Before you turn the page

Prior to arrival of personal computers and online banking that make keeping a checking account in order so much simpler, I remember the end of the month chore called 'balancing the checkbook.' It seemed that there was always at least one check that was entered incorrectly, or some charge forgotten, that kept my balance from agreeing with that of the bank statement. I would go through my check register - line by line - looking for the error. If I didn't do the work each month, the job of reconciliation became a monster!

In a few hours 2008 will be in the rear view mirror as we speed on down the road of life. Before it's completely history, we would do well to take some time to make sure we close the books on this year with things in balance, with all accounts reconciled. Some questions that should be prayerfully and thoughtfully considered could include:

*Who needs to be forgiven, thanked, loved, accepted?

*What habits are helping to make me a better person and therefore should be cultivated, and, which ones are a drag on me spiritually or emotionally and need to be eliminated? *Are there gaps in my character that need to be addressed with discipline?

*What gifts has the Spirit given to me for which I should be thankful and that I must use for His glory?

*How did I succeed? ... or fail? ... and by whose measure?

If we refuse to engage in reflection and contemplative prayer (that which allows God to speak to us, rather than us speaking to Him) we will get stuck in patterns that quickly can become deep ruts that trap us. Remember that movie, "Groundhog Day?" (1993) In it, we are introduced to Phil Connors, (Bill Murray) a self-absorbed weatherman who finds himself re-living Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA over and over again. At first, he gives himself to selfish hedonism, but those choices soon cause him to be consumed with despair. Then, he starts to use his 'curse' to gain the skills he needs to help out others. He becomes a genuine hero.

Life can sometimes seem a lot like that film story! One day runs into the next, many seeming like a re-run of the day that went before. But, if we make the most of our opportunities and let God shape us with His hand, we drive away despair and begin to live with hope and joy as He promised.

Here's a word from the Word for us on the last day of 2008. May the Lord give us insight and wisdom to embrace the calling that is urged on us in it.
"I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;... Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:8-9, 13-14, NKJV) ___________________

Father, I am thankful for all that You have allowed to be part of life.
I thank you for forgiveness for my sin,
for the power and life of the Spirit that changes me,
and for the promise of the prize of life in your home.

As this year closes, I pray for the gift of insight;
that I will see my life through Your eyes.

Now, Lord, as we turn the page into 2009,
I pray that You will lead me to the choices that will make my life count,
that will cause me to be a blessing to this world,
and most importantly,
that will allow me to hear Your commendation.

These things I ask in the Name of Jesus Christ,
my Savior, my Lord. Amen.

How many apples are in that seed?

The topic that you hear discussed everywhere is the state of our American economy. The DOW has declined about 30% in the last 6 weeks. Major corporations like GM and Chrysler are weeks from bankruptcy. Right across the street from my house sits a house that is in foreclosure. One does not have to be an analyst to realize that these are tough times. I lead an organization that relies on the generosity of others for operating funds. Though we are a relatively small church with a lean and trimmed budget, we still need to take in about $8000 a week to continue to serve our community as we presently do. When I look at our very limited cash reserves, I pray for wisdom in the decisions that are made about spending the Lord’s money and sometimes (I hate to admit this) I get afraid for the future!

In those moments, I hear the whisper of a spirit that I know is not the Holy Spirit urging me to cut ministries and/or trim missionary support so that we can “conserve the core.” That is exactly the wrong choice to make for it comes from fear and reveals a way of thinking called: a ‘scarcity mentality.’ When a person lets a scarcity mentality take over, he begins measuring the quality of his life by what he thinks he lacks rather than by what he has available to him. The perception of lack is born out of fear and where fear takes over, hoarding quickly follows.

Jesus urges us to live with an ‘abundance mentality!’ In this story He commends generosity that comes from faith that believes that God will provide. "Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.” (Mark 12:41-44, The Message)

Nowhere in the Bible will you read anything about scarcity of resources! God designed the world to be full, rich, and replenishing! I don’t know who said it first, but it bears repeating: “Anybody can count the seeds in an apple, but only God knows how many apples are in a seed!” The key to peace in these troubled times is a mind that thinks God-thoughts. Jesus promises to meet our needs; not our wants, not even what we think we need, but what He knows that we need. He says, "Why be like the pagans (those who do not know God – my edit) who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." (Matthew 6:32-33, NLT) God promises to meet our needs and directs us to be generous, not from our abundance, but from what we have in our hand right at this moment.

By the way, a scarcity vs. generosity mentality is not just about money! We apply God’s promise of provision to our love, to forgiveness, to mercy – yes, to all of life. Make God your resource. Put Him first, and learn to give it away.
_________

Now, he was working in his garden when I happened by.
He waved me over with that look in his eye
and started breaking off some ears of corn.
He said, "Here, boy, today, this corn is just right.
"Boil it up for your supper tonight
'cause I've learned it's true what my pappy used to say.
Nothing's quite as good until you give it away."

If you want more happy than your heart will hold,
If you want to stand taller, if the truth were told,
take whatever you have and give it away.
If you want less lonely and lot more fun
and deep satisfaction when the day is done,
throw your heart wide open and give it away

There are two kind of folks, There's takers and givers.
There's gripers and complainers and big-hearted liv’rs.
It depends on how we choose to spend our days.
'Cause we can hoard up all we´ve got or give it all away!

Copyright – Bill Gaither

On the Lord's side?

People were everywhere in our house for the last few days. A pile of shoes, large and small, was just inside our front door. Every room overflowed with bags, clothes, and coats. Who were these people? Our family! They came from their places to be at the home of Mom and Dad to celebrate Christmas together. As the years passed, my kids moved far apart – geographically and in their experiences, each one uniquely gifted; and yet, they are still ‘part of the family.’ We argue with each other, even criticize decisions others have made, but we are still ‘family,’ and those ties are strong! There is a tremendous sense of security that comes from being connected and knowing who stands alongside of us in ‘the family!’

This morning in my meditation in the Word, I spent some time with a passage in the Psalms. It speaks of ‘the LORD who is on my side’ and the security that comes from knowing to Whom we belong. Take a look. "If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say— if the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. … Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 124:8, NIV)

The Heavenly Father calls us into His family and there we find a home, an identity, security, and Someone who is ‘on our side.’ To attempt to buy His favor is a big mistake. To even think of earning a place at His table is an affront to Him! He is on our side because He loves us. We have only to receive His favor by faith! Genuine faith produces real life change and we become holy sons and daughters who love Him and live close to Him. The Word tells us that because we are ‘in the family’ even in times of trouble we are steady. "Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation." (Romans 5:1-4, NLT)

Christian, as I look in 2009, I see some rough water ahead for us! The simmering resentments in the world are ready to explode into more violence. The economic outlook is dark for America. Many of us face personal challenges and difficulties, too. Let us not forget that the “LORD is on our side!”

"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. … When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor." (James 4:7-10, NLT)
______________

Who is on the Lord's side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world's side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord's side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, By Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord's side, Savior, we are Thine.

Who Is On The Lord's Side
Havergal, Frances R. / Reichardt, C. Luise © Public Domain

How will you feel on December 26th?

Reading that title line you're likely thinking, 'what the rush? Let's just enjoy the holiday.' You're right. But, living 'in the moment' has a limit and we all need to keep in mind that today forms tomorrow's foundation. How you act over the next 72 hours will surely affect the way that you feel on 12/26! So lay a foundation for joy. How?

