Mid-Week Message - Who Are We?

"What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.  But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own."  1 John 3:1-2 (MSG)

Who am I?  That is a question we all ask ourselves at one point or another during our lifetime.  As for me, I spent much of my life believing that I was who the world said I was.  I was the daughter of my parents, a sister to my siblings, an overweight child that was always nice to everyone.  I liked dolls and playing with my friends.  I was just one of the kids.  That's who I was, I thought, when I was a child.  

As a teenager I was a good student.  I did well in class and became the person that others came to if they needed to copy notes or get the answer to a homework question.  I didn't cause problems for any of my teachers and was generally obedient.  In the hallways, I was the person that was teased and mocked because, I thought then, that is just who I was.  I guess I thought I deserved it.  My shelter was my youth group at church where I was accepted as long as I kept my place in the hierarchy of personal relationships. 

Young adulthood brought more assurance that who I was had to do with my performance in college classes and jobs.  As long as I did what was expected, I was praised.  My identity became tied in with how well I carried out my duties.  It was sometime within this time frame that the Lord began working on changing my viewpoint of who I was, and more importantly, whose I was.

The world will define us as long as we allow it to.  Part of being in the world but not of the world is breaking the thought cycle that carries that characterization.  We are so much more than any earthly definition!  When we study the scriptures we find out that we were created with purpose by Almighty God who is without beginning or end.  He is the perfect Creator and chose to give life to each of us for His glory.  Imagine that for a moment - you and I are here because He desired us.  Before we were born, He already loved us and saw us as a part of Himself.  We carry His very breath inside of us.  

Brothers and sisters, that is who we are.  We are His children.  Sons and daughters of the great I AM!  He molded and made us and gave us life because He wanted us.  Can you grasp that?  We are not here to satisfy the world and its ideas of who it thinks we should be.  We are beings created to be with the Eternal Father forever.  Our time here is to be a beckoning to those that have yet to find Jesus.  In us they should see a holy difference that will draw them to the cross.  We are His children and we are His ambassadors.  How much more could we ever hope to be?  

I know we are all struggling with something.  However, this struggle, in view of eternity, is momentary.  We were made for so much more.  Let's fix our eyes on Him and ask Him to reveal to us His true self.  When we see Him as He is then we will be able to better understand who we are.  As we learn more of His Word and our relationship with Him grows stronger, the more confidence we will have in the royal and holy identity we were meant to have.  May you be blessed this week by His nearness.

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 46:3-4

Isaiah 46:3-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

3 “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,
    all you who remain in Israel.
I have cared for you since you were born.
    Yes, I carried you before you were born.
4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime—
    until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you.
    I will carry you along and save you.

Daily Word of God - Romans 12:14-16

Romans 12:14-16 New Living Translation (NLT)

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Daily Word of God - Titus 2:11-14

Titus 2:11-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Daily Word of God - Ephesians 5:15-20

Ephesians 5:15-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

Living by the Spirit’s Power
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Daily Word of God - Colossians 3:12-15

Colossians 3:12-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 27:4-6

Psalm 27:4-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
    he will hide me in his sanctuary.
    He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
    above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
    singing and praising the Lord with music.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - The Blessings of 5 Kernels of Corn

As the holiday season quickly approaches, I see more and more people worrying about what they will be serving and who should be invited to the holiday meals. Some wonder whether or not they will have the meal at one relative’s home and dessert at another one’s. Still more are planning on flying to visit family and friends. No matter what the situation, all seem to be preoccupied with the details of the season rather than the true meaning of it. 

When you consider the first Thanksgiving and the circumstances leading up to it, the meaning becomes clear. We need to be thankful for what we have rather than focus on what we do not have. Many reflect on what should have occurred in 2018 and wished that things could have been better. Some think about the promotion or raise that should have been given rather than being thankful for the job they have.

Several days ago, a dear friend shared with me that his company had just gone through another massive layoff. While others lament the lack of a raise or promotion, others now face the prospect of a tough, competitive job market. As I think back to all of my friends who have been laid off, each has told me the same thing, “I am so grateful that I have a job.” When you go without something for an extended period of time and then receive a blessing, you are extremely thankful for what you have received. 

