By God's Grace

In today's verse, Paul was referring to the fact that he was the lowest of the apostles and shouldn't have even been one because of his persecution of the church, but by the grace of God he was a great one! Many of us weaken our ministry with worry about being good enough for the task at hand. Concern about if we are being effective, saying the right thing, or praying the right words can hinder the work God has for us. When we stop and realize that by God's grace He has chosen us to do His work, not for our great talent or assuredness, but for our willingness to put Him first not matter what others think, then we will be effective in God's eyes. By the grace of God we are what we are, so today let God work through you as never before. Let go of the thoughts that you aren't good enough and let His grace flow through you.

1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

All That We Need!

As many of us are preparing the Thanksgiving dinner or traveling somewhere to prepare it, we are worried we have forgotten something or don't have enough of something. As in years past, we may forget the cool whip or the onion, or the cat may nibble on the defrosting turkey, but we always have what we need! Family and friends gathered together, sharing and caring. When we focus on what God desires us to do then we will always have what we need. Seek first His righteousness! When we share a meal, listen to another's concerns, and are obedient to God's prompting, then we will have every last thing that we need! Look today to see what God is providing you!

Matthew 6:31-33 NIV

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Where Does Our Help Come From?

Today society wants a quick fix for everything.  A pill, a program, a book, and the list goes on. The world has tons of ways to "help" us. But our true help come from the Lord, only He can truly help us fix or get through our problems. Our church experienced this yesterday. A young mother and toddler came into the church during service who had lost her husband and child. She had seen our steeple and just felt like she had to come. Only God's love shown through His people could begin to sooth her pain. As we prayed over her and cried with her, she felt the love of God and His gentle hand slowly starting to release her foot from the snare.  Look to God always, look for the steeple, and help will be on the way!

Psalm 25:15 NIV

15 My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Christ the King

Today is Christ the King Sunday and as I was preparing the Children's sermon for today, I thought about what that meant. In the verses today, we see what kind of King Christ was. He was obedient to His Father and willing to sacrifice Himself so that we might live in eternity. He didn't demand the recognition He deserved, He paid the price for what we deserved. We have all wished to be a king for a day, but have we wished to be the King that Christ is? As you go through your day today, remember Christ the King and all He gave for us!

Romans 8:31-32 NIV

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Unity

Now is the time to come together in unity. To live in unity means all of us putting each other first, we let go of our need for our way, our security, our rights, and be willing to sacrifice for our neighbor. Are we truly working towards unity with one another or only to the extent that it doesn't cause us to give up something? What makes my rights more important than another's? Today, be willing to make the first move towards unity!

Psalm 133:1 NIV

1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Pray

Prayer is powerful! Our prayers may not be answered as we want them to be, but rest assured they are heard. There are many crazy things happening in our lives and in the world right now, today take a few minutes each hour to pray for whoever God puts in your thoughts. If you have a need, share it here so we can all pray about it. Prayer is something that all of us can do and there is not a wrong or right way, we just have to do it!

Acts 4:24a NIV

24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.

Here I Am

We have all said "I can't do that" for one reason or another, we are too busy, too tired, don't know how, we just can't. But as Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us." Abraham was so obedient and trusting in the Lord that he was willing to sacrifice his son, even though he had been promised that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abraham didn't say "I can't", he said "Here I am". What have you told God you couldn't possibly do? Was it make dinner for someone, provide a bed to a stranger, teach children about God, get up early to spend time with Him, or to stop gossiping. When we are obedient and say "Yes Lord" instead of "I can't Lord", then He provides what we need to do the task, just as He provided Abraham a ram. As God asks you to do something today, make sure your response is "Here I am!"

Genesis 22:15-17a NIV

15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

Are You Just Making Noise?

1 Corinthians 13 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible because it speaks of what Love truly is, patient, kind, forgiving, not prideful and so on. This chapter is also convicting. I can work 12 hours a day feeding others or sharing God's word, but if I don't have love for my neighbor then it I am doing it for me and not for God. I am just going through the motions. God desires us to serve, not because it looks good to others, but because we love Him and in turn show love to others. As you serve the Lord and others today, is there love in your heart? Are you patient with those you are serving, are you kind and forgiving? If the answer is no, then stop and ask God to help you fill your heart full of love for Him and you neighbor. 

