Thought of the Day !!

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
                                            Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)                      

Paul is asking for the Philippians to make his joy complete.  But as I read this I find that what he tells them (and us) to do is what will unlock our own joy.  In his book Victorious Living E. Stanley Jones talks about our desire for happiness in one of his devotions.  Let me sum up what he said.

We are all looking for happiness.  It must be a God given instinct to want to be happy, and there is nothing wrong with this.  The problem comes in how we go about seeking happiness.  When we are bent on being happy and continually seek it by our own means, we will fail.  It will elude us.  There will be brief encounters of it, but lasting happiness simply cannot be found by us.  As a matter of fact Jones said that the most miserable and fed up people he knew were people who were most bent on being happy. 

So it seems that there is a dilemma, at least until we realize who created everything, including happiness.  We stumble upon Jesus, and he tells us to "follow him".  We walk with him.  The journey takes us to others who are saddened and broken.  We want nothing more than to alleviate their pain.  And in the process we forget our own happiness.  But as we do, our hearts are filled with joy.  This is when we're used by God to love others. 

That is what Christianity is all about.  That is what denying ourselves is all about.  It's about putting aside our own desires for happiness to love others and finding complete joy in the process.
--
In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
                                 Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)

God wanted the Israelites to learn His law, to make it a part of their lives, and to share it with their children and each other.  Is this concept any different today?  Are we not called upon to learn all we can about Jesus by studying the Bible?  Would we not be better, more complete and happier people if we made Christ a part of our lives?  Are we not supposed to share the Good News of Christ with our children and others whom we know or meet?

When Jesus becomes a real part of our lives the answer to these questions are obvious.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Sing to the LORD a new song;

   sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, praise his name;

   proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

   his marvelous deeds among all the peoples.

                      Psalm 96:1-3 (NIV)

Do you sing to the Lord on a daily basis?  Do you praise his name?  Are there times when you feel down or depressed and you struggle with praising anything?

Two things occurred to me as I read this passage.  One is that singing upbeat songs can lift people's spirits.  When we're down and depressed, it might just be that this is when we need to bring ourselves to sing praises to God the most.  Praising him in the storm just might help you get through it.

The second thing that occurred to me is that singing praises and proclaiming salvation go hand in hand.  Where the Psalmist writes "proclaim his salvation day after day", I would translate it into "share his love in word and deed".  We are all called to share the good news of Jesus.  Singing praises can help to proclaim the Jesus that you love to others.  And if you are like me and cannot carry a tune in a bucket...well...I guess we'll just have to speak the good news so as not to have people ask us to quit singing.  haha.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

The senseless man does not know,

   fools do not understand,

that though the wicked spring up like grass

   and all evildoers flourish,

they will be forever destroyed.

                      Psalm 92:6-7 (NIV)

Have you ever wondered why the bad guys seem to have it so good?  They got the money, the power and so on.  I mean why did the one who took the short cut or who cheated get the job I deserved.  Why did the obviously guilty person get out of a ticket, but not me.  Why do the corrupted politicians and businessmen eat fillets and lobsters while I'm stuck eating spam? (Actually I like spam every once in a while if fried through and through, but I digress.)

The point is that it seems like so many people get away with so much.  Yet when I try to do things the "right" way, they often go unnoticed.  Well guess what?  All the times you take the high road or listen to that Holy voice inside you or simply do what is "right", it is noticed.  And it is rewarded. 

God sees what others don't.  He sees when people get what they don't deserve, good and bad.  He will punish the wicked one day when their days come to an end.  And we will all be held accountable for the sinful behavior that we're guilty of.  But...and this is a big BUT...those who have Jesus in them, who strive to trust in His ways and love as He loves and be what He has for them to be will live forever, forgiven and free. 

My prayer for those evildoers in the world is that they would get to know Jesus and give Him a chance.  My prayer for us is that we will never forget who we are and whose we are.  Be blessed as you become blessings to others today. 

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth.  "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him.  So Matthew got up and followed him.
                                               Matthew 9:9 (NLT)

Jesus is walking along the road in Galilee.  He sees Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth where he would collect taxes for the Romans and for himself as well.  In 1st Century Palestine tax collectors were hated by the populous for being traitors and cheats.  They worked for Rome and typically got rich at the people’s expense.

