Following September 30, 2018

Psalm 119:30 New International Version (NIV)

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I have set my heart on your laws.

Yesterday we made a commitment to follow the Lord Jesus whole-heartedly. Let's not forget it and slip back into old habits and bad patterns. Let's choose the way of truth again today, and tomorrow, and...

Thought for today: Do I consistently follow or do I slack off?

No Cross, No Crown September 29, 2018

Matthew 10:38-39 New International Version (NIV)

38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Jesus wants us to seriously look into our hearts and surrender those things that hold us back from fully following and serving him. We know what they are. He comes to us with his now nail-scarred hands and reminds us that he gave up everything to redeem us. He now wants us to surrender to the Cross the things that hold us back. Let's do it today!

Thought for today: What is my sacrifice?

Order My Steps September 28, 2018

Psalm 119:133 New International Version (NIV)

133 Direct my footsteps according to your word;
    let no sin rule over me.

God's word is a light to our dark path in a morally uncertain world. It must be our standard for right and wrong, righteousness and evil. As God's will and Word have sway in our life, we are delivered from all sorts of destructive practices that can ruin our lives.

Thought for today: Do I effectively use the word to order my actions?

Goodness and Mercy September 27, 2018

Psalm 23:6 New International Version (NIV)

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

God is our Shepherd. Our destiny is tied to his goodness and mercy which he longs to shower upon us until he brings us home to dwell with him forever.

Though for today: Do I allow God to lead? What prompts me to follow?

Misspoken? September 26, 2018

Proverbs 10:32 New International Version (NIV)

32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

How many times have you said just the "wrong" thing? For me, it is more often than I would like to recall. Jesus words on this topic are indeed convicting to me: "Out of the abundance of the heart does the mouth speak." In other words, poor words and bad timing in our speech are more issues of our heart than issues of social skills and decorum. Let's ask God to purify, mend, and re-focus our heart on his will and passions.

Though for today: Do I check my heart before I get involved in conversations?

None But The Righteous September 25, 2018

Psalm 23:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.

While the enemy of the righteous may flourish for a season, God will lavish his love and show his favor on the righteous. As the apostle Paul reminded his dear friends in Philippi, their prayers and the work of the Holy Spirit guaranteed his deliverance: he would either be delivered from prison and death to serve them, or he would be delivered from prison through death to go be with the Father (Phil. 3:19-21). Either way, God's righteous will get a banquet, a place of honor, and a royal welcome that will vindicate their faithfulness before those who oppose them.

Thought for today: Do I quit because things get difficult or dark?

None But The Righteous September 24, 2018

Proverbs 10:24 New International Version (NIV)

24 What the wicked dread will overtake them;
    what the righteous desire will be granted.

The wicked fear the triumph of goodness, holiness, and righteousness. They fear not being in control. They fear death overtaking them. The righteous desire the triumph of goodness, holiness, and righteousness. They offer their life to be controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. They recognize death is an enemy, but one that has been conquered by their Savior. In times like these, isn't it comforting to know that the fear of the wicked is really all the wicked can be sure of receiving!

Thought for today: Do my actions shine light on the wicked?

I Surrender All September 23, 2018

Luke 9:23 New International Version (NIV)

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Offering ourselves to God isn't easy because it means we must first die to our own selfish will. Like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, we face our own cross and must cry out, "Not my will, dear Father, but your will be done!"

Thought for today: Can I surrender my will?

Transformation September 22, 2018

Romans 12:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The motivation for our holiness is God's incredible mercy and grace. We offer ourselves to him because he has already shown us his love through the sacrifice of Jesus. As we offer ourselves to honor him, we are worshipping him. As we refuse to be molded into the lifestyle of the world, we offer him praise. As we consistently do these things with our lives, God's will becomes even more clear. With the Spirit's help, we are daily being transformed to be more like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18) as we display more of the character of God (Gal. 5:22-23).

Thought for today: Am I in sync with God’s will for my life?

Love Is… September 21, 2018

John 14:21 New International Version (NIV)

21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Love is much more than a feeling or an attitude: love is an action. When we love, we show it by our deeds. As disciples of Jesus, our love is shown by our obedience to the things Jesus taught. Of course, that obedience brings an incredible blessing — Jesus reveals himself to those that obey him!

Thought for today: Do I love enough to obey?

Never Lose Hope September 20, 2018

Romans 8:23 New International Version (NIV)

23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

The Holy Spirit, who lives in us, is our guarantee of a greater glory that is to come (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5). The Spirit is the firstfruits of that glory that is to be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). Our current state is only a foretaste of what lies ahead for us; we yearn to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling and to be at home with God (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

Thought for today: Can I work without complaint?

