Priorities

Scripture:

“You shall have no other gods before me.” (Deuteronomy 5:7)

Thought for the day:

Imagine a most fulfilling life? What gets included and what gets left out? Should one focus on career? Family? Personal interests? Faith? What actually goes into creating a life of fulfillment? Undoubtedly, the answer will vary from person to person.

It really all comes down to priorities. What are our priorities? Our bank account spending will reveal our financial priorities. How one spends money emphasizes the values of the person doing to the spending. If housing requires the most spending, one’s housing situation is the highest priority for that person. If one’s pastime requires a large percentage of one’s spending, it has become a high priority.

When looking for a fulfilling life, priorities are the key. What are your priorities? Honestly contemplate the “must haves,” the “should haves,” and the “might haves” for fulfillment in life. The “must haves” will require the most attention to achieve, the “might haves,” the least. But what are they?

Imagine that a bucket represents your life; a pile of rocks represent the “must haves;” a pile of pebbles represent the “should haves;” and a pile of sand represents the “might haves.” In order to live life to the fullest, how you prioritize is critical. If you fill your bucket first with sand, you’ll get a lot in there but you probably won't have enough room to fit the rocks as the space is already taken. However, if you focus the “must haves” first, the things of major importance in life will be accounted for and miraculously there will still be enough room to “should haves” and then also, the “might haves.” If there simply isn’t enough time and space to fit it all… at least you have that which is most important accounted for. What will make a most fulfilling life? Are your priorities in order? Think about it.

Prayer for the day:

Gracious God, help me choose my priorities in accordance with Your will so that my life can be all that You intended. Amen.

Where Am I?

Scripture:

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:39-42)

Thought for the day:

If one is going to get serious about drawing closer to God. The journey starts with honestly “chewing” on the question: “Where am I in my journey with Jesus?” Set aside everything else in life, family, friendships, career, and even prestige. Stripped of everything the world holds dear, ask yourself, “Where am I in my journey with Jesus?” Ponder this honestly and openly. And let your journey to faithfulness begin anew.

Prayer for the day:

Heavenly Father, silence my heart and my head long enough to honestly consider who I am in your presence. Where I am wanting, fill me with your presence and set me anew on a journey to You. Amen.

Questions...

Scripture:

Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness speaks deceitfully. (Proverbs 12:17)

Thought for the day:

Have I today done anything to fulfill the purpose for which Thou didst cause me to be born?

Have I accepted the opportunities of service as Thou in Thy wisdom hast set before my feet?

Have I kept my imagination pure and healthy?

Have I been transparently sincere in all I have professed to be, to feel, to do?

Have I made more excuses for myself than I have been willing to make for others?

Give me grace to answer honestly, O God.

• Excerpts from A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie
  

Prayer for the day:

God of grace, give me the will to be honest with myself, with You, and with others. Grant me the desire to fulfill the purpose for which You created me.

To Be Judged

Scripture:

“‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36)

Thought for the day:

“At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by: “I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was naked and you clothed me, I was homeless and you took me in.” From Words to Love by Mother Teresa

Prayer for the day:

Dear God, who can stand before you for judgment? Certainly, not I! Empower me live with the grace and compassion of Your Son Jesus Christ, so that I may be the reflection of Your blessing in this world and will know the inheritance, the kingdom prepared for the faithful in the world to come. Amen.

For the Beauty of the Earth

Scripture:

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens… When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:1-4)

Thought for the day:

Traveling through the mid-west offered vast vistas of God’s creative beauty. Fields filled with crops, ready for harvest, as far as the eye can see. Perfect river valley panoramas framed by beautiful blue skies and deep green foliage with just a hint of fall colors beginning to show.

When one considers the beauty of the earth and acknowledges the divine hand in creation, the words of the Psalmist echo throughout our heart and soul: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

Where has God creative beauty revealed itself in your life today? When you consider it, can you acknowledge God’s divine hand? Will you echo the Psalmist’s cry?

Prayer for the day:

Lord, my Lord, help me to acknowledge your majesty today. Amen.

Failed? Not In the Least!

Scripture:

Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you —unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. (2 Corinthians 13:5b-6)

Thought for the day:

Yesterday, I put my body to the test in Twin Cities Marathon and I fell short. I didn’t come close to the goals I set for myself. Disappointed? Yes. A failure? Not in the least! I went out and I ran. I enjoyed a beautiful course, a gorgeous day, and huge encouragement from a crowd that didn’t know me from Adam. I loved it!