First of all, deal with your expectations of Christmas! It's just a day. No, I'm not Ebenezer Scrooge. I am as excited as I can be about having my children back home for a few days, playing with my grandsons, swapping old stories, having a table full of conversation! But when the party's over, life will resume. If we put too many expectations on the day, the 26th will dawn with disappointment. Better to simply enjoy life as it unfolds and thank God for the serendipitous moments that find you. If you overload the day with great expectations, even one disappointment can obscure a hundred blessings.

Second, keep the focus where it belongs. This is Jesus' birthday party. If we get trapped by a misplaced emphasis on the external stuff of Christmas and, in the process of getting our various 'to-do' lists checked off, we will live right through the holiday and miss the meaning. It's a 'Holy-day' primarily. Yep, Americans made it into a festival of consumption... too much food, too much fun, too much spending. The fat guy in a red suit has mostly eclipsed the Babe in the manger. Don't get me wrong! I like Santa Claus. The jolly old man is a myth that captivates me even now. Who doesn't yearn for somebody to magically bring happiness, if even for a day, to all the kids of the world? But, even more, there is Wonder in the story of God giving the Gift of Himself to a broken world, changing sinners to saints, bringing alienated sons and daughters of God back home!

Third, be wise - financially, emotionally, spiritually. Holidays always create stresses. Old family issues surface as we rub shoulders with people we do not see the rest of the year. Obligations at home, work, and church pile up. Most of us will feel some need to try to settle old debts or to balance the scales; especially the emotional ones. There is a heart that beats in each of us that picks up on the longing for love and we'll try almost anything to feel the magic. Parties can set us up for mistakes. So, we will need insight, gentleness, and courage to navigate our way through these challenges successfully. If we don't, we may well wake up on the 26th missing the joy, with an aching head and a maxxed out credit card.

Keep LOVE in focus. Put people first. That is, after all, the meaning of Christmas! "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." (John 3:16-17, NLT)

The Spirit of God is here, near, right now. Pray to be in a place where He can touch your life with Light. Set times of prayer and contemplation at regular intervals, moments when your soul can breathe in the Breath of God.

... And you will surely know more joy on the 26th!

I pray that the LORD will bless your life today - with peace, with joy, with wholeness. Thank you for reading along each day.
CWTW will be back next week... sometime. Merry Christmas!
______________

O come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go.

O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home.
The captives from their prison free,
And conquer death's deep misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

John Neale, Henry S. Coffin
© Public Domain

Tourists or Residents?

I visited Israel a few years ago, spending 10 days there. But, I’ll be the first to tell you that despite having a marginally better understanding of that complex country, I really don’t know much about it at all. I saw much of the country, talked with a few of the people, and sampled the cuisine, but I’m no expert on Israeli society, culture, or politics just because I visited there once upon a time. Tourists are an interesting lot of people. They visit a region, eat in the best restaurants, see the most interesting sites, talk with a guide who is paid to tell them stories, and go home thinking they know the place. Residents know their country differently. Ask me about Northwest Jersey or Western Massachusetts! After spending much of my life in those two places, I know the kind of people who live there, the attitudes, ideals, politics.

Some approach their Christianity as tourists. They go to one church, then another; following this preacher, taking in that revival, going to hear the newest speaker on the circuit, attending a conference. Today they are a charismatic, tomorrow they’ll be Reformed, the year after that they’ll be Episcopalian! They might think they know something about being a disciple of Christ, but mostly they’re after an experience to distract them from their otherwise mundane life.

Other Christians are genuine residents of the Kingdom of God! They are living the life of a disciple, serving the King by serving the needs of those around them. They are faithful to the Body of Christ through good times and bad; have endured bad preachers with grace, and know the meaning of walking in the Spirit even when they’re just struggling to put one foot in front of the other in life. They know that being a Christian isn’t just an experience. They desire so much more than a chill or a diversion, and so they seek to know the King and His people intimately.

Jesus Christ was a resident! The Bible says: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, NIV) The Message makes it even more clear: "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." (John 1:14, The Message) He knows us, understands us, cries with us, laughs with us, prays for us. Take your cue from Him, Christian. Move into His Kingdom. Dwell with His people! Only then will you know the full experience of discipleship and find the abundance of life He promised to those who follow Him wholeheartedly.

This week, as we celebrate Christmas, I pray that the wonder of “God in flesh” will captivate you. Let the story of a Baby in a manger, on a side street in a little town called Bethlehem, cause you to know the old yet always new truth of Immanuel, God with us.
_______________________

O come all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of angels.

Sing choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
O sing all ye bright
Hosts of heav'n above.
Glory to God,
All glory in the highest.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n.
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing.

O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

© Public Domain

Immanuel - What a Beautiful Name!

Yesterday, for about an hour, I was simply swallowed by grief. The pain of my own life coupled with the difficulties of so many in my pastoral care merged to become one big ache in my soul. And, I'll admit, I wept. I got in my car and drove down the highway. (I find that being alone in the car is a great place to pray.) As I communed with the LORD through my tears, I experienced the miracle of Immanuel, "God with us!"

Think of me what you will, there are times in my life when nothing except God's loving arms can comfort me! Challenges, disappointments, even weariness overwhelm me. "When can I meet God?" is the prayer of my heart. When the Holy Spirit embraces me - and in my spirit I hear the Voice of God say, "it's all right now!" - sometimes I cannot hold back the tears, as the emotions that have been bottled up spill over in my heart. There was a time when I was ashamed of those tears, fearing that they were a sign of weakness in me, but now I understand that they are a language that God understands. Jesus wept, too!

The message of Christmas is that God is near- "Immanuel, God with us!" The Gospel writers make it abundantly clear that He is not just God for the 'together,' the rich, the beautiful, the brave, or the intelligent. Jesus Christ, is the God of the little, the forgotten, the weak, those bruised and broken by life.
• The Father chose a young girl from a hill town to bring His Son into this world.
• He was born in the animal shelter 'out back,' because the room 'up front' was full. Just maybe the kinsfolk of Joseph in Bethlehem had 'no room' specifically because they could count to nine, and knew that Mary's pregnancy was a scandal.
• The royal family in Judah determined early on to kill Him, and Jesus' family became fugitives for a time until Herod's death.
• As He began His adult ministry, Mark tells us that His own family thought He was mentally unstable and tried to bring Him home to avoid embarrassment.
• At the end of His short life, He hung naked, pinned to a rough cross, bleeding to death, while passers-by hurled insults at Him. Pilate mocked Him - "The King of the Jews" read the sign ordered nailed above Him as He died, a cruel joke.
Yes, Immanuel is not just a Name. It's a statement. He understands your weariness, your brokenness, your disappointment, your feelings of worthlessness... because He's been there,too!
But, He offers more than sympathy. He is the Savior who is also the Lord of Glory. He is the embodiment of the Promise of the Great Reversal - who will make the last, first - who will exalt the humble!

Mary's song captures the joy we can know because of the Christmas promise. Read it thoughtfully today. Note the triumph in the words, spoken prophetically, and with great hope. It is a poem written from the safety of the Divine Parent's embrace.

"Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me.

His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. His mighty arm does tremendous things! How he scatters the proud and haughty ones! He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. And how he has helped his servant Israel! He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful. For he promised our ancestors-Abraham and his children- to be merciful to them forever."
(Luke 1:46-55, NLT)

"He embraced his chosen child, Israel; He remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high." - The Message
Are you tired, confused, sad, broken, forsaken? Retreat for a while to the quiet, but don't focus on your pain. Instead, wait for Immanuel to come. Invite Him to soothe your soul with His Presence. We can endure, indeed; we can recover our joy when He embraces us with Grace.
____________________

One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.

When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken;
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

So men today have found the Savior able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.

