Thought of the Day !!

Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"
Luke 17:17-18 (NLT)

This is the ending of a story where Jesus heals 10 lepers, at least one of which being a Samaritan. They were told to go to the priests, and on the way they were each healed. But only one came back to thank the man who had made them whole.

I once read the story of Edward Spencer who in 1860 risked his life to jump into Lake Michigan and save 17 people from a sinking passenger steamer. In his later years a reporter came to him to do a follow up piece about the wreck and his heroics. He stated that what he remembered most is that not one of the 17 people that he saved that night ever thanked him.

Spencer risked his life for those people, but Jesus gave his for us. How many of us are like the other 9 lepers and go on about our business?

Thanking Jesus for what he has done for us isn't merely saying the words or even sending a thank-you card. It's living a life of thanks and obedience. It's remembering daily what Christ has done and the love that brought Him to do it. Of these two stories, out of 27 people only 1 showed a thankful heart. I wonder how many of us Christians live our lives expecting more that we deserve instead of being grateful for what we don't?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Don't speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize each other and condemn each other, then you are criticizing and condemning God's law.
James 4:11 (NLT)

God's ultimate law is the law of love. He commands us to love Him and love each other. There are no laws more important than these. When we are hateful to others, whether they deserve it or not, we sin and break God's law. For we are all deserving of worse than we receive from God. But instead of the punishment we deserve, we received grace.

You will have many opportunities today to be hateful or negative or to say bad things about the people around you: the officer who gave you a ticket, the co-worker who laughed at your idea, the cashier who didn't treat you as you thought you deserved, the person who owes you money. Or you can choose to forgive and be kind, showing the love of Christ to all the people you meet, instead of just the ones who are nice to you.

Which kind of person would Jesus want us to be? Which will we be today?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."
John 17:4 (NIV)

This is of course Jesus speaking here. But who out there believes that Jesus was the only one called to bring the Father glory?

Many people in this world live in a fashion that brings no glory to God. Many in this world seek the attention and credit that should be bestowed upon his/her Father in Heaven. And then there are those humble people who never try to receive the glory for the great things they do, for they do them to honor Jesus and the one who sent Him.

Which one would you be? Which one would others say you are? Do you believe God is happy with the glory that is brought to Him because of you?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Today's "Thought" comes from Bibleleague.org. When I read it, I thought it was appropriate. So I'm passing it along. Enjoy.

In the love of Christ,
greg


Verse of the day July 28, 2009

Ephesians 4:29 -- Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (NLT)

It can be hard not to use bad language these days. But bad language only makes you look bad. Is everything you say "good and helpful?"

Thought of the Day !!

Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3 (NLT)

Think about the things you do in ministry. They can be done for yourself, so that others would take notice and pat you on the back. They can be done out of guilt or because you feel like the only way to stop someone from nagging you about them is to do them. Good things can be done for bad reasons.

They can also be done for the right reasons. Your works/actions/deeds/ministry can be done out of a desire to satisfy God. They can be done out of a sense that God has done so much for you that you want to do what you can back. They can be done because you want your Father in Heaven to be proud of you. They can be done because you know that this is how God created you and you want to fulfill your purpose on earth and receive the rewards in Heaven.

When we commit what we do to the Lord, we will be successful. Even if we seem to fail, when we are faithful to God's will in our lives we will succeed. Sometimes it may not seem like we've done much. But we are not able to see the big picture as God does. So "Commit your [ministry] to the LORD, and your plans will succeed."

In the love of Christ,
greg

Afraid

Was awakened less than an hour ago, not by the hard rain coming down, not by the thunder or the lightning, but by Jewel (my Scottie Terrier) burrowing herself under my pillow. The loud noise had awakened her and scared her. So from the foot of the bed to under my head she went. Then the memory of a scared little boy who wanted to get in bed with mommy and daddy came back to me and I did the only thing I could do. I touched her, let her know I was there and that everything was going to be alright.

Is that not what God wants to do when we're afraid. Even if it's 3 in the morning.

Thought of the Day !!

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

Some people are born to lead. Others have leadership thrust upon them. Or so it is said.

I believe that God gives the gift of leadership to some in His Church, while others are asked to follow. Some are gifted to be Sunday School teachers, Pastors, Small Group leaders, Chairs of Committees and so on. So the question could be asked if we can be leaders if not called by God to some sort of position or vocation.