So it goes with our faith! We are called to go out and “run the race set before us,” and there are days when we will fall short in the expectations we have for ourselves and the expectations God has of us. Those days are disappointing (or should be), however, failing to be that person God intends us to be at a given time doesn’t mean there isn’t value to who we are and what we experience. There is so much to be thankful for: a beautiful day, an encouraging word, and listening ear…

I am already scoping out the marathons for 2020, it’s who I am. Perhaps the next one will allow me to celebrate my expectations.

Same with our faith journey. We are people of faith. Perhaps the next opportunity to show it will allow us to celebrate our showing God’s incredible love to those around us.

Prayer for the day:

Dear Heavenly Father, when we fail to meet Your expectations for faithfulness, pick us up, dust us off, and allow us to be immersed in Your Holy Spirit so that we might try again. Amen.

Run well

Scripture:

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Thought for the day:

By the time this devotion posts, I will be readying myself to run my twenty second marathon, the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Running a marathon is an experience that allows me to test the limits of my physical endurance, something that I have never get tired of doing. I am, again, looking forward to the challenge but wonder if I will find it worth the attempt.

Many hours went into preparing for this one day and I must admit, the closer it gets, the more anxiety I find building within myself despite the fact that I know I have given all I have to give in preparation for the event. I have not trained flawlessly, I have chided myself throughout parts of the training regimen for not doing better, and my weaknesses will be laid bare on the course. I know where I will have trouble in the race and what conditions I will need to perform adequately, some of which are beyond my control to influence.

Furthermore, I know that regardless of what happens, this race is my race. No one can run it for me. No one can suffer the course for me, and no one can share the pain. It is up to me and me alone. That said, I am not alone, I know that many from the congregation are planning to surround me with a blanket of prayer to aid me in my adventure. Susan and some friends will be there to cheer me on as I pursue the 26.2 mile challenge, and another friend will be there running the course as well. We will encourage each other and in the end, I will finish the race. Of that, I have no doubt. 

So it is with the race of faith. The race of faith is laid out on this wonderful experience we call life. It allows us to search the limits of our spiritual endurance, something that many of us have never attempted before, others never tire of doing. As Christians, we spend our entire lives preparing for one day, the day we come face-to-face with our loving God. As that day gets closer, more and more anxiety builds up within us. We realize that none of us have trained flawlessly for the race of faith. Every day that we are honest with ourselves, we can look at our lives and chide ourselves for not doing better. We know where our weaknesses are, though admitting them is often difficult.

The question we must ask, however, is: Have I given all that I have to give in preparation for that day when I come face to face with God? The race of faith is an individual race; no one can run it for another. We will face conditions that are completely beyond our control, some of which will enhance our performance and some of which will harm our performance. Regardless, the race of faith is our and ours alone. Where will God fit into our lives? The joy is that, though the race is ours alone, we need not race alone. Christ has given us the church, a family of faith to surround us with blankets of prayer, to cheer in the midst of our victories and to cry with us in the midst of our defeats. With others living the gospel and encouraging those around them every step of the way, there is no doubt that we will all finish the race of faith and hear the wonderful words of life: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

Prayer for the day:

God of glory, in the race of life, we need not race alone. You are with us every step of the way. Thank You! Amen.

Fully Configured

Scripture:

“Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Thought for the day:

I remember the first bluetooth device I ever had for my cellphone. It was really cool, because with it, I had a hands free communication device that I could use to talk while driving, I no longer had to wrestle with the decision of whether to pull off the road when the cellphone rings. The problem was that I could never get it work to its full capacity. I should have been able to use full voice recognition so that with a word I would have been able to browse my contact list, automatically dial any number I named, and connect or disconnect with any caller in a single breath. Unfortunately, that never happened.

As I thought back upon that experience, i sensed “deja vu.” God placed this wonderful call upon my life and gave me faith enough to get excited about serving his Kingdom and communicating his word, but often when God calls, I find myself in a situation where I have to decide how best to listen. Do I pull off the highway of life to hear God or am I on the right road? The problem is... I have yet to configure my life properly with scripture, and so for as much as I may do for God, I remain at a level far below my God-given capacity. In essence, instead of configuring my life to get the most (and offer the most) that I possibly can out of the gifts God has given me to further his kingdom... too often I settle for less. 