When Jesus Comes
Homer Rodehaver

Half-truths about the LORD

A few days ago I met a family while they were shopping in a local store. Their third grader, a pretty blonde, spotted a DVD she wanted and announced, “I want that.” Her father smiled at her and said, “You’ll have to ask your Mom if you can have it.” He then looked at me and said with a smile, “I give her whatever she wants. I have a hard time saying no to her.” As the father of two daughters, I understand! Dads hate the disappointed look, the tears that sometimes flow when they say ‘no,’ so mostly to protect their own feelings they say, ‘yes,’ even when they know they shouldn’t.

“God loves you unconditionally!” is a phrase repeated by this pastor and from thousands of pulpits. It’s only half-true! Yes, God loves us; deeply, passionately, but not unconditionally. Too many of us treat Him like an overly indulgent Father. Despite knowing what’s right, we do what we want to do. “He will not really do anything about it,” we tell ourselves. But he will! Unlike Dad’s who can’t say no to pretty little girls, our Heavenly Father always acts in ultimate love and within the bounds of His holiness and justice. The Scripture reminds us that our choices will always have a consequence.
“Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” (Galatians 6:7-9 NLT)

He is patient Father and deals with us gently, which too often we confuse with leniency. Just because we do not feel the heavy hand of judgment the day after we willingly ignore His Word should not be interpreted as a sign He really doesn’t care. He wants to spare us, so He convicts, convinces, warns, and draws us back to Himself. Oh, how thankful I am for His mercy, but I am terrified of His Majesty! One without the other creates an image of the LORD that is only half-true. The Psalmist sings of the mercy of the LORD and assures us that His love is rich because He knows we are frail and weak. Read ALL of this passage.

"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—" (Psalm 103:10-17, NIV)

Take time to meditate on this passage from the ancient prophet. Thank Him for His justice, then pray that the Spirit will help you to live obediently, squarely in the center of His favor.
" The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet…. Why are you scheming against the Lord? He will destroy you with one blow; he won’t need to strike twice!" (Nahum 1:2-3,9, NLT)

Yes, His love is amazing; and His holiness is awesome, or at least it ought to be. Don’t fall for half-truths about Him. It’s not only foolish, it’s downright dangerous.
_____________

Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above;
With wisdom, pow'r and love, Our God is an awesome God.

When He rolls up His sleeves, He ain't just puttin' on the ritz.
Our God is an awesome God.
There is thunder in His footsteps And lightning in His fists.
Our God is an awesome God.
And the Lord wasn't jokin' When He kicked 'em out of Eden.
It wasn't for no reason That He shed His blood.
His return is very close, And so you better be believin'
That our God is an awesome God.

When the sky was starless in the void of the night,
Our God is an awesome God.
He spoke into the darkness and created the light,
Our God is an awesome God
The judgment and wrath He poured out on Sodom;
The mercy and grace He gave us at the cross.
I hope that we have not Too quickly forgotten
That our God is an awesome God.

Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above;
With wisdom, pow'r and love, Our God is an awesome God.


Awesome God
Rich Mullins © 1988 BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055

It's THEIR problem?

America's biggest challenge today is not economic. It is spiritual! We are nation of irresponsible, pleasure loving, 'live for today' people who refuse to grow up and face the consequences of a four decade binge of self-indulgence. We insist that somebody rescue us from ourselves.

It's a national illness. For example, public schools, which used to exist to educate our children, now are asked to be a second home- sort of like an institutional grandma's house. Schools serve breakfast, lunch, and sometimes even dinner to kids whose parents are either too distracted or too lazy to care for the children they brought into the world. Families and churches used to rally 'round the sick and aged to care for them. Now we have vast government funded programs that pay people to do this. Businesses who have made poor decisions send representatives to Washington, DC to seek $billions to pay off their bad debts and we all say, "We can't afford to let them go broke," denying a fundamental part of our capitalistic system which is designed to reward those who make wise choices with profitability. Now, foolish executives blame their failures on somebody else. Everyone points to someone else and says, "It's their problem! Rescue me."

It's personal, too. Marriages are collapsing at phenomenal rates. He blames her; she blames him. The truth is that in most situations both live childishly, refusing to discipline themselves, excusing their sin and selfishness saying; "It's his/her problem!" People blame the banks and credit card companies for their crushing debt. Did Citi-card make us buy all that stuff we have in our house? Did GMAC force us to buy a car that we really could not afford to own? Who signed a mortgage that offered fairy tale terms that were literally too good to be true? But, the broke insist, "It's their problem! Rescue me." (Yes, I realize there are market forces that individuals cannot control that produce crisis, too. My point is to emphasize personal responsibility.)

Real change is not possible until a person stops hiding from the truth. A cornerstone of recovery from any problem is to first admit that it exists. Who can deal with that which they insist is not real? AA teaches those who become part of the group to say, "Hi, I am Jane and I am an alcoholic." Is that hard? Sure is! But, when a person owes her problem, she is ready to change. I am not suggesting that we have the power to save ourselves - from addiction, from sin, or from the troubles of life. We need others desperately. That's the core of the Christmas story. God saw a world in need and stepped into becoming our Immanuel, "God in flesh!" to be the one who 'saves us from our sins!' However, before He can be our Savior, we have to acknowledge; yes, we must own our sin without excuse.

The Bible, front to finish, teaches a principle of accountability and responsibility. Before He will transform us, God asks us to face ourselves and tell the truth: to ourselves, to others, and to Him. Here's how John says it.

"This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, (seeing what God sees!) God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.
If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God." (1 John 1:5-10, The Message)

We can be saved - nationally and personally - but not until we start to live in the Light, exposed and vulnerable, confessing our sin. When we do, God will save us and then lead us into the discipline of the Spirit which produces a life of holiness, wholeness, and leads us to "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" (2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV) Here's a prayer. Billy Graham closed thousands of meetings with George Beverly Shea's rumbling voice leading people in singing it. It's a prayerful song, we all need to pray - again and again. It reminds us that it's not 'their problem.' When we pray it, we confess, "It's my problem and Jesus can meet me in it to save and heal me."

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou biddest me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God I come I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just As I Am
Elliott, Charlotte / Bradbury, William B.
© Public Domain

The Best Way to Give

This thought is one from the archives! As I was doing some Christmas shopping yesterday, I remembered this one and thought it would be appropriate to share it again with you. Each time I publish it, there are reader comments about it. I send it with a prayer that you will find the joy of receiving the Gift of God, Life in Jesus Christ! I also pray that each of us will a great gift-giver this Christmas season, motivated by love for those to whom we give.

________________

Christmas shopping? Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? If you're like a majority of Americans, even here just a week before Christmas Day, you still have people on your gift list without a matching present! We approach our Christmas shopping from a variety of angles.

There is the CHEAP shopper. He is driven by one goal - buying something, anything, that satisfies the imperative for gift giving - while spending as little money or energy as possible. My one question to this person is -"why bother?" You have missed the meaning of Christmas entirely. Save yourself the effort because the person who receives your 'gift' will only be obligated to write an insincere 'thank you' note!

There is the HURRIED shopper. With hummingbird-like rapidity, they dart from store to store, grabbing this and that and checking off the names on their list. Obligation, not love, is the primary drive behind their search.

There is the "PAY MY DEBTS" shopper. This person hopes that with one gift, usually that cost way too much, they can make up for their failures through the year. No gift can do this, and this shopper is sadly set up fordisappointment all ready!

