Welcoming November 11, 2018

Romans 14:1 New International Version (NIV)

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

Our life in Christ is such a blessing! We welcome new Christians into our fellowship to share that blessing. We don't bring them in to scrutinize their past failures or the current struggles, but to bring them into the love of God's family. God has welcomed us graciously and compassionately. Let's do the same with new Christians.

Thought for today: Am I accepting of others no matter my personal convictions?

The Goal In Mind November 10, 2018

Matthew 11:28-30 New International Version (NIV)

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I guess we could call it the irony of discipleship. To follow Christ means that we give up everything and follow him. To follow Christ means that we receive untold blessings in this life and eternal life with God in the life to come. So is it hard? Yes, sometimes it is. But life is hard. Is the burden light as Jesus promised? Yes, because we know our lives are not lived in vain, that we are living life as God intended it, and when life is over, it isn't really over! We get to go home and be with our Lord!

Thought for today: Am I willing to live a life of sacrifice?

First Giving, Giving First November 9, 2018

Proverbs 3:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the first fruits of all your crops;

Honoring God comes first in everything. We don't give him the last, the least, or the leftovers. He gave us his best, most precious, and most perfect of gifts — his Son Jesus. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! How could we give him anything less than our best, our first, and our most precious?

Thought for today: Do I honor God with my giving?

Serving God November 8, 2018

Joshua 24:15 New International Version (NIV)

15 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.”

While we can't speak for everyone in our family, we can commit to what everyone in our family should desire: We will serve the Lord! But more than commit, let's set the example and lead the way. "I will serve the Lord, TODAY!" Then we can ask them to join us.

Thought for today: Is my life and service a reflection of God?

Prayer Changes Things November 7, 2018

1 Timothy 2:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

God wants us to be a praying people. But more than that, God wants us to pray for people. The blessing of that kind of prayerful life is that we get to live peaceful and quiet lives full of godliness and holiness. So pray, dear friend in Jesus, pray as if world peace depends upon it, because it does!

Thought for today: Do I work on developing my prayer life?

Revelation November 6, 2018

Ephesians 1:9-10 New International Version (NIV)

9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Jesus IS Lord! God's plan was purposed in Christ. God's plan centered on Christ coming at the right time. God's plan was to bring unity in Christ by making him Lord of all! What's more, this plan that brings our salvation brings God great pleasure. God is the only saving God. Jesus is both our Savior and Lord. So the real issue we face today is this: What area of our lives, our hearts, our secrets, our sin, our rebellion, have we not submitted to his lordship?

Thought for today: What “secrets” am I keeping?

My Debt…. November 5, 2018

Romans 13:6 New International Version (NIV)

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

Ouch! I hate taxes. But I have to admit, I enjoy many of the privileges and blessings that those taxes afford. Paul reminds us in Romans 13, that civil authorities are God's tools to hold back anarchy, chaos, and lawlessness. As a Christian, I'm immune to most laws because my faith in Jesus is going to regulate my behavior far more strictly than a legal code. But I do have a responsibility (I "owe" it, Paul says) to be a good citizen, a good financial manager, a nice respectful neighbor, and a person who willingly honors those who have merited it.

Thought for today: Am I mindful of my obligations?