My struggle is not unique! If we stop long enough to look and listen, we all realize that there are areas in our lives that are yet to be configured to God’s desire. The question becomes “Why?” Why do we allow ourselves to remain under-utilized in service to the divine Kingdom? Why do we allow our lives to go un-configured to the Word God has spoken? 

Paul says in Romans 7:22-25: “For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.”

It is by faith, not works, that we allow our lives to be configured to the Word of God. Our striving to serve the divine Kingdom, our role in the Kingdom itself is dependent upon our willingness to present our bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God...” (Romans 12:1b)

If we have areas in our lives that are not yet transformed to that which “is good and acceptable and perfect,” if we are under-utilized in service to God, then let us renew our minds so that we may discern what is the will of God as we offer Christ praise.

Prayer for the day:

Merciful God, I have not yet fully configured my life to allow You full access into the recesses of my heart. Forgive me, renew me, transform me. In the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Amen.

Unequal Giving, Equal Sacrifice

Scripture:

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10)

Thought for the day:

Ok, here is the hard question: “Do you tithe?” Now, the question many may ask is: “Why is it any of your business who does or does not tithe? That is a personal issue between God and the giver?”

Think of it this way: Adultery is unacceptable behavior within a Christian marriage, correct? If a significant number of our congregation was prone to adultery, that would be a moral issue I, as pastor, would be expected to address in a tangible way in order to help folks become the people God created them to be. 

If we are to become the people God intends us to addressing the connection God has established between faith and finances is a must. Tithing represents the most equitable way for all members of the Body of Christ to practice stewardship responsibility. Unlike the rest of the world, with such a chasm between rich and poor, scripture promotes

“Unequal giving, equal sacrifice.” 

Tithing is the one giving plan which effectively places God’s cause first among all of our priorities in life. This means tithing is more than a standard mathematical equation for deciding “how much” to give God. It is a spiritual system for putting God first. It is not just the acceptance of a defined percentage; it is much more the acceptance of a divine priority. 

So maybe the more appropriate question is: “Where are our priorities?” 

It might be something to think about...

Prayer for the day:

Gracious God, all I have is Yours. Instill within me the confidence in You to share an entire tithe for the building of Your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Reach For the Son

Scripture:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Thought for the day:

I have a thriving plant arrangement in my office that I received as a gift when I came to Grace over 2 years ago. That is it thriving is surprising because I have a tendency to kill plants just by looking at them. I don’t know what kind of plants they are but I think one of them is an “elephant ear” or at least that is what I call it. 

Anyhow, this arrangement is a riot! For two years I had been constantly fighting with it because it was always turning away from me. The leaves were constantly stretching towards the sunshine away from me thus all I ever get to see is the cadre of stems and the underside of the leaves. Every day, I turn the plant around so that I can enjoy the shades of green in its cool looking leaves and every day, the plant leans itself back towards the sun. No matter what I do, it refuses to grow towards anything other than the sun! Sound familiar?

I constantly have things in my life that are fighting to turn me away from the Son and sadly, I don’t always prove to be as tenacious about finding the Son as my plant is.

Perhaps you can relate. Have you struggled with your finances? Our quest to have enough money to live comfortably (whatever that means) has a tendency to turn us away from the Son. Have you ever worried over a health issue, yours or someone near to you? Helplessness concerning health can steal your attention away from the Son in a heartbeat. Have you ever been in a relationship that “went south?” It is easy to lose sight of the Son when someone has hurt you. 

The reality is that all these things and a litany of others will turn us away from the Son. It’s the game that evil plays with our hearts and minds, because the great deceiver desperately wants our attention. 

The question is how long will we allow our focus to be changed? How long will we use our finances in ways that don’t glorify God? How long will we fail to trust our health issues to the Great Physician? How long will we allow a broken relationship to keep us from the comforting presence of the One who desires oneness with us more than anything else in all creation? How long will it take us to turn back to the Son when evil draws us away?

I finally wised up… I put the arrangement in a place where it could reach for the sun, while I could still see its beauty. Perhaps that is what we need to do spiritually as well. Sometimes, we need to reposition ourselves so that we can see the Son and the beauty of those reaching for Jesus as well.