The answer is yes. There are also spiritual leaders who lead others, sometimes unknowingly, by their witness and a life lived out in humble service to Christ. This is evangelism in its most basic form...and often times its most effective.

Think about how you can be a better leader today by leading by example. Maybe you will plant a seed or harvest what has been planted by someone before you. God bless us all in our endeavors.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
Proverbs 20:22

Revenge is not as sweet as people want to think. When you get it, you don't feel better. You can actually begin feeling worse. This is because God may use your conscience to show you where you were wrong.

Forgiveness is the real answer, not revenge. When you forgive someone, God forgives you, and you leave all the built up hate and frustration with the other person. And if they choose not to forgive, then it's them who will suffer, not you. So don't allow the desire for the revenge you may or may not ever actually accomplish ruin your days. Instead free yourself from the anger and hatred that control you. You will be much happier then.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15

Forgiveness is very important to God. And who would blame Him for this? After all, look at what He went through to show us forgiveness. I don't know about you, but I've never gone to such lengths to forgive someone. I have had to swallow my pride before. I have had to step out on a limb and trust again. But I have yet to die for anyone's forgiveness. What about you?

These words come immediately after Jesus teaches us how to pray the Lord's Prayer. I think something we should take notice of is the fact that when he finishes the prayer, there's only one point that he reiterates. He doesn't mention anything about our daily bread or being led into temptation. He simply restates the fact that we have to forgive.

Do you think Jesus is trying to tell us something? Could it be the fact that in this list of very important things that he's teaching here, that forgiveness is a special attribute that we need to understand?

Or maybe he just understood the fact that this would be the hardest part of the prayer for most people to digest. But the fact simply remains. If we want that great gift from our Father in Heaven, we must be willing to do the same for others here on earth.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.
Colossians 4:5 (NLT)

We are given more opportunities to share the love of Christ than we realize. Each day we go out the door, answer the phone or see someone while picking up the mail, we are given an opportunity. The other person may be a Christian, and she/he may not. The question is "Are we making the most of our opportunities?"

Many of us go through life looking out for ourselves and thinking about what best fits our lives. And in doing so we miss opportunities for ministry. If I'm thinking about myself, I continue driving so I won't be late for my appointment instead of stopping to help a lady on the side of the road with a flat. If I'm thinking of myself, I judge how well the church service went and what I got out of it instead of how I was able to bring joy to God and be used by Him to help someone else. If I'm thinking about myself, I dominate the conversation with someone instead of listening. If I'm thinking of myself, I get angry with the neighbor that just drove through my yard and messed it up instead of forgiving and showing him/her the gift of forgiveness.

Life is all about opportunities. I know I miss more than my fair share. But by the grace of God, He keeps bringing them my way. What about you? Can you see where you missed an opportunity or two this week to share Christ's love?

Let's be more intentional about seeking God's will in our lives instead of our own will. And it will be then that we will be enabled to do real ministry. It will be then that we will find much more joy than when we are looking out for ourselves.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Do you ever feel like you're being taken for granted? Do people simply assume you'll do this or that? Do people just figure you'll clean up their messes and mistakes? Do people assume that they can treat you one way and expect you to treat them with kid gloves?

If so, just imagine how God feels when we dedicate our lives to Him in word and then dedicate them to ourselves in deed. How have you taken God for granted lately?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 (NIV)

I don't know about you, but as I read this, I hear someone who's excited about living for Christ. I wish we'd all make this our own motto. But the truth is, I find that many people get more excited over worldly things than they do living for Christ. A winning season may seem more exciting than a big crowd at church. An upcoming vacation may seem more exciting than an opportunity for ministry. Talking about a new car may seem more exciting than sharing words of encouragement to a shut-in. Playing on the computer may seem more exciting than reading the Bible. Going home and eating lunch may seem more exciting than going down to the altar to pray at the end of the church service.

I know how it feels to get excited when my team wins. I also know how much time I spend thinking about, planning and talking about vacations. There's nothing wrong with these things. But there's nothing that compares with the greatness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and knowing you're doing His work here on earth. When you know you've made a difference in someones life and feel the awesome power of the Holy Spirit, you just can't help but get excited.

