I Will Follow

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.  Ephesians 2:10

Last night, Alicia and I went through our closet and dresser and cleaned out several clothing items that we no longer wear or use any longer.  Not to mention, a lot of the clothes are still in good shape and will be donated to a local ministry. As we quickly approach the end of 2011 and the beginning of a new year,  it’s time to let go of the past, remove the ‘junk’ out of our lives, and walk closer with God in the year to come.

You see, the closer we grow to God, the more we fully become our  “true selves.”  Just like old clothing or fashion, our old selves are in the past and we are deemed a new creation by our loving Father.  We are each created as individuals-one of a kind, and the path that we are needs to remain a straight line towards God.

Let us rejoice in our journey towards God in the days to come and enjoy the intimate communion with our Father that loves us more than we can possibly comprehend.

Pure

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!  Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.  Psalm 86:11

We received quite a bit of citrus fruit for Christmas and in my humbled opinion, there is nothing better than a fresh grapefruit or seedless orange for breakfast.  We left an over-ripe banana on the counter near some of the oranges and grapefruit, so a few days later,  some of the fruit had spoiled when we came home from all of our holiday travels.

Sin works in our lives much the same and just like bad fruit, it doesn’t take much to spoil the whole bunch.  The good news is that Jesus’ death on the cross served as an atonement for our sins-past, present, and future.  When we accept His love offering, we are made clean and pure again in God’s eyes.  Keep in mind, that this is something we simply couldn’t accomplish on our own.

When you humbly ask God to forgive you, he removes the contamination of your sin and purifies you once again!

Heaven's Here On Earth

The same Lord gives generously to all who call on him.  Romans 10:12


We are just getting settled back into our home after a whirlwind tour of visiting family out-of-town for Christmas and I couldn't help but think of how busy the retail stores have been since Monday with people returning gifts and making exchanges.  


Thankfully, God has given each of us the 'perfect gift,' his Son, Jesus Christ.  This gift never needs to be exchanged or returned-it is truly a 'one size fits all' kind of gift.  If God were not a passionate and generous God, I suspect he'd make us do something to work for our salvation, but he doesn't.


God loves us and gives freely and he offers the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ to everyone who comes to him!

Slow Down

"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me-and I in him-bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing."  John 15:5


Having some time off from work and away from the usual hustle and bustle of my normal every day routine has been wonderful and relaxing. It has also made me realize how busy I have been over the past year, and that I haven't necessarily accomplished a whole lot, despite all of my efforts, looking back.


God wants each of us to take the time to be still in his Presence so that he can strengthen us. When we allow God to enter our lives in such a profound way, we will actually do less and accomplish more.


As we prepare for the new year, let's plan to walk closer with God, depending on his strength and trusting him in every situation. 


We can live in peace by walking in the light of his Presence!

The Power of Equality

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  ANd this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.  Romans 3:22


There are few things in life other than say, oxygen, that are available to all people.  The great thing about God is that salvation is available to all people.  


It makes no difference to God what sins you have committed.  It does not matter who you are.  God loves all people equally and wants each one of us to be saved and live with him eternally in heaven.  


When we decide that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and we ask for forgiveness of our sins, we are transformed into a new creation.  In God's eyes we become clean and pure again, just like everyone who believes.


We must share this with all people and love them into a relationship with Christ, to expand God's kingdom on this earth.

Love Me Tender

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.  Psalm 103:13


I sometimes worry that I may be too harsh on our oldest son, after all he's only four years old.  After his little brother was born, it seems like I expect him to act more mature than he really is capable of doing.  All of this helps give me some insight into how God must feel about me in my walk of faith...


God shows us all compassion by caring for us, providing for us, blessing us, and loving us.  When we trust him and obey him, he forgives us of our sins, which restores our relationship with him.


Thank you dear Father for your tender love and mercy!

Glory To God Forever

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!  Luke 2:14

I can only imagine how many angels there must have been in the sky that starry night that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  The lights must have shined in brilliance and the shepherds in the field could only gaze at the sky in wide-eyed amazement.   

The King of all kings was not born in a palace, but a stable.  He was not born in the capital city, but a small town called Bethlehem.  The first to proclaim Jesus’ birth were not royalty, but a group of shepherds in a field.  Perhaps this was all part of God’s plan to show each of us that life’s greatest treasure, salvation though Jesus Christ, is available to everyone-no matter what their status is. 

Glory to God in the highest and Merry Christmas!

Silent Night

There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

When the shepherds found the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, they found Jesus Christ, “a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”  God’s people had been longing for the Messiah for centuries, but God sent Jesus to earth in his perfect timing.

Jesus came to this earth as a sin offering for all of mankind.  He came as the Savior, the fulfillment of the Old testament prophecies as the Messiah.  He came to the earth and lived among us-the Lord of heaven and earth in human flesh.

Jesus Christ is the ruling, sovereign, reigning Lord over all and you can rest assured knowing that God sent Him at just the right time when most people, past, present, and future, would be reached with the Good News of salvation!

