Thought of the Day !!

Let me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting you [God]. Show me where to walk, for I have come to you in prayer.
Psalms 143:8 (NLT)

Could there be any better way to begin each morning than for us to listen for God to speak to us? The more we pray and open our eyes, ears and hearts to what God has to say to us, the more we will receive. For God's love is truly unfailing. Our God does desire to share with us his blessings.

So begin each day with the Lord, and spend the rest of the day alert to where he might be speaking to or sharing with you. As we do this, we will come to realize just how much God does for us. And we learn how to place our trust in him for every detail of our lives.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
Matthew 5:13

William Barclay once wrote that "Christianity is to life, what salt is to food. Christianity flavors life."

Of course...that is only when Christians have not lost their flavor. How many Christians do you know that have poor attitudes or are always negative? How many Christians do you know that have taken on the look of the world because they're so caught up in it, and therefore look no different from non-Christians? How many Christians do you know that say one thing and then do another, coming off as hypocrites to nonbelievers?

How about you? Are you a flavorful Christian, or has your salt lost its flavor? It's time that we become the people we were meant to be and flavor the world by sharing Christ's joy and love with it. Where can you be a salty Christian today?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 (NRSV)

I wonder how many people go to churches every week that don't have this assurance. I'm talking about the people who come every week, but honestly don't know if it makes a difference or not.

Faith is a gift. It's truly believing the unbelievable. It's God's assurance that what we believe is true. And this comes to us when we ask for it.

John Wesley was having problems with his faith once, and he was about to give up preaching. But after asking a mentor about it, he was given this advice. Preach faith until you got it. And when you get it, you'll preach it because you got it.

If you don't have that assurance deep down in your heart that Christ died to save even you…pray and ask for it. Prayerfully read your bible. Pray until you got it. Then when you get it, pray because you got it.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish."

"Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again." And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!
Luke 5:4-6 (NLT)

Simon (or Peter) and the guys have been out all night fishing. They knew what they were doing. They weren't amateurs. They fished for a living. But there was just no fish to be found this evening. They had failed miserably at their task.

Jesus tells Simon to go out into the deep water, and go fishing. Simon tells Jesus that there's nothing to be caught. Maybe then there's a pause. And then he says "Well, ok, if you say so. We will do what you say." And a miracle happens. There's more fish than they could ever imagine.

How often have you gotten discouraged by failure? Maybe it was a failed business…maybe a failed marriage…maybe a failure in school or in raising kids…maybe a health that has failed you.

How have you handled it? Have you given up and become defeated. Do you live in the past, all the while becoming bitter. Or do you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and commit yourself to moving forward?

Giving up on life only leads to depression, sour moods and ultimately a bleak existence. Living in the past with bitterness and unforgiveness only leads to unhappiness. But moving forward with the help of Jesus, will lead to life…to victory over any defeats that may come our way. But moving forward takes commitment. It's a commitment not to give up. May we all commit to never giving up.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Deuteronomy 11:18 (NIV)

To truly be changed by God's Word, we must earnestly and honestly engage it regularly. When we do this, understanding will come, and our hearts will be changed.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
Joshua 3:5 (NIV)

Joshua wanted the people to prepare themselves for a sacred event that was about to happen. They were about to cross over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. They had been wandering in the Wilderness for 40 years, and now was the time for something special to happen. They were about to take the land that was to be their inheritance.

If you knew that tomorrow God was going to perform some sacred event around you, would you do anything special to ready yourself? Would your prayers be more plentiful...more penitent...more sincere? Do you think that you'd clean up some things that had gotten out of hand in your life by apologizing or forgiving? If God asked you to consecrate yourself for the "Big Event" (whatever that might be), what would you do?

Tomorrow could be the day that God performs a sacred event in your life. It could be the day that brings you to a crossroads. It could be the day that He blesses you with something special or gives you a specific calling that will change your life. It could even be the biggest of events...the day that Jesus comes back. As Christians we believe that Jesus not only died and was resurrected, but that He will come again in glory. Tomorrow could be that day! Who knows?

Since we don't actually know if tomorrow will bring a sacred event or not, maybe the lesson for us is to simply consecrate ourselves, or ready ourselves, for whatever God might decide to do in our lives. It might be HUGE! And it might be small. But anything that God does is important. So let us ready ourselves for God, expecting Him to do something each day. And if we do this...He just might exceed our expectations.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O LORD, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God.
Psalm 69:6 (NIV)

As we go about our day we can do things that make God proud of us. On the other hand, we can also do things that let Him down.

