To God Be The Glory April 30, 2018

Philippians 4:20  (NIV)

20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What will we share in eternally with God? His glory! What led Israel through the wilderness and shown upon the face of Moses? His glory. What is too wonderful and marvelous for us as humans to behold? His glory. So what should we do when we are seeking to honor God? Give him the glory that is due him. Praise him in glorious songs. Bring honor to Yahweh's holy name!

Thought for today: Do I engage in things that hinder my praise?

You Better Think April 29, 2018

Philippians 4:8  (NIV)

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Let's get our minds out of the gutter and get our hearts set on God's glory.

Thought for today: Is my mind set on an elevated purpose?

Revival, Renewal and Restoration April 28, 2018

Psalm 85:6  (NIV)

6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?

God loves his children even when they are rebellious. However, God showed Israel that their rebellion would drive his presence and blessing from them. But with their genuine repentance, their confession of sin, God joyously returns to their lives to bring revival, renewal, and restoration.

Thought for today: Can I recognize and am I prepared for revival?

Keeping Watch April 27, 2018

Psalm 121:8  (NIV)

8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Does it matter to anyone that I'm here? Does anyone notice when I'm gone? Does anybody care if I make it home or never leave the house? The answers? "Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!" The LORD, the Savior of Israel and the Father of Jesus knows all about us and our comings and goings. He will watch over us, now and forevermore.

Thought for today: Do I live like God sees my movements?

No Sleep April 26, 2018

Psalm 121:3  (NIV)

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;

I still remember when my children were little. I would sneak in and watch them sleep. Sometimes it was to check on them when they were sick. Sometimes it was to just sit and pray for them, joining the Lord as he watched over them while they slept. Sometimes it was to bathe myself in the grace and wonder of God's love for giving me such blessings. Even now that they are much older, I still love to look in on them and pray, marveling at the wonder of these precious gifts from the Father. To know that my Abba Father looks at me in the same way, but with even greater delight and joy, fills me with unspeakable wonder.

Thought for today: Do I know and trust that God sees morning, noon and night?

Looking For Help April 25, 2018

Psalm 121:1-2  (NIV)

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

Since God could speak into existence the universe, and since God knows our names and the number of the hairs on our head... surely we know that we can go to him for our help. Let's lift up our eyes and our hearts to El Shaddai, Lord God of the Mountains and know the Almighty sees our needs, hears our requests, and cares about our hearts.

Thought for today: Do I pray before a begin to act?

Walk It Like I Talk It April 24, 2018

Proverbs 10:21  (NIV)

21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.

I have several friends who are very wise in the way they speak. When they do speak up, everyone listens attentively because their words are always wise, well-timed, and worthwhile. Their righteous lives and careful use of words blesses and nourishes all who listen. There are others, however, that are constantly talking about everything and spending little or no time practicing what they preach. Their words are discounted as nothing more than their own desire to hear their own opinions about matters on which they know nothing.

Thought for today: Are my words empty and hollow?

God’s Grace April 23, 2018

Philippians 4:23  (NIV)

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Some prayers are so simple and so precious. To pray grace "on" someone is a great blessing. To pray that this grace be more than physical, external things, is greater still. So why not pray this prayer for those you love.

Thought for today: Do I know the fullness of God’s grace?

Stand Firm April 22, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:58  (NIV)

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The Stock Market can be fickle. Friends can disappoint you. Nothing is truly sure except one thing, or better yet, our very special Someone! If we build our lives on his work and his plan, we can hang in, persevere, and even triumph.

Thought for today: What is my foundation?

Victory April 21, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:57  (NIV)

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Life is ours! Death no longer holds us captive! Victory has been given to us! Jesus is Lord. What else needs to be said? "Praise God!"

Thought for today: Do I rely on my vision and give up too easily?

Empty Victory April 20, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:55  (NIV)

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”

Death has the power to end life. Death has the power to separate. Death has the power to discourage and defeat us. But, we know the truth; Jesus lives! Because he lives, we know we will live with him. We believe that his victory over death is our victory. So like Jesus, we mock death and its power to destroy us. Jesus has destroyed death and brought immortality to life... in us through the Gospel.

Thought for today: Do I know that the way I live today impacts how I live “tomorrow”?

Perishables April 19, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:54 New International Version (NIV)

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

As Christians, even if our bodies die, we don't! Our physical death just means that we will be given immortal bodies. Christ will raise us up and clothe us with immortality. Death will not have a hold on us because we are God's children. Victory is ours. Death does not have the final word; Jesus does, and he says, "Rise!"