Follow You, Follow Me

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant.  May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.  Luke 1:38

Mary stepped up and followed God’s direction for her life despite the fact that she was only a young and un-wed teenager, that could have faced a serious punishment for bearing a child outside of marriage.

Just like Mary, we too need to take the risk of doing things God’s way.  When God asks us to follow him, he doesn’t always provide us all of the information up front.  We have to step out in faith and when we do, he will give us enough guidance to see where to take our next steps.

Mary risked her life, her marriage, her reputation, and future by becoming the mother of Jesus. Following God’s will can be risky, but God promises us that the rewards will always outweigh the risk!

Send Me An Angel

He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.  They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.  Psalm 91:11-12

The Bible doesn’t specifically say whether there is one specific guardian angel assigned to each believer, but I do believe that God uses his almighty supernatural power and angels to protect us.

God’s Word does tell us that he uses angels to guide us, protect us, minister to us, rescue us and fight for us.  Regardless is it is one specific angel or a host of angels, you can rest assured that we are blessed by the role they play in our lives.  In fact, I am convinced that angels play a greater role in our lives than we can possibly grasp or fathom.

Let us thank God today for his provisions, blessings and the supernatural ways in which he takes care of the people he loves.

Give A Little Bit

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."  Matthew 2:1-2


Not much is known about the Magi that travelled such a great distance to come and worship Jesus.  We do know that they followed a star (not sure exactly how they knew the star represented Jesus), but we are not told how many Magi came and where their journey originated.  


The Bible tells us that when the Magi finally found Jesus after traveling thousands of miles, they responded with joy, worship, and gifts.  The stark difference between their reaction and ours today is that we often expect God to come looking for us, prove he is who he is, and give us gifts.  


We need to be like the Magi and seek Jesus and worship Him, not for what we can get in return, but for who He is!

Get Closer

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  James 4:8

As difficult as the employee benefits arena has become in lieu of health care reform and a down economy, one of the perks to working as an insurance broker is being offered the occasional ticket to a concert or sporting event.  I must say, that I have always enjoyed live music, so it’s very rare that I would ever hesitate to go to an event. 

As believers in the body of Christ, each one of us has also been given a ‘free pass’ through our faith, to be in God’s presence. It’s when we put our faith and trust in Jesus that we can enter God’s presence with confidence. 

The closer we come to God, the closer he draws to us!  Thanks be to God!!

We Win!

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  Romans 8:37


Denver QB, Tim Tebow, has dominated much of the media spotlight recently for his faith just as much as his play on the field.  Yesterday, his streak of amazing come-from-behind victories came to an end as the New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos.  Regardless, Tebow has only lost 2 of the games in which he has started this season and he will likely lead his team to many more victories this season.  Like any athlete that excels in their sport, if they are not constantly encouraged, their performance will eventually decline.


As Christians, this is a valuable lesson for us to learn as well.  When we listen to the feelings of doubt that God is distant, we fall trap into the lies and deceit of the enemy who wants us to live our lives feeling defeated.  When we do this, we certainly don't live like citizens of the Kingdom of God.


We must learn to live without fear-not being afraid to take risks or be bold in our faith.  Hardships will come our way and battles will be difficult, but the love and power of Jesus will always remain undefeated.  


God wants us to overcome and not be overwhelmed!

Peace On Earth

You will keep in perfect peace with all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!  Isaiah 26:3

People will go to great lengths to find peace, but genuine peace can only be found in a trusting relationship with God. 

Peace is not just the absence of conflict, but more so the presence of God.  Peace of mind comes as the Holy Spirit guides you into God’s purposes for your life and he gives you an eternal perspective.  Peace of heart comes as the Holy Spirit guides you into a productive life and comforts you in times of trouble.

This Christmas season, let the peace of Jesus enter your heart. 

On Our Side

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31


The more I ponder Paul's question above, the more I believe it is a rhetorical question designed to make us realize the foolishness of our thinking.  Often times, the severity of our present circumstances cloud our view of God, and in the process, we are left questioning whether or not He is indeed on our side.  


Think about it this way-if God freely gave us his beloved Son, Jesus, while we were still sinners, why would he abandon us now?  The answer is pretty clear-he would never abandon us.  


Sometimes, we feel like he has forgotten us, especially when we are overwhelmed by our present circumstances, but God will always remain by our side.


We must treat our doubts about God much like sin.  God's Word repeatedly reminds us that God loves us and his extravagant goodness are always with those who believe.  

Even It Up

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Matthew 5:38-39


Trying to raise our children the best we can, Jesus' words on retaliation are certainly relevant on a daily basis in our household. We have two young boys and as they grow bigger, stronger, and sometimes temper-mental, it is important that we instill the value of not seeking revenge on each other at an early age.


When we are wronged, it is human nature to want to get even. Instead of seeking vengeance, Jesus' radical words are to do good to those who have wronged us! I still struggle with this today and luckily have not acted out too many times when I have been wronged in the past.


