Category: Philippians

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Listen to This!

That’s how my morning Bible reading started out:

“Everyone on this earth, now listen to what I say! 2Listen, no matter who you are,  rich or poor. 3 I speak words of wisdom,  and my thoughts make sense.” Psalm 49:1-3 CEV

So I decided to listen!

I periodically do a soul check. I ask myself “am I doing what God wants me to do”, “am I fulfilling the plan He has set for me”, “do I need to let someone younger or more qualified than I take over”. And then I read a verse like this and it makes me come to attention to listen to the Lord and his words of wisdom.

There may be times when you or someone else questions your qualifications to do what God has put in your heart. You’re too young, too old, you’re the wrong gender, not educated enough, educated too much or a whole host of other distracting comments but the thing to remember it’s God who calls and He is the one who qualifies.

I thought of Moses. At 40, he knew his life calling was to deliver the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. He made a mistake and tried to handle things on his own. He killed a man and then fled to another country for 40 years and became a shepherd. While he was there the Lord reminded him of his calling.

“But Moses said, “Who am I to go to the king and lead your people out of Egypt?” 12 God replied, “I will be with you. And you will know that I am the one who sent you, when you worship me on this mountain after you have led my people out of Egypt.”

13 Moses answered, “I will tell the people of Israel that the God their ancestors worshiped has sent me to them. But what should I say, if they ask me your name?” 14-15 God said to Moses: I am the eternal God. So tell them that the Lord, whose name is “I Am,” has sent you. This is my name forever, and it is the name that people must use from now on.” Exodus 3:11-15 CEV

At 80, Moses accepted his calling. Too old? Not according to the “I AM” who called him and promised to go with him.

Too young? Samuel was just a child when his parents took him to live with Eli, the priest. God called him by name.

“The boy Samuel was Eli’s helper and served the Lord with him. At that time the Lord did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions…Finally, Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Eli told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. 10 The Lord came and stood there. He called as he did before, saying, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak. I am your servant, and I am listening.” I Samuel 3:1-10 ERV

Wrong gender? For generations it was said that women couldn’t preach or teach, yet Jesus validated women when He was alive. One of the most important messages, the resurrected Christ, was given to a woman.

“Jesus asked her, “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener and said, “Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.”

16 Then Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni.” The Aramaic word “Rabboni” means “Teacher.” 17 Jesus told her, “Don’t hold on to me! I have not yet gone to the Father. But tell my disciples that I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God.” John 20:15-17 CEV

Too bad? Too many mistakes? The Apostle Paul had been responsible for arresting and seeing that Christians were murdered. The woman at the well had been married to four men and was living with a fifth.

“Then our Lord gave me much of His loving-favor and faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 What I say is true and all the world should receive it. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from their sin and I am the worst sinner. 16 And yet God had loving-kindness for me. Jesus Christ used me to show how long He will wait for even the worst sinners. In that way, others will know they can have life that lasts forever also.” I Timothy 1:14-16 NLV

“Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” 17 The woman said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said, “You told the truth when you said, ‘I have no husband.’ 18 You have had five husbands. The one you have now is not your husband. You told the truth.”…Many people in that town of Samaria believed in Jesus because of what the woman said about Him. She said, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So the people of Samaria came to Him. They asked Him to stay with them. Jesus stayed there two days. 41 Many more people believed because of what He said. 42 They said to the woman, “Now we believe! It is no longer because of what you said about Jesus but we have heard Him ourselves. We know, for sure, that He is the Christ, the One Who saves men of this world from the punishment of their sins.” John 4:16-18, 39-42 NLV

Listen to This: that’s how all this started this morning. The Lord has given each of us a definite calling and purpose. There isn’t a reason or excuse that can nullify that calling. We can, however, refuse to accept it. The Father has given us a free will and He won’t force us to do anything we refuse to do; He’ll even let us go to hell if we want too.

