Thought of the Day !!

I will be out of town until Saturday and will not be away from Internet access.  Next week I will be at a Continuing Education event the first few days of the week and may or may not be able to send the Thought of the Day !!  I will resume sometime next week.  Until then, God bless.

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 !!

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 (NIV)

 

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

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 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 !!

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.
                                                       Romans 1:20-21 (NLT)
There is so much proof out there that there is a God.  His qualities and power are seen in all creation.  But there have always been people who've tried to make Him what they wanted Him to be instead of finding out for themselves just who He really is.

It's no different today.  How many of us have our own concept of who and what God is like?  How many of us make the determination that "my" God wouldn't do that, or "the God I know" is different?  Could it be that our God cannot be put in a box and defined the way we want Him to be defined, to look like we desire Him to look? 

None of us will ever truly know the totality of the divine nature of God in this lifetime.  None of us can understand everything about Him.  That's where faith comes in.  I do believe that He makes it clear through Scripture that He wants us to get to know everything we can about Him though.  He wants us to grow closer and closer to Him daily.  He wants us to worship Him and give Him thanks for what He has made clear to us.

Let's not make God out to be what we want Him to be.  Let's seek Him to learn as much about who He really is, worshiping Him and giving Him thanks for every new detail that comes alive to us.

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.  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

Thought of the Day !!

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-the Jew first and also the Gentile.
                                                                  Romans 1:16 (NLT)

Have you ever been ashamed of the Gospel (Good News)?  If you've ever been embarrassed to say anything when others around you are speaking and acting totally unChristian, then you have. 

There are times when we're around non-Christians that we must allow a certain latitude, knowing that they don't know Christ.  Hopefully this will lead to a time when we can share the Gospel with them.  But how often are we around Christians that are acting in ways that go against what Christ and the Bible teach us?  How often do we keep quiet because we don't want to upset the apple cart?  Are we ashamed to speak out in gentle and loving ways to our brothers and sisters? 

There have been times when I wasn't acting at all Christ-like and was called on it.  I know what that feels like.  It's embarrassing and can become an opportunity for us to get defensive.  We must allow others to share constructive words with us when we've gone astray as well.  I give thanks for the times when people have set me straight, even if I did have a hard time with it at the moment. 

The Good News about Christ is the power of God at work in us and through us.  We must be open to it, allowing God to use it to make us better people and create better relationships with Him and others.  Don't be ashamed or embarrassed of the Gospel.  And don't be afraid to be shown this Gospel when you're acting or living contrary to it.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
                                                 Romans 14:13 (NLT)

Have you ever been in a situation where others around you are talking about someone else, condemning them for something they’ve done?  Maybe you’ve been part of the condemning party.  We often find it easy to see the wrong someone else has committed, while forgetting all the wrongs in our own lives.

The Bible teaches that if someone is sinning, we should confront the person.  It also teaches us to do so in love and gentleness.  But often is the case that someone has something in their past that they’ve done wrong.  They’ve messed up.  It may have been a one-time mistake or a habitual lifestyle.  In these cases, we must remember that If Jesus is to forgive our many mistakes, then we must forgive others, not condemning them for the past.

 In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.
                                                                 Matthew 11:29-30 (HCSB)

How many of us are always complaining about our lot in life.  "My struggles are so bad."  "Nobody knows what I go through."  "Woe as me."  And our struggles in life bog us down because we allow them to become our focal point.

Maybe you've heard the story of the room of crosses where someone is complaining to Jesus about how his cross (burden) is too heavy to bear.  Jesus opens a room filled with crosses and tells the person to pick out any other cross he would prefer to bear.  They are many and varying in sizes.  He looks and looks and after a while he sees the smallest one in the room, only to notice that it's the one he carried in with him. 

Maybe our burdens are too heavy because we're carrying them all alone.  We complain to others, but they can't carry them for us.  They can't take away the pain.  I will admit that Jesus has given me people close to me to help when I've needed a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear to hear.  But what we need more than anything, no one but Jesus can give to us.  He's the one that offers peace and assurance and true rest.  Come to him and take up his yoke, and He will give you the help you need with yours.  Then both will become bearable, and joy will be found...even in the pain and hardship. 

That's what Jesus does.  Instead of taking away the pain, he gives us a way to joyfully suffer for His sake and grow from it.  We can choose to complain about everything, or we can choose to grow into Christ and become strong enough to get through anything (because He's with us).

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything.
                                                           Ecclesiastes 11:4 (TEV)

Many pastors fight the call to ministry and miss out on many years of fruitful ministry because they don't want to accept what God's calling them to do.  Many people fight the urge to share their faith with somebody because they don't think that they are gifted enough to do so.  Others claim that they're not leaders and are unwilling to be an example for others. 

Could it be that many of us are waiting for all the stars to line up in just the right position and for God to speak to us from a burning bush and mystically change something about us before our very eyes before we will be the people God wants us to be already?  Obviously this is not all of us.  But how often would it take a miracle from God to get you going on something that He's calling you to do?  If we wait too long for that perfect moment or that perfect calling, we just might miss out. 