Our desire should not be to keep score, but to love and forgive-just as our loving Father has done freely for us. This is certainly not natural; it's supernatural.


Only God can give us the strength to love as only he does! The next time you plan to seek revenge, pray for the person who has wronged you instead.

Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Part 2)

..the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."  Matthew 1:20-21


We have heard the "Christmas story" so much that I truly believe we have become almost  desensitized to just how supernatural and miraculous this story is.  I try to put myself into Joseph's shoes and I honestly would have a hard time sticking around if my wife informed me that she was carrying a baby that was not mine. 


Joseph secretly planned to divorce Mary until an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and reassured him that the baby was a divine being, both God and human; the Savior of the world. 


The Bible doesn't recount much of Joseph's reaction, but it simply states that "when he woke up, Joseph did what the angel of the Lord had commanded and took Mary home as his wife." (Matthew 1:24)  


What is God calling you to do with your life?  Will you answer his call and follow him in faith, no matter what difficulties or challenges you face?

The Greatest Gift Of All

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

For the first Christmas season in a long while, I am almost finished with all of my shopping.  The past few years, I have found myself at retail stores late at night, battling throngs of last minute Christmas shoppers for whatever merchandise is left and I must say that it is quite miserable.

Regardless of trying to find the ‘perfect gifts” for our loved ones, the greatest gift has been given to us by God-his Son, Jesus.  Through his gift of Jesus, he also gives each of us the gift of eternal life.  What makes these gifts so wonderful is that we don’t have to work to earn them; they are given to us freely by our loving Father.

All we have to do is simply believe that God has given you his Son and the offer of eternal life with Him.  Once you accept these gifts, no one can ever take them away from you.

Praise be to God!!

Stairway To Heaven

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

In all of Jesus’ great teachings during His short time on this earth, the most radical was the above statement from John 14:6.  There are some things that we often try to rationalize, but Jesus clearly stated that the only way to heaven was through Him.  Much like today, the people who heard Jesus speak those words either whole-heartedly believed Him or thought He was a mad lunatic.

Regardless if we want to buy our way in, work our way in, or think our way in, the Bible is clear-Jesus Christ is the only way into heaven.  Believing and gratefully accepting this truth is the only way to your most important destination.

Have you been counting on something other than Christ to get you into heaven? This Christmas season, there is no more important gift you can offer someone other than the love of Jesus Christ.

Don't Go Breaking My Heart

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  Matthew 1:18-19


I cannot begin to imagine Joseph's reaction when he learned that his pledged wife to be, Mary, was pregnant with a child that was not his.  Not to mention, even if it was Joseph's baby, they weren't even married yet and adulterers were often stoned to death in accordance with Jewish civil law during those times.


What is so remarkable about this story and one that I was given a whole new prospective on during our sermon series called "Extravagant" at Cokesbury Church on Sunday, was that Joseph was indeed a righteous man and didn't abandon Mary, even though he thought about quietly divorcing her.  


We have all heard the story of Jesus' birth so many times, that we are insulated from just how much of a struggle Mary and Joseph actually endured to be the earthly parents of God's beloved Son.  This particular story of Joseph is truly a story of hope.  Can you imagine having your heart broken by someone you were madly in love with and planned to marry, only to be told by an angel that your special someone was carrying the Savior of the world?  


Joseph surely didn't map out his life this way, but he was righteous and he answered God's calling on his life.  Would you do the same if you faced such a difficult decision?

Pray

The disciples asked Jesus "Why could we not drive it (the demon) out?" He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer." Mark 9:28-29


We all have been given a direct line to communicate with God though prayer.  The disciples would often face difficult situations that could only be resolved through prayer.  


It's hard to sometimes grasp the values of God's eternal kingdom, especially when we are facing trials and suffering in our own lives.  Jonah said, "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you Lord" (Jonah 2:7)  We often act the same way.  When life is going well, we tend to take God for granted, but when lose our hope, we cry out to him.  This kind of inconsistent and fair-weathered relationship with God can only result in an inconsistent spiritual life.  


We must constantly stay on our knees, in prayer with God each and every day-during both good times and bad.  Not only will we have stronger spiritual lives, but we can do great things in the name of our loving Father.

I Still Believe (The Great Design)

"I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!"  Mark 9:24


God has answered some prayers for a couple of our dear friends this week in ways that are truly miraculous.  Without divulging any details, I can say that the journey has been long and the struggles have been plenty, but with many faithful prayers, God delivered in a profound way!!


The above proclamation of the demon-possessed boy from the book of Mark is something I have incorporated into my prayers quite often. The attitude of trust and complete confidence that the Bible calls belief or trust is not something that we can obtain without help.  Faith is a gift given to us from God.  No matter how much faith we have, we can never reach a point of self-dependence apart from God.  


Faith is not something that we can hoard and store away like money in a bank, either.  The process of going our faith is a constant process, one that needs to be renewed daily by renewing our trust in Jesus.