But when God calls us, He equips us. He never leaves us on our own. The words He spoke to Moses – tell them “I AM” has sent you, applies to us as well.

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.” Jeremiah 29:11 ERV

“I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again.” Philippians 1:6 ERV

Listen up! What is the Lord saying to you today?

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More Peace

I know how truly blessed I am to get up each morning and enjoy the peace which comes with the start of a new day. The house is silent except for the cycling of the coffee maker and the refrigerator. There are no obtrusive sounds of sirens, planes, trains or automobiles. Just the quiet.

As the sun starts to give its first glow on the horizon, the birds begin to sing and welcome to the day. The first to voice its song is the bob white and then the quail. The cactus wren joins in, followed by the morning dove. Peace.

Most mornings my heart joins in. It’s very rare for me to wake without a sense of peace. God’s peace! Before I started to write this morning I looked back over the blogs from the past 2+ years and found that I have written about peace over seventy-five times. It’s a subject that occupies much of my teaching.

To many, peace is a fleeting or even elusive sense of well being. There are so many things that rob peace; text messages, phone calls, conversations, career, doctors reports, financial statements, weather, personal relationships and world conflicts. I’ve found that we must fight for peace or our mind will take us down a road of turmoil.

“We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does. 4 The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, 5 and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” II Corinthians 10:3-5 ERV

Jesus knew what it was to be bombarded with unsettling and fearful thoughts. In fact, each time he was with someone who was facing a fearful situation His counsel was the same “fear not”. One of his final impartations to his disciples was a message of peace.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 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.” John 14:26-27 NLT

Each day I pray for personal peace and then for the peace of my children and grandchildren. I thank the Lord that He is teaching my children, making them aware of His love and bringing peace to their lives.

“I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.” Isaiah 54:13 NLT

There are times when we have to make decisions, hard decisions, and we are left wondering what to do. Years ago, Dave and I made a commitment that we would let peace rule and direct us. If we didn’t have a peace about something we didn’t do it. There were times that we told the kids they couldn’t go somewhere or do something because we didn’t have peace. There were times we walked away from what appeared to be good business decisions because we didn’t have peace. And quite frankly, there have been times that we made decisions without that peace and regretted it.

“So My Word which goes from My mouth will not return to Me empty. It will do what I want it to do, and will carry out My plan well. 12 You will go out with joy, and be led out in peace. The mountains and the hills will break out into sounds of joy before you. And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn bush, the cypress tree will come up. Instead of the thistle, the myrtle tree will come up. It will cause you to remember the Lord, something special to see that will last forever.” Isaiah 55:11-13 NLV

We can always rely on God’s word and His peace to lead us in the right direction.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLV

Let God’s peace stand guard over your hearts!

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Clean the Glass

I have several hurricane lamps in our home. Periodically I need to take the globes off the lamps and clean them. We don’t use them very often but if/when the electricity goes out they come in handy, besides that, I just like looking at them. However, they aren’t of much use if the glass is dirty or if I forget to fill them with oil.

I was thinking about those lamps this morning and it reminded me of what Jesus said to the multitude at the Sermon on the Mount.

“You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, 15 and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. 16 Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 CEV

And then Paul gave us another instruction using the same analogy.

“Do everything without complaining or arguing 15 so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world, 16 and you offer them the teaching that gives life. So I can be proud of you when Christ comes again. You will show that my work was not wasted—that I ran in the race and won.” Philippians 2:14-16 ERV

Hurricane lamps need to be kept full of oil and the wicks need to be trimmed periodically to keep the lamps burning clean. They can smolder and then soot builds up on the glass chimney and the light is dimmed. It’s then the lamp has to be scrubbed clean. It was no easy task.

The world needs our light; we bring brightness to the lives of those around us through our relationships. Sometimes the glass globes of our lives get covered in soot. We need a good cleaning! The Lord uses His word will wash us clean.