It takes stepping out in faith for real miracles to happen in this world.  St. Augustine once said that we should pray for miracles, but work for results.  Are we waiting for the perfect moment to arrive?  Or are we working for the results of daily miracles?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me.  Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.
                                                                    Romans 15:30 (NLT)

Just like Paul, I am always appreciative of your prayers.  But Paul is asking for his readers to join in his "struggle" by praying for him.  Ministry is the most awesome thing I can think of to do for a living.  I love my calling because it's a special privilege that God has given me.  But it's also a daily struggle, whether it be putting our fires, fending off the devil, battling complacency or striving for something better for those I minister to. 

Join the struggle today for those in ministry at your churches, in your neighborhoods and wherever God's people are called to go.  Pray for strength against temptation and peace of mind in carrying out God's will.  Pray for me.  Pray for your own pastor if this person is someone other than myself.  Pray for those missionaries overseas and the mission trips that minister both in our own country and abroad.  Pray for your own ministry wherever it might be.  Join the struggle by fighting the spiritual forces of evil with God's Word and by joining the Holy Spirit in prayer.  And may God bless you in the battle.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

[The LORD said to Moses,] "Now go! When you speak, I will be with you and give you the words to say."
                                                                   Exodus 4:12 (CEV)

I want you to think about something today.  Have you ever been speaking to someone about Christ or giving some kind of Christian counsel to a friend and you realized later that what you said was just what the other person needed to hear?

I've had times where somebody would come to me with a problem or a faith question that I really didn't know how to answer in a way that they could understand.  Then all of a sudden it comes from me so clearly.  They "get it", and I wonder where "it" came from. 

Actually, I don't wonder.  In those occasions I know that the Holy Spirit used me to help someone else.  God spoke through me.

You don't have to be a pastor for this to happen.  Just open yourself up to the Spirit and pray for opportunities to reach out to people in their need.  God will provide the opportunities (sometimes when you least expect them), and He "will be with you and give you the words to say."

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
                                                                            Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

The pastor arrived early to church one Sunday morning as he always did.  But on this particular day someone had beat him there.  It was one of the members who needed a private audience with the pastor.  The member felt that the pastor needed to know that the Sunday School teacher was not using the "right" material, and therefore should be stopped.  It evidently didn't matter that the Sunday School class had almost doubled in size since the teacher had changed over.

As the pastor was making coffee for the early arriving parishioners, one of the ladies of the church came into the kitchen complaining about the mess that had been made over the weekend and the stain in the carpet that would "never" come out.  "Those kids just have to be taught to be more careful", she exclaimed.  The pastor simply responded that he'd ask someone to bring in a steam cleaner and that the kids in question had been there for a youth retreat where several had claimed that they'd be in church this day.  The only response was that she hoped they'd behave.

On the way to Sunday School a man met the pastor and said that he felt the pastor really needed to read from the real Bible (evidently not the one he'd been using) and shorten his sermon.  Otherwise he was going to leave for another church that worshiped the right way, from the right bible and got out on time.

After Sunday School was over and the pastor had spent some time in his office praying, he headed for the sanctuary.  Before entering he was stopped yet again.  This time by the choir director.  The choir director told him not to expect much today out of the choir, and asked how he could be expected to bring about quality specials with people who couldn't even read music.

After the service was over some people went by the pastor praising God and thanking the pastor for bringing God's message.  One person shared some good news about her job.  Another asked for prayer as he was taking his daughter to have surgery later in the week.  Others simply smiled and went by. 

Then the first person the pastor had met that morning reminded the pastor to speak to the Sunday School teacher.  The lady from earlier complained about how distracting the newer kids had been.  The unhappy worshiper simply looked down at his watch, shaking his head and never said a word.  And the choir director ranted about every missed note...even though others had praised the choir for such a good job.

We can go through life positively or negatively.  We can affirm people or put them down.  We can fix our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise (as Paul listed).  Or we can fix our thoughts on more negative attributes.  Which of these will we choose?  And which are more Christ-like?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
                                                               Psalm 71:8 (NIV)

As the book of James says, with the same mouth that we use to bless people we also use to curse people.  If you think about it, all kinds of things will come from your mouth today.  You might speak about the weather or the news of the day.  You might ask for help or give advice in a certain area.  You might share a memory or speak of the future.  I bet we would all be surprised if we actually knew the amount of words that we speak in any given day.

So as we think about this, what percentage of these words will be used to praise God today, "declaring [His] splendor all day long"?  May God's splendor and His love be in the forefront of our minds so that our mouths will be "filled with...praise".

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 (NIV)
Either on purpose of by accident someone leaves the hot coals of a camp fire and a wind begins to blow fanning the coals.  A fire begins, at first a spark, but then flames that get higher and higher.  They are carried by the wind to the nearby brush.  And before you know it a forest fire begins.  The fire rips through acres and acres of beautiful trees and leaves a huge barren wasteland where animals have fled and ashes now remain. 

A horrible death comes to much of God's beautiful forest and to many of His creatures that couldn't escape.  Can anything good come from this?

Actually, the ashes are used by God as fertilizer to produce another wonderful forest where the sunlight can get to places it couldn't before and even more growth occurs.  And God works good in ALL things. 

In our lives we may see God at work in our successes.  He may be seen when we arrive at church or go on a mission trip.  But know that Paul doesn't say that in the "good things" God works.  He says in "all" things God is at work doing good.  Even when we fail.  Even when we're in pain.  Even when tragedy strikes.  God is there and will work something good out of it for those who love Him. 

Remember this today.  God is at work in your life, in all the things you are doing.  And His plan is to work something good today.

In the love of Christ,
greg