Daily Word of God - Genesis 21:1-6

Genesis 21:1-6 New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Isaac

21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac[a] to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 21:3 Isaac means he laughs.

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 40:26-31

Isaiah 40:26-31 New International Version (NIV)

26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?
28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Daily Word of God - James 3:17-18

James 3:17-18 New International Version (NIV)

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Daily Word of God - John 14:23-26

John 14:23-26 New International Version (NIV)

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 127:1-2

Psalm 127:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 127:2 Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 46:3-4

Isaiah 46:3-4 New International Version (NIV)

3 “Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,
    and have carried since you were born.
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs
    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Daily Word of God - Romans 12:14-16

Romans 12:14-16 New International Version (NIV)

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work

Mid-Week Message - Changes

"Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday, today and forever."  Hebrews 13:8 (AMP)  

It is nearing the end of October.  Where I live, the days and nights are cooler and the leaves on the trees are beginning to take on the fall colors of yellow, orange and red.  This is my favorite time of year and I long for it all summer.  It is a time that brings me joy and although some years it seems to take its time arriving, it is a transformation I can count on.  

Normally, I am not a big fan of change.  I find it stressful in many situations, as I am sure you do.  It is nice to have some idea of what is coming next, if all goes as planned.  Unfortunately, life doesn't send out memos to announce interruptions in our life plans.  Job losses, recessions, illnesses, deaths, accidents, problems in relationships or financial upsets can come at the most unexpected and inconvenient times.  

Last year, my husband almost died.  By the time he saw a doctor who realized how serious his condition was and sent him to a hospital, his life was in grave danger.  We were told after emergency surgery that he had come within hours to days of losing his life.  After spending two weeks as an in-patient, he returned home only to find out that his job had been eliminated during the time that he was hospitalized.  Our world was turned upside down.  Suddenly we found ourselves dealing with a health situation that was still not completely remedied and no steady income.  To say that we spent some time in tears and anguish would be an understatement.  

Everyone, at some point, will face trials that seem insurmountable.  During those days it is so easy to feel isolated and to wonder why God would allow such hardship in our lives.  I have friends who considered themselves to be happily married who suddenly found that their spouses wished to end the marriage.  Others have received diagnoses of cancer or Alzheimer disease.  Sometimes it happens that way.  We go to bed secure and wake up to find that our world has totally changed.  

When my beloved and I found ourselves staring into an unknown and uncertain future, we reached for what we knew would never be threatened which was our relationship with our Savior.  The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus never changes.  He is the same person now that He was when walked with his disciples.  His love is constant and endures no matter what happens in our lives.  He always loves us, always protects us, and is always there to listen to and encourage us.  Romans 8:34 tell us that He advocates for us before the Father.  How precious is that?  He personally takes our plight to the throne of the Creator and pleads for us.  

What changes are you either anticipating or currently going through?  Might I implore you to go to the One who endured the greatest pain that ever existed out of His mighty love for you?  I can promise you that He is ready and willing to hear all you need to say.  Express your fears, your frustrations, your questions and your sorrow to Him and allow Him to be as personally involved in your life as He wishes to be.  He doesn't intend for any of us to walk difficult roads alone.  If tomorrow comes and no one else seems to be around, He will always be the one that you can count on.  Nothing will change that.  Ever.  All you have to do is reach out for Him.  Nothing will ever separate you from His love.  God bless.

Daily Word of God - Titus 2:11-14

Titus 2:11-14 New International Version (NIV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Daily Word of God - Ephesians 5:15-20

Ephesians 5:15-20 New International Version (NIV)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Daily Word of God - Colossians 3:12-15

Colossians 3:12-15 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 27:4-6

Psalm 27:4-6 New International Version (NIV)

4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 28:13

Proverbs 28:13 New International Version (NIV)

13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Daily Word of God - Acts 20:33-35

Acts 20:33-35 New International Version (NIV)

33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Not by Sight

Several weeks ago, I went to have my eyes examined. It is one of those yearly things we all have to do. While visiting with the doctor, I went through the standard list of tests that examined the pressure in my eyes and to check the reaction time of my pupils. All were fine up until I had to remove my contact lenses. At that point, the technician asked me to read a chart across the room. My response was comical, but it was truthful.

I said, “What chart?”

She laughed and we went on with the tests. After failing a slew of other tests, I felt that I couldn’t trust my eyes to save my life. Without my contact lenses, anything more than an arm’s length away was blurry and completely out of focus. I could make out only a few things and even then I would be guessing.

Our spiritual life is a lot different. We should not rely on our eyes, but rather our faith. In one of my previous messages, I talked about improving your spiritual eyesight. The message was entitled, “How is Your Spiritual Eyesight” and it is still available to read if you missed it.

We cannot trust our eyes when it comes to our faith. Our eyes can easily wander to things we should not focus on. I am sure you have seen those optical illusions. Our eyes can be easily fooled into seeing what we want to see or what we think we want to see. But, when the real image comes into focus, it is something we really didn’t want to see at all.

It is easy to be seduced and tricked into falling headlong into a trap or snare when we rely strictly on our own senses. Our earthly sight can be fooled and we can easily find ourselves somewhere we don’t want to be. As I couldn’t even see the chart on the wall at the doctor’s office, it is easy for us to rely on what we think we see and then make a decision based on what our senses are telling us.

The author of Proverbs writes in chapter three, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

We can easily be led astray by our own understanding which relies on our senses. When we start to see things of this world, we can be drawn back into our sinful ways and find ourselves living a corrupt and sinful life all over again. Instead of living a righteous life that we are called to live, we find ourselves pursuing those things that we perceive as desires of our hearts. Do not be fooled into believing what you see. The things of this world can only lead to destruction and our spiritual demise.

David writes, in Psalm 103, “I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride.”

If we use our earthly eyes to guide our way, we can fall prey to the things of this world. We can become prideful and filled with conceit. We can slander our neighbors and embrace what is vile and detestable. In time, we find ourselves slaves to sin yet again. We need to be watchful not with our earthly eyes, but with our spiritual eyes.

In chapter 5 of his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul discusses our new heavenly bodies that await us. In time, our earthly life will come to an end and this body, like a tent, will be taken down to give way to our new heavenly bodies. This is what we desire more than things of this world. We long to be home with our Father and His son, Christ Jesus. But, in order to do so, we must rely on our faith in those things that are unseen and guide us to that wonderful place where there is no more pain or suffering.

Earlier in his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes, in chapter 4, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

Everything we see with our earthly eyes will soon fade away. The things of this world will be eaten by insects, rust or just fall apart. But, those things that are “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” will never fade away or turn into dust. Those things remain for all eternity and are the things that we need to fix our spiritual eyesight on. It is our faith that will keep us on course to the promised land.

Let us once again return to chapter 5 of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Paul writes, “For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”

If we follow our faith and do not allow our earthly eyes to deceive us, we can confidently fulfill our goal of pleasing our Heavenly Father. It is that goal that needs to remain the desire of our hearts. We should not look to those things that are vile and vulgar. When we stand before the Lord on Judgement Day, we will “receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”

So, live by believing and not by seeing. Our eyes can be easily deceived and we can be led away from Him and back into the sins of this world. If we follow our faith and live by believing, we will, one day, find ourselves at home with our Heavenly Father and Jesus and all the saints and those who have lived their lives by faith rather than earthly sight. It is at that moment that we can truly and confidently say that we can stand firm in His grace.

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