“Christ did this so He could set the church apart for Himself. He made it clean by the washing of water with the Word. 27 Christ did this so the church might stand before Him in shining-greatness. There is to be no sin of any kind in it. It is to be holy and without blame.” Ephesians 5:26-27 NLV

Holy Spirit clean the globe of my life with the “washing of the water of the Word”. I want to shine as brightly as I can for the Father’s glory. Amen.

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Content With Life

I started my morning by looking at pictures that reflect contentment – so many images of serenity. I was content just looking at them.

Scenes of waves on a beach, a boat on a lake, a kitten curled up by the fire, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, big pillow-y clouds in a rich blue sky. If you were to photograph contentment what would your image be?

With some of the images there were quotes. Succinct sayings to convey the meaning of contentment.

  • 1. “To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come …
  • 2. “Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.”. Bilal Zahoor.
  • 3. “Contentment is an attitude that says, I will be satisfied with what God has given me.”. Anonymous.
  • 4. “Contentment comes from many great and small acceptances in life.”. Anonymous.

All too often we lose the joy and peace of today because we are striving to obtain more for our tomorrow. Perhaps, we are so busy reflecting on our losses of the past we forget to enjoy blessings of the present. These will both rob us of our contentment.

There is nothing wrong with ambition; with setting goals and having a vision. Those are good traits as long as we are letting the Lord be the one who sets our course and we are following Him.

I asked you what your picture of contentment would look like. When I asked that I had to stop because I was imagining what Daniel might have pictured – his would be sleeping among the lions. Peter’s image might be the inside of a prison cell and Jesus might take a picture of a boat on a rough and stormy sea. Paul and Silas would no doubt draw the inside of a dungeon during an earthquake and Jonah would possibly sketch the contents in the belly of the great fish.

Strange images, right? Not what you or I would choose to put on a the pages of a “serenity calendar” but these were places of contentment. In each of these places the occupants sensed the power and the presence of Almighty God. There they were content. The Apostle Paul said this:

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 NLT

My heart is stirred to focus on God’s goodness and His peace. The world seems more out of control than it has ever been, yet, in this world Jesus says we can have peace.

“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” John 16:33 ERV

We all know that things do not bring happiness or peace. We have examples of people everyday in the news who seem to have it all and they are miserable. Again we have the words of the Apostle Paul:

“…These people think religion is supposed to make you rich. 6 And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have. 7 We didn’t bring anything into this world, and we won’t take anything with us when we leave. 8 So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.” I Timothy 6:5-8 CEV

Lest anyone thinks that I am saying that we should all be paupers, I’m not. Our lives in Christ are to be full and abundant. When we are focusing on our relationship with the Father, He provides for all our needs and we can be content.

“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.” Matthew 6:31-33 NLT

I pray that we all find contentment in each day. Living in peace and enjoying the Father’s goodness.

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The Big Stuff

Trusting on God to handle the “big” stuff in our lives seems appropriate, right? But then we try to handle the “little” things on our own – surely we can handle them. No need to bother God!

Have you ever asked yourself “What’s big to God?”

Big things might appear to be cancer, divorce, terrorist attacks, destructive weather, who knows? While smaller things are the day to day occurrences; a broken washing machine, repairs on the car, problems at work, the kids’ friends, too much month and not enough money. These are the things we try to handle on our own; coming to our own conclusions; working out our own answers.

But what is “big” to God? He is the one who created the universe, who has been ever present from eternity past to eternity future, who mapped the planets, the sun, moon and stars; He created the earth and everything in it. What is “big stuff” to Him? Our “big” things barely make a blip on His radar screen however He tells us to bring everything too Him, that we may find help in time of need.

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 CEV

Two key words in this verse are anything and everything – that’s what we are to bring to the Father with thankful hearts knowing that He has a plan.

God has never been caught off guard by any request – He knows before we ask but He still is waiting for us to ask. He’s never leaned over to Jesus and said “Boy, I didn’t see that one coming. That’s a surprise to me; I wonder what I’m going to do.” No! He knows exactly what we need and how to get it to us.