Back in 2008 when the economy went into recession, many of my friends went eighteen or more months without a job. Many did odd jobs or took on temporary work just to make ends meet. They lived from one dollar to the next and prayed for a change in their financial situation. 

As I reflected on their plight, I thought about the early settlers of the new land we now call “America”. The Pilgrims faced one hardship after another. Of the original 102 Pilgrims who came to this new land, a little less than half had died due to illness and starvation within the first couple of winters. Crops failed to grow or the harvest was too small to help. The new colonists remained optimistic and used their faith to see them through the hard times. I am sure that many wondered whether or not God had forsaken them. They indeed faced tragedy at every turn.

It got so bad that food had to be rationed under extreme measures. William Bradford, the leader of the Pilgrims, rationed out the food. Each person received five kernels of corn a day to eat. Can you imagine trying to live on five small corn kernels? I am sure many of you cannot even imagine it. The Pilgrims faced that winter with only those five corn kernels and their faith to see them through the hardship.

In time, the harvest came and God blessed them with abundance. They soon had more than enough food for everyone. God truly became their Jehovah Jireh, “the Lord will provide”. God provided more than just food. He provided them with new friends, the Native Americans, who showed them what to grow and when and how to plant so that there would be a bountiful harvest. God showed them how important faith is and that love for one another was equally important. They certainly had more than just food to be thankful for. They were thankful for God’s blessings which became their lesson for the rest of their lives.

During that first Thanksgiving meal, each plate had five kernels of corn on it. Those five kernels of corn served as a reminder of the things that they should be thankful for. The first kernel reminded them that God loved them. The second reminded them that God always provides for their needs. The third was dedicated to their new friends, the Native Americans, who showed them how, what and when to plant and where to find food. The fourth kernel symbolized the love and devotion they had for each other. The fifth, equally as important to the first, reminded them that God not only listens to their prayers but also answers them.

When I read this story so many years ago, I told my family about it and it became a tradition to have five kernels of corn on our plates. We, like the Pilgrims of old, are thankful for each one and the blessings associated with them. Even when we go through the worst of times, we still are thankful. As many of you know, this year has been extremely difficult for my family and myself. I faced and continue to face the ravages of a horrible, insidious illness. This illness has pushed us beyond our limits and, at times, caused us to wonder the same things as the early Pilgrims, “Has God abandoned us?” Our faith was and continues to be tested each and every day and sometimes every moment of every day. There are days when we grow spiritually weary. 

When we feel like we cannot go on, we turn to the words of Isaiah 40. “29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

God never promised us that we would have an easy, smooth life. We, as Christians, still have the trials and troubles of a sinful world. We are not exempt from tragedy or strife. In fact, it, at times, may even seem like we receive more than our fair share. However, we need to remember the words of Paul. In 2 Corinthians 12, he writes, “8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

It is only through our weakness that we truly recognize the power of Christ working in our lives. Paul boasts of his weaknesses and is glad for them. Each weakness, like those kernels of corn, reminds him of the power of Christ and the salvation provided by our Heavenly Father. Our weakness, setbacks and trials should serve as our reminder of Jesus’ power in our life. If we believe in him and have faith in the Lord, we can overcome everything that life throws at us. Jesus tells his disciples in John 16, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” If we follow his example and remain faithful, God will hear our prayers and will provide us with answers and wisdom to get through the valley of darkness. God will provide a plan “for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” and a path that will lead you to life everlasting and heavenly rewards.

In the weeks ahead, we will, like the Pilgrims, reflect on the lessons of the five kernels and how they apply to our lives when we face times of fear, uncertainty and doubt. Like Paul, it is through our weakness that we are strong, because we cannot rely on our own flesh and understanding to see us through our problems.  Proverbs 3 tells us, “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

If the Pilgrims remained faithful to the Lord, trusted Him and sought His will in their lives to see them through their hardships, we, too, can do the same and, through our weaknesses, can stand firm in His grace. 

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
~ Numbers 6:24-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 28:13

Proverbs 28:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
    but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

Daily Word of God - Acts 20:33-35

Acts 20:33-35 New Living Translation (NLT)

33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Daily Word of God - Romans 8:1-4

Romans 8:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

Life in the Spirit
8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power[a] of the life-giving Spirit has freed you[b] from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.[c] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Footnotes:
8:2a Greek the law; also in 8:2b.
8:2b Some manuscripts read me.
8:3 Greek our flesh; similarly in 8:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12.