Prayer for the day:

Dear Lord, help me to not be an obstacle in another’s faith journey but to be positioned in such a way as to view the blessings of both, You and others who are along the faith journey. Amen.

Be Still

Scripture:

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” (Psalm 62:1)

Thought for the day:

I was out on the porch last night winding down after a meeting and before packing for a trip to Minneapolis, and I found myself listening to the encouraging sounds of creation. Amid the calls from the geese and frogs, I lost track of time watching a family of rabbits nibbling at the grass with Max lying peacefully at my feet. At one point I realized that lately I haven’t stopped long enough to enjoy the peaceful beauty of creation. Too often I find myself choosing other avenues of relaxation that resemble “crashes from exhaustion” rather than moments of relaxation. Remembering conversations over the past couple of weeks, I’m guessing that I’m not alone.

We lead incredibly busy lives, so much so that often I think the greatest gift God gave us (after giving himself) is that there are ONLY 24 hours in a day. I would hate to think of what my life would be like if there were more hours in the day. So before I go any further: “Thanks God!”

The Bible tells us: “Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10

In other words, there is a connection between stopping long enough to smell the proverbial roses and growing in our relationship with God. I know that personally, when I am running a tight schedule, growing my faith is not my top priority, survival is! And yet survival is dependent upon the place God has in my life.

Are you living the dilemma? You’re so busy that you can’t justify time to focus solely on God. But if you do take time for God, you can’t stop thinking about everything that isn’t getting done while you sit there. Or you simply fall asleep from exhaustion. The question is how do we move away from the proverbial precipice?

Scripture reminds us:

“Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it...For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." And again in this place it says, "They shall not enter my rest." Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day — "today" — saying through David much later, in the words already quoted, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall...” Hebrews 4:1-9

 I am convinced that obedience is the only way for us to reclaim our lives. Taking time to stop each day, as well as devoting a day of rest to God each week, is not easy! I can promise you that if you remain faithful to the process, the rewards (peace of mind, spirit of calm, growing in faith, etc.) far outweigh the “inconvenience” of other things undone. My own personal experience has taught me that the more time I spend with God, the more effective I become in other areas of my life.

Prayer for the day:

Heavenly Father, give me the strength and courage to take time each day to rest in Your presence. Amen.

Fear Not

Scripture:

“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.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Thought for the day:

We live in a scary world! The political landscape of America is harsh, the economy is fragile, health issues demand attention, unsettling violence is saturating our communities, and the instability of relationships are only a few of the fear-filling scenarios in our lives. 

Year ago, there was a VBS curriculum boldly stating that when life gets us down (it sounds so simple to say): “FEAR NOT - God is with us!” When we feel so alone that we question whether God even hears us - it sounds quaint to recall: “FEAR NOT - God does what he says He’ll do!” If tragedy strikes too close to home, there is often cause to wonder if God is as powerful as we believe Him to be and to say: “FEAR NOT - God cares for us” doesn’t always seem to “cut it.”

And yet, as simplistic as it sounds, we truly have nothing to fear when we place our trust in God. I have watched kids jump without hesitation from heights twice their own when a parent was below promising to catch them. Such trust is born out of an assurance of a parent’s love through the little things in life. We can trust God’s love in the big things only after we begin to give witness to God’s faithfulness in the little things like: giving thanks for a new day, a beautiful flower, a kind word offered by another, or a good test result.

It is realizing that God is faithful in the small stuff that allow us to FEAR NOT when the “bigger and badder” things such as a lost job, a poor check-up, a broken relationship or a personal tragedy, come our way.

Work to always see and praise God in the small stuff so that if and when something difficult does come your way, you will, like the saints of scripture, FEAR NOT.

Prayer for the day:

Dear Lord, I long to trust You, because when I do, fear is banished. Thank You for allowing me to experience Your steadfast love as it constantly leads me to closer relationship of trust in You. Amen.

By Grace

Scripture:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8)

Thought for the day:

A core belief in the United Methodist expression of Christianity from the beginning is that, God saves sinners through grace. Some of us say that God is the active force in salvation by providing such overwhelming grace that none of us can escape it. Others will insist that the individual is the active force in salvation by choosing to accept God’s grace. In reality, it takes both God’s good work and our accepting responsibility for our actions. The very nature of grace maintains that we cannot do anything to earn salvation, but grace, being the gift from God that it is, continues to encourage us to respond to it.

