Reverence In Worship August 31, 2017

Psalm 95:6-7(NIV)

6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,

Worship is more than our heart, soul and words offered to God. It also involves our posture. When we understand the grace God has given us to be called his children, what else can we do but bow down or kneel before him in his majesty and might. We come to him, a conquering ruler, offering ourselves in full submission. God chooses, however, to treat us tenderly like a loving shepherd who longs to care for us. Such grace leads us to bow and kneel in heartfelt worship.

Thought for today: Do I completely yield to the authority of God or do I stay all up in His business?

Citizenship August 30, 2017

Ephesians 2:19 (NIV)

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,

Those of us who have been Christians a long time sometimes forget that we have no claim or right to the grace we have received. When we feel we deserve it, that it is ours by right, it is no longer grace and we no longer live in it. To be a part of God's family is grace. For the Holy One who spoke into existence the universe (in which we are a submicroscopic speck), grace is simply and magnificently a gift from the One who knows how to share and love in ways we can't even imagine.

Thought for today: Have I experienced the fullness of grace?

Spiritual Identity August 29, 2017

Galatians 3:28 (NIV)

28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Wouldn't it be great if we could tear down all the walls that divide us — racial, social, economic, and gender. The apostle Paul spent his entire life trying to do just that: to tear down the walls that divided people by bringing them to Jesus and the cross. There are no positions of superiority or inferiority at the foot of the cross, only a place for those who discover God's might displayed in sacrifice and God's love displayed even when under attack at the hands of human cruelty. While the forces of culture and human selfishness are always finding ways to divide us, we must remember that in Jesus, and only in Jesus, can we be one.

Thought for today: What walls do I have restricting me?

BELIEVE ?!!!! August 28, 2017

John 6:29 (NIV)

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you really believe? Shortly after Max Lucado came back from his mission work in Rio, Brazil, he shared with a group of his closest friends that his theology was pretty simple. He didn't have a handle on a lot of the big difficult theological problems that divide folks. But Max said he came to the firm and deep conviction that God loves us and he showed that love by really sending Jesus to live among us, to die for us, and to be raised from the dead so that we could be raised from death, too. This is the work of God — amazingly simple and awesomely powerful.

Thought for today: Do I give lip service to my faith or is real and viable?

Worry August 27, 2017

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.

While it is naive, on one hand, to think that trusting in God makes all of our problems go away — Christians have many of the same problems that unbelievers do because they share the same mortal flesh, on the other hand it's true. If we trust in God, we believe our work stands or falls in his hands and that ultimately we will share in his victorious and glorious presence. It means our lives will not be lived in vain. That's not just confidence; it's the foundation of true peace — life lived to its fullest and richest, knowing that every moment of life matters and we don't need to be anxious about its results when we rest our life in the hands of the LORD.

Thought for today: Do I surrender my problem Knowing God will solve them or do I continue to worry?

Membership August 26, 2017

Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

One of the key realities of Christianity is belonging. I belong! I belong to God. I belong to Jesus. I belong to Jesus' body, the Church. I have a place and a purpose in that body. I belong! I am needed! I have a job to do! I belong!!

Thought for today: Do I fully utilize my membership?

He’s Got Me August 25, 2017

Psalm 119:165 (NIV)

165 Great peace have those who love your law,
    and nothing can make them stumble.

As someone who had a very clumsy stage of life, this promise is almost beyond believing — nothing can make me stumble! But when it comes to living life, if I know God's will, love it, and do it, then nothing can make me stumble. There is great peace knowing that the Father loves me and doesn't want me to fall.

Thought for today: Can I focus on what I need to do and not what I think I can’t do?

Hear My Cry August 24, 2017

Psalm 116:1-2 (NIV)

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.

Understanding the Lord's love, presence, and nearness should lead us to serve him and to deepen our relationship with him. While we love God for many reasons, we want to express our love to him today especially for his personal concern for us. In a world where important people refuse to spend time with those "beneath" them, we are truly blessed with an incomparable God who listens to our every cry, recognizes our very own distinct voice, and tunes his ear to hear every one of our whispers. Yes! I will call on him, praise him, thank him, confess to him, and speak with him as long as I live!

Thought for today: Do I share with God on every level?

Your Arms Are Too Short August 23, 2017

Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)

18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me,
    your consolation brought me joy.

We are amazed at the vastness of God's reach, the awesome breadth of his power, and the glorious sweep of his majesty. An additional truth, incredible as it may seem, is God's personal nearness to us. He chooses to know us and be actively involved in the trials and triumphs we face each day. How will today, or tomorrow, be different because you are aware of his presence and companionship? What difference does it make to know he supports you when your foot slips or that his consolation is nearby when anxiety rises?