Jesus chooses this guy to help him spread his message.  Not a real good business plan.  Everyone knows you wouldn’t go out and hire someone people hate to convince them to buy into something.  But of course Jesus isn’t everybody is he?

Jesus calls Matthew to give up a life of comfort for a life of uncertainty.  He calls him to give up a home for not knowing where he would sleep night after night.  He calls him to give up material possessions so that he could be heir to a fortune.  And Matthew drops everything and follows.

This takes absolute commitment.  Today we often times look for the easier way or the short cuts.  Then we don’t have to commit as much of our time or efforts to anything.  And to be quite honest I think way too many of us have tried to take short cuts in following Jesus.  We want rewards without the work.  We want the relationship without the hassle.  So we commit just enough time to “Church” without committing our lives totally to Christ.

Following Christ takes total commitment.  Are you willing to go all in to follow Jesus as your Lord?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
                                  2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

One purpose of being a Christian is to be a reflection of Christ.  After we are born again from the Spirit, or come into the "New Birth", as John Wesley put it, we take on a life with Christ.  This is a life where Christ abides inside of us, glowing for others to see.    

The question today for each of us to think about is this.  If we were to open ourselves up, what would we find inside?  The answer should be Christ and His love if we are truly Christians.  But sometimes people forget what they are supposed to be reflecting and allow themselves and their own selfishness to take over where Christ once supposedly abided.  

This life is not about you or me.  It is about love of God and love of each other.  If our lives begin being all about what we can do or what we can earn or what we have accomplished, then our reflections will be of ourselves.

If, on the other hand, people see in us kindness, humility, unselfish behavior and the other aspects of the love of Christ, then we are reflecting Christ.  Which will you reflect today?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
                                    Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

These are the original members of the Church.  They started the Church under the guidance of the Apostles and the Holy Spirit.  Maybe we could learn a thing or two from them.

First of all they continued to meet together.  How many Christians today find other things to do on Sunday mornings or other times of worship?  

They broke bread together.  They shared meals together.  They were sincere.  They praised God and enjoyed the favor of others.  Even when we do meet there may be those of us who are not sincere in our love for each other.  We may half-heartedly praise God, all the while looking at our watches to see how long before the service is over.  

Let us learn true worship from the earliest Christians.  True worship is about sharing and showing love for each other.  It's about coming together for God's glory and gladly giving Him our time and efforts.  

May we come to see God as an awesome and powerful, yet gracious and merciful Lord.  May we all realize that worship is about Him being glorified.  May we all seek Him steadfastly today, much like the believers of old.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?
                                                  James 2:19-20 (NLT)

What James is trying to tell us is that simply believing that God exists and that He created us is not enough.  It's not the kind of belief that Jesus speaks of in John 3:16 when he says that "all who believe shall never perish, but have eternal life".  This kind of saving belief (or faith) has good deeds attached.

He is not telling us our good deeds will save us, but that true faith (or belief) in Jesus is life changing.  When we accept, we not only accept Jesus as our Savior (the one who saves us), but as our Lord (the one whom we invite to run our lives).  And when Jesus is in control, good deeds will naturally follow.

So it's not that good deeds save us, but that they point to a person who is living out his/her salvation.  As Jesus said, "We will be known by our fruit."

So what kind of fruit have you produced lately?  Are there signs that you are a Christian?  Do good deeds pour forth from you?  Or do you claim to have faith while having no deeds to show the authenticity of it?

May we all have a fruit-producing day today.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

O LORD, the God who saves me,

     day and night I cry out before you.

May my prayer come before you;

     turn your ear to my cry.

                Psalm 88:1-2 (NIV)

Have you been there with the Psalmist before where you cry out to God day and night?  Are you possibly there now?

In this world there will be suffering.  In the introduction to this Psalm it is credited to Heman the Ezrahite.  A further reading led me learn that this man may have had leprosy.  If so, then he is calling out to God in a despair that many today know.  You see, the lepers were friendless people who lived in the margins and were avoided by everyone.  There are many who live in those same places today.  There are also many who may not physically live where they are shunned by people and avoided as if they had leprosy, but who feel that way on the inside.  If you are one of those, who through depression feel like no one cares, then remember that this Psalm begins by addressing the God who saves. 

Maybe you are not truly in a deep depression today.  Still, there could be troubles weighing you down.  The scriptures teach us to bring our burdens to Jesus.  And try as you may to be faithful to doing this, each time you bring them to Him in prayer, you seem carry them back with you as you leave His altar.  For you too, I say to remember that this Psalm begins by addressing the God who saves.

