Overcomers February 28, 2017

1 John 4:4 (NIV)

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

The world can often be a hostile place for believers. God wants his spiritual children to know, however, that they are not alone. He lives in us through his Spirit. We can be assured, therefore, that no matter what spirit someone else may have, the Holy Spirit of God is greater, more powerful, and more glorious. The victory is ours because God's presence in us is greater than any force that we will ever face. We have our victory assured over all forces, powers, spirits, or opponents.

Thought for today: Do I look for God’s shelter?

Very Present February 27, 2017

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Life crashes in and we wish we could be children again and have someone to take care of us and protect us. Into our confused and chaotic world, God's promise comes to us once again. Like a loving parent with a frightened child, God reaches out and takes hold of our hand and comforts us with his precious words: "Don't be afraid. I'm here with you. I will help." Even when he seems distant, the echo of this thought can remind us that we are never alone or forgotten (cf. Heb. 13:5-6).

Thought for today: Do I acknowledge God’s presence in my life?

Fearless February 26, 2017

Isaiah 41:10-11 (NIV)

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.

Not only does God's blessing rest on us, his presence goes with us. We cannot ever be in a place where he is not with us (see Psalm 139). His presence and power will uphold us and strengthen us. No matter what may happen in our physical bodies or our physical worlds, God has given us the ultimate triumph over every enemy and all wickedness in Jesus. Even Jesus' doubters and enemies will worship our Lord and kneel at his feet and will recognize that our faith is not only appropriate, but it is victorious (cf. 1 Thess. 1).

Thought for today: Do I honor God’s presence?

Blessings February 25, 2017

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

24 “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
   and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you
   and give you peace.”’

How would you like to place the mighty name of the LORD on people you love? God promised that this priestly blessing enabled his name (his power and authority) to be placed on his people. What an incredible gift that we have the power to give to others with just our faithful words! Blessings are found all throughout Scripture. Why not begin looking today for ways to pronounce God's blessing on others? You can start with this one, and then add a bunch of others as you find them in Scripture.

Thought for today: Do I look for the blessings in situations?

God’s Plans For My Life February 24, 2017

Psalm 138:8 (NIV)

8 The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever—
  do not abandon the works of your hands.

First there is conviction: the LORD will finish his work in us! (cf. Phili. 1:6). Second, there is declaration: the LORD's love endures and doesn't fail (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8). Finally, there is supplication: O Lord, don't forget me, your creation (cf. Ps. 139:13-16). What beautiful balance for our walk with the Lord.

Thought for today: Do I constantly interfere with God’s plans for my life?

The Power Of God’s Hand February 23, 2017

Exodus 15:6 (NIV)

6 Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy.

One of the great images of the Old Testament is that of God stretching out his right hand with power and doing mighty things for his people. So often, Israel faced a larger and more experienced foe. Yet when his people fully trusted in him, he gave them great victory.

Thought for today: Do I ask God to touch my life?

Connection February 22, 2017

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We need each other. We cannot make it on our own. God calls us to get together regularly to encourage and to motivate each other to live vibrant lives of service and faith. With the day of Jesus' return and our ultimate victory on the horizon, we should be motivated even more to help and to encourage each other.

Thought for today: Can I get past my own “stuff” and encourage others?

True Graciousness February 21, 2017

Isaiah 30:18New International Version (NIV)

18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

God is slow to exercise his justice when that justice demands his people's punishment. "Gracious and slow to anger" is a phrase repeatedly used to describe God in the Old Testament. God longs to be gracious and bless his people. He extends time for us to repent and turn to him. In Jesus, God even gives us his own Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Let's hear the heart of God, and respond by turning our lives and our hearts to the God who longs for us.

Thought for today: Is my heart open to receive all that God has for me?

The Ultimate Friendship February 20, 2017

Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Close spiritual friends — the kind that can hold us accountable when we need it, build us up when we're down, or celebrate with us when we've enjoyed success — are truly rare. So many people are lonely; they're lonely for something, or better yet, someone, they've never experienced. We have a tendency in modern western culture to have acquaintances and companions instead of friends and partners. When things go poorly, when we have nothing to offer to them, acquaintances can run away in times of trouble, or fade away if things are long and protracted. There are, however, true friends whose commitment and dedication are deeper than even physical family. How do I know? God promised it! I've seen it! My family has been blessed by it! So let's hear the call to be that kind of friend to others and in so doing, we will often find that kind of friend for ourselves.

Thought for today: Do I have true and genuine friendships?

Holy & Sovereign February 19, 2017

Ezekiel 36:23 (NIV)

23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

God can and will use us even though we are not worthy vessels for him to use. Scripture gives us many examples of people God used who did not come up to his moral and holy requirements — for example, think a little about Samson or most of the other Judges! God will be revealed as the holy, mighty, and awesome God that he is. So let's not be unwilling tools in his hands. Instead, let's offer ourselves to him for his service and his glory.

