Thought of the Day !!

The LORD is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

The LORD can and will be our light and salvation just as much today as He was in the days of King David. He wants to protect us and care for us. His ultimate act of caring is our salvation. With Him on our side, whom shall we fear?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing."
Psalm 16:1-2 (NIV)

Apart from God, we would have nothing. Think about it. If you create something, God gave you the imagination and talents to be used. If you learn something, God gave you a brain to store intelligience. If you do anything, God gave you the body, the mind and the power.

I once used an illustration in a sermon about some scientists that believed that they had gotten so smart that they didn't need God anymore. God decided to have a little competition with them. He told them that He'd created man from dust, and since they were becoming so advanced in cloning and other such things, He would simply leave them alone if they could create a new human being from scratch like He did. They got together and discussed it and believed that they had the power to do just that. So they agreed. They went out to gather the dust of the earth, and God spoke down to them saying, "Hey, make your own dust. That's mine."

I wonder how many times a day I take for granted what's around me. Apart from God, I have NOTHING.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength."
Judges 7:2 (NLT)

God had called Gideon to rise up against Israel's enemy, Midian. He had gathered 32,000 men to fight, but God saw that if they all went to battle, things wouldn't be so clear about who's power it was that won the battle. God knew that in their minds they would question whether it was really God or just a really good fighting contingent. So God told Gideon to send some home. Actually, all but 300 hundred were sent away so that there would be no doubt who's strength was being used.

Often times when God does something through us or works a miracle in our presence we can have the tendency to explain it away. But God wants us to understand that we cannot get through this life on our own without Him and His power. He is the one who helps us fend off the devil. He's the one that performs miracles around us (some small and some huge). He's the one that will lovingly guide us if we'll pay attention and acknowledge Him.

Today, ask yourself how God might be using your weakness to do something great in the world. The things you do may not seem great to you. But if you're listening and living by His guidance, you are a part of something so great that none of us may realize just how great until we meet Him face to face.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 8:4 (NLT)

Paul has been going around asking for donations for the church in Jerusalem, for they've come upon hard times. As he writes to the Corinthians, he tells them about his experience with the churches in Macedonia. They are poor churches as well. But when Paul came to them, they "overflowed in rich generosity." When these churches gave, they gave because they wanted to. They were not prodded or guilted into giving. Paul writes that they gave of their own free will.

This is like going to India, which I think we would all agree is an economically depressed area, and asking for money to be taken to Africa, another economically depressed area. So why did these Macedonians give so freely? They gave because they saw their giving as a privilege that God was allowing them to partake in. They saw it as something that they could do in return for the great gift that Jesus had given them in freeing them from their sins and giving them eternal life.

Why is it that these churches "begged...again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift..." of serving? And more importantly, why don't we?

This passage is about how the churches in Macedonia gave their money freely. But never think that God wants your money only. God wants all of who we are. That means that we are called to give of our money, our time, our talents and our efforts.

What would this world be like if we all were to beg to have the gracious privilege of serving Christ...and then go out and do it?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.
2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)

There are several things that can keep us from knowing Jesus better. First we may not have time for him. We might give all sorts of time to activities that feed our desires such as ballgames, watching television, surfing the net, working in the yard, etc., which takes up so much of our time that we don't have much left to devote to him.

Second, we might hate the idea of change. We could be scared that the more we get to know Jesus, the more we'll have to give up?

Third, we might be scared of what Jesus would ask us to do. Maybe you don't want to preach, or give up your job, or have to go to another country, or speak openly about Christ, or be a spiritual leader in your community. Maybe the thought of doing something great for Christ seems like much too daunting a task.

There might be some other reason in your life like low self-esteem, misunderstanding, laziness, depression, etc. But know that all the great Christian leaders had the same excuses to choose from, whether it be time or depression. Many struggled tremendously with these things. And it was that relationship with Jesus that got them through and brought joy to their lives.

God just wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to hear from you and speak to you. He wants you to learn about Him. He's given you His Word to teach you. He's given you His Son to show you that there's a way out of a sinful life. And He's given you the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Allow yourself to be guided and you will mature in your faith. Put away any excuses that are keeping you from growing closer to your God who loves you more than anyone on earth and you'll find riches in this life and the life to come. Walk with Jesus on a daily basis and He will walk with you. Do these and you will be "living a godly life".