Eagerly Waits September 19, 2018

Romans 8:19 New International Version (NIV)

19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Eagerly waits! Don't you just love that idea! Sounds like an oxymoron. It's not. Think of a groom waiting for his bride to come down the aisle. Imagine parents of a child that is due to be born. Remember what it was like as a child waiting for Christmas morning. Eagerly waits! That's what creation, so caught up with decay, disaster, and death, is doing! And what is creation waiting for so eagerly? Our transformation and revelation as God's triumphant and glorious children. Sounds pretty wonderful for a time and world like ours.

Thoughts for today: When is the last time the sunrise heard your prayers?

Divine Connections September 18, 2018

Matthew 18:20 New International Version (NIV)

20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

When are friends more than friends? When they gather in the name of Jesus and he meets with them there.

Thought for today: Am I constantly in the presence of god-minded people?

The Valley Experience September 17, 2018

Psalm 23:4 New International Version (NIV)

4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

Death is the ultimate profanity in today's world. We don't like to think about it, much less talk about it. However, death is that one reality that will not leave us alone. We lose friends and family members to death. At one point in our lives, we too, will face this inevitability unless Jesus comes before our passing. So what is our assurance as we face the inescapable? Our Sheperd! He will walk us through, guiding and protecting and comforting us in our journey. And as Christians, this promise is only intensified because we know Jesus as our Good Shepherd, and he has taken the walk ahead of us to assure us that our walk through death's valley doesn't end in death, but in glory.

Thought for today: Can I follow instructions closely when I am in a difficult position?

Life’s Riches September 16, 2018

Proverbs 16:16 New International Version (NIV)

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight rather than silver!

What are the greatest riches in life? Well surely they are not silver and gold. Of infinitely greater value is wisdom, which helps us understand what is valuable, what is true, what is worthy of our heart, and what is not.

Thought for today: Do I place God above material things?

Choice September 15, 2018

Romans 6:15 New International Version (NIV)

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!

This matching verse to Romans 6:1-2, is the great reminder that sin is no longer our master and no longer our choice. We choose to live for God with every fiber of our being and loathe the life of sin that once held us in bondage to death and defeat.

Thought for today: What choices am I making for my life? What is guiding my choice?

Breaking Chains September 14, 2018

Romans 6:14 New International Version (NIV)

14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

As we called on Jesus name in baptism and trusted him to be our Savior, we died to sin. In this death, we die to dying and pass from death to life because of our faith in Jesus and in God's power (John 5:24; Col. 2:12). Our life is joined to Jesus, and his glorious future becomes our own (Col. 3:1-4). We are not under law, but grace. Let's respond to the gift of grace with passion and with zeal to be holy. Let's open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, who changes us to be like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). We are grace-children. We are not in bondage to sin, but liberated by grace to be all that God has made us to be — his craftsmanship (Eph. 2:1-10). Sin will not be our master!

Thought for today: Am I held and bound by anything?

Anticipation September 13, 2018

Titus 2:13-14 New International Version (NIV)

13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

We haven't arrived at our destination (cf. Philipppians 3). We are in waiting! Jesus, who offered his own life for our redemption, will gloriously return to take us home. During our time of waiting, let's be eager to do what is right, good, and holy.

Thought for today: Am I engaging in godly practices or am I content to sit in the back seat yelling “are we there yet?”

God’s Grace September 12, 2018

Titus 2:11-12 New International Version (NIV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Grace is not about excuses for our sins, but about a deep-seated thanksgiving for pardon and a life-changing commitment to say "No!" to all that is evil, corrupt, and wicked no matter how alluring or how pervasive they may be in our culture.

Thought for today: Am I grateful for the transformative power of grace or am I content to remain in my ways?

GOAL September 11, 2018

Romans 6:11-12 New International Version (NIV)

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

If we have been cleansed from perversity, if we have died with Christ in baptism and have been cleansed thoroughly and completely by the Holy Spirit, then let's live for God! Let's resist sin, and our inclination to sin, with all our might, knowing that as we do, the Holy Spirit will empower us to a much greater righteousness than we could ever live on our own. Let's begin each day with a conscious decision to be dead to our sinful past and alive to the goal of the holy character of God!

Thought for today: Am I in the practice of setting a spiritual goal for my day?

To Tell The Truth September 10, 2018

Proverbs 10:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

"Tell the truth the first time and then you won't have to remember what you said." That's a quote attributed to the famous Speaker of the House (U.S.A. House of Representatives) Sam Rayburn. That's basically what God's wisdom is trying to teach us in this passage. Be a person of integrity. Then, when someone finds out your secrets, you can feel secure knowing that you have lived for godliness. However, a perverse and deceitful person has to constantly worry that someone will find him out. There is no security or assurance in crooked paths, only the certainty of getting tripped up and caught. When the secrets of evil that have been whispered in dark places get shouted from the rooftops, those who have lived for the Lord can be secure, knowing that what gets shouted about them is said with the voice of God: "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Thought for today: Do I walk, talk and move with integrity or do I entertain “the little white lies”?