Thought for today: Do I allow God to use me?

Good Works February 18, 2017

Galatians 6:9(NIV)

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Weariness is a part of life. Weariness is a part of ministry. Weariness is definitely something that overtakes us when we set our hearts on doing good for others. The wonderful blessing of God, however, is that he will renew us and sustain us and rekindle us. He does it through the encouraging word of a friend. He does it through his presence in us, the Holy Spirit. He does it through songs that lift our hearts. He does it through Scripture and prayer. So while our bodies and spirits may be weary, let's not let our hands fall idle. If we will serve with faithfulness, discipline, and integrity, God's grace will empower us to do what he has called us to do.

Thought for today: Do I allow distractions and My work to prevent me from doing good?

My Redeemer February 17, 2017

Isaiah 54:5 (NIV)

5 For your Maker is your husband—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth.

"For God so loved the world..." "The Father, from whom every family on earth derives its name..." God is not just the God of Israel. The LORD God, ruler of heaven and earth, is the God of all nations and one day, "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess... that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

Thought for today: Do I acknowledge God daily?

Expressing Faith February 16, 2017

Galatians 5:6 (NIV)

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Ever notice how we get to fussing about things that are important, but still aren't the most important things of our faith. So often when we get to fighting the most important thing of all gets lost. In the first century, this fight often had to do with Jew/Gentile issues. While race, culture, and heritage are important, what really is most important is showing to the world that we can value cultural diversity in each other and still find our unity in Christ. In our high tech world today, isn't it interesting that the most important issue is the same as it was two thousand years ago — faith displaying itself in loving action.

Thought for today: Does my faith show in my actions?

Brotherly Love February 15, 2017

1 John 4:21 (NIV)

21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

For over a week, John has reminded us again and again. We must love our brothers and sisters in Christ. This reminder, however, is the clincher. If we love God, then we must love his children and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Notice that the word isn't "should" or "will try" or "want to." No, we must. The Bible is careful not to put many "must do" or "thou shalt" commands in Scripture. So God's point is clear. Love of each other is not optional, negotiable, or even something to be delayed. God sent Jesus to die for the sins of all of God's children. How can we not love those for whom Christ gave so much? As Paul will say to the Corinthians, "God's love compels us!" We MUST love.

Thought for today: Do I give focus to loving all of mankind?

Thanksgiving and Prayer February 14, 2017

Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

Certain people are blessings. It doesn't matter if we visit with them on the phone, get an encouraging email, receive a hand-written letter, or see them face to face. Any time we remember them, we thank God for them. So let's follow Paul's example and let them know they give us reasons to offer thanks to God.

Thought for today: Do I consistently pray for others?

No Hate February 13, 2017

1 John 4:20 (NIV)

20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

"O how I love Jesus!" we sing. Jesus responds by asking how well we are doing with loving our brothers and sisters! We can't love God if we can't love those around us.

Thought for today: Do I allow bigotry and racism to inhabit my life?

Our First Love February 12, 2017

1 John 4:19 (NIV)

19 We love because he first loved us.

As human beings, we like to think of ourselves as the center of our universe. We determine the greatness or validity of most deeds based on their impact upon us. We consider ourselves great adventurers, inventors, and investigators. However, in the most important quest of all, we did not act first; God did. He loved us sacrificially. He loved us personally. He loved us first. Our love is a response to his grace. Our love is simply sharing with others what has been lavished upon us. We love because he loved us first.

Thought for today: Is my love pure or does it have terms and conditions?

No Fear February 11, 2017

1 John 4:18 (NIV)

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

There are many kinds of fear. Some of these are legitimate. Others are imagined. Still others are irrational. Thankfully, as Christians, we don't have to be afraid of the one crucial event in our life — judgment. God's love saves us, empowers us, blesses us, works in us, and touches others through us. Most of all, having experienced this love, we can cast fear out of our hearts because we know where we stand with God. He is our loving Father who longs to bring us home!

Thought for today: Can I see and acknowledge God’s love in myself and others?

Perfect Love February 10, 2017

1 John 4:17 (NIV)

17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

When we live lovingly like Jesus did, we can have the same confidence in the face of death and before God in judgment. Our confidence is not in our efforts, but in our Savior. His love has not only redeemed us, it has changed us. His love is not only a gift to us, but it is a gift through us. We can be confident because we know that Jesus' life is present in us until we can stand with him in the presence of our Father.

Thought for today: Does my life reflect and honor Christ?

Whoa!!! And Woe!!! February 9, 2017

Habakkuk 2:9 (NIV)

9 “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!

In our "dog eat dog" world, in our race to get to the top and leave all our rivals in a heap at the bottom, God tells us both "Whoa!" and "Woe!" He tells us to stop and realize that Kingdom values are different from worldly values — that there is no success without service. He also warns us that he will bring us to ruin if we ignore his values by placing ourselves above the well-being of others or pursuing our own success at the cost of our ethics.