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.
Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)

Let's remember that nobody's perfect (including ourselves).

In the love of Christ,
greg

Love Letter from our Father

From www.fathersloveletter.com

Thought of the Day !!

Our devotion this morning comes from Bibleleague.org.

Romans 14:19 -- Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (NIV)

Be an agent of peace today. Relate to your spouse and your fellow workers in a way that benefits them. In an age where gossip and slander abound, you will stand out as a true friend. What efforts are you making that might lead to peace?

I like the idea of being an agent of peace. I hope we'll all take the question about what efforts we're making seriously as we improve our day and become blessed in the process.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their sorrow.
Isaiah 49:13 (NLT)

Sorrow comes in this world that has been drastically changed by sin. We know that life won't always be a party. But God looks down on the human race...His children...and has compassion. He has comforted his people many times in the past and will do so many more times in the future.

Sing for joy because in the good times...well...things are good. And in the sorrowful times, we have a God who is there to comfort us.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."
Mark 10:13-15 (NLT)

Jesus was telling us that we must learn to be more like children in some areas. He doesn't want us to learn how to be childish, which is a selfish kind of behavior. He wants us to learn to be more childlike. I take this to mean that to enter the Kingdom of God we must regain some of that lost innocence that we once had as child.

Children can teach us unconditional love and unwavering trust. Have you ever noticed a two kids that one day leave each other mad, claiming to "hate" each other only to be playing again the next day? I remember that being me. I remember that having a friend to play ball with the next day was much more important than holding on to whatever it was that caused me to be mad the day before.

You can also see complete trust in a small child's face who asks his/her daddy to throw them up in the air...higher...higher...higher. They may have much more faith in the ability of the daddy to catch them than even the daddy himself. This is because deep inside of them they trust that nothing bad can happen to them when they're in their daddy's arms.

When Jesus tells his disciples (and us) that "the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children", he means that it belongs to those who can recapture, or learn the kind of innocent love and faith that sometimes it seems only a child can have.

Somewhere along the line we were betrayed, the world brought about harsh realities, we were taught immoral or unethical ideals or we maybe we got bitter or untrusting for some other reason. It's time to let go of the problems of this world when it comes to our Father in Heaven and reach out to him like a child reaches out to a parent he/she trusts with his/her life. For God won't let go. He'll never leave. He'll always be right there. It's because He loves you so much. And Amen for that!

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed."
Acts 13:36 (NIV)

I read a devotion this morning that told me to replace David's name with my own and ask if this epitaph could still be said. I found this to be a good point. Do you think it could be said about yourself?

There's an old poem that you may have heard on one, or even many times, called the dash. The gist of this poem is that when we die there is a date of birth and a date of death placed on our headstones. But it's the dash, or what happened between those years that is truly important.

When your funeral is held, what could truthfully be said about you. Will someone be able to say that you "served God's purpose in [your] own generation"? Will people say that you were a person of faith? Of Love? Of values?

Will people remember you as someone who accomplished much in wealth and prestige and honor among men and women no matter what the cost? Or will it be able to be said about you that no matter how much wealth and prestige and honor you had, you were always guided by and thankful to God.

When your dash is being discussed at your eulogy, will the person that knew you the least be able to say the same thing that the one that knew you the best, and that is that you loved God and loved neighbor.

May God bless you today as you become a blessing to others in His service. May love and joy and peace be the gifts that you receive.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT)

"Nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless".

Do you ever feel like you've failed in ministry or trying to do something for God or that God wanted you to do? I know I have felt that way in the past. Now I know that if God is calling me to do something and I try...giving it my best effort...I will always succeed.

God called the prophets of old to give the people a message of repentance. Jonah's audience heard the message and turned to God. Many others did not.

When Jeremiah and Isaiah and others were preaching what the Lord told them to preach, the Israelites didn't listen as well. Do you think that these prophets ever woke up and didn't want to get out of bed because they felt like they were failing God?