We often have trouble with grace because we have been taught that “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is not true,” which is where the word “indebtedness” comes into play. I am sure that we are all quite familiar with “indebtedness,” and though it appears to be a negative term, it is also a very comfortable term as fewer and fewer Americans know life outside of debt. A dominant philosophy in society used to be that if something was worth having, it was worth waiting for. That philosophy evolved and now claims that if something is worth having, it is worth going into debt for. For the vast majority of Americans, the by-product of a brand new car is the payment that accompanies it. The by-product of a home is the mortgage. To the vast majority of Christians the by-product of grace is gratitude.  

Our personal stories of faith suggest that normalcy is professing the goodness of God while promoting the evil of unbelief. Our relationship with God is inhibited because we have so many impaired relationships and so much dysfunction in our lives and in our church. What appears to humanity as moral corruption or ingratitude is, in the eyes of John Wesley, termed as depravity. In other words, the problems we have today stem from being born into a world that fails to perform correctly because, even though God creates us good, we cannot escape the sin that surrounds us. The distance sin creates begins a human condition that continues to atrophy, useless to its intended purpose.

Grace indebtedness defies the reigning majority by listening, not to the “norms” of society, but to the Almighty God of heaven and earth. Grace indebtedness is wholeheartedly trusting in something that you cannot prove. It knows beyond the shadow of a doubt that love continues to exist, even when it makes absolutely no sense. Grace Indebtedness is a system of belief that commands life to be lived in gratitude regardless of the situation.   

As you renew your journey in faith, know that I will be praying for you to reclaim gratitude to God for every circumstance.

Prayer for the day:

Dear Lord, You are so good! Thank you for all that You have blessed me with! Thank you for grace and for gratitude. Amen.

Git'r Done!

Scripture:

I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing. I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house. I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. (Psalm 101:1-4)

Thought for the day:

I spent a beautiful Friday afternoon packing the trailer for the Family Autism Retreat. While I love the retreat, and I don’t really mind packing, this job had been put off until the last minute. I just never quite got around to it, if you know what I mean. There was always something a little more important to do. 

So when the morning of the retreat came around, I finally decided that “today was the day” to “git’r done.” It wasn’t a decision I made with anticipation and excitement but with an “ok, let’s get it over with” attitude.

Now don’t get me wrong, the work wasn’t difficult and it didn’t take that long, and I love the challenge. There is nothing quite like finding a way to fit more stuff into a small space than the space should be able to allow. I just wasn’t into it at the moment.

Maybe you can relate. There are all kinds of things we approach with an “Ok, let’s get it over with!” attitude… Sometimes, it is that attitude that we bring to family time, other times we bring it to the workplace, occasionally we may even bring it to church.

It isn’t that we mind spending time on our knees, or even spending time with God. But are we coming before God with anticipation and excitement or an “Ok, let’s get it over with!” attitude?

Do you remember when Ezra says: “For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem.” (Ezra 9:9)

Ezra suffered the deep sense of emergency, he was overwhelmed by Israel’s sin, and their disregard for God’s displeasure in it. When God had begun to show Israel forgiveness, instead of rejoicing, they sinned even more. 

Like a tightly packed trailer, it is possible for us to hide our sin in the crevices of life so that we look organized and together. We know, however, that our sin is still there, covered, hidden. We may look good on the outside but we are just as battered and worn and ugly as before. Slaves, if you will, to sin and death. 

But God, in his steadfast love, does not forsake us. God, in his infinite wisdom, doesn’t simply cover our sin, he forgives it. Ezra reminds us that God “repairs our ruins.” With the help of divine grace, our lives are rebuilt when we repent and the fruits of our repentance are apparent to all. 

I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing.

 I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it?

I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;

 I will not set before my eyes anything that is base.

I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

 Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.

- Psalm 101:1-4

Prayer for the day:

Precious Lord, repair the ruins of my life. Forgive my sin, remove it from me as far as the west is from the east! Empower me to be blameless in Your presence, not because of my strength but by Yours. Amen.