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 29:22-24

Isaiah 29:22-24 New Living Translation (NLT)

22 That is why the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the people of Israel,[a]

“My people will no longer be ashamed
    or turn pale with fear.
23 For when they see their many children
    and all the blessings I have given them,
they will recognize the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob.
    They will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 Then the wayward will gain understanding,
    and complainers will accept instruction.

Footnotes:
29:22 Hebrew of Jacob. See note on 14:1.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 51:7-11

Psalm 51:7-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

7 Purify me from my sins,[a] and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
    you have broken me—
    now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
    Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
    Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
    and don’t take your Holy Spirit[b] from me.

Footnotes:
51:7 Hebrew Purify me with the hyssop branch.
51:11 Or your spirit of holiness.

Daily Word of God - Hebrews 10:23-25

Hebrews 10:23-25 New Living Translation (NLT)

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 26:1-8

Psalm 26:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 26
A psalm of David.
1 Declare me innocent, O Lord,
    for I have acted with integrity;
    I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.
    Test my motives and my heart.
3 For I am always aware of your unfailing love,
    and I have lived according to your truth.
4 I do not spend time with liars
    or go along with hypocrites.
5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,
    and I refuse to join in with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence.
    I come to your altar, O Lord,
7 singing a song of thanksgiving
    and telling of all your wonders.
8 I love your sanctuary, Lord,
    the place where your glorious presence dwells.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 13:6

Proverbs 13:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Godliness guards the path of the blameless,
    but the evil are misled by sin.

Mid-Week Message - Tailgating at High Speed

"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed."  Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV)

As I was on my way from Carrollton back home to Newnan today, I was passed by a small red car.  The driver seemed to be in quite a hurry to get wherever he was going as he was travelling at a much higher rate of speed than was legal.  One thing he did not take into account was that this particular stretch of highway is a "no passing zone."  Once he got past me in the short passing lane he had to contend with another vehicle that was obeying the speed limit.  I watched as he followed this car very closely - too closely.  I backed off because I was concerned that there could be an accident if the front driver braked for some reason.

Fortunately, nothing bad happened.  However, as I watched, the Lord spoke to my spirit about wisdom.  Some of us are in the same position as the driver of the red car.  We find ourselves in a hurry to get somewhere.  Maybe it is to a higher paying job or a more impressive title.  Maybe it is to get married or have a family.  Possibly it is just looking for that feeling of being complete or peaceful and we find ourselves in various addictions or in with groups of people that lead us where we should not go.  We work and work to get to whatever it is that we're seeking.  

The only place that we can find true happiness, true joy, true peace or true fulfillment and satisfaction is in Christ.  He is "the way, the truth and the life."  There is no person or substance on this earth than can provide for us the acceptance or completeness that we are searching for.  I am not in any way saying that it is wrong to strive for a better life.  It is certainly not a bad thing to wish for a mate or a family.  But, once you have them, you need to be aware that you may still find something lacking and there is only one place to turn to fill you to the brim and that is Jesus.

Proverbs contains many verses about wisdom.  I'm sure you are familiar with them.  Wisdom comes from seeking the mind of God Himself.  When we align ourselves with Him and begin to ask Him to reveal His desires for our lives, then we begin to open ourselves to His solutions for what we feel is missing.  Sometimes, He grants us exactly what we have been asking for and sometimes He doesn't.  The one thing we can always be sure of though is that He loves us with an everlasting love that is deeper and purer than we can even imagine.  When He says either yes or no, it is because He knows it is the best thing for us.  

Are you chasing something today?  Is something lacking in your life?  Are you looking for something or someone that will complete you and fill you with the love and acceptance that you long for?  Jesus is waiting and He desires to be your everything.  Rather than tailgating at high speeds and falling into dangerous traps, slow down and look up.  Ask for wisdom for your life.  Ask the Lord to show you His plans and dreams for you.  You cannot out-dream Almighty God.  Blessings.

Daily Word of God - Job 2:3-4

Job 2:3-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

3 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”

4 Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life.