He wants to be included in every aspect of our lives; the big, the small and the in-between. He will bring peace to the devastated and joy to the heart broken, He will heal the headache and the broken toe. He will give you wisdom as you develop a new project and He will help you balance the household budget. Give Him the large, that you can’t handle and the small, that you shouldn’t handle, let Him have it all.

“We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. 15 Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:14-16 CEV

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Be Confident – Get Fired Up!

We’ve all done it I’m sure – at one point or another we have picked up our cup of what was something hot and now it’s lukewarm. We’ve ended up spitting it out. It’s disgusting!

Did you know that the Bible has something to say about people that are lukewarm?

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:15-20 NLT

It’s not ok to be a lukewarm Christian. Jesus is saying that He would rather we be cold over being lukewarm. He prefers that we be red-hot, on fire, Christians serving Him but if not, don’t do it half way. Don’t fake it – that gives Christianity a bad name. Live a life that is distinguished – live different, set apart so that people will know that our life counts for God.

I was teaching on these very verses once in Phoenix and I had a woman come up to me at the end of the service. She was upset with me. She had been trying to get her husband to live a more “Christian” life. He was there and heard me say that God would rather us be cold than lukewarm. She thought I was giving him permission to continue living the way he was without making any changes.

These verses tell us that the Lord wants us to make an honest evaluation of the way we are living. We “think” we’re fine but it’s really the opposite. Without Christ directing our lives, we are in a miserable condition. Through the work of the Holy Spirit we can be all that our Father intends for us.

“I thank God for you whenever I think of you. 4 I always have joy as I pray for all of you. 5 It is because you have told others the Good News from the first day you heard it until now. 6 I am sure that God Who began the good work in you will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again.” Philippians 1:3-6 NLV

Since it’s God who is doing the work in us we don’t need to “try” and live the life that God’s wants us too; we just need to yield to Him and let Him continue to do the work He has started. When our confidence placed in Him and not in ourselves we won’t become lukewarm. I’ve been a cold Christian, a lukewarm one and one that is fired up. I like fired up the best.

Jesus is waiting for us to give Him access to our lives. He won’t push His way in. He is standing at the door waiting to fellowship with us. He wants us to open the door and welcome Him into our home, into our life. He desires to develop a friendship and companionship with us. So many times this verse is used as a verse on salvation but it is written to us as Christians. It conveys the depth of relationship that God wants to have with us.

Don’t be lukewarm. Don’t leave a bad taste. Be confident in God. Get fired up!

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Oil & Wine

When we first moved to Rio Rico and began working to make this house our home we quickly became acquainted with the hard, stony, clay infused ground. I don’t think we have ever lived anywhere with soil as hard as here.

It was necessary to soak it for several days, a slow soak, and then use a pick to break through. When the footers were dug for our courtyard wall it took several men, several days to dig deep enough to have a trench that would hold the concrete and rebar for the foundation. When I decided I wanted a flower and vegetable garden we had to mix in many bags of a top soil/garden soil mixture just to provide a good environment for them to grow.

Hard ground. Stony earth. Both of these prevent proper growth of the seeds that are planted. To have a good and healthy growing environment the soil needs to be broken up, the rocks removed and good earth mixed in. The same is true of our hearts.

“The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.” Mark 4:16-17 NLT

I know what it’s like to work with hard soil, the time it takes to get a good harvest and I know what it’s like to have an unproductive heart and the time it takes to see a good harvest there, as well.

” I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,  and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’” Hosea 10:12 NLT

For years I had memorized Bible verses for Sunday School contests and awards at Vacation Bible School but all they were, were words on a page. My heart was hard and there wasn’t much fruit. But I remember when I prayed “Lord, I want to know your Word. I want the Holy Spirit to make it come alive in me.”. It was only a couple days later, as I sat at my kitchen table, Bible open before me and I read…

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ” Philippians 4:19 NKJV

I had memorized this verse over twenty years earlier but it had never taken root. That day as I read it out loud, I began to cry. That Bible verse, that seed, planted in the soil of my softened heart, took root and immediately brought a harvest of hope. That was just one of many examples I could share with you.

