Blessed Assurance June 7, 2017

Psalm 90:2-4 (NIV)

2 Before the mountains were born
    or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

4 A thousand years in your sight
    are like a day that has just gone by,
    or like a watch in the night.

So many things about our life are uncertain. This one thing, however, is sure: no matter where, when, or how long, God will be there and will be with us and for us.

Thought for today: Do I hold fast and firm to my faith?

Loving Deeply June 6, 2017

Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Love that surpasses knowledge. That's very difficult to explain, but when you have loved your spouse for decades and he or she is as close to you as any bodily organ, you experience what this means. When you love a child and do what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you understand this phrase. And when you stand before God, adopted as a full heir of all his great riches, a full sibling to Jesus Christ the Lord, and know you are seen as holy, without reproach, and blameless, you begin to understand this phrase.

Thought for today: Have I ever sought to love on this level?

Encouragement June 5, 2017

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

While Paul's exhortation here is excellent, it is the style of the exhortation we should especially notice. We live in an age where we are constantly pressured to emphasize the novel, new, or improved versions of things. But in our lives as Christians, our knowledge always exceeds our obedience. So more often than we like to think, we need to remind each other of what we are doing right and just simply say, "Hey, you're doing well; just keep doing what you're doing!"

Thought for today: Do I encourage others to go after their dreams?

Greatness June 4, 2017

1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)

11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.

Praise is the direct address of God that lets him know we recognize him for who he is, what he has done, and what he is doing. But more than informing God of his greatness, praise is rejoicing before him in his greatness and recognizing that not only is his grace without comparison, his majesty and might and holiness and faithfulness and righteousness and mercy and love and forgiveness and justice and... without comparison. God is God and praise is thankful celebration that he is God, and even more importantly, that he is our God.

Thought for today: Do I diminish the greatness of God  (luck, good fortune, karma) ?

Speak Softly June 3, 2017

Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Why is it so hard to endure an unjust or unfair criticism? Why do we always have to defend ourselves no matter how ridiculous the charge? Often the problems we have with others simply escalate because we do not choose to forgive and let them go on in the Lord!

Thought for today: Am I always part of a defense team arguing petty points?

The Final June 2, 2017

Hebrews 9:28 (NIV)

28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Who are you waiting for? Can you think of anything more exciting than to wait for Jesus to come take us home in his glory! But ours isn't a passive wait. Jesus gave us a commission to take his story to the whole world and call others to join with us in following him. So by the power of the Holy Spirit we wait in expectation as we share Jesus' good news with passion and as we live with the character and compassion of the Father.

Thought for today: What is my work while I wait?

Holy Vision June 1, 2017

Revelation 21:2-4 (NIV)

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

I don't know about you, but I'm kind of ready for that old order stuff to go away. The end of tears, death, mourning, crying and pain sounds pretty good to me! No wonder the early Christians would say, "Marantha. Come Lord Jesus!" They couldn't wait.

Thought for today: Can I see beyond my immediate situation?