Covenant

"But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds so they will understand them, and I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them. I will be their God, and they will be my people." (Hebrews 8:10, NLT)

I heard a message regarding this passage in 1984. I was serving on a Baptist Student Union mission team in Detroit, Michigan. I can't tell you the name of the church, but I remember clearly my BSU Director, Scott Brewer, bringing this message.  I've preached it myself a few times over the years.  To have God's law in our minds means that we know what to do. To have God's law in our hearts means that we want to do it.  Scott called it, "The know-so and the want-to".  The Spirit of God will guide us to know what to do and better yet, will give us the desire to do it.  Over the years, I've found this to be true.  I've experienced it--though I've also, at times, rebelled against it.

Today, let's be open to the Spirit's directives.

Character

"Until the time came to fulfill his word, the Lord tested Joseph's character. Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. Joseph was put in charge of all the king's possessions." --Psalm 105:19-21)

I love this description of Joseph that we find tucked away in Psalm 105.  Here we find a revealing of purpose--the reason for Joseph's dry season.  Joseph had languished in prison, serving time for a crime that he did not commit.  Why would God allow such a thing?  Where is justice? 

Don't we ask the same questions when we suffer?  Why wasn't the heart attack diagnosed earlier? Why would God allow ten days of suffering? Why?  Psalm 105 answers with one clear word--CHARACTER!  It's of note that Tina's heart attack went undiagnosed for ten days. Ten is the number of testing.  I shared with the men that I meet with on Tuesday night that this experience has redirected my focus.  I'm much more attentive to Tina than I was before.  I'm committed to making sure that every day is special, a day of love and laughter and not taken for granted.

What about you?  How will your times of suffering grow your character?  As Tina is fond of saying, "God never wastes a hurt!"

Patience

"Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised." (Hebrews 6:15)

The New Testament uses the word "patient" to carry the meaning of, "persevering patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles".  Like Abraham, we are to persevere difficult circumstances while awaiting God's promise.  It's usually not easy to patiently wait on God's deliverance but it's the preferred way.  Instead of stepping forward to solve a problem in your own strength, find out what God intends to do and wait for Him to do it.  How do you get a promise from God?  Read the Bible, asking God for insight into your situation.  Look for corrections that you need to make.  Look for revelations of God's character.  Finally, look for promises.  What does God say He will do? 

"The anchor of hope (Heb. 6:19) actually keep us afloat; the anchor of self-pity, self-righteousness, or self-anything, will drown us." --Scotty Smith

Warn

"You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called 'today,' so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God." (Hebrews 3:13, NLT)

Sin is deceptive. The scriptures speak of it as a trap, a lure, and an enticement.  That's why we need to "warn" each other.  Otherwise, we may fall prey to the addictive nature of the desires of our flesh.

The word, "warn", in the text is the Greek word paracaleo.  the King James Version translates it "exhort".  The New American Standard Version translates it as "encourage".  The literal translation of paracaleo is, "to call to one's side".  Included in the meaning is the purpose of admonishing, begging, consoling, strengthening, comforting, and teaching.  The way we warn each other every day is by coming alongside each other and speaking truth and love. 

Let's think about it this way:

Today I will . . .

Walk with you. I will come alongside.
Affirm you. I will remind you of how God sees you.
Rescue you. Your problems are my problems.
Nag you. I will speak the truth in love over and over again.

Grace

"He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things." (Psalm 103:3-5)

I like the verbs in these verses: forgives, heals, ransoms, surrounds, and fills.  It's almost like there is an outline of the progression of grace. 

He forgives sin.
He heals disease.
He ransoms from death.
He surrounds with love and mercy.
He fills with good things.

He moves us from our sin and it's consequence (disease and death) to what we don't deserve (love, mercy, and good things).  This is the Gospel and the unmerited favor that Jesus lavishes upon all who will call  upon His name. Sin deserves death but through God's great love and mercy, we receive "good things".  Praise The Lord!

No Fear!

"Because God's children are human beings--made of flesh and blood--Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form.  For only as a human being could he die, and only be dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death.  Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying." (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Did you know that we're not supposed to be afraid of dying?  Jesus' death and resurrection delivers us from the fear of dying.  Because Jesus rose again from the grave--we can have confidence that we too will rise again. 

For the past two weeks, Tina and I, have experienced a raging storm that has brought us face to face with the frailty of physical life.  Even now, back in the office, I find myself distracted by Tina's condition.  Is she alright?  Does she need me to come home?  [2 minute break while I call home . . . ok, she is fine]  Fear is the real enemy!  It will rob us of peace, contentment, and the miracle of living in the present.  For Tina and I, we're focusing on making today the best today that it can possibly be.  We're trying not to worry about yesterday or tomorrow.  We're living right now! 