If the soil in a garden isn’t tilled regularly it will harden. It needs to be watered and the sun baked surface needs to be broken up. The same is true of our lives. Our hearts can become hardened and the seed of God’s word won’t produce a good harvest. So, we must break it up with repentance and water it with prayer.

When our older children were in high school, they went to a winter camp with the church group. The kids came home and on a Sunday evening sang a song they had learned at camp. The words of that song are still captured in my heart. The song was written by Keith Green, My Eyes are Dry.

“My eyes are dry
My faith is old
My heart is hard
My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to You and dead to me

But what can be done
For an old heart like mine
Soften it up
With oil and wine
The oil is You, Your Spirit of love
Please wash me anew
With the wine of Your Blood

The good news is we don’t have to go through the dry spells. We can keep our hearts tender and always producing good fruit if we work the soil everyday. We do that with prayer and applying God’s word.

Reading the Bible and praying doesn’t get the Father to love us any more than He already does. But it does keep us in constant remembrance of His promises and HIs love.

Maybe you’re like I was, hard and unproductive. Let the oil and wine soft you again.

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To-Do List

What’s on your schedule? Do you have a calendar on the wall with a To-Do list or maybe it’s all in your smart phone or on your I-pad? Or you could be old fashioned like me and just have a list on a sheet of paper on the kitchen counter. Whatever it is, does it give you a sense of accomplishment to check things off when they are done?

I was reading about the Apostle Paul. He had a checklist.

“I don’t know what will happen to me in Jerusalem, but I must obey God’s Spirit and go there. 23 In every city I visit, I am told by the Holy Spirit that I will be put in jail and will be in trouble in Jerusalem. 24 But I don’t care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And that work is to tell the good news about God’s great kindness.” Acts 20:22-24 CEV

Paul had been out preaching all over Asia. He was preaching to Jews and non Jews alike. Telling everyone, everywhere he went about Jesus. That was all he had on his list.

One thing!

“I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.” Philippians 3:12-14 ERV

One very important thing. Now I’m sure he had other things to do each day. After all, he would go into new towns and needed to find a place to stay, food to eat. He would have people to look for, etc. but the one thing at the top of his list was to tell folks about God’s great kindness and the good news of Jesus.

He definitely knew how to prioritize. We do know that Paul wasn’t one to sit idle when he went to a new town. He would work and work hard. By trade, he was a tent maker. Now I’m not sure how difficult tent making was but I had an idea.

Dave used to make saddles and do leather work for a living. He had the advantage of modern equipment but there were a several times when he built a saddle completely by hand. No machine stitching, no pre-cut pieces. It was a labor of love and very time consuming. So it must have been for Paul.

I can see Paul sitting there will all of the pieces of a tent laid out before him, awl, needle, sinew in hand and with each stitch I imagine him telling people about Jesus. His one thing was to keep moving forward in telling the world about the amazing grace and saving power of Jesus.

Mary and Martha were two sisters who regularly had Jesus come to dinner in their home. Their brother Lazarus and Jesus were good friends. One day Jesus was in their living room teaching and Martha was in the kitchen preparing for the meal. She looked around for her sister and Mary was no where to be found. When Martha did find Mary she was sitting, listening to Jesus teach. Martha complained to the Lord.

“The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said. 40 Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!”

41 The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, 42 but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-32 CEV

This morning I woke up tired. I didn’t sleep well last night and as I came to my chair my mind began racing with all the things I need to get done before 11 am. I was going over my list and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart – “choose the ONE THING, choose what’s best”.