Maybe you've gone through the valley of the shadow of death, meaning hardships you wouldn't want to wish on anyone else.  You've been there, done that, and even got the t-shirt to prove it.  You've been hurt by someone.  You've been run through the ringer at work or the doctor's office or in your family setting.  And you are now bitter and see it as almost impossible to forgive.  Let me remind you that this Psalm begins by addressing the God who saves. 

If we continue reading Psalm 88, we get a picture of a man with a bleak existence.  He may have leprosy.  He writes things like, "Is your love declared to the grave", asking if God's love could reach even him.  He speaks of darkness being his closest friend.  This is a man who is truly down.  Yet he begins this Psalm with the words, "O LORD, the God who saves me."

God can save you from whatever it is that is getting you down.  He really does care.  He sent His Son to this place to go through what we go through, even to the point of death.  He hears when we call out His name, even if we don't realize it at the time.  So keep calling out in times of distress, anguish, and even joy.  He is the one who saves.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

For Christ himself has brought peace to us.  He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 
                                               Ephesians 2:14 (NLT)

The Jews were the "chosen" ones of God.  They were the ones that God made His covenant with to be their God.  But God never meant for His love to be only for one group of people.  Through Christ, He brought His love and salvation to all who would accept it. 

He came to break down the walls that divided Jews and Gentiles.  There should no longer be hostility between us.  Of course if this is true for Jews and Gentiles, should it not be true also for us and anyone else?  There is so much hostility in this world today by Christians and non-Christians alike.  There are walls that we've built up that still need to be broken.

What are these walls that divide us today?  They are numerous.  Some are huge and made of stone and impossible to push over by our selves.  Others are made of clay and can be broken easily if we simply try.

One wall is the wall of hate.  It stands stronger than any wall.  Sometimes we put it up because we have differences of opinion.  This difference of opinion over religious or political views, or the color of the church, or how money should be spent or how it should be made, or who should do what and how they should do it….you get the point don’t you?  How many times have you seen a difference of opinion turn to anger? And anger can eventually lead to hate if we aren’t careful.  And the wall is up all because we couldn’t agree.  Sometimes on a big issue, but more often on something that doesn’t mean a hill of beans when it comes to the Kingdom of God. 

Hatred is a wall that is made out of a substance that can only be broken down with love.  The only way that these walls today can come down is if we allow the love of Christ to work through us.  The question today is, "Are we willing to love ALL people unconditionally so as to break down walls of hatred?" 

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)
What is this life lived for?  Is it for your job, your family, your spouse?  Is it lived for adventure, getting the most out of life?

All these things are important and God-given gifts to humanity.  But Paul knew that there was something (or I should say someone) much more important to live for.  He saw how special living for Christ was.  He lived to make Jesus proud of him.  He wanted his Father in Heaven to look down and say, "That's my boy!", for Jesus to say, "Good job". 

When we have the attitude that to live is Christ, the emphasis of pleasing the world and ourselves is replaced with pleasing Jesus.  We now have someone whom we can please because the world and our selfish selves are never happy for more than a short while.  And ultimately it makes us feel better inside to know we are pleasing our Father and our Savior who sits at His right hand in Heaven.

So if living is Christ, what then is dying?  Dying is gain for those of us who love Jesus.  For death is not the end, but simply the beginning.  When our lives are up here on this earth and we've lived for Christ for as long as our bodies would allow, we gain access to a much deeper and richer relationship with God.  Yes, dying is gain because it is then what we will see God and be with Jesus and experience His Spirit in ways we can never imagine.

Live for Christ.  Your life will be a more enriched one for it.  And remember that when the time comes, it will only get better.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

                               Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

The Church’s purpose has always been to be a missional community.  But much too often it becomes an inward institution.  The same can be said for us as individuals.  This is what we must fight with every fiber of our being.  We were called to be a light that shines Christ through word and deed.  Let us not become like the lighthouse in this parable.

Once upon a time there was a small fishing community located on a rocky shoreline of the great sea.  There were many ships that passed near by because of the big port just down the shoreline.  And all too often the ships would come to close and hit the rocky barrier just beneath the tide.