When people who know we are Christians see us, what are they seeing? Do we make our Maker proud by the words we say and the things we do? Or do we bring shame upon the name Christian?

Think about your actions today. They make a difference.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'
Mark 7:15 (NIV)

Man or woman...it doesn't matter. What he or she eats...it doesn't matter. What's on the inside...Now that's what matters.

Filthy mouths that spew venom cannot come from a clean loving heart. There may be mistakes made with the mouth, for as James says,"...no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." But when hateful things constantly come from this mouth, it means that the heart is filled with more selfishness and/or hate than love.

On the other hand, a mouth that is constantly lifting people up means that the heart is filled with love. Which do you have?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. [Saul] fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?"
"Who are you, lord?" Saul asked.
And the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
Acts 9:3-6 (NLT)

Saul was shone the light (literally) in a fascinating way. Leaders are called everyday, but don’t pay attention. I believe it’s because we don’t really think that God would call us. But if God will call a man such as Saul, He’ll call anyone.

Odds are that He’s not going to blind you with a powerful light like in Saul’s case. But maybe this is because most of us are already blind. We might be saved, but in many ways we’re just as lost as a child meandering through the mall looking for a parent. What I mean by this is that we’re lost (or blind) to God’s plan for us (and He does have a plan for each one of us).

Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord!" he replied.
The Lord said, "Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again."
"But Lord," exclaimed Ananias, "I've heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers* in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name."
Acts 9:10-14 (NLT)

We make excuses…just like Ananias. He was afraid because he knew this was a dangerous situation and that this Saul fellow was a dangerous dude.

We can use fear as an excuse not to go where God is calling us just like Ananias. Yes, some things we’re called to do are dangerous. They might require us to be around unsavory characters and unsavory places. It will definitely mean getting out of our comfort zones. But what if nobody goes? God’s plan of salvation and His plan of caring for the poor and needy will never come to fruition. And many will die without ever knowing Jesus because everybody was scared to bring Him to them.

There are other excuses like I have no time, or I’m not qualified, or I don’t have enough money, etc. But if God really wants us to do something, will He not have a plan for it’s success like he did for Ananias?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.
Psalm 7:9 (NIV)

In a world full of violence and hate this verse can have great meaning for us today. God, who is righteous, is the only one who can completely eradicate war and greed and abusive power and hate. He is the only one who can supplant these things with love. He began this when He sent His Son to us. And He will finish the process one day when He sends Him again. It is then that the righteous will be secure. It is then that we will all sing for glory. It is then that we will all worship Him with gladness.

But we do not know when "then" will be. Jesus said that it would be like a thief in the night. We must be patient, knowing that God's time is not our own, and that in His perfect timing it will all happen. Jesus will come back, and Heaven's doors will be opened. Oh what a day that will be.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV)

Has anybody ever left you? Have you had a boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse ever give up on you? As a child, did you ever have a parent forget you at someone's house or any other place? Have you ever fought with a friend and part ways (even if only for a short time)?

The thing about God is that no matter what happens, He'll always be right there. We can't go far enough to get away from the love He has for us. In Psalm 36 the Psalmist tells us that God's love "reaches to the heavens". It is so great and so deep that we can never make Him fall out of love with us.

I know that God is with me when I mess up and sin. This brings me a guilty conscience often times. But He's there because He loves me and won't leave me. And this brings me comfort and joy.

How about you? Can you feel God's presence with you today? Do you feel that you've let Him down lately? Have you gotten numb to Him because things are going pretty well and you haven't had a need to call out to Him?

No matter how you feel or what you sense, He's there. Call out to Him. Beg Him to make Himself known to you. And then seek for the signs of His love. They can be found in the beauty of His creation, the ways He cares for you or others, and many other ways. Seek them and you will find them. And may you be blessed in the seeking of God today.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27

Some people see religion as something they do on Sunday mornings. Others see it as a topic not to be discussed, along with politics. Others see it in terms of denominational beliefs. But James tells us that true religion means caring for those in need and keeping ourselves from getting caught up in our secular activities while forgetting the things of God.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

We get mad at people who deceive, harm or simply irritate us. We lash out at men and women trained to kill our own country's men and women in places like Afghanistan. We worry about the effects of what people are doing around the world in Egypt, Iran, North Korea, etc. What Paul is telling us is that it's not the flesh and blood people that we are struggling with. It's the evil forces that have convinced them of a lie.