Let me invite you to join us in practicing the Serenity Prayer, "Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time".  Let's get started!  Live!

Mercy

"He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy." (Titus 3:5)

Praise God for His mercy!  The Greek Lexicon defines mercy as, "kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them".  God sees us in our misery and affliction and wants to help us.  That's Good News!  Even better than God wanting to help, is the fact that God is able to help.  That's Great News! 

Now today, as mercy recipients, let's show that very same mercy.  Look for the miserable and the afflicted and help them.  I'm sure we will all encounter at least one person today who needs a miracle.  Be the miracle!

Focus

"Whoever pursues godliness and unfailing love will find life, godliness, and honor." (Proverbs 21:21)

What are you pursuing today?  What is your day going to be about?  You don't have to be a victim to your circumstances.  You get to choose the focus of your day.  We often bounce around from moment to moment reacting to people and problems without taking the time to actually live.  It's as if someone else is living our life for us.  We're on autopilot and our thoughts and emotions come spilling out without much consideration. 

The Proverb today suggests an alternative to merely trudging through the day.  Live on purpose!  Pursue godliness and unfailing love!  Go deeper with God and make a difference in someone's life today.  Live! Laugh! Love!

Promises

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to each us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Read back through the verse above and you will see a wonderful collection of benefits available to anyone willing to spend some time in God's Word.  We would all benefit from the any one item in the list and yet all are promised.  Don't miss out on God's wisdom! Don't try to live in your own understanding!  Get in the Word!

“We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.” --John R. W. Stott

Patience

"Beg the Lord your God to show us what to do and where to go." (Jeremiah 42:3)

"Ten days later, the Lord gave his reply to Jeremiah." (Jeremiah 42:7).

The people asked the prophet Jeremiah to seek the Lord on their behalf that they might know what to do.  They had a grave situation in front of them and their lives hung in the balance.  "Beg the Lord your God to show us what to do and where to go."  What I find interesting is that the answer to their prayer did not arrive for ten days.  How often do we pray and then wait ten days (or however long is necessary) to get an answer from God?  I'm afraid that we give up long before we get a response.  We might not wait two days, much less 10, for a response before we guess and do what is best in our judgment.  I wonder how many mistakes I have made simply because I was not willing to patiently wait for God's answer to my prayer. 

Today if you need God's intervention or God's guidance, give Him time.  He is at work and His time is the right time.

Make it Count

"Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

The verse literally says to let our days be counted.  It means that every day is a gift and every day matters.  The instruction is to make sure that we don't waste even one of these precious days that God has provided.  I suppose that is wisdom--to make each day count.

Several years ago I taped the Prayer for Serenity into the front cover of my preaching Bible.  I often read it before I step up to teach the Word.  It reminds me of God's activity and my need to simply submit to what He is already doing.  I'll share it with the hope that it might help you number your day.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

A Heritage of Faith

"You have the faith of your mother, Eunice, and your grandmother, Lois." (2 Timothy 1:5)

I have two thoughts when I read this verse. #1--Am I living out the faith of my parents and grandparents? #2--Am I passing along the faith that I've been given to my children?

I've been given a great faith. My dad was a pastor and if I'm not mistaken my dad's grandfather was a pastor.  My mom and dad invested many years in serving God through established churches as well as starting new missions. In addition I have a couple of books on my shelf that describe faith experiences of my ancestors.  Allow me to share from one of those books, One Corner of Heaven, which is a history of Floyd County, Texas.

"A few years after Carr's Chapel was built, the L.A. Williams family moved into our midst. True to custom, several families soon called on them and invited them to Sunday School and church. Though not affiliated with any denomination, they began church attendance. When the revival was held that summer, their third child, Aaron, about nine years old, surprised us on Sunday morning when he walked down the aisle alone and made his decision for Christ. Truly a little child led them, for his father soon followed, then his mother and the other children, Raymond, Lois, Larue, Chloma, and Aldine. It was a glorious sight as the entire family stood at the altar rail, accepting Christ and joining the church."

One of those children who accepted Christ that Sunday morning in 1909 happens to be my mom's father, and my grandfather (Raymond).  I've had the honor of standing at the altar rail of Carr's Chapel in the very place where my grandfather and great-grandfather found Jesus. I'm grateful for my heritage of faith and for a community of believers that cared enough to invite a new family to church. I'm here because of them.

