  Choose to serve others because God loves them, and you love them. When you do that, and they prosper, you become their biggest fan, thrilled to be a "drink offering" poured out to enhance their ministry.

Join God's "Secret Service", and see how much you can do for others without being noticed...your smile will give you away.

"Life is an exciting business, and most exciting when it is lived for others."
- Helen Keller

Proverbs 16:32 5/30/2017*

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

Our society holds in awe the athlete, celebrity, or executive who can overcome others with their ability. But many in Hollywood and Wall Street, conquer the world, yet are defeated by internal demons.  Too often we read of well known and highly honored individuals succumbing to struggles within themselves.

Maybe we grow up focused on the wrong battle. Maybe from a young age, we are too concerned with our outward appearance and reputation, and not concerned enough with who we actually are on the inside.

If we examine times of crisis in our lives, we will find that many are the result of things we did... not things done to us.

The great deception is the belief that controlling others will make us successful when in fact, controlling ourselves is the key.  Anger, Jealousy, self-pity....these are the enemies that do the most damage, and need to be subdued.

Let's shift our focus.

Let's take a long hard look in the mirror and conquer the man we see there.  Decide today to rule your emotions instead of letting them rule you. Do not allow feelings to flash, and dictate your actions. True power is shown not by controlling others, but by controlling yourself.

Inner peace is difficult to find when you carry your antagonist around with you. Rule your own spirit. You don't have to go out looking for a conquest, your most important battle lies within you.

"There is little that can withstand a man who can conquer himself."- Louis XIV

Proverbs 4:23 2 Cor. 10:5 5/23/2017

Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
2 Cor 10:5 "...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

We are militant about not allowing germs, viruses, or unhealthy substances into our bodies, yet cavalier about what we allow in our minds. We spend a great deal of money on disinfectants, antibiotics, and cleaning materials to protect our physical health....yet mentally we eat out of the garbage can.

These two verses, would indicate we may have missed something important.  

If you become what you think about... then you should be very diligent about what you allow in your mind.

Instead we tolerate movies and music sprinkled with impurity as if a little redeeming content can counterbalance the defilement of our morality. We daydream as though our thoughts have no power. Our speech is peppered with vile expressions as though none of it matters. However, God says what we allow in our hearts determines what we do.

What would change if you took the same approach mentally and spiritually, as you do physically?

What if you insisted that everything that entered your mind was healthy, and free of contamination? What if each day you were disciplined enough to supplement your mental health with meditation on God's word? What would change if you demanded the same purity and safe content in your entertainment, that you do in your food?

Make those choices.  Be intentional with your thoughts because each one has power.  God says you should station centurions, swords drawn, to guard your heart and take any impure thought prisoner as though it were a lethal enemy.

Thoughts are never neutral so be prudent about what you allow to take root in your mind, because it will grow. Everything you do flows from what is in your heart, guard it carefully ...

"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts."
- Marcus Aurelius

1 Timothy 5:1 5\16\2017*22*

"Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father..."

Our society as has wandered away from this verse.  Admonishing someone to treat an older man as their father, doesn't carry the weight it did when this was written.

There was a time in our culture when parents and grandparents were honored.  Patriarchs and matriarchs were the foundation upon which families were built.  They were held in high esteem and their contributions was recognized and appreciated.

Somehow today, our "throw away" mentality has now been applied to the generation before us. Our elders have become a burden and are stored away as conveniently as possible.  This may be our biggest failing as a society, and it certainly has contributed to the deterioration of the family unit.

Ironically we are making our own bed.  It would behoove us to model respect for the elderly.  Most of us will face old age one day, and we will be as bewildered by it as those that have gone before us.  

The old man you are so impatient with today, was once the star athlete of his team. He was the soldier that risked his life for your freedom.  He was the go-to guy at home, and the office. His body has changed, but he has not ... and it must be baffling to him to have people assume he no longer has anything to offer.  

God has a better plan.  Honor your elders.  Never be harsh with an older man or woman. Understand that they have wisdom you will not have until you have walked the roads they have walked.

How foolish we are to ignore the wealth of experience and discernment that is only found in age.

If you are blessed enough to still have your parents, intentionally honor them.  If not, go by a retirement center. Speak to the staff and see if there is a resident who seldom gets visitors and "adopt" that person.   Ask them to share their wisdom with you, and make it your habit to visit them. Demonstrate that they are important to you, and speak value into their lives.  

You will see them blossom ... but you will be the one who is blessed. 

"Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art."
 Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

Acts 9:18-20 5/9/2017*27*

"Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God."

Are you qualified to speak to others about Christ?

These verses discuss the days immediately following Paul's conversion, and would seem to eliminate many of our excuses for not speaking the truth to others.  

Some new Christians feel they need to take classes on witnessing, or they are embarrassed to talk about Christ until they have "earned the right" by walking correctly... reluctant to be thought of as hypocrites because of things they have done in their past. 

This seems reasonable, but it doesn't line up with scripture.  

Paul was coming to Damascus to continue his reign of terror on Christians... he had not earned the right to speak to anyone.  He was also a high ranking Pharisee coming to argue against those who preached Christ. 

Yet all of those excuses disappeared because of one thing....He met Jesus...and "at once he began to preach." 

Did you meet Jesus?.... When you accepted the gift of salvation, did the scales drop from your eyes so you could see the truth,  and for the first time in your life were you set free?....if so, you're qualified.

Study the Word, walk in the truth, earn the right to be heard... but do not wait to start telling others about your Savior.   It may be a while before you are adept in biblical apologetics, but the one thing they can't argue against is what God has done in you. 

Trust the Spirit of God, and love your neighbor enough to offer them the medicine that has healed you... God will handle the rest.

"Evangelism is not a professional job for a few trained men, but is instead the unrelenting responsibility of every person who belongs to the company of Jesus."
- D. Elton Trueblood