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Lift Your Hands

It is easy to praise God when things are going good, we have a job, a home, our health and so on. But a true disciple of Christ praises God at all times. If Christ is ruling our lives then we praise God when there is hurt, fear, anger and loss. A sister in Christ is dying of cancer and though she is grieving and possibly a little scared, she is raising her hands to heaven and praising God! When I think of her, I don't think so much about all the things she has done, but about her love of Christ and praising Him in the storm. When the hurt, fear, anger and loss come, we can still feel all those things, but that is when it is most important for us to keep our eyes on God and lift our hands in praise to Him. Show God you love Him, raise your hands in praise today and everyday!

Psalm 146:2 NIV

2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

What's Your Food?

What is your "food"? What sustains you? Is it recognition by others, being liked by everyone, the love of a significant other or spouse? These things may help us some, but they can all be gone in an instant. Christ's "food" was to do God's will and finish His work. We when seek only to do God's will, He will provide us with all the sustenance we will ever need. It is everlasting and isn't gone in an instant. Today, think about where you are looking for your "food". 

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

Iniquities of Us All

Not a single one of us is perfect, none without fault. Some may think they are very good or don't do much wrong, but we ALL sin. Praise and thank God that Christ took all our sin upon Him! Because of Christ's death on the cross, we can go to God as white as snow. Today, take a few moments to remember Christ's willingness to take on our sin!

Isaiah 53:6 NIV

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Strong Will

As humans, we always want our own way. This is evident in a toddler who wants to do things herself and when she wants to do it. Our will to have our way is developed at a young age and continues to strengthen as we grow older. The verse today is telling us to put others first, not demanding our way.  It takes a stronger will to do this than to have our own way. We have to work daily at putting others first, listening to their needs, how they want the job done. When we truly work at respecting others and letting them lead, we are honoring Christ as He desires. Take a look at how strong your will is today, are you having it your way or putting others first?

Ephesians 5:21 NIV

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Our ALL

Lest we forget, it is all His!! All we have comes from God! He has the strength to sustain us all and give us strength to go through each day. Remember, trials are a must in this life, but God is in control and has more strength than we can fathom. He is our ALL!

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 NIV

11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

Timothys

When we truly accept Christ into our lives and identify with Him, we all become Timothys. We are fellow laborers in the gospel of Christ. Paul sent Timothy to encourage and help the Thessalonians grow in their faith. Each day, we as Christians, are sent out to encourage others and help them grow in their faith. It may be a co-worker, relative, friend, delivery person, your children, or even your pastor. Every person we come in contact with is an opportunity to for us to encourage and share Christ. We all have the same job, we just do it in different ways, so as you go about your day today remember you are a fellow laborer in Christ, encouraging and helping others establish and grow in their faith.

I Thessalonians 3:1-2 NKJV

1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

The Promised Land

Are you letting God plant you where He wants you or are you telling God where you want to be. God had just saved the Israelites from Pharaoh and was guiding them to the promised land. It didn't look to promising to them and they complained. Sometimes where God plants us isn't the most desirable place, but it is the place He expects us grow. God lets us choose our path, we can go where He leads or take our own way. Take a moment and look back over your life, have you let God lead you, can you see how God has placed you where He needed you to be, or have you tried to go your own way?  If you have been rebelling against where God is guiding you, spend some time today asking God to give you the courage to follow Him. Though the promised land may be filled with giants, it is where the Lord wants you to be planted and to grow. He will help yo overcome the giants! Praise God for guiding us to His mountain of inheritance! 

Exodus 15:17-18 NIV

17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established. 18 “The Lord reigns for ever and ever.”

What's Your Message?