Daily Word of God - Titus 1:7-9

Titus 1:7-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

7 A church leader[a] is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,[b] violent, or dishonest with money.

8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.

Footnotes:
1:7a Or An overseer, or A bishop.
1:7b Greek must not drink too much wine.

Daily Word of God - Romans 6:15-18

Romans 6:15-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Daily Word of God - 2 Timothy 1:13-14

2 Timothy 1:13-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 17:22

Proverbs 17:22 New Living Translation (NLT)

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 49:5-6

Isaiah 49:5-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 And now the Lord speaks—
    the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,
    who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The Lord has honored me,
    and my God has given me strength.
6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
    I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
    and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Facing Uncertainty

We all face uncertainty or situations that do not seem to have an end or that may lead to an undesirable outcome. We feel powerless and unable to do anything. It seems no matter which way we turn, all paths lead to more uncertainty and more problems. I am sure each of you have felt this way. You feel a sinking uneasiness in the pit of the stomach each night before you go to bed and toss and turn all night long. Your appetite along with your rest begins to take a toll on your health. Your blood pressure steadily goes up and up. The same things happen to me each time I face an uncertain situation. I worry and pray for guidance, but I still let fear, uncertainty and doubt cloud not only my mind but also my heart and soul to the point that they ruin my relationship with the Lord. I no longer wish to praise and worship Him, but rather, I spend time in hopeless worry and begin to wonder if He is even listening to me. In short, I begin to doubt God. We have all been there and we all do the same thing.

Instead of seeking peace and wisdom, we choose to wallow in self-pity and worry. There is a great example of how worrying can come between what we are to truly do and what we feel is something that must be done. In Luke 10, Jesus visits Martha and her sister, Mary. Martha opens her home to him and is preoccupied with the preparations. While Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to him, Martha is running around the house trying to make things perfect. Finally, she just blows up and says, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” What is Jesus’ response? Jesus tells Martha, “41 Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary chose to worship and listen to the words of Jesus instead of worrying about all the little, inconsequential things. Jesus was not there to rate her home or judge her for keeping a cluttered household. Jesus was there to share his words and Mary was there to listen and take in those words. Martha allowed life to bring her down and she chose to stop worshiping and listening in order to concentrate on the little things. 

Part of dealing with uncertainty is knowing when to stop worrying and allow the power of God to work in our lives. Many, if not all things, are outside of our control. We may think we are in control of our lives, but, if you really think about it, we are helpless and cannot change one item.

This past week is a perfect example of just how powerless and prone to uncertainty we really are. With Hurricane Michael barreling towards the Florida panhandle, there was no human power that could stop it. Even with all of our technology and knowledge, storm models had the hurricane making landfall and going in every different direction. My wife and I live in Georgia and we watched to see where this storm would head next. Would it stay south of us as one model shows or would it radically change course and head more north toward us? All of our worry and uncertainty would not change anything. The hurricane would go where it would and no amount of worry or pacing the floors late at night would change that. 

So, why do we let uncertainty ruin our relationship with the Lord? Why do we allow it to obscure our view of the Father and become the chief and center occupation of our life? The answer is very simple. We believe we are in control all the time and that everything will be a part of our plans for the future. Life is ours to live and to control. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Consider for a moment my illness. I had no idea that there was an infection destroying my bones. I had no fever or any other symptoms to alert me that something was wrong. I went through my daily rituals completely oblivious to this life-threatening infection. Finally, late in December, 2017, everything began to fall apart and now my life was to forever change.

I could have remained in denial and become bitter and angry, but I soon found myself closer not only to God but also to my family and friends. I met new people who would work tirelessly and feverishly to save my life and give me back some normalcy in my life. It took time. There were times when I just got tired of waiting and prayed for a quick fix to all of this, but God, instead, provided a lesson to me that I will never forget. I learned that I had to rely on Him completely. My life was not my own but rather His. I, like Martha, concerned myself with the petty little things and chose not to sit at the feet of my Lord and just listen to His word. I should have been more like Mary and enjoyed the moments with the Lord by praising Him and listening.

