Thought of the Day !!

But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
                                                                   2 Corinthians 8:7 (TNIV)

Have you ever seen the church sign that read, “Give God what is right, not what is left”?  The truth is, God doesn’t want our leftovers.  He doesn’t want us to serve Him only when we feel we can make the time.  He doesn’t want the leftover money in our checking account after all the bills are paid.

In the Old Testament it was called “first fruits”.  God expected His children to show their trust in Him by giving up the best of what they had instead of the leftovers. 

Our God is Holy.  He gave us life, and He can take it away at any time He chooses.  He gives us forgiveness and second chances.  He is mighty, yet cares for the weak.  He deserves excellence.  The Corinthians excelled in some areas, but Paul was asking them not to settle for excelling in just some areas.  We should strive to excel in all areas when it comes to our Holy God. 

Some might say, “But something is better than nothing.” And so they throw a few dollars in the offering plate even though they just came in to a lot of money.  Or they come on most Sunday mornings claiming that they attend this or that church.

Is something really better than nothing?  NO.  If you’re not willing to give God the best of what you got…then don’t give anything at all.  If you're not willing to give Him what He deserves, then it's an insult to give a pittance. 

Look at it from a human point of view.  When invited to dinner, would you be happy with the scraps that are left over from your host?  Well God’s no different.  Jesus said, “Deny yourselves and take up your crosses and follow me” not “take all you can fill your bags with and come on.”

Excellence means giving God what He deserves.  It means giving Him what's right, not what's left.  I means giving our full selves.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
                                                                    Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

There are a lot of people in this world who believe that they can pick and choose a theology that's right for them.  They go to church and decide which sermon is good based on if they liked the content or not.  Many try out different religions to see which one is most appealing.  Some are searching for the easiest, some for the most enjoyable that will allow them to keep doing the things that they want to do.  

The truth is that broad is the road that leads to destruction and all these quick fix, prosperity gospel, self-serving idealogies and theologies lie on that path.  I may not know all the answers, but one thing I can say is this.  The narrow road that few find is only narrow because people are searching to satisfy themselves instead of their loving God who wants nothing more than to have a relationship with us and then bring us joy.  

Search and you will find that true happiness is not found in self-seeking religions or bars or pill bottles or needles.  These things only bring about short-lived satisfaction and leave you wanting more.  Real everlasting joy comes by putting God first and using Jesus as our example.  Once you experience the love of Christ, you will find the happiness that you've been longing for.  

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You can not serve both God and Money."
                                                                 Matthew 6:24 (TNIV)

Money can be a lot of fun. Or it can control you.  Which one has more control over your life -- God or Money?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

And after the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
                      1 Kings 19:12-13 -- (NIV)

What are the distractions of your life?  Is the telephone ringing?  Are you pulled to the computer to check your email?  Is the TV blaring or the kids yelling?  Is work always on your mind?  

We can become so distracted with life that we miss the gentle whisper of God.  Be careful not only to make time for simply being quiet, but also to listen through the busyness of the day.  God may not come to you in a burning bush.  He may chose to come when you least expect it, whispering your name.  So be ready...and listen.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"Meaningless!  Meaningless!" says the Teacher.  "Utterly meaningless!  Everything is meaningless."
                                                               Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NIV)
I wonder how many in our culture today would say the same thing.  Could it be that so many in our own communities are dealing with depression because they feel like their lives are meaningless?

Solomon is the man who has long been credited with writing the book of Ecclesiastes, though many scholars today would disagree.  But if it was Solomon, let's remember that he was a man who had it all…a king of kings…known as the wisest man to live…having all the worldly pleasures.  But still he saw life as meaningless.

In the Life Application Study Bible there is an illustration about a chocolate Easter bunny.  Maybe you've taken a bite into one at Easter only to find that it was hollow.   On the outside everything looks great.  The chocolate tastes good.  It's inviting.  But soon you notice that it’s empty on the inside.

Many people feel that way today.  Even Solomon felt that way as he searched for meaning in the things of this world that he could gain or accomplish.  If people try to fill this emptiness with worldly pleasures or hard work or anything else other than God, then they will fail at finding meaning.  For it's only through our relationship with God and serving Him that we can find true meaning.  This is what we were created for.  And this is the conclusion that Solomon came to at the end of Ecclesiastes when he wrote

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV)

This is where Solomon found his meaning.  And it's where we can as well.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law' rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
                                                                                   Romans 3:20 (NIV)

It is because we know the law of God found in the Old Testament Scriptures that we are conscious of our sin.  We cannot completely live up to the law, or be perfect by it.  But that does not mean it is not useful for our building up and understanding.  

Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it.  He was the fulfillment of the ultimate law of God, which is His grace.  So therefore Jesus did what none of us could do…live up to the law.  This made him the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.  

God never meant for the Law to be what made people righteous before Him.  It was a starting point…something to show us where we were unrighteous.  And our righteousness comes through the lack of faith in our abilities to be right before God and the faith in the ability of God's Son to make us right with God.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, "Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage."
                                                                     Acts 8:26-29 (NLT)

Before Jesus ascended he told the disciples that they would witnesses to the ends of the earth.  Here we see Philip being used to witness to an Ethiopian.  This is important because Ethiopia was considered to be at the end of the earth at that time by the Greeks and the Romans.  It was the land that was south of Egypt and at the end of the known world.

This particular Ethiopian was a Eunuch, who also held a high position in service to the queen of Ethiopia.  Being a Eunuch means that he had been castrated, which was not that unusual for someone who would serve under a queen or over a king’s harem.  This would ensure he didn’t try anything.

So why is this an important tidbit for Luke to mention?  Because this meant that he was not only a Gentile but also unclean since the law considered him permanently blemished.

So Philip is being led by an Angel of the Lord to bring the Good News to an unclean Gentile, someone the Jews would NEVER approach.  Might there be someone whom you will meet today that you may consider “unclean”?  Is it possible that God would have you approach these people and share the love of Christ with them?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
Psalm 139:7-10 (NLT)

We could look to any of a number of Psalms that praise God. But this portion of Psalm 139 shows partly why we praise Him. He is always there for us. Our God is not just a God of big stuff. He's ever with us in the little things as well. Let's rejoice that no matter where we go, God will be with us, celebrating, consoling, pushing and sometimes even straightening us out.

Take time out today to thank God for simply being in your presence and loving you enough to allow you to remain in His.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 (NLT)

While it might be true that not all are called to be pastors, missionaries, or to have specific roles of leadership in the church (teacher, deacon, lay leader, etc.). It is also true that all of us are spiritual leaders. We will all lead someone. It might be a child that looks up to you. It could be a new Christian that sees you as someone who's attended church all your life. It might even be someone outside the church that is trying to determine if Christianity if for them or not. Whether we like it or not we will lead by our words, our actions…our lives.

The question is, will we lead in the ways of Christ or the ways of the world. Paul writes to the Corinthian church, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”. As we follow the example of Christ, we will lead people in the right direction. If we follow the example of the world, we will lead in the wrong direction.

In which direction will you lead people today?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

The Lord gave me a message. He said, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world."

"O Sovereign Lord," I said, "I can't speak for you! I'm too young!"
Jeremiah 1:4-6 (NLT)

When I was a kid, we used to ride our bikes all around the neighborhood in Covington, TN where my grandparents lived. At times we'd ride to other people's houses looking for others to come out and play baseball or football. As we got a little older though, we found that it was quicker calling people when we wanted to get up a game. Of course that was before the invention of Call Waiting. And there were often times that we would get a busy signal.

Think about God's calling to you in this same way. He calls each of us. Sometimes He finds us at home, but at other times He gets a busy signal…or maybe the answering machine. How frustrating that must be for God! Can you imagine how He feels when we're too busy for Him? Or how about when we make up excuses for not accepting?

Jeremiah claims that he's too young. Who in their right mind would listen to a boy? Speaking for God requires a certain maturity that comes in part with age…or at least this is what Jeremiah must have been thinking. Our excuses may be that we're too young, too old, too busy, not equipped, etc.

It doesn't matter how young or old we are. It doesn't matter how well we speak or how eloquent we are. God's calling isn't governed by whether or not we're capable. What matters is that if God calls us to something, He'll give us what we need to accomplish His task.

Jeremiah didn't think of himself as being worthy. But if God only called those who were worthy, who would He ever call?