As a gesture of goodwill the townspeople got together and built a lighthouse so that there would not be so many ships sinking outside their village.  They did this to make the sea a safer place for others even though it really did nothing to benefit them  This is because everyone in the small village knew exactly where the rocks were. 

The lighthouse did its job well.  Immediately there was a decrease in accidents.  And this, of course made the people of the little village very happy.  They had a sense of accomplishment and pride in the fact that they had helped their fellow man. 

After a while though, some began to suggest that since the lighthouse had done so much for so many, that others should be thankful enough to contribute to expense.  Others began to realize that no one had even come and given them thanks for what they had done.  And then there were also those who thought that the light should only shine on the coastal area where they fished so that their own boats were safe…even if this was not the most dangerous part of the shoreline. 

After having a town meeting it was decided that if no money was going to be offered and they weren’t going to receive the recognition that they believed that they deserved that the light in the lighthouse would be stationary and light up only their part of the shoreline. 

When it was realized that there was no light over the most dangerous area of the sea anymore, some people from the busy port down the way came up and built their own bigger lighthouse.  And sea traffic was once again safe.  But in the little fishing village where the original lighthouse had been built this one was starting to need repairs.

Seeing as how it would take a lot of money to fix it up, they decided to simply shut it down.  The building was there.  But no light illuminated from it.  No one was helped by it.  Ironically, those fishermen who used to know where all the rocks were had gotten so used to the light that they had forgotten and ran up on the rocks almost nightly. 

Today the lighthouse still stands.  A few people visit it from time to time and remember how it used to light up the sea.  But the light is now gone.  And it’s nothing more than a building representing something that used to be. 

Our churches are to be shining light outwardly, instead of just within a small section.  And as individuals our lights must shine brightly for all to see, not just a few select individuals, even when we don’t get the recognition that expect.

In the love of Christ,

greg

Thought of the Day !!

God began a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.  
                                 Philippians 1:6 (NCV)

Do you ever fill like a failure?  Have you ever wondered why it is that you try to plant seeds for Jesus but never see any fruit?  Do you think you ever make a difference for God?

God created you.  He began a work in you.  You might say that this means that we're a work in progress.  Sometimes we will see how this work plays out.  Other times we won't.  But know that if you allow God to do so, He will build and strengthen you, as well as calling you and seeing that you produce for Him.  

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
                            Matthew 13:24-26 (NLT)

The point here is that there will always be evil in our midst.  As bad as we want our world to be perfect, there will always be weeds growing in it; bad people who care nothing for others and are living out their lives being controlled by their own sense of gratification and being lured more and more by the devil’s evil schemes.   

Jesus says that there will come a time of harvest and the angels will take the weeds and throw them into the fiery furnace (verse 42).  It’s obvious to us that this is a metaphor for hell.  What will be removed from His Kingdom is “everything that causes sin and all who do evil. (verse 41)”  The Greek literally means those who cause others to sin and those who care not what Jesus wants them to do.

Remember that there is always going to be evil around us…quite possibly right here in our churches.  Our main objective should be to make sure that we don’t allow ourselves to become a part of this evil by being prideful, thinking that that we’re untouchable by the temptations of the devil or by being holier-than-thou like the Pharisees, thus thinking of ourselves better than others.  If we do, we’ll be inviting the devil to use us as weeds instead of good nutritious wheat. 

We must practice good disciplines, stay in touch with our Lord and commune together to gain strength from each other.  These things will help us fend off the enemy when he comes our way. 

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"
                                        Romans 10:15 (NLT)

How seriously do we take the Great Commission where Jesus told his followers to go into the world making disciples?  Was this a message for them only?  Or is it only the duty of pastors and Sunday School teachers to share the Good News of Jesus with others?  Or maybe you believe that you have to have a degree in Salvationology to be able to say the right words to lead others to Christ.

All of the above is simply untrue.  It was not only a message for Jesus' day.  It is not only the duty of pastors and other church leaders.  It is not something you have to go to school to do.  Bringing the good news is simply telling others the good news that you have about Jesus.  Do you have good news?  Do you know Jesus?  How did you get to know Him?  How has He influenced your life?  How has He made you a better person?  What is your belief about how his sacrifice leads to you going to Heaven?  Why do you want to go to Heaven?  Answer these and you have good news.  If you don't know the answer, figure it out.  And then speak of it to others.