Praise His holy name!

Anything Is Possible

"If you can'?" said Jesus.  "Everything is possible for him who believes." Mark 9:29


I have been reading and re-reading the story of how Jesus healed the demon-possessed boy in the book of Mark this past week.  God has revealed some pretty powerful teachings to me through His Word.  


When you hear that someone is praying for you, it almost sounds cliche.  Too often, we feel it's just the right thing to say and the easy way out for some believers.  The truth is that there is great power in faithful prayer.  


Jesus' words from above do not mean that we can automatically obtain anything that we want if we just think positively.  What I believe Jesus was saying is that anything is possible if we believe, because there is nothing too difficult for God.  As I grow and mature in my faith, I am learning that God doesn't just work like a magic genie either.  We simply cannot have everything we pray for as if by magic; but with faith, we can have everything we need to serve him while we are on this earth.


Allow yourself to step out on faith the next time you pray and believe with all of your might that God hears you and is greater than anything you are facing.  Remember, anything is possible!!

Here and Now

She will have a son, and you are you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.  Matthew 1:21

Our boys look forward every morning during the season of Advent to counting the days down until Christmas on our Advent Calendar.  

Just like a  child’s eager excitement about Christmas, we too have a great hope in knowing that we will live forever in heaven with God because of Jesus. 

Until our hopes are fulfilled, we must live out the plan that God has laid out for each of our lives, here and now.

We must follow God’s lead so that we don’t go astray and fulfill his great plans, just as Jesus fulfilled God’s plan for Him. 

Simple

“Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.   With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.”  Matthew 6:8, The Message

I must say that I am very proud of our oldest son, Elliott, who has given us a very short and sweet Christmas wish list this year.  This is in stark contrast to when I was younger, as I would typically began combing the various catalogues that were mailed to our home and devising my master wish list for Christmas by the end of each summer. I would typically condense the multi-paged wish list by the end of November so that it was a little more realistic for anyone who was doing their Christmas shopping for me, but I think I asked for every single toy that I laid my eyes on.  Elliott has only given us a few items that he wants and it’s: a set of Legos, a keyboard piano, and an umbrella.  (Hopefully, Santa can come through for him this year!)

Just like a parent strives to provide their children with the most wanted gifts on their Christmas wish list, God also promises to supply our needs, not necessarily our wants.   The above paraphrased passage from the book of Matthew was Jesus’ advice for us on how to pray to God.  Jesus was telling us that God already knows what we need, so we shouldn’t  have to babble or ramble on when we pray to Him.

When we pray and keep it simple, focusing on what God values, the more we will be able to distinguish our wants from our needs.  Furthermore, we can rest assured that God doesn’t need some elaborate string of words to determine what it is that we need-He already knows!

Thanks be to God!

No Compassion

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.  Psalm 103:13

As we finished our decorating and hung the final strands of Christmas lights on the front porch, I was eager to see our children’s amazement and fascination with all of the beautiful Christmas lights that decorate our home.  I also couldn’t help but think about the countless number of people who dread the Christmas season and all of the Christmas lights serve as painful reminders of a difficult home situation, a dispute with a family member, or simply not being able to afford to purchase gifts for loved ones. 

God has laid this heavy on my heart and has shown compassion to me by caring for me, providing for me, loving me, and blessing me.  He has forgiven me too many times to recall, and I while I try my best to honor him out of love by fearing him and obeying him, I still continue to come up short.  By his never ending mercy and grace, he continues to love me and forgive me and that will never change.

This Christmas season, there are people all around you who are either hurting or in need.  What better time to show them the same compassion and caring that God has shown us!

We Win

Behold, I will create a new heavens and a new earth.  Isaiah 65:17


In the novel, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, author C.S. Lewis described the curse as "always winter and never Christmas."  We live in a fallen world which is enslaved by sin and corruption and cannot be improved.  This may sound depressing, but for Christians, we must realize that improvement is not what is needed, instead we should long for re-creation.  This re-created world is hard to fathom as it will be the exact opposite-"always spring and never Good Friday."


As a believer, this is exciting to me and something that I wish I could cling to more on the days when life seems to be getting the best of me.  We could all stand to live with the celebration and joy of what's coming with the promises of God's kingdom. 


If this weren't possible, it wouldn't make sense that Jesus told His disciples to be joyful despite facing trials and tribulations.  Jesus knows the end of the story and He wants us to know it too-we win!  Not only does He want us to know it, but He wants us to live every day knowing that it's real.


Praise be to God!


  

Until The Whole World Hears

When Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory. Colossians 3:4


Watching our two boys grow up is such a blessing and when our oldest son bickers about sharing his toys with his curious little brother, it reminds me of how I treated my little sister when we were children. Ever since I can remember, our parents taught us to share.