Giving

"Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.  Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them." (1 Timothy 6:17-18)

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out,"Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!" The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."

Money

"For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10)

Money is essential for living life as we know it and yet it can trip us up if we are not careful.  Notice that it's not money itself that is the problem but the "love of money".  I think that's why it's a good idea to hold financial resources loosely in our hands.  We are to be generous givers, allowing money to slip easily through our fingers.  The danger, of course, is that we will replace trust in God with trust in money.

Today, look for an opportunity to bless someone.  Perhaps we can sacrifice in order to be answered prayer in someone's life.

“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.”  --Ronald Reagan

Love

"The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith." (1 Timothy 1:5)

Today we get an inside look at Paul's intent as the Holy Spirit inspired him to write to Timothy.  Paul says his purpose was to fill Christians with love.  His purpose is not to fill us with knowledge. It's not to fill us with pride. He isn't trying to fill us with religion.  No, Paul is writing in order that we might be filled to overflowing with love.

That said, Paul suggests three sources for the love that is to fill us.

#1--a Pure Heart. A pure heart is a heart that is clean--one that has been purified by fire.

#2--a Clear Conscience. A clear conscience is one that is good--one that discerns that slightest error.

#3--a Sincere Faith. A literal translation of "sincere faith" would be "undisguised conviction". 

Love comes as we allow our heart, soul, and mind to be brought into complete submission to the work of the Holy Spirit.  As we allow the love of God to transform us, we will in fact become the love of God.

Power

"By my great power I have made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose." (Jeremiah 27:5)

I think sometimes we forget how big God is in all of His greatness.  He owns it all!  And if He owns it all, then He can give it all!  Your need, whatever it might be, is a drop in God's heavenly bucket.  In an instant, God can reach into your world and solve all of your problems . . . in a single moment!  He is a big God!

So what is He doing and why hasn't He met your need?  That's simple.  God is solving a bigger problem.  He is teaching you how to trust Him, how to love Him, and how to come to Him.  You want your needs met and God wants to meet you.  You want to live a life of comfort and ease and God just wants you to begin to live.  He knows that what you see as the big problem is just a symptom. God wants to heal you through and through, completely. 

Let me encourage you to make God the focus of your day.  Meet Him later this morning for coffee.  Share your hopes and dreams with Him and listen to His ideas for your abundant life.  Don't get in a hurry, and don't watch the clock--just get lost in His presence.  Experience God today!

The Valley of Weeping

"When they walk through the Vally of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains!" (Psalm 84:6)

Have you ever walked through the Valley of Weeping? I'm sure we all have experienced times of devastating grief when a loved one dies, a cancer grows, a job fails, or a relationship skips town. I often say that these difficult experiences either make us "bitter" or they make us "better". When the "better" happens, it's like pools of refreshing blessing to a thirsty soul. I've gone swimming in those pools, more than once. What I thought was going to be the death of me turns out to be my rebirth. Today, if you are wandering around lost in the Valley of Weeping, don't lose heart. God never wastes a hurt! He sees you and even now He is leading you to a refreshing spring. Keep going!

God's House

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord." (Psalm 84:1-2)

Today is a good day to head over to God's place and spend some time with Him.  The psalmist "faints with longing" to experience the house of the Lord.  When we understand the goodness of God and the gifts he gives, we too will long to enter His presence.  We bring our neediness and our brokenness and God restores us and provides for us.  He is a good God!

Let me encourage you to carve out some time today to hang out with God. Blessing awaits!

Think Clearly

"But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

Today, let us live in the light of faith--trusting God to watch over us, protect us, and provide for us.

Today, let us live in the light of love--receiving God's love until our cup runs over spilling love into lives all around us.

Today, let us live in the light of salvation--confidently expressing our status as children of God.  There's no need to defend ourselves, argue, or try to justify.  All of us who have joined Jesus are declared righteous.

Faith! Love! Salvation!

Think clearly and Live clearly.

Squashed

"The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 'Go down to the shop where clay pots and jars are made. I will speak to you while you are there.' So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so the potter squashed the jar into a lump of clay and started again. Then the Lord gave me this message: 'O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand.'"  (Jeremiah 18:1-6)

Have you ever had to start over? There are times, I suppose, when we make such a mess of things that God chooses to start all over with us.  We become a squashed pot.  I've been there and perhaps you have as well.  The encouragement from the text is not that we're squashed, but rather that God begins anew.  We're not thrown away--we're reshaped, restored, reborn, renewed, and revived!  If you've been squashed, it's time to get up and start again.

“When you have nothing left but God,you have more than enough to start over again.”  --Mother Teresa