There is the "I'D SURE LIKE THAT" shopper who buys gifts he would like to receive for others! His gifts are often very nice, but don't 'fit.' Why? Because, at the heart, he's selfish. His gifts are not thoughtfully chosenbecause he is too in love with himself to be aware of what really going on outside of his skin.

And there is the "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU" shopper. Finally, we find the heart of Christmas! This person thinks carefully about the tastes, the needs,the personality of the person for whom he is getting a gift and, after acareful search, prepares a gift that he presents with no strings attached.This is how God gave to us. In the Scripture, this very familiar text is also a precious one. We read that "God so loved ____________________ (insert your name here) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)

His Gift was rich,
prepared from eternity,
given to settle my debts,
based on my need, and
shaped by His love for me!

In your gift-giving, make LOVE the reason.

Having trouble finding a gift for someone on your list? Relax and think about who they are, what they need, and how you can express love in a language they'll understand. It will come to you! Perhaps the gift will not be some thing.

The best gifts are, like God's gift to us, a gift of ourselves.
____________________

Don't forget to offer your best gift to the One who is the Reason for the Season. Find time to worship, to serve, to give of yourself in His Name. Let God love you, friend. His love changes everything and those who are loved by God become the best gift-givers in the world for they learn to give richly, with purpose, to meet the need of the recipient, and with love - just like their heavenly Dad!

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, NLT)

On God's 'critically important' list

"I don't need church to worship God," is a phrase often heard from sincere Believers. "I find the Spirit in _______" and that blank is filled in with myriad things. While I agree that worship certainly happens in many places outside of a church house, a disciple who brushes off the importance of going to church and being an active part of a congregation, is ignoring something that is on God's 'critically important' list!

In a short book called Haggai, we find the LORD speaking to His people, urging them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. He asks them a pointed question. "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. .... Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." (Haggai 1: 3-5, 8-9, NIV) The Lord took issue with their insistence that the Temple was not important to Him.

So, you might object that Haggai was writing to Jews whose practice included sacrifices offered in that Holy Place and that we no longer need such a place. Only in a partial sense would you be correct! There is no more single Holy Place, nor Altar where priests offer up sacrifices. Christ was the final sacrifice, offered up for the sins of the world. But the New Testament, while calling each one of us a 'temple' in which the Spirit dwells, also calls us together for worship! In Hebrews right alongside of a reference to the superior sacrifice of Christ, Christians are given this command: "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:22-25, NIV)

The church house in which we gather might be someone's living room, a school gymnasium, a chapel by the roadside, a brick edifice, or a cathedral depending on the economy and function of the building. I have gathered with other Believers in all of the above and offered my praise and worship to the Living God. I once worshipped while sitting on a crude wooden bench in a former potato warehouse in India, singing accompanied only by the thump of a single drum! And I have worshipped among thousands, with orchestra and pipe organ, too. The house in which God's people gather is not what is central to our faith practice. It is the act of gathering; coming together so that the Spirit can be among us! And Jesus assures us that "where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20, NIV)

• If you're church is not a good church, then earnestly pray for her; don't abandon her! God may change the church or He may change you, but the act of loving His Church with prayer and support, is a choice of obedience that the Lord will always bless.
  
• If your church is a good, healthy Body, give thanks for the work being accomplished and pray for those who lead her to keep vision renewed and fervor fresh. Nothing breeds complacency like 'success' however that may be defined.

As much as some may denigrate the church, there is nothing that will contribute to the stability and vitality of your faith in a greater way than your church over the course of your life. God says so! If the Church is important to Him, it must be important to those who claim to love and serve Him! You better believe it.

____________________________

The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation by water and the word.
From heav'n He came and sought her to be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.

Elect from ev'ry nation, yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation- "One Lord, one faith, one birth;"
One holy name she blesses; partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses, with ev'ry grace endued.

Yet she on earth hath union with God the three in one,
And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with Thee.

'Mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation of peace forevermore;
'Till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious, shall be the Church at rest.

Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, "how long?"
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

The Church's One Foundation
Samuel Stone, Samuel Wesley© Public Domain

A Friend of God

There are people I love that are not my friends. If they need anything I can provide, I will do my best for them. If they are in a difficult place, I will offer my help. But, for various reasons, they are not people that I want to be around socially. We don't have that chemistry that makes us want to 'hang out' together. There are other people who are my associates that are not my friends. We are connected in some functional way but not personally. Many disciples know that God loves them. They are connected to Him functionally, serving His purposes in some in this world, but they struggle to believe that they are a friend of God!

Is it hard to think of yourself as God's friend?

God, the Holy Spirit, wants to 'hang out' with you! He likes your company, delights in your quirkiness, celebrates your successes, shares your sorrows. If you think I'm far out on this, then ponder Jesus' words to us. "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name." (John 15:13-16, NLT) Among the meanings of the word used in the original text which is translated, 'friend,' is one describing those included in the groom's wedding party! In Jesus' time, a man getting married selected those closest to him and they celebrated his marriage with him for days, helped him set up his home, and announced his new status to the town in which they lived. Jesus selected you and me to be close to Him, to celebrate His love for the Church, and to announce His coming kingdom to our world! Yes, He calls us friends.

He makes this wonderful promise to those He has called: "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." (Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT)

Befriend God! Invite the Spirit to make Himself known in your daily life. Make time to pray, not just petitions, but silently being with Him, enjoying His presence and allowing Him to enjoy yours! He does! He does! Yes, He does! God not only acts benevolently towards you in love, He desires to know you as a friend. If we think of Him as a friend, 'closer than a brother,' we will live much more confidently in this world. After all, the Bible says, "With God on our side like this, how can we lose?" (Romans 8:31, The Message)
__________________

A friend of Jesus! Oh, what bliss
That one so weak as I
Should ever have a Friend like this
To lead me to the sky!

Friendship with Jesus!
Fellowship divine!
Oh, what blessed, sweet communion!
Jesus is a Friend of mine.

A Friend when other friendships cease,
A Friend when others fail,
A Friend who gives me joy and peace,
A Friend when foes assail!

A Friend when sickness lays me low,
A Friend when death draws near,
A Friend as through the vale I go,
A Friend to help and cheer!

A Friend when life’s short race is o’er
A Friend when earth is past,
A Friend to meet on Heaven’s shore,
A Friend when home at last!

Friendship with Jesus!
Fellowship divine!
Oh, what blessed, sweet communion!
Jesus is a Friend of mine.

Joseph Ludgate
Public Domain

That Blagojevich: What an idiot!

"That Blagojevich: What an idiot!"

Yep, those words escaped my lips when I read the story reporting on the Illinois Governor's alleged attempts to profit from his power to appoint a person to President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. What was the man thinking? How corrupt can a politician be. Oh, my outrage was in fine form. Too often I forget who I once was and begin to think thoughts of judgment like: "Why doesn't she just do something about it?" "Do we have to deal with this again?" "Can't he just control those impulses?" It's so much easier to point the finger of blame than it is to extend our arms in a healing embrace.

So, now you're thinking, "Jerry, don't you think people should accept responsibility for their actions and change?" I sure do. However, I also know that restoration of those who have fallen down cannot begin without grace. That's my story! With David, I have cried, "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." (Psalm 51:3, NIV) With Paul, I have prayed, "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?" (Romans 7:24, NLT) No one, not me, not you; is above the need for grace, for forgiveness. That's what we find in Christ Jesus. And, the love He extends to us should make us the most loving, grace-filled people in the world.