Thought for today: Do I allow God In?

God’s Cost August 22, 2017

Romans 8:32N (NIV)

32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

If God gave up his Son to save us, what would he not give up to bless us and keep us! That's Paul's point. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, he tells us we are bought with a price to encourage us toward holiness. Here, he makes the same point, but to give us assurance. Isn't it amazing how the truth of God's grace contains such a multifaceted blessing.

Thought for today: Do I reflect on the sacrifice?

God’s Song August 21, 2017

Psalm 42:8  (NIV)

8 By day the Lord directs his love,
    at night his song is with me—
    a prayer to the God of my life.

I have always loved music. To this day, songs help unlock the part of me that is most yielded to God. It helps me declare my love for him and my praise to him. But as the psalmist says, at night, especially on those nights when sleep is hard to come by, his song is with me.

Thought for today: Do I find peace at night?

I’ve Been Robbed!!!! August 20, 2017

Psalm 16:8 (NIV)

8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

There are many things that can trouble our lives, but none that can shake us loose from the grip of God's grace if our hearts remain pointed at Jesus as our Lord and our hope remains focused on the Lord's return. If Jesus is our Lord, then all of life's greatest blessings lie ahead of us and he will let nothing rob us of this coming glory!

Thought for today: Have I lost focus?

The Gift Of Grace August 19, 2017

1 John 5:12 (NIV)

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

This statement is both a reminder of God's glorious grace and also of our need to share that grace with others. Life is such a precious gift, it would be a shame for anyone we know and love to miss out. God gave up the life of his Son so that in finding him, we too could share in his life.

Thought for today: Do I actively seek God?

Everlasting Life August 18, 2017

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The truth is often as simple as it is sweet — if Jesus is our life, then our lives have no end. Death does not strip life from us, but ushers us into life in Jesus' very presence!

Thought for today: Have I given any thought to an afterlife?

Righteous Boasting August 17, 2017

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (NIV)

17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

We live in a world with skewed values, false promises and fleeting fame. What can we boast in other than the steadfastness of the Lord's love, the incredible riches of the Lord's grace, the incomparable supply of the Lord's blessings, the sweetness of the Lord's people, the mercy of the Lord's plan for our salvation, the promise of the Lord's tomorrow, the.....? What other meaningful boast is there than the Lord and his eternal grace?

Thought for today: Do I talk about God with the same zeal that I discuss my other life interests?

Call To Purity August 16, 2017

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

In a world so full of distractions and temptations, purity is difficult. Even more than difficult, the call to purity often goes forgotten and ignored. "Cheap grace" (Jude 4) is substituted for a call to passionate living. While we never want to give in to a works righteousness, we also must remember that impurity through laziness or lack of commitment or simple rebellion are contaminating to those claiming to be Christians and ruin our influence before the watching world.

Thought for today:  Do I honor purity in every aspect of life?

Permanence August 15, 2017

Romans 14:8 (NIV)

8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

One of the incredible realizations we have as Christians is that our relationship with the Lord is eternal. As we seek after him, he is always there and no one can separate us from his love. Even when we die, we go to "be with the Lord." When we sleep in death, we are still "in the Lord." When he returns in glory we will go to "be with the Lord forever." Everything we have on earth is temporary except our love for the Lord Jesus, our praise of God through him, and our friends with whom we share that love and praise!

Thought for today: Do I allow things to distract me from my PRIMARY relationship?

Rekindled Relationship August 14, 2017

Revelation 3:14 (NIV)

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

It has always fascinated me that this verse has often been cited by those calling others to conversion when it is primarily written to lukewarm Christians needing to rekindle their love relationship to the Lord. As believers, we need to ask the Lord Jesus into our hearts, our home, and lives. It's not that he's not there, it's just that he awaits our invitation — he will not barge in. He only inhabits hearts into which he has been invited!

Thought for today: How strong is your love for God?

Celebrating My Worth August 13, 2017

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The Psalmist reminded us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and God has something definite planned for us to do while we are here. We display his craftsmanship and skill when we intentionally live for him and not like the rest of the world.

Thought for today: Am I celebrating my worth?

The Temple August 12, 2017

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

We are God's temple! God lives in us. What we do in our bodies is part of our worship to him. We are called to not only abstain from impurity, but we are called to glorify God in our bodies and honor the sacrifice by which our holiness was bought.

Thought for today: Do I respect and honor God with my body?

