Thought of the Day !!

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NLT)

There are a variety of gifts, and not all of us will have the same gifts. For instance, I can't draw anything other than those three dimensional box cubes when I'm doodling. I simply don't have the gift. But I can type pretty well and fairly fast. Some, however can't type a lick, and they hunt and peck at the keyboard in front of them. But put a drawing pencil or paintbrush in their hands…and stand back. The magic comes pouring out of them.

But whether it's typing or drawing, common sense or book sense…whether it's the gift of healing or the gift of teaching…speaking in tongues or interpreting them…no matter what the gifts are, they come from the same God. And they're given to us through His same Holy Spirit.

So seek out your gifts. Know that they come from your Father in Heaven through the power of the Holy Spirit. And then use them to glorify the One who gave them to you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9 (NIV)

Paul has taught the Philippians what he knows about Christ. He's been an example for them to follow. We are also called upon to be an example for others. I don't know about you, but there have been times when my example has not been the best. These are the times that I've not followed Christ's example.

If we would all strive daily to be an example for others, we might find that some of the things we do that are not so Christlike will begin to disappear. Ask yourself if your lifestyle is the example that you would want others to follow. Is it the lifestyle that Christ would have you lead? What are the aspects of it that need to disappear so that others can follow your example of what a Christian should be?

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)

What are you doing for the Lord today? And with how much enthusiasm are you doing it?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Romans 8:11 (NIV)

If we claim the name Christian and have asked Jesus to come into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, let us let the same Holy Spirit drive and motivate us. Let the Spirit fill you and send you where God wants you to go. Let your lives be spent for Him until such time which He chooses for us to see Him face to face and eat at his table with Him.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:30-31 (NIV)

In reading our bibles we come to know more about Christ through the pages of His Holy Word. We not only learn more about Him, but we get to know Him as well. But I would imagine that you, like me, have been reading at some time and found something you didn't understand. That's only normal. I tell new Christians to read their bibles and don't worry about everything that they don't understand because in time more and more will be opened to them.

So how do we come to understand Scripture better? We can use commentaries, which are other's understanding of what we read. These are used a lot in sermon preparation to get other people's take on what will be preached on. But another way that is very important is studying our bibles together. In doing this, we learn from others as we offer them a fresh new look at things.

Are you in a Bible Study, Small Group, Sunday School or other gathering where the Bible is being read and discussed? Do you meet with a friend and/or friends to talk about verses of Scripture? Do you encourage one another to study God's Word?

I encourage everyone to seek ways of learning and being formed by God's Word this week. Do this in private, and do it with others. Over time we will all grow spiritually if we hold fast to these disciplines.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

The Pharisees were indignant. "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?" they asked his disciples. When he heard this, Jesus replied, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do." Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: `I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.' For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough."
Matthew 9:11-13 (NLT)

John Wesley took scriptures like this to heart as he said that our mission was to seek out the least, the last and the lost. For is that not exactly what Jesus did? Is that not exactly what the Church is called to do in Jesus' absence?

We either want to seek out the least, the last and the lost, or we don't want to get dirty. There is really no in between here. The dirtiest man that ever lived was Jesus. Yes, I did say Jesus. We think more about how Jesus was perfectly sinless and how he makes us clean. But to make us clean he had to first get his hands dirty and come to us where we were. And after he does this, he asks that we be willing to do the same.

We can all get caught up in our comfort zones where life is safe and we know how to handle everything that's going on around us. But the truth is that when we do this, we become like the Pharisees in many ways. It's time to come out of our comfort zones and do ministry...real ministry. That may mean going to the places where there are people who are sick in sin. It may mean inviting people who are different to our churches. It may mean welcoming people who are different. It may actually mean that we become a different kind of people ourselves; the kind of people who are more open and welcoming to all God's children. Oh what a difference that would make in God's kingdom.

Are you ready to make a difference for Christ? If so, allow him to use you somewhere or somehow today that you might not normally want to be used. And if you don't feel that calling today, wait patiently and pray about it. God will find a place to use you. I suspect He already has it picked out. He's just waiting for your willingness to allow Him to work through you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right.
Titus 2:14 (NLT)

Jesus gave his life for us so that we could be redeemed, or freed from the guilt of our sins. The only thing we have to do is accept his love for us. And when God's Holy Spirit envelopes us, where Jesus begins abiding in us (and us in him), then we become different people. We become more repentant people desiring change and who are committed to doing what is right.

In other words, because we are saved by God's grace and have chosen to have Jesus living in us, we are born again as different people. We have something different guiding us. We have Jesus in us. When we were born of flesh and blood, our heart was filled with things of the flesh. When we are born again of the Spirit, our heart is filled with the Holy Spirit.

(Jesus said) "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say, `You must be born again.'" - John 3:5-6 (NLT)

Have you been born again?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

** Notice ** I will be on vacation next week so there will be no devotions until the following week when I get back.


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)

There is hope in our Lord. And as long as there is hope, we can sing for joy.

Oh there will be times of sorrow for us all. There will be times when our tears are of sadness instead of joy. But even then, our God is with us. His comfort can be found. For it is deeper than the great deeps for His children.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Acts 20:35 (NLT)

Is it more blessed to give than to receive? I like it when people give me stuff. Don't you?

Is it more blessed to give than to receive? For many it seems not to be because they always got their hands out.

Is it more blessed to give than to receive? It doesn't feel that way at the gas pump or when the bills come due.

Is it more blessed to give than to receive? YES it is! This is because we were created to give. God created us first and foremost to give Him our love and Christ our lives. I believe it's just in our DNA, which means we'll only be truly happy when we learn to generously and unselfishly give.

Love is the thing first thing that should be given. When our love is given to God and to each other we find more satisfaction than when it isn't.

Our time is another thing we can give. Time worth spending is time worth giving. And when we give this to others, we'll receive their time back.

Money is another thing that when given can bring us great joy. It might seem like those who receive our money, or who have more money are happier. But in fact, deep down we find more peace out of our giving than our receiving...even money. This is because it truly "is more blessed to give than to receive."

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.
2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NLT)

Believe it or not, God wants us to feel sorrow. He doesn't want us to hurt for just no reason. His desire is that we have a sorrow in us that makes us feel bad about our sin.

I was at a spiritual retreat one time sharing a testimony about my life when I told the group that God made me feel guilty about some things in my life. One of the men there said that God doesn't make us feel guilty. Well of course He does. We call it our conscience. And God uses this to help us see what we're doing wrong and to lead us to the sorrow over sinfulness that will then lead us to change.

If we had no sorrow in life, we would feel no need for repentance. If we were perfect people still living in the Garden of Eden this would be fine. But we're not.

So think about the things you do or say that later bring about a tinge of guilt or sorrow. Find those things that you've learned to live with, looking past the guilt and sorry, and repent of them. If you feel even a little sorry or guilty about something, odds are that it's your conscience telling you that it's wrong and you need to repent.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
2 Corinthians 7:6 (NLT)

No deep theological point today (as if they ever really are [ha ha]). No, just a simple reminder of something that Paul knew quite well. And that is the fact that God is the one who encourages us believers when we're down. I suspect that He sent Titus to Paul and company at just the time that they needed cheering up from their dear friend. And He will do the same for us in a variety of ways.

If you need some encouragement today, ask God. Look to Him for it. Seek Him in your heart and in His Word.

If you are encouraged today, show it. You might just be whom God wants to use to encourage another.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

[Jesus] died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT)

How often do we make excuses for living for ourselves? How often does living for ourselves exclude Christ altogether? Is there any part of our lives that should be changed to show Him that He's number one in our lives instead of ourselves?

In the love of Christ,
greg