Thought for today:  Do I use others to get ahead?

The Gift Of Grace February 8, 2017

Ephesians 2:8-9(NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

As a child, I loved to receive gifts. In such a simple time of life, a gift meant I was loved. I didn't worry about the significance or hidden message in a gift. I wasn't concerned about the "strings attached" to the gift. It was just a gift — a free expression of love I didn't deserve, given to me by someone who truly cared for me. Isn't it great to get to be God's child and receive his gift and know we can receive it as a child?!

Thought for today: Am I mindful of all that grace entails?

Dust February 7, 2017

Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

We are God's creation. He fashioned and formed our original ancestors out of the dust of the ground. He molded each of us and created each of us in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-16). Like Adam, God fills us with his breath and blesses us with life. We are his workmanship, his artistry, made to experience life in all its fullness (John 10:10) and created to do his work in our world (Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for today: Do I allow things to distract and detract from God in my life?

The Wheel In The Middle February 6, 2017

Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Jesus is our center! He is the hub around which we turn. Rather than trying to add on to the truth of Jesus, we must learn to accept it and trust it in child-like faith. But that child-like faith must be nourished and grown. As Jesus remains our central focus and our hearts remain thankful to God for his grace, we will that our faith is strengthened and that Jesus is more real than ever.

Thought for today: Am I centered enough to recognize false teachings?

Check Your Attitude February 5, 2017

Philippians 2:5-6 (NIV)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

What a glorious thought! What a lofty aspiration! What an incredible challenge! I am to have the same attitude as Jesus had. It's almost unthinkable. But just almost! You see, God calls us to this glorious, lofty, and unthinkable height because he calls us his children. He wants us to be humble and to be a servant just as Jesus was.

Thought for today: Do my thoughts and actions line up with those of Jesus?

Love & Mercy February 4, 2017

Ephesians 2:4-5New International Version (NIV)

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

We have no claim to bring to God! We have no right to demand salvation! We have no power within us that can hold on to life! Only God's love can bring us life, hope, and grace. Only God's mercy can bring us salvation. Only God's gift of Christ can awaken us from the death-slumber of sin.

Thought for today: Do I really take time to consider what grace and mercy add to my life?

Humility February 3, 2017

Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Humility is recognizing who God has made us to be and using that recognition to serve and redeem others. Living in humility as Jesus did, we don't just practice the golden rule, but we go one step better — we treat others better than we would treat ourselves. Are we instructed to do this because we're unworthy or unfit? No! Jesus was worthy and glorious, but he chose to treat others better than himself when he sacrificially gave himself to redeem them. It's a high standard. It's a hard standard. It is not for wimps. But it is ultimately glorious. (Hint: Read down through verse 10 and remember that the same type of reward will be given to the faithful!)

Thought for today: Do I allow God to empower me for service?

Herod’s Temple February 2, 2017

Hebrews 7:23-27 (NIV)

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Reconstruction of the altar of burnt offering at Herod’s Temple. Unlike other priests, Jesus “does not need to offer sacrifices day after day” (Hebrews 7:27).

(Hebrews 7:26–27) One final quality in verses 7:26-28 sets Jesus off as superior to the old covenant high priests: he is “holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26; see Hebrews 4:15 and 9:14) in contrast to their “weakness” (Hebrews 7:28) and their need to offer sacrifices “first for [their] own sins, and then for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 7:27; compare Hebrews 5:2-3 and Hebrews 9:7). That Jesus is “exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26) prepares the way for the topic of chapters 9-10: he is the heavenly high priest of a new order. In addition to his complete holiness, in which he is “unlike the other high priests” (Hebrews 7:27), Jesus “does not need to offer sacrifices day after day” (Hebrews 7:27). His single sacrifice is completely effective: “once for all; he offered himself” (verse 27; compare Hebrews 7:23–24). The phrase “once for all” denotes “once for all time, never to be repeated,” not “once for all people.”

Thought for today: Do I continuously present empty offerings?

A Knowledgeable God February 1, 2017

Genesis 18:1-2 (NIV)

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tentin the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

God’s tender affection for his people is shown by his willingness to reveal himself, often through his spoken word, to his people. It is clear that the people of God were stunned that God would even speak to them. They often stood at a distance, in fear and awe, at the revelation of God to his people (Ex 20:21). These appearances in the Old Testament find perfect fulfillment in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. In his birth, Jesus willingly laid aside the glories of heaven to take the form of a servant in order to make a way for sinful people to come to the Father (Php 2:1–11). In his deity, Jesus demonstrated and declared to the world the nature and character of God in a way that allowed humanity to see not only a temporary glimpse of his glory but the exact imprint of God’s glory in a permanent, ongoing fashion (Heb 1:3). Jesus made himself known so that fallen men and women can know God.

Jesus, thank you for giving me a glimpse of God’s glory. Thank you for showing me who he is and for gifting me with a way to know him intimately. Amen.

Thought for today: Am I hospitable ?