You may not be called to stand on street corners or pack for some small country halfway around the world that you've never heard of.  But think about the people you know.  Think about beloved family members.  How many of them might not know Jesus.  How many are living a life that is leading to destruction?  Is there someone close to you that you need to tell that you don't want to be in Heaven without him/her?  Is there someone you need to ask if he/she knows where they would go if they died today?

Many are put off by Jesus followers coming right out and asking these kinds of questions.  It takes forming a relationship of trust to do it best.  But the thing we must remember is that we don't know what tomorrow will bring.  If we hold off too long, it could become too late.

Share the love of Christ.  Share the Good News of Christ.  Do it with your actions.  Do it with your words.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

What sorrow awaits you teachers of the religious law and you Pharisees.  Hypocrites!  For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence!  You blind Pharisee!  First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.
                                                Matthew 23:25-26 (NLT)

What can we learn from this?  The same thing that the Pharisees and religious teachers were taught.  It doesn't matter how nice and polished we look on the outside.  Our clothes don't matter.  What we drive doesn't matter.  What we've done to make ourselves look professional, cool or presentable doesn't matter. 

What matters is what's on the inside.  We must focus on cleaning up our hearts.  Let us work on loving kindness, patience with one another, a deeper relationship with Christ, etc.  Then the rest will all fall into place. 

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.  For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

                                               Matthew 4:1-2 (NLT)

Today is Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent within the Church.  Lent is a forty day time of reflection of one's self.  During this time we have the opportunity to participate in the spiritual discipline of fasting.  When we do, we can follow our Lord's example in the wilderness where he fasted for forty days and forty nights.

Fasting is typically thought of as going without food for a certain amount of time.  It seems that Jesus did this since the scripture says that he "became very hungry".  But during Lent people give something up that is important to them.  This could be certain foods or drinks or activities or anything else that would cause us them suffer for Christ's sake.  This is also a form of fasting.

If you choose to give something up for Lent, then you need to take something up as well in its place.  Take up more time spent with God and more time reflecting on His ways for your life.

One more thing.  Lent is the 40 days prior to Easter beginning with Ash Wednesday.  This does not include Sundays.  Sundays are considered joyful celebrations of the Lord.  Since they are celebration days, fasting is not a part of them unless you so choose.

To learn more about Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, attend an Ash Wednesday service near you today.  Ours at Bakers Chapel UMC will be at 6:30 this evening.  Hope to see you there.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Never stop praying.
             1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)
Let me ask you something.  Do you wish your prayer life would be more fruitful?  Do you wish you were more consistent or that you enjoyed praying more?

If asked, I think many Christians would say that they feel like they don’t pray enough or struggle with a prayer life for one reason or another.  To be quite honest, it's something we must choose to work at.  As with anything worth doing it doesn’t just happen by itself.  There has to be effort put forth.  But when that effort is put forth, it becomes not only something we can be good at, but also something we will enjoy.

Today I offer some practical tips for perseverance in prayer.

1. Find a prayer partner.  Seek someone who will hold you accountable as well as pray with you.

2. Find a proper balance between routine and variety.  By this I mean to make your prayer life a part of your routine.  This might mean a certain time of the day or a certain kind of prayer.  Then prayer becomes habit.  But then also add a variety of other times or types of prayer.  This will keep your prayer life from becoming just routine, which can be as bad as not praying at all.

3. Keep yourself motivated.  You can do this in a variety of ways.  First of all, remember why you're praying.  Keep in mind how much you want to get closer to God.  You can also keep motivated by learning more about prayer.  This can be done by reading through the many passages in the bible about prayer, reading books on prayer and doing studies about prayer.  Another way to stay motivated is by making your prayer life more meaningful or enjoying through aids such as music, prayer journals, prayer walks, or other such things. 

4.Don't allow feelings or interruptions to dictate your prayer life.  If you decide to only pray when you feel like it, the devil will soon have you convinced to put it off over and over again.  And if you allow interruptions to divert you from your commitment, you'll soon find out that you aren't praying anymore.

5. Celebrate answers to prayer.  People will praise God and thank you for your prayers when a healing or some other miracle has occurred.  But celebrate the little things as well.  Pray each morning for God to guide you and keep you safe and celebrate the answers to these and other such prayers daily.  Thank God for listening.

These are but a few helpful hints.  The key is to keep seeking God through prayer.  When we do this, the bible says that we will find Him.  Have a happy prayer life.

In the love of Christ,
greg