For most of us as grown adults, sharing is still a hard concept to grasp. I believe it is due to our fallen and sinful nature to get rather than give and our thirst to accumulate rather than relinquish. As followers of Christ, we are called to share our love, time, faith, resources, talents, and money with others. People who do share and give are promised the benefits of being generous, which are far greater then the fleeting moments of receiving.


When you realize how much God has shared and given to you, it's hard not to want to go and give and share with others in return.


This Christmas season, think of what you have that you can generously share with others...

Longer

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4


I was in my hotel getting ready for a meeting this week and was feeling a bit down on myself for eating so much junk over the past few days of travel for work. It's hard to make healthy food choices when you are on the road so much, entertaining clients over lunch or dinner, or having to eat fast food as you are making your way through a crowded airport. You see, if i am being totally honest, my fear is that I will revert back to weighing as much as I did while in college, when I weighed an astounding 226 lbs. Things were much different for me back then-physically and spiritually.


I didn't feel downtrodden for too long as I came across the above scripture from Ephesians, where God reassures us all that he indeed loved us, even before he created the world.


Because He first loved us, he sent Jesus to earth to live a sinless and blameless life to atone for our sinfulness on the cross. If you are like me and sometimes need reassurance, just know that you are indeed loved by God; he payed the ultimate price for our holiness and the eternal promise of heaven!

Distractions

Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:62

I was driving home in the pouring rain the other evening and took my eyes off of the road for only a split second and hit some standing water on the highway that almost caused me to hydroplane.  Luckily, I was able to regain control of my car quickly and the rest of my ride home was a white-knuckle ride to say the very least.

Just like the standing water on the road, distractions can also take our focus off of Jesus.  We might be doing some great things, but if we take our eyes off of our Lord for a moment, we can quickly stumble and fall.  The enemy will stop at nothing to try and distract us.

When our minds are focused on God, we are less likely to be tempted and sin, so the enemy will stop at nothing to make sure our thoughts are not focused on our Loving God.  There are other distractions that can cause us to be distracted as well-busyness, material things, problems, and even things we enjoy, can all cause us to lose our focus on God.

Be aware of these things that distract our minds so that you can minimize them and stay on course with righteousness.     

Help Me Somebody!

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.  Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.  I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. Matthew 11:28-30, The Message

If that verse sounds familiar, it could be because it’s the exact same verse I wrote about in yesterday’s Daily DEVO, this time it’s taken from The Message.  I enjoy this paraphrased version of the same Scripture because it just makes sense.  I also felt it important to add to yesterday’s DEVO that we should all be humbled enough to cry out to God for help when we need it. 

Too often, our pride gets in the way and we refuse to turn our problems over to our Loving Father who wants to give us a rest from all of our worrying and anxieties we face on a daily basis. 

Our beginnings do not have to dictate our endings-we need to let God be involved with every area of our lives and allow Him to lead us into “real rest.”

Soul Kitchen

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. (I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.) Matthew 11:28

Every year for as long as I can remember, the weeks leading up to Christmas are crazy busy at work, not to mention trying to squeeze some personal time in to shop for gifts/ presents and attend various Christmas parties/functions.  Jesus gave us all such a wonderful model of what it is like to truly “rest.”  If you read the New Testament, Jesus typically went to spend time in solitude with the Lord after preaching, teaching, or performing miracles…

You see, we can be involved in inward activity as much as we are involved in outward activities.  God wants us to not only enter into His rest for our bodies, but our souls as well.  I am a believer that finding rest for my soul means “unplugging” and finding freedom from mental activities too.  Furthermore, it means submitting to God and not trying to figure out what I should do about every aspect of my life as I simply can’t keep trying to come up with answers I just don’t have.

At the end of each day, experience rest and peace for your soul by going to Christ and allowing Him to relive and refresh you from the inside out!  What an awesome privilege we have!!   

The Real Me

I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right path.  Proverbs 4:11

I have been pondering something that Pastor Mark Beebe preached during his sermon at Cokesbury’s West Campus this past Sunday.  To paraphrase, Pastor Beebe asked the congregation if our view of God is shaped by our circumstances.  If they are going well, do we have a positive outlook as it pertains to God or if things are going badly, do we think negatively about God?

God sees the totality of our lives.  He knows us better than anyone-inside and out.  He knows our thoughts, feelings, our past, present and futures.  God sees the whole of who we are, what we are called to do and what circumstances we are facing at this very moment.

The more we see our lives from God’s perspective and not our limited understanding, the stronger our ability to discern the right way to go.  There is no one better qualified than God to guide our lives and lead us down the right paths.

No Compassion

Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.  Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as the noon.  Isaiah 58:10


The Christmas season, in particular, presents many opportunities to help out those who are less fortunate or in need.  I am at a point in my life where I honestly have everything that I could possibly want or need and feel compassion for those who are really hurting or in need.


God promises that those who help the poor will be rewarded, both in this life and the next. God has compassion for the poor and the needy, so as followers of God, we too must also be compassionate for them.


Compassion means more than just giving some money and hoping that people are taken care of.  I honestly believe it means giving more of yourself-volunteering and taking the time to take care of people who are in need; our brothers and sisters.  