Honesty with Integrity

Scripture:

“I am the truth, the way, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Thought for the day:

Herb Agar once said: “The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear.” I can’t help remembering that scene from the movie “A Few Good Men” when Colonel Jessep offers “You want answers?!” and Lt. Kaffee demands, “I want the truth!” only to have Jessep yell back, “You can’t handle the truth!” 

That statement resonates with most Christians because although we refer to ourselves as sinners, we don’t really want to believe it. We can’t bear the thought of being the believer who failed to live the life that God called us to live.

When asked: “What is truth?” Jesus said: “I am the truth, the way, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” 

In other words, if we want to know truth we must look to Jesus. Christ exemplified humanity by showing us the reality of a life lived in full communion with God. It is Jesus who shows us the look of love in a sinful world. He shows us that doing good makes a difference to more than just those around us, that doing no harm creates an atmosphere of trust by which we can relate to others and to God. Christ shows us the power of honesty in a divine relationship and its capacity to transform the world. 

Prayer for the day:

God of truth, point me to Jesus! Allow me the reality of a life lived in full communion with Christ. Grant me the desire to claim the power of honesty with integrity. Amen.

Wait or Work?

Scripture:

“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.” (Romans 12:2)

Thought for the day:

Sometimes there are stops along our journey in faith that leave us wondering where to go next. This story reveals a few of things that I have learned... 

One day a young man moved into a cave to study with a wiseman. He hoped to learn everything there was to know. After giving his student a stack of books, the wise man sprinkled itching powder on his student's hand and left. Every morning the wise man returned to the cave to monitor his student's progress. "Have you learned everything there is to know yet?" the wise man asked.

And every morning his student said, "No, I haven't." Then the wise man would sprinkle itching powder on the student's hand and leave. This was repeated for months. But one day, as the wise man entered the cave the student took the bag of itching powder and tossed it into the fire.

"Congratulations!" said the wise man. "You've graduated. You've learned you don' t have to know everything to do something positive. And you've learned how to take control over your life and stop the itching." 

As in the story above, we don’t have to know everything to take positive action. There are things in life that need to be accomplish. We can wait or we can work. Perhaps now is the time to take control, stop the “itch,” and get to work. 

We can wait to grow our relationship with God or we can work at it. There are prayers that need to be prayed for ourselves and for others, there are scriptures that need to be read so that we may know God’s will for our lives, there people who need to be cared for so that we can experience God’s love in action, there is worship to be attended for the building up of our spirits as we bring glory to God and there are lives to be transformed by the Holy Spirit as we seek to be faithful. Perhaps now is the time to take control, stop the “itch,” and get to the work of God in our lives and in our world.

We don’t have all the answers, but we don’t need all of the answers to embark on a journey in faith. We need only to commit ourself to doing something positive in thanks for the blessings God has given us along the journey.

Prayer for the day:

Heavenly Father, there is a time for everything. A time to wait and a time to work. Show me what needs to be done so that I can work on my relationship with you and become the person you have created me to be. Amen.

Know God's Love

Scripture:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

Thought for the day:

Every once in a while, I think it is important for us to know that God is with us. We say it often but I’m not sure we always believe it. Here is a letter from Jesus that I received as a reminder of God’s love and I offer it to you as well.

I just had to write to tell you how much I love you and care for you. 

Yesterday, I saw you walking and laughing with your friends; I hoped that soon you'd want Me to walk along with you, too.  So, I painted you a sunset to close your day and whispered a cool breeze to refresh you.  I waited, you never called, I just kept on loving you.  

As I watched you fall asleep last night, I wanted so much to touch you.  I spilled moonlight onto your face - trickling down your cheeks as so many tears have. You didn't even think of me; I wanted so much to comfort you.  

The next day I exploded a brilliant sunrise into a glorious morning for you. But you woke up late and rushed off to work - you didn't even notice.  My sky became cloudy and My tears were the rain.  I love you.  Oh, if you'd only listen. I really love you.  I try to say it in the quiet of the green meadow and in the blue sky.  The wind whispers My love throughout the treetops and spills it into the vibrant colors of the flowers.  I shout it to you in the thunder of the great waterfalls and compose love songs for birds to sing for you.  I warm you with the clothing of My sunshine and perfume the air with nature's sweet scent.  My love for you is deeper than the ocean and greater than any need in your heart. If you'd only realize how I care.  I died just for you.  My Dad sends His love.  I want you to meet Him.  He cares, too. Fathers are just that way.  So please call Me soon.  No matter how long it takes, I'll wait because I love you.