Let's all try to get a little more excited about Jesus in our lives. I feel like if we do, then He'll be more excited about us.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

Let us humble ourselves and pray and seek God's face and turn from all our wicked ways today.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of Heaven's Armies.
I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the LORD.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Psalm 84:1-2 (NLT)

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of Heaven's Armies!” For the Israelites traveling in the wilderness the dwelling place would have been the Ark of the Covenant where the stone tablets with the Law of Moses presided. Later, the Temple became the dwelling place. What the Psalmist is speaking of here is the home of God. And it’s at this place that we come to worship, whether we call it a synogogoue or a church or something else. It's wherever two or three are gathered for the purposes of praising God and coming closer to Him.

Read this portion of the Psalm again. Do you hear the passion in it? Is this how you feel about worship when you enter in on Sunday mornings or whatever day and time you meet with others in God's name? Are we as eager to encounter God as the Psalmist seems to be here? May we meditate on these answers as we go about our day.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 15:7

People are so different. How many ways can you think of that we are totally different? There are different skin colors, genders, lifestyles, aptitudes, ways of thinking, ways of talking, ways of walking, interests, skills, personalities, agendas, likes, dislikes, eating habits, sleeping habits, etc.

But no matter how different we are, we are all loved the same by God. And that is why God sent Jesus for all of us. That is why the rain falls on the just and the unjust. Every single one of us has a chance now because of Jesus.

When we accept Christ, Christ accepts us. So as Christ has accepted us, let us accept each other; those who are in his fold now and those who may possibly be in it later. In doing this, we will bring praise to God.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidently found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic - what a find! - and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field."
Matthew 13:44 (The Message)

Just how important is the field to you...the trespasser?

What would you give up to buy the field?

What should you give up?

Is there anything you haven't given up that might possibly keep you from gaining the field?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:13b-14 (NLT)

The Christian life is a continuous struggle. We’re caught in tension within ourselves. It’s a struggle between our worldly desires and God’s desires for us.

This is why it’s so important to do as Paul did. He left his past behind. This is not a one-time thing. Instead it’s a daily decision we must make. For Paul, there was hatred and arrogance and self-righteousness in his past. Did he continue to struggle with his past sins…possibly so. Will we struggle with past sins…surely. That is the very reason we have to leave the past behind each and every day.

Paul knew that even though this was difficult, it wasn’t impossible. The devil tries to convince us that past failures, guilt over past sins or pain over past hurts will keep us from being made right with God. The devil also tries to get us to give up maturing in our faith, telling us it’s too hard. But the devil is all about lies and deceit. Don’t listen to him. For doesn’t this idea contradict the very things we proclaim about a loving and forgiving God?

Each day live for the day God has given you and don't let the past get you down. Each new day brings about new possibilities. We choose what we do with these possibilities.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NLT)

Every day we make choices, some big, some small. We choose what time to get up each morning, what to eat or whether or not to eat breakfast. Throughout the day we’ll choose what to say, where to go, and what to be involved in.

We make priorities…sometimes without even realizing it by our choices. Do we take off work early to be involved in a child’s school play or continue to work? Do we check-up on a parent or clean the gutters? Do we spend money on groceries or new clothes? Do we cook a healthy meal or take the family out for fast food? Do we watch TV or take a walk? Do we sleep in or go to church?

Choices are so ingrained into our life that often times we don’t even realize we’re making them...until it’s time for a big decision.

The Israelites are given a choice between life and death in today's reading…between being blessed or being cursed. Life is found in an obedient relationship with God while choosing anything else leads to death.

The theme that echoes throughout the Old Testament is the choice of life. And it continues into the New Testament with Jesus. What we will choose this day?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Matthew 5:42 (ESV)

A story I found somewhere and once used in a sermon goes like this:

There once was a monk who found a precious jewel. The monk was a traveler, and during one of his travels, he met a man. The man had no food and asked the monk for some. The monk, happy to share with the hungry man, opened his bag to get some provisions.

Upon opening the bag, the man saw the jewel. On impulse the man asked the monk if he could have it. Amazingly, the monk gave the precious stone to the man.

The traveler departed quickly, overjoyed with his new possession. However, a few days later, he came back searching for the monk. He returned the stone to the monk and made a request: "Please give me something more valuable, more precious than this jewel. Please give me that which enabled you to give it to me."

A person's earthly instincts would be to keep the jewel, yet a person's spiritual insight tells him or her that the jewel is not as important as another human being.

In the love of Christ,
greg