Helping those less fortunate is not an obligation, but a great joy!!

Watcher Of The Skies

We have a priceless inheritance-an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  1 Peter 1:4


As we decorate our home for Christmas, there are some traditions that we like to keep in the Fisher household.  Alicia and I both have always purchased a fresh Christmas tree.  We both enjoy the smell of fresh Fraser Fir that fills our home with it's sweet aroma.  For a few weeks, we batted around the idea of purchasing a pre-lit tree and finally broke down and went with a plastic tree.  This change was very difficult for me as this is the first time in my lifetime that I don't have fresh tree in my home.


One thing that is certain is that things do inevitably change.  Some are for the better and some for the worse.  You can rest assured knowing that God and His Word NEVER change.


This gives us the assurance that every one of his promises will come true, including eternal life with Him in heaven.  There nothing will ever change for the worse.  Trust God's Word today and live with confidence to face today!

Seven Nation Army

In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.  2 Samuel 22:30


We have all found ourselves there before...the 22 point underdog, the unqualified, not good enough, etc...every day brings a new challenge. While we may not be leading a nation or running a large corporation, we can still face difficult situations, difficult people, and temptations.


I have stated this before and still believe that challenges prevent me from becoming too comfortable in my faith.  In fact, I see challenges as opportunities to move into uncharted waters.


Without God's lead, challenges would be frightening, but with God it is always a great adventure.  No matter what difficulties you are facing, be sure to do it with God by your side!

Show Don't Tell

Let us stop passing judgement on one another.  Romans 14:13


The day after Thanksgiving, "Black Friday", as it's commonly known in America, is a day that retailers open the doors to their stores ultra early and offer sales and special deals to kick off the Christmas sales season.  This year, most retailers already opened at 12:01 AM, and throngs of people have flocked to be the first in line to find great deals on generic Blu-Ray players and knock-off brand name HDTVs.  


I made the mistake of wandering into a big name retailer early one morning a few years ago on Black Friday and it was  like running with the bulls in Spain.  People were lined up in every aisle of the store and when the sales associates let everyone run wild, it was nothing short of mass chaos.  People were fighting each other for DVD player and hand held video game consoles and, quite honestly, I have never seen such rude behavior while shopping in all of my lifetime.


I chose the above passage for today with the hopes that if you happen to find yourself doing some Christmas shopping today you will consider focusing on the gifts and graces of other people rather than finding their faults.  Sure, you may get cut off by someone in the parking lot or someone just may snatch an item you have waited up all night for, but as believers, we are called to extend the same grace and mercy we have been given by our loving Father.


It's a difficult task, but it can actually be fun.  Try spending Black Friday thinking nothing but good thoughts about other people.  Where you normally feel offended, bless them.  If they curse you, bless them.  Where you normally feel offend, determine to be free of any hostility whatsoever. 


Your blindness to others faults will make the world seem a little brighter today!

Thankful

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Your loving spouse works hard each and every day, at work or at home.  Do you ever think to say “thank you?”  What about all of the things big and small that other people do for you  on a daily basis?  Do you remember to thank them as well?

Now think about all that God has done for you and how much He helps you in your daily life.  When we pause for a moment and actually think about it, we begin to see that God is continuously blessing us, providing for us, and protecting us, all of the time.

Giving thanks is away to celebrate both the giver and the gift.  Remember to give thanks today to God for everything!!

Joyful

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.  Psalm 30:5

I have done some soul searching lately and have pondered whether my happiness depends on everything in my life being just right.  Based on my present circumstances, and the reality of everything not going my way, I’d say that my happiness sometimes does depend on everything being just right.  If everything went my way, the children would always do what I asked on the first time, my wife and I would no longer have disagreements,  I would close every sale that I pursued at work, my Auburn Tigers would be National Champions every season and Carl Edwards would have edged out Tony Stewart to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup a few days ago.

We all experience times in our lives that we feel down, but we cannot let our circumstances control our emotions.  The enemy is a discourager and will stop at nothing to fill our minds with negative thoughts and emotions, but Jesus is our encourager and is always there to lift us up.  He came to give us all love, peace, righteousness, and joy-all the things that help lift our spirits up!

We all feel sad or down at times, but those feelings are only temporary because joy comes from above and makes everything better!

Gratitude

Bless affectionately, gratefully praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not one of all His benefits.  Psalm 10:3:2

I stopped by a large retailer the first week in November (only days after Halloween) and to my surprise, the Christmas music was already playing in regular rotation over the loudspeakers.  The past few weeks, my inbox has been bombed with various Black Friday sales specials and some of my neighbors already have all of their Christmas decorations out.  Look, I enjoy Christmas and celebrating the birth of my Savior, but what about Thanksgiving?  As a child, it was easy to discount Thanksgiving as a day to eat Turkey and think about the pilgrims who bravely sailed across the globe to America, but as an adult, Thanksgiving has taken a whole new meaning...