Your Friend,

Jesus

As we move into the Fall, I pray that the freedom we sense in the beauty of each day is not spent wandering away from God, but rather is used to acknowledge the great love and blessing we have received from the gracious power, presence and influence of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.

Know God’s love!

Prayer for the day:

Gracious God, Your love is unquenchable; Your goodness is unmeasurable! Bless me with the realization of Your presence. Amen.

The 7ups!

1. Wake Up!

Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24 

2. Dress Up!

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth,
so He must have meant for us to do
twice as much listening as talking.
"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!
For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
"Let us not be weary in doing good;
for at the proper time, we will reap
a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up!
To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me".
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up!
For something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up!
Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything;
instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

A POSITIVE THOUGHT 

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.

He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. 

What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem; not to mention that Friday at Calvary. Face it, He's crazy about you.

Brighten someone's day, and remember: 
God answers Knee-Mail. 

Shared by Chaplain Bob, I-80 Trucker/Traveler Ministry, Brookville, Pa.

Remember the Sabbath

Scripture:

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord you God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall no do any work…” (Deuteronomy 5:12-14a)

Thought for the day:

Summer is gone for another year. With everything that happened this summer, I realized that we do a disservice to our children by giving them the summer off of school every year! (LOL! They’re gonna love me for that!) For our entire educational career, we are taught that the summer is a time to rest and rejuvenate… we expect it! We look forward to it! We celebrate it! Until school’s over and we have to get jobs… and then summer changes for ever and if you are like me… you schedule into September and October! There is no rest for the weary! LOL! 

We need rest as a means of health! We need rest to rejuvenate the body, the mind, and the spirit! It is essential to every living creature! In fact, rest is part of God’s design for our well-being which is why we have been granted the gift of Sabbath! 

Sabbath is all about you and me! It has been granted to us so that we can rest. A Sabbath rest isn’t just about physical and mental rejuvenation, it is a sign of dependence upon God rather than upon ourself. We honor and affirm Creation when we take the time to rest within it. It is a confirmation that the world belongs to God, not to us.

The fullness of life is a byproduct of faithful living, Jesus came to give us life, abundant life! (John 10:10)
We reject that gift by allowing other demands to press upon our time set aside for God.

That said, the Sabbath is holy, so that we can be holy. If we want our community to be whole, it is up to us to allow for sacred time, for listening for what God would have us do, for gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate our great God on high.

As summer turns to Autumn , I pray that you will find rest in the house of the Lord.

Prayer for the day:

Dear Lord, grant me rest in Your holy house. Amen.

It's Not Me

Scripture:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Thought for the day:

These words from John Wesley are very appropriate to share: 

“Friend, come up higher! Do not be content with good works: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the fatherless and widowed in their affliction, or the sick and those in prison, and the stranger. Do you preach the truth of Jesus in the name of Christ? Do the influence of the Holy Spirit and the power of God enable you to bring sinners from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God? Then go and learn what you have taught: By grace you are saved through faith…not by our works of righteousness…but of His own mercy He saves us (see Ephesians 2:8, Titus 3:5). Learn to hang naked upon the cross of Christ, counting all you have done just so much dross and dung. Apply to Him just in the spirit of the dying thief and the harlot with her seven devils! Lord, save or I perish! Else you are still on the sand; and after saving others, you will lose your own soul. If you do now believe, pray, Lord, increase my faith. Or, if you have not faith, pray, Give me this faith, though it be as a grain of mustard seed. For only saving faith, the faith that builds upon a rock, stands firm when the floods rise and the winds blow. And this true saving faith will indeed be manifested in good works of righteousness.”

(Wesley, John (2011-02-01). Renew My Heart (Classic Insights) . Barbour Publishing, Inc.. Kindle Edition.)

We live in a world where accomplishments increase status. The higher one’s status in this world - the greater the personal benefit. And yet…. Do not be content with your accomplishments: By grace you are saved through faith…not by works of righteousness!  

So obvious to see, so hard to remember! Be blest! 

Prayer for the day:

Dear Lord, I am not worthy to be called your own, and yet You use me to accomplish your will. Help to always remember that it is not from me, it is You, that all blessings flow. Amen.