Love is the Big Story of the Bible. The Law of Moses with all the "thou shalts and shalt not's" showed what God desired of us and makes us aware of the wide gap that exists between Who He is and who we are. In spite of all our knowledge; in spite of the threat of punishment; we sinned anyway, only deepening our sense of guilt and alienation. Then, Jesus came. His life and love is a scandalous thing, offered to the lowest, the worst. It cannot be earned, bought, or begged. It is a gift, offered in love, freely to those who believe! Paul exults, "Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!" (Ephesians 2:4-5, The Message) The entire letter of Ephesians is loaded with superlatives that celebrate the power of His love. I cannot read the first two chapters of that letter without crying tears of joy for those who have received the grace described and tears of sorrow fro those who remain slaves to Self and sin because they just cannot believe how much God loves them - right where they are.

Tragically, too many who receive grace, who are transformed from the inside out, begin to believe they are better than 'those idiots' in their families, at work, that live next door, or who hold the Governor's office in Illinois! They forget that who they were, what they were capable of doing, the darkness that once caused them to stumble around in life. Gradually grace is replaced by a religious spirit; the beauty of the life of the Spirit replaced by the caricature of a 'holy life' based in regulations and fear of punishment. The Word says, "Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires." (Colossians 2:22-23, NLT) Sin tiptoes through the back door and makes itself at home even as the person deepens self-deception, pretending to be someone only God's grace can create!

Today, exult in His grace. Revel in the scandal that God would love you - love me - and love that idiot who has messed up his life so terribly!! Put away judgment of yourself, of others. Let grace work in you and through you.
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." (Ephesians 3:16-20, NLT)
___________________________

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt!

Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within!
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
threaten the soul with infinite loss.
Grace that is greater,
yes, grace untold,
points to the refuge, the mighty Cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
what can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide;
whiter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within!
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Grace Greater Than All Our Sin
Johnston and Towner © Public Domain

Wild and Wonderful Visions

"God is faithful. His purposes stand. Your life is NOT an accident, but part of an astonishing Plan!" These are some of Zechariah's conclusions from the wild and wonderful visions God gave to him. This prophet came to preach in Judah when the city was being rebuilt after the Assyrians and Babylonians had leveled it and stripped it of treasure. For 70 years the 'city of God' was a ruin until once again the Spirit stirred Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, and others to go and rebuilt the city and the Temple. It was not just buildings that needed to be restored. The spirit of the people was broken, too.

"Where is God? Why has He allowed this to happen? What should we do now?" they asked. Zechariah comes to preach and tells them about seeing visions of flying scrolls, men with measuring tapes, horses in groves, a woman in a grain basket, and other strange pictures. God, by the Spirit, was giving a new language to His people, restoring their hopes and dreams, calling them to love and serve Him. A crescendo rises with this declaration: "This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ " (Zechariah 4:5-7, NLT)

Disciple, are you dispirited?
Has your life become an endless slog through difficult days and situations, leaving you wondering where God went, what He is doing, or even if He cares a thing about you, your family, or your world?

Pick up the Word and sit for a while with Zechariah. His visions may seem weird to you at first. Give a lengthy time to him. Listen and look. (A modern translation will help. I suggest The Message. If you don't have it you can read many different translations online at www.biblegateway.com ) "And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be called the Holy Mountain. "This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play. "This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." (Zechariah 8:3-6, NLT)

Yes, the wild and wonderful visions of that prophet inspire me and I pray, they can infuse you with Divine Hope, with a renewed desire to be a subject of the Lord of Heaven's Armies! Zechariah saw what the Lord showed him and reported it faithfully. Some of his visions I'm sure he didn't even understand, as they painted a picture of times far removed from Zechariah's life and time. He saw the two Comings of the Christ- the first a humble servant king riding on a donkey (9:9-10); the second, the Glorious Lord, the Judge of All the Earth. (14:8-9)

When we lift our eyes from our little circumstances, when we realize that life is so much bigger than our 'stuff,' we will see a new vision that will keep us steady - all the way to the foot of the Lord at His throne. As we celebrate Advent, invite the Spirit to plant some wild and wonderful visions in your mind and heart.
Celebrate the birth of a Savior King and anticipate the coming of the Deliverer King who will make all things right. Take it from Zechariah: God is alive and well even when our situations are most impossible and those very situations are the openings into our lives through which He enters with His salvation!
______________________


Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God Thy will to see.
Open my eyes. Illumine me, Spirit divine!

Open My Eyes
Clara Scott © Public Domain

Baked or Microwaved?

We live in a world of 'instant.' We all like microwave ovens for their speed, but not so much for what they produce. I cannot think of a meal made in a microwave that has the same quality as one that is cooked conventionally. The speed sacrifices quality, and yet, the supermarket has shelves full of meals that can be prepared in a few minutes time. We're prepared to let down our standards just to 'get it done' quickly.

Long meetings, where the discussion goes 'round and 'round without progress make me crazy. I like action, answers, and solutions now! But, this need for speed is not a good thing. Sometimes my desire to get things going, causes unnecessary stress in my life and, worse, causes me run ahead of God. That's why VISION is both an important and difficult subject for me. Vision requires time and patience! It is conceived by the Spirit, grows in the womb of our hearts, is born helpless and in need of care, and matures slowly. A worthy vision often stretches out over years from that moment when God inseminates our mind to the time when the end result can be enjoyed. Living as we do in a world where fast is always preferred, it is no wonder so few spiritual visions make it to maturity. They die when we deliver them prematurely or try to make them work when they are still in infancy.

In the Old Testament there is a little book of great meaning that came to from a man named Habakkuk. About 700 years before the time of Christ, he could see that disaster was about to befall the people of God. In his prayers, he heard God say that He would use the wicked Assyrian nation to bring judgment on Israel. The very thought offended Habakkuk. But God also promised that He would restore the people if they turned back to Him, though they would go through some terrible times before they saw His mercy. When the prophet cried out to God, the Lord's response was to call to patience. "The Lord said to me, "Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed." (Habakkuk 2:2-3, NLT)

God's desire for our lives is to make deeply spiritual, authentic disciples of Jesus Christ. He wants to transform us from selfish sinners into the likeness of Jesus Christ. There are no microwaved saints! God is at work but He cares nothing for my timetable or yours! Peter reminds us that to Him "a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day!"

Remember Abraham? God spoke a vision into his life about blessing the whole world through his descendants and as he approached 75 years of age, he didn't even have a son! When he knew his wife was well past child-bearing, his patience failed. That's easy to understand, isn't it? I probably would have concluded that I had not heard the Lord's word properly long before that! Abraham decided to `help' God with the vision. He took his wife's handmaiden, Hagar, as a surrogate mother (an acceptable practice in those times) and fathered a son by her. His failure to `wait patiently' created great heartache further down life's road. The lesson is simple on paper, but much more difficult while we're WAITING!

Have you clarified the vision the Lord has for your life? Ask these kinds of questions prayerfully and listen.

What kind of parent does God want you to be?
What kind of spouse does He want you to be?
What mission has He assigned to you in your church, your place of work?
What spiritual gifts does He offer to you to bless His church?

Are you moving forward in pursuit of His vision and purpose? Some Believers claim they are being `patient' when, in fact, they're paralyzed by fear or slowed by apathy. "Wait patiently… travel steadily!" Joy will be yours when the vision matures and you see that about which you have dreamed and planned.