In addition to eating Turkey and of course, the Iron Bowl, Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate and give thanks to God for all of His many blessings.  I have been reflecting on this for several days now and when I begin to think about all that God has blessed me with, it’s hard to keep track of it all.   

It’s easy to get swept up into all of the traditions on Thanksgiving Day, but we cannot allow the activities crowd out the real purpose of the day.  Make a list of all that you are thankful for and express your special thanks to God for all He has blessed you with!     

Hurt

So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.  2 Corinthians 4:18


It's hard to not be troubled by all that's going on in the world today.  There is a mess at Penn State, the economy is in dire straits, the number of foreclosures continue to grow every day, and our country's political system is full of corruption.  


Regardless, God promises us that the troubles looming in front of us will not last forever.  Our goal should be to shift our focus away from the trouble we now see and look instead to the things that will last forever-God's love, his gift of salvation, his care for us, and eternity in heaven with him.


When we live with a heavenly perspective, it puts the hurt and troubles we experience in this world in their proper place-temporary and we know they won't last.


We can live with confidence despite our struggles today knowing that God promises each of us a world where there is no more hurt or pain.

All You Need Is Love

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  1John 4:7


The Beatles were onto something with "All You Need Is Love."  After all, Jesus identified the two greatest commandments as loving God and loving other people.  Even John made the radical statement that "those who lack love don't know God."  


What surprises me about Christianity in modern times is that many people understand the need to go to church,to serve and volunteer when it's convenient, and people will support the occasional mission trip or ministry effort, but when it comes to love, the modern Christian church is lacking.


It's sad, because it's not that we don't have love, it's just that individually speaking, we as believers are often times indistinguishable from the culture around us.  


There is an urgency in John's instructions-we have been born of a loving God and what this word needs now more than anything is more love.   

Control

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you.  I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. Ezekiel 36:26

Having two children has made me inadvertently expect our oldest son to be more mature than he can actually be at his age.  It's really not fair, considering he's only four years old and still considered an older toddler. I also have this tendancy to want to be in control and it's often a power stuggle in our household.

When we give God control of our lives, he gives us a new heart, nature, and desire to please him.  God renews our hearts when we come to him with some humility and we turn away from our old sinful habits.  As we do these things, our love for him will grow.

God has the power to change the coldest and hardest of hearts into loving ones.  Are you willing to let go and let God change you?

Couldn't Get It Right

Without me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

One of my son’s favorite Bible stories is how David defeated Goliath.  If you think about it, there were probably thousands of Israelite soldiers that were better equipped to battle with Goliath rather than David.  Regardless, most any rational soldier's reaction to fighting Goliath was fear, stress, and anxiety.

David didn’t waiver because he realized that it was God’s battle and not his own. 

Apart from the Lord, he didn’t stand a chance.  However, with God’s help and mighty strength, David was confident that everything would turn out just fine-and it did!

Running

The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me.  I will protect those who trust in my name.  When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue and honor them.  I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation." Psalm 91:14-16


It baffles me why I ran away from God's love for so much of my life.  Hindsight now being much clearer, I can't fathom all of the blessings I missed out on for so long.  


The truth of the matter is that we are not some creatures that just randomly evolved; God created each of us in his own image so that we could have a relationship with him.  He loves us because he created us.  


God wants nothing more from us but our love and a relationship with him, so stop running away from him and discover the purpose for which you and I were created!

Little By Little

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Leaving the gym this morning, I couldn’t help but notice how much time is spent working out and trying to increase our own limited strength rather than relying on God’s never-ending supply of strength, especially when it comes to facing adversity.

In the midst of a problem, it’s easy to focus on the size of our problem and we tend to forget that God is greater than any problem or situation we could ever possibly face.   You see, when we look at a difficult situation in terms of our own strength, we diminish the fact that God’s abilities and love are unlimited.  He will always provide us everything we need.

We must learn to not focus on the obstacles we face as problems, but view them as opportunities for God to demonstrate His awesome power and grow our faith exponentially.

God often doesn’t reveal the whole picture to us, He only shows us His plans little by little, so we must learn to rely on Him daily.  We must follow His lead, guidance, and learn to trust Him with our future.

Drifting

So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door ; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy ; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:7-10

Last work week was undoubtedly one of the busiest and most stressful weeks I have had all year.  By Friday afternoon, my mind had just checked out as I was exhausted and worn out from multiple meetings and the stress of traveling.   Being honest, I really struggled to find inspiration to even write this Daily DEVO.  The weekend was a great time to catch my breath and the sermon yesterday was timely.  I was reminded of how Jesus resisted the Enemy during His 40 days in the wilderness.  He submitted to God’s lead and never took His eyes off of His father.

Jesus’ example is one that we too should emulate in our daily lives.  It’s easy to be so pre-occupied with our day-to-day lives that we adapt a worldly mindset.  When our thoughts turn away from God, we become dangerously self-dependent and let our guards down.  When we do, the Enemy always seems to strike. 