If I had chosen to listen to Him, I would have realized a few things. First and foremost, He promised many wonderful things to me. While I was going through the early days of my illness, I allowed the petty problems to get in the way and ruin my relationship with the Lord. I should have found peace in the scriptures. The psalmist in Psalm 37 makes a wonderful point, “37 Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace. 38 But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.”

By allowing the uncertainty to become a wedge between the Lord and myself, I became rebellious. The outcome of that action would be disastrous. There is no future in that choice. Once I began to allow the Holy Spirit to work on my heart and deliver the words of the Lord back into my life, my anxiety level dropped to zero and I was at peace. I did not worry about all of the little things and knew that God would take care of me and give the doctors, specialists and nurses the knowledge to save my life. 

In Isaiah 43, the Lord is talking to Jacob and tells him, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

We always need to remember that the Lord has called us by name and that we, as His sheep, know His voice. His voice brings us comfort. Just knowing that He is there should be more than enough to face the uncertainty of life. We should, like Mary, be drawn to His feet and listen to His every word and not run around wringing our hands in idle desperation. God has everything under control and has a plan for us. In Jeremiah, the Lord says, “11 For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you. I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

In order to face the uncertainty, we must understand the certainty of the Lord. In those verses in Jeremiah, we see the promises of God. He has plans for us. These are not our plans. The plans He has provide us with a future and a hope. Our plans can only lead to more anxiety and uncertainty. If we find ourselves wandering away from the Lord and find ourselves being like Martha, we must seek Him out wholeheartedly. The Lord promised us that if we do that we will find Him. He will remove the hold of uncertainty in our lives and allow us to enjoy the blessings that He has for us. God will open the windows of Heaven and pour out His blessings upon us if we only allow Him to do so. If we choose to allow uncertainty to rule our lives, that path will lead us only to destruction. Uncertainty leads to anxiety and that will, in turn, cause us to lose our appetite, sleep and our blood pressures to go up. High blood pressure will lead to destruction in the form of a heart attack or a stroke.  

If, however, we choose to hold on tightly to our faith and trust in the Lord, He will see us through the uncertainty and keep His promise. The writer of Hebrews eloquently states this in Chapter 10, “23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”

By having an unwavering hope we can rest assured that God will keep His word and promises. He will keep all of them without reservation. Remember, we are His children and He will give us only good things. A good parent does not give his or her child bad gifts. A good parent gives only good gifts. Our Heavenly Father blesses us each and every day. We just need to remain focused on listening, praising, worshiping and, most importantly, loving Him with all of our heart, mind and soul.

When we choose to do those things, we can know, without a doubt, that God will take away the uncertainty in our life and that we can stand firm in His grace. 

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
~ Numbers 6:24-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

Daily Word of God - Ephesians 6:10-12

Ephesians 6:10-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Footnotes:
6:12 Some manuscripts read you.

Daily Word of God - 1 John 4:4-6

1 John 4:4-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 5 Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. 6 But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 84:10-12

Psalm 84:10-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

10 A single day in your courts
    is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
    than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
    He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
    from those who do what is right.
12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
    what joy for those who trust in you.

Daily Word of God - Deuteronomy 32:1-4

Deuteronomy 32:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

32 “Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!
    Hear, O earth, the words that I say!
2 Let my teaching fall on you like rain;
    let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,
    like gentle showers on young plants.
3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
    how glorious is our God!
4 He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
    Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
    how just and upright he is!

Daily Word of God - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

Footnotes:
1:8 Greek brothers.

Daily Word of God - John 17:9-12

John 17:9-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name;[a] now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me.[b] I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

Footnotes:
17:11 Some manuscripts read you have given me these [disciples].
17:12 Some manuscripts read I protected those you gave me, by the power of your name.

Daily Word of God - 1 John 3:18-20

1 John 3:18-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 2:9-11

Proverbs 2:9-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
    and you will find the right way to go.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will fill you with joy.
11 Wise choices will watch over you.
    Understanding will keep you safe.

Mid-Week Message - Setting the Example

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)

I am a Starbucks fan.  Yes, I am one of those people that is willing to pay entirely too much for a cup of coffee.  Except, I don't see it that way.  For me, it is a treat.  Something special that I don't have to share with anyone else.  Aside from the coffee though, I enjoy how I am treated there.  Even when they are extremely busy they take the time to talk to me and make me feel special.  I enjoy that.  We all do, don't we?  