Are you walking with Him, running ahead of Him, or lagging behind? The call of the Word is this: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25, NIV) ___________________
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me, Save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, By day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, And Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee And Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, And I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, Nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, Now and always:
Thou and Thou only, First in my heart,
High King of heaven, My Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, My victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, Whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Be Thou My Vision © Public Domain

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Adore - "to worship," comes a root word that mean "to open the mouth!" Those who know me well, hear me speak often (perhaps too often?) of my family. My wife and adult children are a central part of my life; one of the primary ways that I define who I am in this world. Because of my deep affection, I cannot help but take interest in what they do. I tell Bev that I love her everyday- because I do! I don't have to leave a note to myself - "Be sure to adore your wife!" My words flow out of my heart- easily, often, and sincerely. Does my love for her need to be protected and nurtured? Absolutely! Life distractions, other temptations, and Satanic deceptions have destroyed many good marriages. Knowing that, it is the prayer of my heart and intent of my thoughts to keep our love fresh and strong. Some say that a life-long monogamous relationship is not possible. They are wrong! Love changes over time, but as it matures it can and will grow stronger.

I adore Jesus, too. In many ways, my love for the Lord is similar to familial love - strong, enduring, life-defining, and in need of daily nurture! I speak often of Him. I worship Him with words and actions, and I feel the pressure of temptation that, given opportunity, would dilute my passion for God! I pray that adoration for Him will only deepen with time.Can we honestly profess to adore Christ Jesus IF we never speak ofHim or seldom speak to Him? I think not. We may be fond of Jesus without speaking of Him. We may trust Him as Savior without speaking of Him, but we cannot claim to adore Him and remain silent about Him. IF we adore Him, we will speak of Him. "Your love, God, is my song, and I'll sing it! I'm forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I'll never quit telling the story of your love-how you built the cosmos and guaranteed everything in it. Your love has always been our lives' foundation, your fidelity has been the roof over our world." -- Psalm 89 The Message

Some who once loved Him have allowed other loves to crowd in. They now love their reputation, or their job, or their money, or their house, or... yes, there are many temptations that would take us from our love for Him. In the book of the Revelation, Jesus laments the state of the church in Ephesus. They broke His heart by allowing their fervent passion to cool. They were dutifully religious, but without adoration! He says to them, "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:3-5, NIV)

This Advent Season when you hear that carol, "O Come, All Ye Faithful," played, I hope it will stir you to a renewed adoration! Open your mouth and give Him praise. Sing and speak of His goodness. A word of caution is in order here. IF you don't adore Him, then don't try to convince yourself or someone else that you do with empty words or borrowed words! Your insincerity will quickly become apparent to others, if not to yourself! YOU can adore Him. If your love of Christ has gone cold, there is but one reason: increase of sin and disobedience.

Of this I am completely convinced: Love is first and foremost a choice; secondarily an emotion. Jesus warned that "Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12) If that's describing you, turn back to God. Find a place alone with Him and tell Him you've fallen for another lover, then renew your commitment to Him. Go to those you've wronged and ask them for forgiveness. Then, accept the wonderful love of the Savior whose "unfailing love never ends! By his mercies we have beenkept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day." (Lamentations3:22-23)
_________________

O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.

O come let us adore Him,O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Sing choirs of angels, Sing in exultation,
O sing all ye bright hosts of heav'n above.
Glory to God,All glory in the highest.

O come let us adore Him,O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n.
Word of the Father now in flesh appearing.

O come let us adore Him,O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

John Wade © Public Domain

On the Sargasso Sea?

In the mid-Atlantic, there is an area of becalmed waters about 700 miles across and 2000 miles long! It is called the Sargasso Sea. The area is bounded by strong currents and much of it is covered with seaweed. More recently, various bits of plastic garbage collects there in tangles, too. Even the salinity of the water is higher than the ocean that surrounds it. In the Doldrums, sailing vessels often sat at the edge of the Sargasso Sea for days making little or no progress. What a metaphor for a life becalmed! Not a life of calm, nor one of peace, but one where our ship is stalled without wind her sails.

Do you ever feel stuck in life, like the wind of the Spirit has stopped blowing; in a place surrounded by the flotsam of life? Alan Jamieson wrote that in such times, "the old ways of prayer, worship, Bible reading become dry and stale. The church worship and preaching that used to encourage us, teach us, and inspire us becomes barren ground. God seems to extinguish one means of feeding our faith in order to make us hungry, even starving, for new ways. ... Now that the way is void and empty, God comes to us in new ways, if only we can perceive them. When we are becalmed, we learn to wait." -Perfect Storm, Abingdon, 2008

I believe I can truthfully say that I would rather be in a storm, than sitting with no Wind in the sails: waiting, wondering, watching! To be there is to be in a kind of Sargasso Sea, spiritually speaking. Strong currents of the Spirit may be flowing, letting us know He's still at work in the world. But, we wonder when our ship will catch that Wind and resume forward progress, don't we? In those times, I am tempted to try to stir up something of God myself! To do so is a dangerous thing, for that driving force which does not come from the Spirit is either demonic or, more probably, of Self - borne of human emotions and/or desires. Neither produces the fruit of the Spirit, nor can they accomplish the purposes of God. Better to wait patiently on the Lord.

The Psalmist's prayer is one for those who are becalmed. "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel (people of God), put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." (Psalm 130:5-7, NIV)

We should take a cue from Jesus' words to the disciples at the birth of the Church.
"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." (Acts 1:4, NIV) Wait; don't fret, fuss, or fume! And wait they did; prayerfully, expectantly, patiently. In God's time, the Spirit moved on them. "Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." (Acts 2:2, NIV) "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:4, NIV) Those men and women set sail to change the world!
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There's a wind that blows full of life and pow'r,
As in all creation's most solemn hour,
When God gently breathed on a form of sod;
And the first man lived by the breath of God.

Let it breathe on me, Let it breathe on me,
Let this breath of God now breathe on me.

Sweet the sound from heav'n, as with tongues of fire,
Suddenly the wind filled the room entire;
As of old, again send Thy Spirit, Lord!
Let it breathe on us while of one accord.

Blessed Breath of Life, no one sees or knows
From whence this wind comes, neither where it goes,
But the broken heart, the surrendered will,
And the hungry soul it will surely fill.

Let it breathe on me, Let it breathe on me,
Let this breath of God now breathe on me.

The Breath of God © 1925, Renewed 1949 Wm. E. Booth-Clibborn (Admin. by Whetzel, F. Randall)CCLI License No. 810055

Faith, not Fate

Many years ago, I just 'knew' that I was called to a church in a far away city. An opportunity existed there that was 'just exactly what I need,' or so I thought. Everything about it made sense to me! So, I made plans, gathered resources, and took a long trip to visit that church I was so sure was my new calling. Blinded my own desires I was about to walk into a deteriorating situation where I would have been hurt, caught up in circumstances beyond my control. Thankfully, during my visit the Holy Spirit made it plain to me that I was walking against the purposes of God. Nobody told me of problems, but I could not find any rest in my soul. I even started to be physically sick! After a couple of days in that city, I finally gave up my plans and accepted His. In the moment of surrender, peace settled over me and I returned home to settle down and serve! Months later, when I learned of difficult circumstances that had come to that church, I was so thankful that the Lord had spared me a terrible experience and I learned to trust Him even when obedience meant giving up a dream.


I do not believe in fate, but I am assured that if we faithfully keep step with the Spirit, that God always leads and guides us. The Word tells us that "If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24, NIV) We need to be cautious about trusting our own instincts, even our own wisdom. Peter loved Jesus and when he heard Him talking about going to the Cross, Mark says he "took him aside and began to rebuke him." (Mark 8:32, NIV) That Jesus would die the death of a common criminal, on a Roman cross, suffering such agony, and be in the will of God at the same time was incomprehensible to Peter! What purpose could such a thing serve? But the Cross was the plan of God! Peter's good intentions, but ignorance of the will of the Father, earned him a strong correction. "Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. "Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works." (Mark 8:33, The Message)

It is important to guard against willfulness in our daily decisions by learning to have a heart that obeys without argument. We don't have to be paralyzed by a fear of walking out of the will of God! He's a big God. However, a stubborn heart or a failure to listen carefully will likely cause us to wander from the path He has planned.