We know that God will win the ultimate victory, but Satan will stop at nothing to lead us astray with his many lies and deception.  Don’t let the world fool you into trying to manage your life on your own.  Keep your eyes on Christ, stay alert and keep connected to His truth!

Shake Your Foundations

"Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock." -Jesus  Matthew 7:24-25


In the age of information, there are many different opinions and viewpoints expressed over the Internet, radio, and television. It's hard to discern the truth at times and distinguish between what is fact from fiction. During a recent discussion over lunch, a client I work with shared that her teenage son feared that the end times are coming because of all of the bad news he continuously sees on the news.


Regardless of the endless resources of information available to us, God's Word remains the one source of truth. We can easily grow weary, fearful, or discouraged by listening to public opinion rather than staying grounded in God's promises and truths.


If you have enough time each day to watch television or surf the net, try to save a few moments to read your Bible as well. It doesn't have to be an entire passage or book, just start out slowly and read a verse or two each day.


The news is daunting enough for a believer that understands that we live in a fallen world, but I cannot imagine how terrifying it must be for someone who doesn't know that this world is not our final destination. God promises all who believe in him something truly greater than we can possibly comprehend, eternal life in heaven. Build your house on a solid rock!

Think

As he thinks in his heart, so is he.  Proverbs 23:7

Whether we realize it or not, what we think makes a huge difference in what we say or do.  Our thoughts control our actions-what activities and interests we pursue.  Our thoughts control our feelings-how we react or respond to situations.  And finally, the way we think about other people becomes the way we treat other people. 

Simply stated, we must choose what we focus our minds on.  There is a saying, ‘garbage in, garbage out.’  When we fix our mind on things that are good and righteous,  good things will come as a result.  When our mind is set upon the wrong things, it changes the way we treat others and navigates our actions in a negative way.

Fix your heart and mind on Jesus and allow Him to guide your thoughts, actions and pursuits!

Joy

I will be filled with joy because of you.  I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2

On my flight back from FL earlier this week, I picked up a copy of the USA Today and every headline I read was either serious or depressing.  It made me think about the aspects of Christian life-there are certain elements we view with appropriate seriousness, but far too often, we overlook the great delights and joy of being followers of Christ.   

Life moves at such a fast pace these days, we easily forget some of the simple things such as: the God of all of the universe loves us, has a plan for each of us, and created this wonderful world for you and I to live in.  God wants us to have a relationship with him and wants us to serve him enthusiastically and joyfully. 

God promises to fill us with the joy he delights to see in each one of his followers.  Praise be to God!

Change

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.  Philippians 2:13

For any parent, surely there are some behaviors in your children you would change if you could.  For instance, our oldest son still whines when he asks for something and he doesn’t get it immediately.  I am sure that he will outgrow this, after all, he is only four years old, but it would be nice to have a morning of peace while getting the kids ready for school.  If I could change it, I would, but quite honestly, I can’t. 

Just like a parent, God will not force change on us, either.  When we invite him into our lives, we give him the permission to use his almighty power to change us.  If we try to change on our own, we are likely to fail because of our limited strength and power.  Instead, we must move aside and let God himself begin the work of transformation in us that will last a lifetime.

Let God do his work in you and see the dramatic and healing power of the Holy Spirit!

What Does It Take To Win Your Love?

Long ago the Lord said, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3

It baffles me why I resisted turning my life over to God for so long.  Forget all of the standard “church talk” and some of the people who may have damaged or changed your opinion of God.  To put it in the most simplest of terms-God created us, God loves us, and God longs to have a relationship with each of us.  He pursues us with persistence and an unfailing, never-ending, love. 

Has he caught your attention yet?  How does it make you feel to know that God, the creator of all of the universe, is pursuing you with his love?  Thanks be to God!

Anything Is Possible

He (Jesus) replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."  Matthew 17:20

I was looking at the vastness of the starry sky this morning while jogging and couldn’t help but feel pretty small in all of God’s wonderful creation.  Quite honestly, after a series of recent events, my faith seems a little smaller, but I know it’s still there.  Small mindedness is not such a bad thing, but being small minded in faith is bad because it prevents us from seeing the grandeur and expanse of God’s plan.

Most people are familiar with Jesus’ words from Matthew.  He was explaining to His disciples the reasons why they too could not cast out demons and cure diseases; it was because they had very little or were simply small-minded in their faith.   The disciples had lost their faith that Jesus would do what He said He would do.  When we doubt Jesus, we fail to see the big picture and only focus on our very limited capabilities.

Just like the disciples, so many of us as believers have also lost our faith.  Jesus reminds us that it doesn’t take a lot, just a small amount of faith, the size of a mustard seed, for us to accomplish great and mighty things. 

Father, help grow our faith stronger and bolder.  I believe in you, God, but help me to believe even more!  I will seek to serve and trust in your never-ending supply of strength and power.  I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.