Being treated kindly is appealing to everyone.  Occasionally, if I can, I will pay the bill for the person in line behind me and ask for the barista to tell them I said, "God bless you."  I'm not trying to impress anyone, just bless someone.  It has been done for me before and I know how surprising and nice it feels.  If I can brighten someone else's day then it is worth the extra amount I pay.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to turn on the evening news and hear about how kind people were to each other rather than the stories of robberies and murders?  Now that is the kind of news I would never turn off.  I find myself shedding tears over the few reports we see of kindnesses paid.  How I wish there were more.

During the last couple of weeks I witnessed unthinkable acts being perpetrated by persons in leadership positions.  Their actions were driven by anger and they didn't care how many people got hurt or who they were.  The only thing that was important was that their own agenda was advanced. There was no kindness, no compassion, no forgiveness. And the really sad thing is that many of those people confess to believing in Jesus.

I wonder how grieved the Father must be to witness this type of behavior on what is now a regular basis. Too many people allow frustration, worry and negativity toward others to run their lives.  As we drive down the road we see aggressive drivers and hear horns blaring.  Standing in line in the grocery store we hear offensive language as people wait.  Children disrespect their elders because the elders disrespect each other.  Television, movies and other media are filled with hate and violence.  Gone are the innocent days for any of us, including our children.

It is up to those of us that love Jesus and worship Him as our Lord to obey His Word.  We are the ones that need to set the tone.  Loving those around us, practicing kindness, exhibiting compassion and watching our own attitudes and words is where we can begin.  I know how easy it is to fall into the ways of the world.  The question of "What Would Jesus Do" is a good way to redirect ourselves.  We are to be examples of the love that was shown to us.  

I pray that this week would be eye-opening for each of us as we notice what is going on around us and what is happening in our own minds and lives.  My heart is full of love for each of you and I pray that everyone can see and hear that in my actions and words.  You matter to me.  God bless you.

Daily Word of God - Acts 2:38-40

Acts 2:38-40 New Living Translation (NLT)

38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away[a]—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Footnotes:
2:39 Or and to people far in the future, or and to the Gentiles.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 42:1-3

Psalm 42:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

Book two (Psalms 42–72)
Psalm 42
For the choir director: A psalm[a] of the descendants of Korah.
1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
    so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
    When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
    while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

Footnotes:
42:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.

Daily Word of God - Ecclesiastes 9:17-18

Ecclesiastes 9:17-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person
    than the shouts of a foolish king.
18 Better to have wisdom than weapons of war,
    but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 46:4-7

Psalm 46:4-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel[a] is our fortress. Interlude

Footnotes:
46:7 Hebrew of Jacob; also in 46:11. See note on 44:4.

Daily Word of God - John 21:15-19

John 21:15-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?[a]”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others[b] will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

Footnotes:
21:15 Or more than these others do?
21:18 Some manuscripts read and another one.

Daily Word of God - Philippians 1:9-11

Philippians 1:9-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ[a]—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Footnotes:
1:11 Greek with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Grace of Giving

Years ago, I saw an ABC news program done by Diane Sawyer about the people and children of the Appalachian Mountains. It was called “A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains”. The poverty rate in that region, at the time of the broadcast, was three times the national average. One of the things that struck me deeply was an interview with a pastor of a small church. The congregation of that church were poor, but they were able to donate to the church. The donation for that particular Sunday was sixty-eight cents. Even as poor as they were, they managed to scrape together an offering to God. 

After watching that program, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and reminded me that it is not the size of the donation that counts. It is what is behind it that means more to God. In Luke 21, Jesus observes a widow who comes quietly into the temple to make her donation. While others are making a big show of how much they are giving, she quietly drops two copper coins into the collection box. Jesus tells his disciples, “3 “I tell you the truth. This poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” 

Although we are commanded to tithe ten percent to God, most, I would argue, give out of strict duty and do it only out of their abundance. In short, many give only if they can afford to give or if they want something in return. Those who give for those reasons give only if it is convenient for them to give. This is not what we are to do. We are not to give because we expect God to reward us by giving us a return on our investment. There are those that believe that if they give God money, He will open His hand and just pour money and blessings upon them. We are to give for a better reason than material gain or the desire to reach for more from God.