I love the advice that is found in the 37th Psalm.
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." (Psalm 37:1-7, NIV)
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Father, I thank you for the promise that You will always guide us.
I am often tempted to live by my own wits and wisdom!
Keep me near to Your heart and give me the grace to reject the sins that dulls my hearing and clouds my vision.
My greatest joy is to do what You want me to do, to be where You desire me to be.
Make the way plain, Lord, and gently, yet firmly, keep me in the center of Your plan where there is great joy, wonderful peace, and blessings for this life and eternity.
In Jesus' Name, I ask this today. Amen.

Fear or Hope? You choose!

Are the headlines ever good? Imagine the Daily News plastering the front page with bold type - Majority of Americans report safety and good health. It wouldn't sell many copies. Instead, the news reports the unusual, the disturbing. Blood and destruction attracts our attention. One auto accident out of million commuter miles and we see it as the lead story.

So, is our world doing better or worse? Your answer, in part, will be shaped by your age! Leonard Sweet writes, "It's an old man's hobby to think the world is getting worse- all is in decline and decay. It's a young man's hobby to think that the world is better than it has ever been." How true. As we age, we prefer the tried and true more and more. Change no longer excites us, threatening instead our sense of stability. In an ever-changing world, the older we are, the less secure we feel. Sweet goes on to observe, "The truth is, young and old, the world is getting better, but the dangers the better brings are getting worse." (The Perfect Storm, Abingdon Press, 2008) In simple terms, we live longer and, on the whole, better lives as a result of invention and science, but those gifts have also brought us weapons of mass destruction, major environmental impacts, and handed one man living a cave in Pakistan the opportunity to effect millions of lives on the other side of the world!

Disciple, in this 'improving' and changing world, I choose hope over fear. I choose to face the future's uncertainty with faith. Paul wrote to Timothy about the choice he had in dealing with the reality of the time. His words need to infuse us with new courage.
"I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News." (2 Timothy 1:5-8, NLT) Timothy had heard that Paul was in prison, that the Christian message was meeting resistance and that disciples were being persecuted. Was it time to go underground, to disengage and wait for the Second Coming to rescue the little band of Believers from the big, bad, ugly Roman Empire? Not at all! Paul told Tim, "Strengthen your foundation of faith. Take the gifts of God that enable you to live with power, love, and self-discipline. Get ready to endure the tough times that may come!"

Looking into 2009, there are real issues that will likely bring difficult challenges into our lives. This is not a good time to be a Bible-believing disciple of Christ. America is becoming less hospitable to Biblical Christianity with each passing year. In many places, apathy towards Christians is turning into real hostility. Many Americans now see Christianity as a force for evil, preferring a bland spirituality or no spirituality at all! This is, therefore, a time of great opportunities for those who are people of the Spirit. The merely religious will fold their hands and bow their heads in despair. Those alive in Christ will stand taller, praying for transforming grace that allows the beauty of Jesus to shine through them into the dark places where atheism attempts to spread its terrible slavery to self.

Here's a word from the Word. Let it encourage you today.

"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed,
for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:14-17, NIV)
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Father of creation, unfold Your sov'reign plan.
Raise up a chosen generation that will march through the land.
All of creation is longing for Your unveiling of pow'r.
Would You release Your anointing? Oh God, let this be the hour.

Let Your glory fall in this room.
Let it go forth from here to the nations.
Let Your fragrance rest in this place,
As we gather to seek Your face.

Ruler of the nations, the world has yet to see
The full release of Your promise, the church in victory.
Turn to us, Lord, and touch us; make us strong in Your might.
Overcome our weakness, that we could stand up and fight.

Let Your kingdom come,
Let Your will be done.
Let us see on earth,
the glory of Your Son.

Let Your Glory Fall
David Ruis © 1993 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055

Thanksgiving includes you!

The story is short but the lesson gets delivered. Here it is.
"As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out,
"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"
He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God!"
He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, "Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?" (Luke 17:11-17, NLT)

Assumed gratitude is no thanks!
"But she ought to know how much I appreciate what she does." Really? How, exactly, by reading your mind?
"He needs me to tell him that I appreciate his efforts? Why? Is he insecure or something?" No, he's just a normal person in need of affirmation from time to time.

God desires our praise, our gratitude, too. He doesn't need it, nor do we add anything to the One who is sufficient in Himself, but He desires it. Praise, a form of thankfulness, is the way we are told to enter into His Presence. If your having difficulties entering into worship individually or when you're in church, start to thank God. Make a list of things for which you are grateful. Murmur your praise for what He's done, Who He is, or the things He has promised to do!

On Thanksgiving Day, make sure to be thankful. Many will fail on this key point. It's not that they will complain, they will just assume that God and everybody else knows that they are grateful. Enjoy your feast! Watch some football! And, make sure to take some time to give thanks - liberally and sincerely. Don't cause the Lord to say of you, "Didn't I... where is his thanks?" If you're a little short on gratitude or unsure of what to say, then read this Psalm aloud. And, I assure you, He will be blessed by your praise!

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100, NIV)
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Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and dreary fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered,
Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure,
Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure,
Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside.
Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,
Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,
Thanks through all eternity! Amen.

Thanks To God For My Redeemer
Storm, August Ludvig / Hultman, John A.
© Public Domain

Thank you for reading along! It is my privilege to share my devotional journal with you each day. TFTD is sent with a prayer that God will use these words to encourage you to serve Him with gladness.See you on Monday, Lord-willing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

An American Heresy

I do not expect to get any "amen" emails in response to this TFTD!
What I am about to write will be thought to be almost 'un-American.'

Here goes: We all should re-think how we celebrate Christmas this year! Why this note now? Because the orgy of consumer spending is set to kick off in just four days on the infamous 'Black Friday' that follows Thanksgiving.

There is a big LIE that we learn as toddlers which continues to deceive many people to the grave; I am what I own. A variant is; I will be happy when I own ______ . I am not exempt, either. I want a 42" LCD HD 1080i TV, even though the TV I have works perfectly well. I just want it. My last two forays to stores have included at least 15 minutes of gazing on large screen TV's with deep longing and the urge to buy one screaming in my mind. Is there anything wrong with a bigger TV? No, of course not. What I must deal with is the deception: 'Jerry, you will be happy and more cool if you buy it!' If I buy a new TV the decision should be about the functional place it has in my life. If the purchase is made in an attempt to soothe my soul or to try prove my worth as a person to myself, I only make the big lie stronger in my life! I am wise enough to know that even if I buy one, in a couple of months my 'want-er' will be demanding something else telling me that it will make me happy.

We manage to conveniently ignore much of what the New Testament says about materialism and/or greed. One does not need to understand Koine Greek (the original language of the NT) or have a Master's degree in Biblical studies to grasp the truth. Here are a couple of those passages.

• "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (1 Timothy 6:7-8, NIV)
  
• "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5, NIV)
  
• "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little." (Philippians 4:10-12, NLT)
  

Here's the keystone truth, from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:
"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15, NIV) In other words, 'we are not defined by what we own!'