I know that there have been times in my own life when I've felt like part of my ministry failed, only to later come to an understanding of how a few, or even one person, were affected by God through it. And even if one seed is planted, is it not a success?

Does God call us to failure? Heavens no. He calls us to do the things that we can do if we're willing to try and work through His power. So never think yourself a failure if you're trying your best to listen to God and do His will...even if the results are not what you expect or hope for.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.
Proverbs 12:24 (NLT)

A simple common sense proverb to think about today.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Today's "Thought of the Day !!" comes from Bibleleague.org. As I read it this morning, I thought about how it relates to a problem that most people I know struggle with (including myself).

Verse of the day October 14, 2008

Proverbs 18:8 -- The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. (NIV)

When you gossip, it's like feeding your soul high-fat junk food. Who gets hurt when you gossip? With what spiritual "health food" can you replace gossip?

Let us strive to feed our soul more spiritually healthy food, food that lifts us and others up, as opposed to some of the junk we can feed it from time to time.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Notice that Paul doesn't say that in some things...or in good things...or in righteous acts...or when we're good...or when things are going well...or when we go to church...God works for the good of those who love him. Instead this Scripture tells us that in "ALL" things God works for the good of those who love him. God is always working for our good even when we seem to be messing things up. I've witnessed people come back to the Church because they experienced God's Holy Spirit in such a loving way through others in a time of trial. I've witnessed people who went through divorce (something truly bad) only to be helped by the God that they loved to find a new and even better life.

My point is that God doesn't create the disasters in our lives. Either we do...or they just happen. But God is there always. For those who love Him, God will weave His love and goodness into their lives in some form or fashion. Often times we're blinded by the disaster though and do not see the good that can come out of it. Hopefully though, later on we can look back and see where God was at work.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Vacation

There will be no devotions sent out next week. Michelle and I will be on vacation. I pray that you will be blessed. Talk to you again after next week.

Thought of the Day !!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

God has had amazing plans for you. He knew you before you were born and called to you before you even understood what what was going on. His plan to be in a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus is the same for all of us. His plans for how we will live this relationship out and how we will be blessed, as well as be a blessing to others, are different for each of us. But there is no doubt that He does have plans for us.

It's up to us to choose His plans for our life over our own. His plans are plans to prosper; plans filled with hope and a future. Our own plans are not always bad plans. But when they don't allow for the plan God has for us, they will ultimately lead to disaster.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king.
1 Peter 2:17 (NLT)

I've heard before that respect is something that has to be earned. I've heard that respect comes with "the job". I've heard that I should respect my elders. But what exactly does it mean to respect someone?

It means to give special regard to someone or place them in high esteem. In my opinion this is a natural part of Christian love. So should people have to earn my respect? I imagine not if I'm trying to live a Christ-like life.

Sharing respect for everyone might also mean that we would treat them the way we'd like to be treated. It means not looking down on others. It means giving people the benefit of the doubt.

Does this mean sometimes we might be disappointed because someone we respected let us down? Of course it does. But love does not come without a cost. And we cannot control the actions of others...no matter how much we try. But of course we could always look at it from another side. Jesus showed us respect and we've let him down before. But it doesn't stop him from loving us.

So show respect to everyone because it's the Christian thing to do and because it's exactly what Christ did for you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives. Anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human rules but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NLT)

Think about your own life. What's in it that is impure? What would you not want your grandmother to know about you? What would you most like to hide? What is most detestable to God? Can you think of any habit or ways of thinking that you've allowed to go on even though deep down you know that they are wrong? Are there desires in your heart that are impure?

God has called us to live as holy people, who are righteous...or right with God. We are unholy, or unrighteous when we defile our lives with the things that the devil loves to see in us and that God hates.

Living impure lives means more than simply messing up from time to time or making mistakes or poor choices. Living impure lives means that we allow the ugliness in us to remain without lifting a finger to do anything about it.

So can you think of any ways you might be rejecting God by allowing impure thoughts, motives, words, actions or lifestyle choices to persist in your life?

If these remain, they can slowly rot away at you. But if you choose to ask for help, God will help you remove the rotteness from your life.

In the love of Christ,
greg