It is important to understand that we are to give in order to bring glory to God. Even when times are tough, we should not fail in our giving. In chapter 8 of Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes about the Macedonian churches, “2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”

Like the Macedonian churches, the congregation of that small, poor Appalachian Mountains church gave entirely on their own and beyond their ability. They gave without expecting anything in return and desired the same as those churches in Macedonia, “the privilege of sharing in the service to the Lord’s people”. Because of their sacrifice, God blesses them each and every day. He provides for their needs of food, shelter and clothing. Anything beyond that is abundance and they share that with others who are less fortunate. 

Late in chapter 8, Paul writes, “13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.’”

I am not advocating socialism or communism and have no desire to debate this topic. What I am saying is that we all, at some point in our lives, need some level of help. Consider, for example, the illness that I have had to deal with. Like many facing the horrors of cancer or major medical procedures, we have had to face major financial hardship and debt. God has provided for our needs and continues to do so each day. We praise Him for that and know that He will continue to do that. We like the churches of old continue to give freely to those in need or to ministries that can help others. My family and I do not do this for reward or the expectation of having God lavish us with money, expensive houses, fancy clothes and jewelry or even a jet plane. We do it to help those who need help. Has it been difficult for us? Yes it has. There have been times when we just felt that we could not do it, but we manage to find another area to cut back in our lives and we give our offering. We know that God will provide for our every need and will reward us spiritually as we continue to share not only what we have but, most importantly, also the Good News with all who walk in darkness who seek something more than just the things of this world.

Jesus reminds us in the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 6, “31 So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Jesus clearly tells us that our Heavenly Father knows all of our needs and will provide for them. We have nothing to worry about. We must have faith even if it is as tiny as a mustard seed. The smallest amount of faith grows and becomes that anchor we need in the tough times we face. 

As Christians, we have an obligation to help those in need all the time. Even if we are experiencing hard times, we are to help wherever and however we can. In Acts 2, we see how the early church grew and how those individuals united as a faith family, The author of Acts writes, “44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

By following the example of the early church, we will see a harvest. It will be a spiritual harvest of those who once walked in darkness and are now saved not by money but rather by the sharing of the Good News and the blood of Christ Jesus that was spilled to atone for their sins. Even as we face hardship, we must continue to praise God and enjoy the goodwill of others by sharing what we have.

While I was in the hospital, our neighbors offered to bring over hot meals to my wife and take care of our home while I was recovering. They even asked if we needed fresh farm eggs that their hens had laid. Because of their generosity and grace of giving, my wife and I continue to thank God for putting them in our lives. There may come a time when they may need help and we will share with them whatever we have in order to help.

During natural or man-made disasters, the stories of self-sacrifice and sharing with neighbors are shared by the media. These wonderful stories illustrate the desire of people to help their neighbors and those they do not even know. Some will say, while they are being interviewed, that it is the Christian thing to do. These public statements speak volumes of their faith and their desire to serve God and His children in whatever role He leads them to serve.

As I look back through the history of this great nation, the United States was founded on the principles of Christianity. Because of that, whole communities worked together to help those who may have lost their homes to fire or other natural disasters. Wherever disaster strikes around the world, Americans are the first to give and volunteer to help. We send help to those in need and feed people we have never met. 

Jesus, in Matthew 25, eloquently and simply puts it this way, “35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

We do all these things not to curry favor or to get something from God. We know that our Heavenly Father sees all that we do. Our true blessings and rewards are stored in Heaven. Jesus, in Matthew 6, tells us, “1 Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

As you go through this week, remember the lessons of the early churches and exercise the grace of giving. Give to those in need even when you are facing tough times. Give graciously and praise God for meeting your daily needs of food, shelter and clothing. Give cheerfully without expecting anything material in return. In short, show your Christ-like attitude by giving to those in need for the sake of giving. If you give with the expectation of getting financial gain from God, then you have missed God’s message. Remember what Samuel tells Saul in 1 Samuel 15, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

Because of obedience and submitting ourselves to the Lord and loving our neighbors, God will bless us. With that in mind, we can stand firm in His grace and know what “grace of giving” truly means.