I will focus my thoughts on Jesus; I will center on His word and I will walk in His strength today.

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Letters of Love

A while back I was going through some boxes of old pictures in the shed. While I was sorting through things I also found some old letters. These letters were written by my grandfather to my Mom and Dad when I was just a toddler. My grandfather was an eloquent man and although there was nothing poetic in the conversation on the page, there was a sense of well being and genuine compassion.

Mom just couldn’t bring herself to tossing them out and so she gave them to me.

For the past several weeks I have been reading through some other old letters. These were written by the Apostle Paul. Most of the letters are short; only four or five chapters. Each one tells of his love for those he is writing too. They also tell of God’s great love and the blessings, the inheritance, He has provided for each and everyone of them.

These letters contain instruction, correction and encouragement, lots and lots of encouragement. I did a word search on the word encourage in the Contemporary English Version (CEV) and it was found thirty-nine times in those New Testament letters. Paul knew what it was like to battle discouragement and he wanted to bring hope and strength of mind to those he loved so dearly.

“Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.” 4 And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5 God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ.” Romans 15:3-5 CEV

There you have it – the Scriptures were written to teach us and encourage us.

There are some in this time of instant messages (IM), personal messages (PM), texts, emails and acronyms is the value of the written word. As a little girl, I remember going out to the mailbox and bringing in the letters to my Mom. How exciting it was when there was a card or letter for me!

When Dave and I were dating our relationship was long distance and I would hurry home from work each day, anticipating another letter. I still have all those letters in a box, they were priceless.

And I guess that’s why I have such a love for God’s word. He has taken the time to write to me personally. He word tells me of His great love and encourages me to excel in the things of life. His words bring me comfort when my heart is aching and He shares my joy when I am overwhelmed with excitement.

I envision the Father sitting down, pen in hand and filling the page with “Dear Kristi, I was thinking of you today and I just wanted to let you know I love you…”

“Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others. 2 Now make me completely happy! Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person. 3 Don’t be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:1-3 CEV

It is my prayer that each of you realize what a treasure we have – the written word of God. The Bible is our love letter – see how much the Father loves us! His word is for our encouragement.

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Everyone Needs a Cheerleader

And the fans go wild…

Do you remember your high school or college years when you would go to the “big game”? The teams would be engage in battle; the rivalry would be intense. Often the home team would be down in points and the cheerleaders would do their best to get everyone in the stands up on their feet and cheering for the players.

Hearing the crowd cheering for you can be game changing!

The thought of a cheering crowd is what came to mind as I was reading my Bible this morning.

“Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. If you enjoy these blessings, 2 then do what will make my joy complete: Agree with each other, and show your love for each other. Be united in your goals and in the way you think.” Philippians 2:1-2 ERV

Can you hear it from the grandstands of heaven? The cheers of encouragement coming from the mouth of Jesus; the Holy Spirit calling us in to the huddle and speaking words of kindness and mercy into our lives as he sends us out on the next play.

We are never in this Christian walk alone. God, our Father, owns the field, the lights, the ball and we can keep playing until we win!

“You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. 22 But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent. 23 But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.” Colossians 1:21-23 CEV

We are on the winning team. There’s no greater coach than the Holy Spirit. His job is to strengthen us and give us proper training through the power of God’s word. We are on a team with other Christians. We need each other to accomplish the goal that God has given us.

“…But if you live to please the Spirit, your harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life. 9 We must not get tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time. We must not give up. 10 When we have the opportunity to do good to anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” Galatians 6:8b-10 ERV

You may feel like it’s fourth down and you’re still nine yards from the goal but your front line is strong; there stands faith, joy, hope, mercy, peace and the Word. The gates of hell and all its players cannot prevail.

“But you, Lord, are a mighty soldier, standing at my side. Those troublemakers will fall down and fail— terribly embarrassed, forever ashamed.” Jeremiah 20:11 CEV

Run forward – all of heaven is cheering you on! You WIN!!!

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