Thought for today: Do I give consideration to my spiritual being?

Called Up April 18, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:51-53  (NIV)

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

I'm going to be changed! You're going to be changed! We're not talking about a new wardrobe or haircut. We're not talking about a new car or a new place to live. We are talking major, heavy duty overhaul! We're going to be made immortal. We're going to become indestructible. We will no longer be perishable goods! We're bound for glory.

Thought for today: Do I give consideration and preparation to my change ?

Last Call April 16, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:24  (NIV)

24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

Closing time! That's when everything is counted, the doors are locked, and the final tally is made. Jesus is Lord of closing time. Even though he won the victory over death and sin while he was here, we're still waiting to get swept up into in his victory march. But, that day is coming. Every knee will bow! Every evil power will face destruction. The hearts that are yielded to God, however, will be placed into his loving and mighty hands forever. Our Lord reigns!

Thought for today: Do I give thought to my final accounting?

Resurrection April 15, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:20  (NIV)

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" These words of the angel to the women who came to Jesus' tomb are also God's words to us. Jesus is risen! Not only that, he is the first fruits from the dead. He is the guarantee that God's harvest will happen; he is our assurance that we, too, will be raised. Death no longer has a hold on us! We are God's eternal children and death cannot separate us from his presence or his love!

Thought for today: Do I pursue things that don’t bring life?

Ill-gotten Gain April 14, 2018

Proverbs 10:2  (NIV)

2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.

Wealth, especially wealth gotten through greedy and wicked means, proves to be of no lasting value. This rancid wealth rots the heart of the one who gets it and it cannot save us from our ultimate demise. Righteousness, however, is a far more precious treasure. This righteousness of the Eternal God, this gift given to us by grace through faith, is greater than the limits of our mortality and powerful enough to buy our soul from death.

Thought for today: Do I understand the full extent of Christ’s ransom?

Supplied April 13, 2018

Philippians 4:19  (NIV)

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Throughout Scripture, God reminds us that if our trust is in him and if we share his blessings with others, he will make sure we have all that we need. How can we be sure? Look at Jesus!

Contentment April 12, 2018

Philippians 4:12-13  (NIV)

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Life is full of ups and downs. So much of what we hold dear can be touched by death, disaster, and decay. What do we have that is certain? To whom can we turn for assurance? Where do we find the power to live victoriously in good times and bad? In the Lord who gives us strength!

Thought for today: Do I see God as a surety in my life?

Hope April 11, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:19  (NIV)

19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Wow, what a powerful and sobering thought. Our faith in Jesus' resurrection, and our faith in being joined to him, is so crucial that all else pales in comparison. Our hope in Christ is not just for here and now, but it is also a hope that transcends life and bursts the shackles of death. If it doesn't offer us this hope, then it is no hope at all; it is not really good news. We are deluded and to be pitied. But then, I do believe! That, my friend, changes everything!

Thought for today: What do I hope for in this life?

Pass It On April 10, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:3-5 (NIV)

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.

Some things are "first importance" things. They lie at the heart of the matter and are central to the issue at hand. For us as Christians, we don't have to doubt what those "first importance" things are. The Gospel of our salvation is built on one simple foundation: Jesus died, Jesus was buried, Jesus rose from the grave, and Jesus appeared to his disciples who were never the same after witnessing their resurrected Savior. Let's not let anyone distract us from these core truths or crowd out their simplicity with other matters they may claim to be essential. Our salvation is rooted in our faith and our participation in this simple, yet powerful Gospel.

Thought for today: Do I embrace the strength and truth of the gospel?

Hold On April 9, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:2  (NIV)

2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

What saves us? What God did for us in Jesus! Let's make a commitment to let nothing make us relinquish our trust and dependency upon that hope, that Gospel by which we are saved. There is no other name, no other Gospel, no other message that can give us salvation. (see Acts 4:12; Gal. 1:3-9; Col. 2:6-16) We don't need to add anything else to it. We must never let anyone take anything away from it. Let's hold firmly to this faith, this trust, in God's grace given to us in Jesus!

Thought for today: Is my faith steadfast?

Gospel Reminder April 8, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:1  (NIV)

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

Our hope, our salvation, and our foundation for faith is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This Gospel is the same as that Gospel first preached by the apostles and passed on to the believers in the early church. With so many confusing and conflicting ideas present in the world, we need to go back and be reminded of our simple faith in Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection. We need to unclutter our hearts from all the ideas and issues that so often divide our churches and rip apart our fellowships and hear the words of the old hymn, "Simply to Thy Cross I cling." Today, let's be reminded of that simple Gospel of Jesus and build our life there.