Remember, you don't have to be worthy. You just have to be willing. Are you ready for God to call you? Are you waiting and willing to pick up the phone when He does? Or are you screening your calls from God much like one might do a telemarketer or some other person they don't want to talk to?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Those who are stealing must stop stealing and start working. They should earn an honest living for themselves. Then they will have something to share with those who are poor.
Ephesians 4:28 (NCV)

I remember when I was younger and at my mamaw and papaw's house. I was playing out in the yard. I walked next door because something caught my eye. There in the dirt lay some matchbox/hot wheels sized cars. One in particular caught my eye. And I figured since it was out there in the dirt that nobody wanted it. So I looked around and asked if anybody cared if I took it. Seeing as how nobody was around, no answer to the negative came. So I picked it up, and even though nobody said I couldn't have it, I ran as fast as I could. ---- Yes, put the handcuffs on me. I was a ten-year old thief. I just wonder if the statute of limitations has run out yet?

Anyway, we get things by many different ways. We may be given them, earn them or maybe even come by them in a dishonest way. But the fact remains that we will have accumulated a lot of stuff over our lifetimes. Who thinks that they have now, or have had before more than what they needed? Yeah, me too. How many people think that they have shared enough with the poor? Yeah, me either.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a stick so he could drink. But the rest said, "Leave him alone. Let's see whether Elijah will come and save him." Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead after Jesus' resurrection. They left the cemetery, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people. The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!"
Matthew 27:45-54 (NLT)

Matthew makes a very important observation here. He writes that Jesus gave up his own spirit. No one could do any of this to him unless he allowed it to happen. I believe He did this so that we would know that there was a way out. And that that way out is Jesus.

God wants us to know that we don't have to try to do it on our own. And He wants us to know how much He loves us. We see this in the sacrifice that He made.

There is no possibility for us to be perfect by the law. So God made it much simpler. All we have to do now is believe in Jesus and make him the Lord of our life. This means doing what he commanded us to do.

So why did he do it? Basically, He did it because He loves you and me.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go on ahead to pray." He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish and deep distress. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me." He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine."
Matthew 26:36-39(NLT)

Jesus knows what is about to happen. If you've seen the movie "The Passion", you know that this is where the movie begins. This is also where the true suffering of Jesus begins. His "soul is crushed (at this point) with grief to the point of death." And soon his body will experience the same death.

Jesus could have given in at this point. He could have said it's just too difficult. And it would be hard to blame him knowing what is to come. But the fact that he didn't shows how much he truly loved his Father and us.

When things get "too" difficult for you what do you do? Jesus prayed. And notice that he didn't pray to be saved. He prayed for God's will to be done. May you go to the same Father that Jesus did in your deepest darkest moments. And may He give you the strength or courage or comfort that you need.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.
Luke 4:1-2 (NRSV)

We've all been there. Since Adam and Eve ate from that dreadful tree in the Garden, we've all been tempted. Even Jesus was tempted. He'd gone to the river and was baptized by John the Baptist, having the Holy Spirit come upon him then. After that the bible states that the same Spirit led him into the wilderness (desert – NIV) to go through temptation. So when we are being tempted, we can know that Jesus even went through that and knows how we feel.

The temptation of Jesus by the devil was threefold. One was the temptation to turn a stone in to bread so that he could feed himself. One was the temptation to control the kingdoms of the world by worshiping the devil. And the last was to prove he was truly the Son of God by putting God to the test. (see Luke 4:3-13 for the rest of the story)

But all three of these can be seen as one major temptation for Jesus…one in which the devil would try continuously throughout his ministry to use against him. It was the temptation to take the easy way out over God's way.

The devil tries his best to convince us all to do this very same thing. We fall into this temptation when we allow ourselves to conform to the world instead of being transformed by God's will for us. It may come as a temptation to do what's popular instead of what's right, or it may come as a temptation to settle or a temptation to become complacent in our faith.

All these things are much easier than doing what God wills us to do and being what God wills us to be. But God has our own best interests in mind. We may ought to remember that when we fall into the temptations of the devil that he has HIS own interests in mind...not ours.

Following God may not always be the easy way. But it sure is the best way.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Romans 1:16 (NIV)

How many of us are ashamed of the gospel, or the good news of Jesus Christ? Will we speak about this message openly at any time and any place (even when there are no church members around)?

Many of us go to church on Sunday and are comfortable being complacent Christians throughout the rest of the week. We don't deny Christ. But we also do nothing to promote Him.

Would you rather be a complacent Christian or an on fire Christian? One is easier. The other brings you and others closer to God.

In the love of Christ,
greg