The devil is behind all the evil in this world. I've said it before, and I'll say it many more times before I die. The devil is REAL! And he ain't the old cartoon character with a pitchfork! And he ain't what we see in all these modern horror flicks! The devil is with you and me daily struggling to get our attention. He's tempting us with things that God wouldn't use. He's trying to get us a little further away from our Father in Heaven on a daily basis. And he's good at his job.

So just remember that instead of hating people that you see as enemies, it would be better to feel sorry for them. Jesus said to love them. Maybe this is because he knew that the truth was that they were merely pawns in the devil's game.

Whether Osama Bin Laden or the person next door that you have an ongoing feud with, remember that it's the devil working behind all the evil things going on. Then look to see if part of the evil going on is coming from you.

Pray for your enemies, said Jesus. Pray that those who are being used by the devil would see the light and change their ways. Pray for yourself so as not to fall into temptation (Jesus actually said that too). And know that your struggle is not against people, but against the liar who's convinced them that it's alright to be a part of evil.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
Isaiah 50:4 (NIV)

I don't know about you, but I have a difficult time waking up most mornings. The alarm goes off and there's a great temptation to hit the snooze button. Anybody else with me on this?

Whether we bounce out of bed or need that first cup of coffee to wake us up, God has been up waiting for us. He helps unscatter that brain of mine as we together wipe the sleep from my eyes. He's calling to me even before my eyes are open, telling me that this is His day and that He has a purpose for me being awake (even though I may not feel awake yet).

If we would train ourselves to awake with our Father in Heaven in mind, we might just awake in a better mood, more easily get a grasp on the day, and even learn something in the process. One way to do this may be to go to bed with Him on our minds. Reading a single verse of Scripture before nodding off could help. Another possible idea is to place your bible in a place where it would have to be moved for you to get ready. This way you will see it each morning...even those mornings your eyes are barely open.

The next step of waking up with God would be the same as anyone else you see in the morning. Simply tell Him good morning. For some of us, that's all we might be able to get out. For others, talking to Him while getting ready could ensue. And before you know it, you've made it a habit of waking up with God. I think it'd make our Father happy to at least be acknowledged first thing in the morning. Who knows what all He might start doing with us if we'd just make that a habit.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.
Romans 6:12-13 (NLT)

We can go to church. We can read our bibles. We can be "good" people. And yet sin can still control many aspects of our lives if we are not careful. Think about the areas in your life where sin might possibly dominate. It could be where there's unforgiveness, or where anger has controlled your actions, or where selfish desires take over, or where love does not rule.

Maybe there is a different kind of sin that you're battling with. Whatever the sinful areas of our lives are, may we learn how to escape these lives controlled by our own evil or selfish desires and live them completely for God.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. Acts 4:32-35 (NLT)

This concept of sharing everything we have is foreign to us in America. We’re capitalists. We believe in working hard and being rewarded for that hard work. We have a since that we EARN a living…that we MAKE money…or that we have what’s coming to us. And so we look at money as the fruits of our labor…something we deserve to have.

The first believers took a different view of their money and possessions. These were gifts from God and therefore meant for the whole group. And because of this, none of them went without. None were in need.

The law that guided them was what James calls “the royal law”; the law that Jesus stated was right up there with loving God with all our heart, soul and mind. It’s the law that reads, “Love you neighbor as you love yourself.”

These first believers didn’t give up their property because they were told to or out of duty or guilt. They did so because they had given up everything for Jesus. We see in the Gospels where a rich man comes to Jesus and asks how he could have eternal life. Jesus’ answer was to obey the law. The rich man claimed to have done just that. So Jesus said for him to go sell everything he had and follow Jesus. The rich man couldn’t let go of what he had and went home sad. These early believers did what he could not do. I believe they did what many of us today are still unwilling to do. That is, give up everything for Jesus’ sake.

What's getting in the way of you're total submission to Christ? What do you need to give up today?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Jesus never promised to fix things so that this world would be problem-free. As a matter of fact, he told us to take up our crosses and follow him. Our crosses can get heavy sometimes though, can't they? These crosses that we bear, or burdens, are not for us to carry alone though. Christ is with you always. He is there through the power of God's Holy Spirit. He watches, encourages, reprimands and even sometimes carries you. So when things are getting pretty hard to take and those burdens are getting heavy, go to Him. He will give you rest. And He will see you through anything.

In the love of Christ,
greg