Strength September 9, 2018

Joshua 1:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

While these words were spoken to Joshua when he took over for Moses, they are also applicable to us. Take a moment and read Psalm 139 out loud and see that God's promise to be with us is for all who truly call upon him. Listen to Jesus' words in Matthew 28:18-20, as he promises his disciples to "be with them always, even to the close of the age." Remember God's promise, reiterated from an Old Testament blessing in Hebrews 13:5, "Never will I leave you, never will I desert you!" Let's be strong; our God, our Father, our Shepherd is always near, even if it doesn't seem so. We cannot go anywhere without his presence being near us and in us. We are not alone. We don't have to be afraid. In fact, not even death can separate us from his love (see Romans 8:35-39).

Thought for today: Am I always timid and second guessing my decisions?

The Healing Word September 8, 2018

Hebrews 4:12 New International Version (NIV)

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

What is the greatest tool to repair the human heart? ...by-pass surgery? ...angioplasty? ...artificial heart? ...transplant? How about the Word of God? You see, while these other techniques can be of great aid to the physical heart of people, God's tool for heart surgery is his Word. This sharp scalpel can reach the soul and spirit as well as being a physical blessing. So how much of your heart are you offering to God, and his powerful heart-healing tool to touch? As you open God's Scripture, as you hear the message of God preached, why not ask for the Holy Spirit's help to help you understand, apply, and put into practice what is being taught? Let's offer our hearts to the Great Physician to do his work in us!

Thought for today: Do I allow the word of God to heal and soothe?

Godly Sustenance September 7, 2018

Psalm 107:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 for he satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.

The Bible cries out with one recurring truth: God quenches the thirst and satisfies the hunger of those who seek him. So often we try to soothe the ache in our soul and fill the emptiness in our heart with what is only a temporary satisfaction that only God's presence can fill. Let's refuse every false satisfaction and seek the LORD!

Thought for today: Do I look to God for sustenance?

Where He Leads Me September 6, 2018

Psalm 23:2-3 New International Version (NIV)

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

Some of us won't slow down for anything! Well, almost anything. When we get "too full of ourselves" and too caught up in our own plans, the LORD, our Shepherd, slows us down and makes us lie down. Our Shepherd knows we need rest, nourishment, and refreshment and helps us, yes and even sometimes makes us, find "green pastures" and "still waters." He then leads us in the direction of his righteousness and holiness once we are rested and refreshed. Isn't it interesting that God's order for our life is always grace and then glory.

Thought for today: Can I be led? Can I take instruction?

Walk In The Light September 5, 2018

Psalm 119:105 New International Version (NIV)

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.

So often, those of us who have received the blessings of faith and the guidelines of the Word of God don't fully appreciate them. Can you imagine what it is like to try to define ones worth, clarify ones values, and establish ones sense of purpose without a standard of truth? Imagine what it would be like to be lost without a map and without a compass? Remember what it was like to wake up in an unfamiliar place as a child in the pitch black darkness totally disoriented? We don't have to worry about that now, do we? God's Word — both Scripture and his Son — light our dark paths and show us the way home!

Though for today: Can I recognize the light on my path or am I still stumbling to find my way?

God’s Wonders September 4, 2018

Psalm 92:4 New International Version (NIV)

4 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
    I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

Gaze into the heavens on a dark night and see the wonders of the starry hosts. Think of the incredible diversity of earth's wonders. Look at your own life and see the fingerprints of God's work in your own experience (Rom. 8:28). As Jesus said, our Father is working still (John 5:17). Yes, it does make us glad to know that we are not alone in working our own life (Psalm 139; Phil. 2:13). There is a deep-seated joy at knowing that the LORD, Creator of the universe is at work in us and for us. No wonder singing praise is such a natural response for us!

Thought for today: Do I rejoice or complain when I know God is working on/with me?

The Lord Is My Shepherd September 3, 2018

Psalm 23:1 New International Version (NIV)

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

A sheep is only as good as its shepherd. We are incredibly blessed!

Thought for today: Am I humble enough to consider myself as a sheep and can I be led?

A Song In My Heart September 2, 2018

Psalm 9:2 New International Version (NIV)

2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
    I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

When was the last time you made up a song? The last time you made up a song of praise to God? Worried that you can't do it? Don't think it will be good? Don't worry, your only audience is your Abba Father who longs to hear your heart sing regardless of your voice's perfection or your melody's tune. He wants to rejoice and be glad with you. So open your heart and raise your voice to praise your God.

Thought for today: what prompts my songs of joy?

Gimme Shelter September 1, 2018

Psalm 91:1 New International Version (NIV)

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

At the end of summer's scorching heat, where did you find your shadow of protection and refreshment? When we place our lives in the care of God Most High, we find that his shadow of protection and refreshment covers us. Even in times of difficulty, we know that he has protected us from the worst of Satan's withering attack and that his presence offers us strength that we may not often see but always can trust.

Thought for today: Where do I seek comfort?