What is our message about Christ? Sometimes we get so caught up in all that Christ has done for us that we tell more about that than about Christ and His life. John the Baptist had hundreds of people coming to him to be baptized and his message wasn't about what Christ was going to do for him, but what He would do for the people - you think I'm good, just wait till you see the Messiah, he will blow you away! Is our message about Christ in our lives or is it about the life of Christ? Think about the life of Christ today and share it with someone so God can use your words to blow that person away. 

Mark 1:7-8 NIV

7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Friends

The book of Proverbs has so many wise life lessons, this is one of them. So often we want someone who is going to tell us what we want to hear whether it is true or not. I am sure we know lots of people who would do that for us, but are they really helping us by not being honest? A true friend speaks the truth to us in a loving gentle manner, even if it isn't what we want to hear. Their words may sting for a bit, but they will help us grow and be who God intends us to be. How are you at being a faithful friend? Today pray for your faithful friends and thank God for them and ask Him to help you to always be a faithful friend. 

Proverbs 27:6 NKJV

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Are You There?

In today's verses, David is crying out to God to be gracious to him and to relieve his troubles. I am guessing many of us have done the same thing. When we are hurting or in a mess, we cry out for relief. When you have done this, have you ever felt like God didn't hear you, the troubles didn't go away? David's troubles didn't go away either, but it did bring him closer to God, it helped him grow into a man after the heart of God. God heard him and was with him through the troubles, God was gracious to him. When we cry out to God, our troubles may not be immediately relieved, but God is with us, sustaining is through them as we grow closer to Him. We just have to turn to Him and trust He will see us through. If you are struggling or know someone who is, pray that you or they will feel God beside them and believe that He will guide you or them through this. 

Psalm 25:16-17 NIV

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.

The Rest of the Story...

The rest of the story....prayer is powerful, so much so the results can take us by surprise. The church was praying for Peter and look what happened...an angel appeared and his chains fell off. At first Peter thought it was a vision, but then he realized what was happening.  He went to where the disciples were gathered and when he knocked on the door, they thought it was his angel (Acts12:15). My hope is that we will be blown away by the answer God has for our prayers when we pray as one.  When we all come together in like minds, putting aside personal issues, and pray for Christ to be lived thought out the world, who knows what will happen! God knows!!

Acts 12:6-9 NIV

6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.

They Prayed

What could the people do? Peter was in jail, how could they help? They did the most powerful thing that they could all do, they prayed. They didn't do it as individuals, they did it as a whole, as a church. As we read, hear, or see about the decline of Christianity, we feel helpless and overwhelmed. Can we make a difference and how? We as Christians are more powerful than we can imagine because we have the All Mighty God. We can make a difference and we start by coming together in prayer! We pray for our leaders, we pray our schools, we pray for the church. We pray that we will come together as one praying to God for His voice to be heard and His name proclaimed. Join me this morning, praying first for the church to be of one mind, the mind of Christ, that all differences would put aside for the sake of Christ and His glory. This is where we start!

Acts 12:5 NIV
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Comfort

When we think of comfort we often think of warm, fluffy blankets or a warm fire, a refreshing river, a bowl of mac & cheese, or a loved one's arms around us. We feel satisfied with these things. As I read these verses, I feel comfort and I feel satisfied. I know that I may not be part of the "in" group by society's view, but I am part of the blessed group. I also know that if I delight in the Lord and His Word, I will not wither and will produce the fruit He desires me to produce. Take a few minutes today and read these verses a few times over, let them surround you like a warm blanket on a cold day and know you are truly blessed! 

Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

Ouch!

You know God is trying to tell you something when all four devotionals you read are about the same thing! The message is "it's all about God, not me! We can either submit to God's will and have His power in us or we can submit to our will and work against His power. Just when I think I got this and doing His will, I read a quote from Jesus Calling-"A yielded heart does not whine or rebel when the going gets tough." Ouch!! I may be taking up my cross, but I think I am following my will! Denying self is an ongoing journey, little by little God reveals to us where we are still putting ourselves before Him. When we make the choice to be a disciple of Christ, He will help us to let go of us! Today look for the places where "me" is whining and rebelling and ask Christ to help you let go of yourself! 

Luke 9:23 NIV

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