Thought for today: What is my hope built on?

Seeking and Knowing Peace April 7, 2018

Philippians 4:6-7  (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

What guards your heart? What protects your mind? Did you know that the peace of God can stand guard over our hearts and minds? That's the apostle Paul's promise to us in this passage. If we will present our requests to God, with thanksgiving, then God's peace that is greater than any explanation and that transcends our ability to comprehend it, will stand sentry over our hearts and minds. You want an example of how this is true? Look at the book of Job. All that befalls him. All that wounds him. Yet still he doesn't become hard of heart or go insane. What is the key to his survival? His ongoing conversation with the LORD. He will not relinquish that relationship no matter how badly he hurts, how much he is confused, nor how badly he is ridiculed.

Thought for today: Do I trust God to bring me peace in the midst of my trial?

No Anxiety April 6, 2018

Philippians 4:6  (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Anxiety is worry over things which we cannot control and which we do not remove from our thoughts. Anxiety dominates and controls a passive mind and a troubled heart, filling both with doubt, fear, and dread. But, anxiety cannot be removed; it must be replaced. We remove our anxiety by giving our concerns and worries to the Lord, trusting him to care for us. Then, as we give him thanks for what he has done and what he is doing in our lives, we replace those concerns and worries with a genuine sense of his presence. As a result, our confidence in his future for us can return.

Thought for today: Do I trust God or give in to worry on a regular basis?

Gentleness and Grace April 5, 2018

Philippians 4:5  (NIV)

5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Extravagant over-reaction! That's what we're programmed to seek and to display in our modern world of sound bites and over-hyped personality. But gentleness, that moderating grace in the midst of chaos and conflict, is so vital to bring the peace of God to conflict-laden churches, families, and relationships. How can we be gentle, how can we restrain from over-reacting to the wounds, offenses, and slights that come our way? The Lord is near! He is our vindication. He is our example. He is our comfort. He is our hope. He is our strength. He is near. We are not alone and our destiny, reputation, and value are not up to us to establish or to defend.

Thought for today: Do I seek to be gentle and kind in my responses?

Rejoicing April 4, 2018

Philippians 4:4  (NIV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Sometimes the squabbles of church can be discouraging and cause us to lose sight of the incredible blessings we have in God's family. We have many reasons to rejoice in the Lord. Let's not lose sight of those, especially when those around us get caught up in pettiness and rivalry. Let's remember our hope is in the crucified Nazarene, who is also our resurrected Lord and ever-present Savior.

Thought for today: Do I allow petty things to distract me from what really matters?

Practice, Practice, Practice April 3, 2018

Philippians 4:9  (NIV)

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

As we seek to pass on the faith to our children, our friends, our younger spiritual "children" in the faith, we must remember Paul's example. He taught the truth; passed on the truth that had been revealed and passed on to him; he displayed that truth in his life; Paul then called on the people he was mentoring to put this truth into practice in their daily lives. This would enable them to fully experience the presence of God in their lives and find the peace that God so longs to give them.

Thought for today: Do I consistently put truth into practice?

God’s Grace April 2, 2018

1 Corinthians 1:30  (NIV)

30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

God's grace has brought us into a saving relationship with Jesus as our Lord and Savior. As believers, we recognize that Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross was much more than a terrible miscarriage of justice and the murder of a good and decent man. Jesus is God's wisdom, a wisdom to convince us of his love. Jesus is our righteousness; taking our sins upon himself he made us righteous. Jesus is our ongoing holiness. His blood cleanses us at the beginning and continues to do so today. Jesus is our holiness; his death means our righteousness. Jesus is our ransom payment, redeeming us from sin and death. Jesus is our everything!

Thought for today: Do I honor my righteousness through Christ?

Foolishness vs. Wisdom April 1, 2018

1 Corinthians 1:27  (NIV)

27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

The Cross is such an offensive symbol when viewed in its most basic and raw form. For God to become human flesh and live among us is unbelievable enough. For God to be subject to the vagaries and rigors of mortality and human needs is unthinkable. For God to endure the indignities and inhumanities of the Cross is preposterous. But, that is the Gospel. What appears to be foolish, weak, and offensive has the power to re-make us and inspire us to unparalleled faith. When we come to the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, we come to the impossible which was accomplished by God's grace for us and in us. Only God would bring us salvation in such a way.

Thought for today:  How significant is the cross to my life?