Wealth Of Truth August 11, 2017

Psalm 119:14 (NIV)

14 I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.

Our treasure and our truth come from Scripture. Scripture is God's guidance for us on how to avoid Satan's harmful traps and to live God's blessed life. Rather than seeing God's Word as limiting, we need to see it as a gift of love and to value it more highly than riches.

Thought for today: Do I value truth?

Who Can You Turn To August 10, 2017

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.

Where can we go when all the walls fall and all the armies crumble and all hope is lost? To the eternal God, who is our Father. He preserved Israel through the most difficult of times, protected the Bible from those who would eradicate it, and has led his Church through troubles and triumphs through the centuries. He will do the same with us until he brings us home to himself.

Though for today: Do I turn to God for help before I start talking to friends?

You Matter August 9, 2017

Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

In a universe so vast, what is our little planet? In a planet so diverse and so full of life, what are simple everyday people? Among all the billions of people alive and who have lived before us, what significance do I have? Jesus reminds us that our significance is great — not because we are so important, but because we are known personally by God. We don't have to be afraid; we are known and loved by the One who is and was and is to come!

Thought for today: Am I afraid to approach God with familiarity?

Need For A Savior August 8, 2017

Psalm 149:4 (NIV)

4 For the Lord takes delight in his people;
    he crowns the humble with victory.

Jesus, who left heaven and made himself a servant, did so to enable the last to be first, the servant to be greatest, and the least to be best. For ages, the arrogant, the abusive and the powerful have found it easy to reject the call of Christ — after all he died and they're "important" and have no need for a Savior. But those who are humble find him to not only be Savior, but also Conqueror, King, and Friend.

Thought for today: Do I acknowledge the need for a savior?

God’s Judgment = Opportunity For Change August 7, 2017

Isaiah 33:22New International Version (NIV)

22 For the Lord is our judge,
    the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
    it is he who will save us.

When we think about God's being our judge, we normally think of falling into judgment. Isaiah reminds us that God's being our judge means that he will be there to judge us based on his will, his rule, and his grace. He is on our side and is looking to save, not condemn. Using the New Testament idiom, when we stand before our Judge we see instead our Father.

Thought for today: Do I stand before God in confession?

Truth is Constant August 6, 2017

Psalm 119:160 (NIV)

160 All your words are true;
    all your righteous laws are eternal.

The requirements of morality and holiness are not temporary or fleeting because they reflect the nature of our Holy God who is eternal. They don't shift with the wishes of culture, but are true across cultures and times and wishes. We do not adapt God's will to our times, but we redeem our times by adapting our wills to his truth.

Though for today: Does my character mold and shape to my circumstances?

The Right Path August 5, 2017

Psalm 119:130 (NIV)

130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple.

Sometimes the right path is not so difficult to find; we just need to know where to begin our search — the reading of God's words. The right way is very seldom just the property of the bright, wise, and scholarly; it is very clear if we will but look for it!

Thought for today: Do I look for the “right” path to what I want do?

God’s Knowledge August 4, 2017

Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV)

2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

In a universe of billions of stars, think of the power of God who made them and knows each of their names. Think of all he knows that we don't. Think of all he has seen that is not in our history books. Think of all he has done and can do. Add to this that he invites us to speak to him about the things of our heart and you understand the great expanse of his grace and the very limited knowledge of our minds.

Thought for today: Do I truly believe that God knows the “all” of me?

A Book And Its Cover August 3, 2017

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Have you ever wondered how many potentially good friends you may have lost simply by judging them on your first impression of them? I'm amazed at how the first impression very seldom tells us much of substance about another person. We're not really going to be able to evaluate people properly until the Lord reveals at judgment what is really in their hearts. Don't you think that we should give them time to reveal what is in their hearts before we make a decision about them?! Let's don't just look on the outward appearance!

Thought for today: Do my judgments prevent me from enjoying life?

Hear And Do August 2, 2017

James 1:22 (NIV)

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

What we know and what we believe are not all that significant if they do not show up in the way we live our daily lives. Pure and simple, faith not lived out in everyday life is not faith; it is facade. Just as Jesus had told us to put into practice what we have learned from him, his brother James reminds us the same thing: when we learn the truth of God's word, there is only one thing left for us to do: put it into practice!

Thought for today: Is my faith a verb (action word)?

Refuge August 1, 2017

Psalm 119:114 (NIV)

114 You are my refuge and my shield;
    I have put my hope in your word.

Where can we go to remain secure from the onslaught of bad ideas, evil influences, and false hopes? We can go to God and his Word. While people can be disloyal and misguided, God's love is proven through history and through Jesus and his truth stands forever.

Thought for today: Is my prayer life as active as my day to day?