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
~ Numbers 6:24-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

Daily Word of God - Matthew 23:16-22

Matthew 23:16-22 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’ 17 Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding. 19 How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. 21 And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. 22 And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.

Daily Word of God - 1 Timothy 1:5-7

1 Timothy 1:5-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

Daily Word of God - Matthew 12:25-29

Matthew 12:25-29 New Living Translation (NLT)

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

Daily Word of God - Philippians 1:3-6

Philippians 1:3-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Daily Word of God - John 8:42-47

John 8:42-47 New Living Translation (NLT)

42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 4:18-19

Proverbs 4:18-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
    which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
    They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

Daily Word of God - John 14:27-29

John 14:27-29 New Living Translation (NLT)

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 14:29

Proverbs 14:29 New Living Translation (NLT)

29 People with understanding control their anger;
    a hot temper shows great foolishness.

Mid-Week Message - Aging With Purpose

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."  2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

Birthdays.  Whether we want them to or not, they come every year.  Mine is coming at the end of this week.  I understand why some are reluctant to to talk about their age.  As we witness our bodies changing as a natural consequence of the increasing years there is a desire to deny time, to hold out as long as we can against the softening and wrinkling skin and gray hair.  

I have to admit that I actually enjoy my birthday.  It doesn't matter to me that my age changes each year.  In fact, I am kind of proud of it.  Of all the gifts that I have received in my life, the ones that mean the utmost to me are those that have come straight from the hand of the Lord.  The average person takes 8,409,600 breaths per year.  As far as I can understand, each one of them is a gift because we are not promised a certain length of life.  That means that as of this Friday, my sixty-first birthday, I will have drawn 512,985,600 life sustaining breaths of air since my birth.  Each one is a present freely given by my heavenly Father.

The trick is to remember this on the subsequent days of the year.  When the hard days come, and there have been many of late, the gift of each moment still needs to be a reason to praise Him.  No matter what, He has still allowed life to continue for a reason.  That reason is to bring Him glory.  There is nothing we will face in this life alone.  Along with each breath comes His presence.  From the moment of our conception He never leaves our sides.  We are here because of His unending and unconditional love which was proven by the death and resurrection of Jesus.  

Aging isn't fun, I will confess.  Aches and pains, slower reflexes and decreasing stamina plague us.  Diseases associated with age may set in.  Loved ones older than us have often passed away and those that are younger are busy with their own lives.  For some it can be a very lonely time but for all of us it can be rather daunting.  We reach the age of retirement in a time when finances cannot be assured to last and the need may arise to downsize our lives or sacrifice familiar lifestyles.  From my relationship with elderly friends I know that at times we may wonder why God allows our lives to continue and our only real desire begins to be going home to Heaven.  

I cannot begin to claim to understand the Lord's plans or reasoning behind how long any certain lifespan is.  But this I do know, His plan is perfect.  No matter how long any individual life is, it is for His glory.  We may not know how many other people are able to see Jesus in us in youth or old age but He will use each of us to touch hearts for His purposes if we allow Him to.  Each and every day is a precious gift.  Each breath a sign of His presence.  Without Him, we would not be.  

I pray that as we each wake up to each new day's sunrise we can say "Thank you, Father.  This day is yours.  Please use all the moments you give me to show others your love."  Have a beautiful, meaningful and blessed week.  

Daily Word of God - John 3:5-8

John 3:5-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.[a] 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.[b] 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

Footnotes:
3:5 Or and spirit. The Greek word for Spirit can also be translated wind; see 3:8.
3:6 Greek what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
3:7 The Greek word for you is plural; also in 3:12.

Daily Word of God - 1 Corinthians 15:42-43

1 Corinthians 15:42-43 New Living Translation (NLT)

42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.

Daily Word of God - Luke 13:28-30

Luke 13:28-30 New Living Translation (NLT)

28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. 29 And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.[a]”

Footnotes:
13:30 Greek Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.

Daily Word of God - James 3:13-16

James 3:13-16 New Living Translation (NLT)

True Wisdom Comes from God
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Daily Word of God - Luke 23:39-43

Luke 23:39-43 New Living Translation (NLT)

39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”