Before you jump into the typical spending spree that has come to define an American Christmas, prayerfully meditate on those passages. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to enter joyfully into the discipline of 'fasting' - yes, that ancient choice to say no to desires of the body that refocuses our love towards God, the Spirit. Perhaps the best fast this month would be the 'mall fast!' One of my 'fasts' this month will be not reading all of those advertising inserts that offer 40% off retail, that seduce me with not so subtle messages that 'the good life' can be purchased!

The gifts that I do buy this year I want to be thoughtful, chosen as an expression of love, not given to satisfy a sense of obligation. No, I am not Scrooge. This has nothing to do with wanting to hang onto my money. I pray these choices will be part of learning to give and receive the best gifts, those that will not lose their luster a few days after the wrapping paper is torn off.

Let this great promise wrap you in peace today and then go love others extravagantly.

"My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you.... My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. ...
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. ...
This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other." - 1 John 4: 1,4, 7, 10-11, The Message

Stupid Words?

The talking heads on television are amazing in that they just keep talking, and talking, and talking. Panels of 'wise men' inform us of the right course of action for our nation's ills, each convinced of his superior insights. Have Bill Bennett, James Carville, or Ann Coulter ever taken a moment to reflect on their bombast? I love to watch football, but when John Madden is calling the game, I turn off the sound from time to time, just to avoid his endless blather. Instead of helping me enjoy the game, the words that spill out of him just get in the way.

Wasted words, if piled up, would make the world's largest garbage dump. We humans have a love of talk which quickly gets us into trouble. When we think we just have to say something if we want to appear informed, clever, or included; we quickly wander into the realm of toxic speech. "Me, too," is a quick way to dig ourselves a hole from which is it tough to escape. Conversation is a great gift and those who know how to share their knowledge and/or life with others over a cup of coffee enjoy a real advantage in the world. But, gossiping about others, which is what happens too frequently, has no good end. Boasting about our achievements quickly leads us to lying. Trying to address issues of which we have no real knowledge will soon bring folly to light.

Paul wrote a couple of letters to a young preacher he loved like his own son. His counsel to Timothy is now part of the inspired Word, wisdom for all ages. In his second letter to Timothy, he says, "Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. ... Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. ... Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights." (2 Timothy 2:23, NLT) What wisdom!

James is equally direct. He says, "If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. " (James 1:26, NLT) In Proverbs, that book packed with pithy wisdom, we are advised that "Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut." (Proverbs 10:19, NLT) Consider this: "Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words." (Proverbs 18:7, The Message)

Yes, words can bless, heal, and encourage. "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." (Proverbs 25:11, NIV)

Think of those conversations that have left you with a joyful heart, or with insight that was critically important. Don't you want your words to have that kind of impact on others? I sure do!

So, let us pray this today: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, NIV)
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The Swindler

A swindler is a person who cheats another out of money or property with fraudulent claims. Just about everyday, someone attempts to swindle me. Email arrives from a grieving widow whose late husband accumulated $millions which she now wants to give to the Lord's work. All I have to do is send her my bank account information and she will deposit the funds in my account immediately, before she dies of her own grave illness. Right, and the moon is made of green cheese, too! Can you believe that people fall for those emails? I cannot, but the fact is that there are $millions lost to these swindles every year in America and here's why: greed! The 'promise' of a windfall sounds so good to somebody desperate to make a change in life that they set aside caution and ignore conventional wisdom.

There is another swindle that starts in the Garden of Eden and continues to this day. Paul writes about it in his letter to the Romans.
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. . . . .
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. . . .
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen." (Romans 1:18-25, NIV)

Are you in danger of a swindle, friend?
Are you ready to trade away a rich relationship with the eternal God for a god like status, happiness, or pleasure?
Are you feeling so desperate that you are considering giving up your pursuit of the Holy One for the love of something or someone else? Don't say it cannot happen to you! If we linger long enough near temptation, gazing at the trinkets offered by the Swindler, they start to look like things of great value which we crave to own. Cheap pornography takes the place of real relationship. Pleasure from a glass of wine or a pill replaces genuine joy. The security of knowing God and being known by Him is set aside for the 'security' of wealth, which is no security at all.

So, how do we avoid the swindle? Two choices must be made daily.
First, glorify God. What does that mean? Worship Him. Acknowledge His supremacy. Make His Name great.
Second, give thanks. Thankfulness reinforces contentment. A contented person knows an inner peace that keeps the lies of the swindler from taking hold.

The Israelites were miraculously brought out of slavery in Egypt. They enjoyed the constant Presence of God in the cloud and fire and were fed by His hand each day. But, they complained against Him, fought with those God appointed to lead them, and resisted His will. And, they exchanged God's glory for a gleaming golden calf! That generation of people died in the desert blocked from the Promised Land by their faithlessness to the God who had called them. Alluding to their experience, Paul urges disciples to stay faithful.

Take this word from the Word to heart today.
"Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else.
Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

So, my very dear friends, when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, get out of their company as fast as you can." (1 Corinthians 10:12-14, The Message)
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Be in worship on the Lord's Day!
If you unable to attend church, you're invited to join the Assembly online at http://www.washingtonag.com/sermon_audio__on_demand.htm

Wow'em II

Applause is as addictive as any drug. Ask any ageing performer or politician. Long after prudence and any semblance of pride would dictate that it was time to get off the stage, they are still appearing, in smaller and smaller venues, craving the rush that comes when the audience responds with a standing ovation. That part of human nature lurks in the shadows to twist the Believer's desire to let the beauty of Jesus shine through him into a pathetic religious performance. The goal of that performance is approval and applause. If you think I'm off base here, consider these words from Jesus Himself.

"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. "When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get.

When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.

"And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

"Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace." (Matthew 6:1-6, The Message)

You're not exempt from pride, nor am I! I confess that more than once when at neat turn of phrase emerges in something I am writing, the thought occurs to me: "Now, that should get somebody's attention!" Isn't that ugly? I am not above the temptation to evaluate a sermon's 'success' more by the remarks of those in the congregation than its fidelity to the Word of God! Ugh! With Paul, I say, "What a wretched man I am. Who will deliver me?" When we take the stage of life as "Good Christian actors," the beauty of Jesus disappears; the blessing of the Spirit evaporates; any glory to Heaven lost.

So the Lord tells us to make certain to include large chunks of secret service, extended time of quiet seclusion, and much solitary prayer in our lives. There, in the secret place, where the only audience is the One, our true self is revealed and, praise God, the Spirit changes us - from glory to glory! Remember, who you are in secret will most surely make its way into the light, sooner or later. Jesus tells us that "out of the heart the mouth speaks." Let's use that principle for good, learning the disciplines of discipleship, cultivating a deep relationship with God where others cannot intrude, where temptation to dance for the crowd cannot reach us. Then, when we emerge to public service and ministry, we will wow'em with the beauty of the Lord, but we won't notice or care if they notice because the incredible joy of receiving His approval will eclipse any need we might feel for men's applause.

Here's a word from the Word. May the Truth inspire you today.
"Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.'" (John 7:37-38, NIV)

Lord, flow from us. Make Your beauty known through our words and actions. May we never try to be what we are not and may we always be authentic so that - come rain, come storm - You will be seen in us. Amen.
_____________________

I'm calling out to You:
"There must something more,
Some deeper place to find,
Some secret place to hide,
Where I've not gone before.

Where my soul is satisfied
and my sin is put to death,
and I can hear Your voice
and Your purpose is my choice,
as natural as a breath.

The Love I knew before
when You first touched my life,
I need You to restore,
I want You to revive!

Could You place in my heart
a passion for Jesus;
A hunger that seizes
my passion for You?
My one desire,
my greatest possession,
My only confession,
my passion for You."

Passion For Jesus
Brian Houston
CCLI License No. 810055
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