Evil Urges

I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. Romans 7: 15-18

If I had a dollar for every time I used "the devil made me do it" as an excuse for my poor choice of actions over the years, I'd be a rich man.  Of course, it sounds like a valid excuse, but ultimately, we are the only ones responsible for our own actions.

We cannot use the power of sin or Satan as an excuse because both have been defeated by Christ.  When we refuse Christ's help to resist temptations, sin is stronger than we are and we may find ourselves defenseless against an attack.  This is why we should never try to stand up to sin alone, but depend on Christ who has conquered sin once and for all.

When we tap into His never ending power and strength, we can stand tall and not give into our temptations and the sins that so easily entangle us.  

Stronger Every Day

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2

Despite it being a vacation week and currently enjoying some much need rest and relaxation with the family, leading up to this week, I was simply worn out from a crazy busy month of May.  Everything has been going well-the boys have been playing baseball and flag football, the school year is in the books, and I have been running ragged at work the past few weeks with increased travel for various meetings and presentations.  Here is the point: when I rely on my own limited resources, I simply don’t have what it takes to make it. 

The more I learn about God, the more I am beginning to understand that He wants me to come to a place of dependence on Him, every single day.

This world wants you to believe that being self-sufficient is the way live, but the truth is, we need to rely more on God’s all-powerful and never-ending strength.

Let us rejoice in our insufficiency knowing that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

With or Without Reason

“I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"  At this they picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.  John 8: 58-59

The other day, I was attempting to make a point to our boys and was at a loss for words, so I uttered something completely ridiculous: "Because I said so."  Whoa, I have never heard that one before.  My boys probably think I have lost my mind…which, maybe I have, but that’s not the point of today's DEVO...

When Jesus spoke the words above from John 8:58, He spoke one of the most radical and powerful statements of His lifetime.  He boldly proclaimed His divinity when He said that He existed before Abraham was born.  In addition to claiming that He was around before Abraham, He also applied God's holy name-"I am."

Jesus' claim is one that demands a response and cannot be ignored.  The Jewish leaders attempted to stone Jesus for blasphemy, because He claimed equality with God.  Who do you say He is?  Is He truly God or just a great prophet that did nice things for other people?

If I was not a believer, I would certainly question some of Jesus’ outrageous claims, but the truth is that Jesus is God, so how do you respond to His claims?  

Surrender

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Therefore submit to God.  James 4: 6-7

Our sons are both growing up quickly, Elliott is 10 and Elijah is 7, but along with all of the fun and chaos, they are both capable of also throwing their share of temper tantrums at any given moment. I feel like a ‘broken record’ at times, lovingly correcting them or showing him the proper way to do things. The other evening, we were enjoying dinner together as a family on our back porch.  The boys were eating grilled chicken, but Elijah refused to eat his because he claimed that the chicken was charred and as he said "too crunchy."  If we only served junk food and sweets, Elijah would be a be the MVP of the "clean plate club" every night, but the reality is that most meals are a struggle to get him to eat at all... 

 

The same principle holds true in our relationship with the Holy Spirit.  If a drowning man thinks he can help himself, he becomes dangerous to anyone who attempts to rescue him.  Until we surrender to God and give him full authority to reign supreme in our lives, we are not in any position to be helped either.  We may not realize it, but when we aren't following his lead, we are listening to ourselves and being disobedient.

To truly follow God, we must make his will our own and it starts by surrendering our own will!

Everywhere I Go

I look up toward the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth!  He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.  Psalm 121:1-3

Having almost every variation of Apple gadget known to man, including an iPhone, iPod Nano, iPod Touch, iPod Classic, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and my iPad Mini with Retina Display, I am still amazed at how much I am able to accomplish ‘on the go.’  If I want to watch a movie or television show, I can stream it online.  I do most of my banking online through an application.  My medical insurance carrier now has an application and I can view my claims and access my ID Card through a their new app.   I have access to most of my music library through the iCloud at all times, and I can stay connected at work through email and by phone.  Of course, one of the greatest marvels of the technological age is Pokemon Go…I am beyond addicted and yes, I still play daily.  While all of this is certainly cool, having God with us at all times is even cooler.

In fact, our Loving Father is not limited by space or time; He inhabits the hearts of everyone who believe in Him.  He is not restricted by buildings or places of worship; He is with us without a Wi-Fi connection or even without electricity, for that matter.

Ponder this for a moment-God is with us everywhere that we go and He is with us in everything we do.  No matter where we go or what we are doing, God is with us at ALL times!  Praise His holy name!

Follow You, Follow Me

If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is not living in the truth.  But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love Him.  That is how we know we are living in Him. 1 John 2: 4-5

Our youngest son, Elijah, got into a little trouble recently.  His 8th birthday is quickly approaching in August and with his age, a stubborn attitude has also developed. (I wonder where he got that from?)  Just like most children his age, it is easy to follow the lead of other people, even if what they are doing is wrong...

Whose lead do you follow?  Have you ever wondered how to express your love for God?  It's simple, because He tells us how-we are to follow Him!  The Bible is not just a bunch of stories; it's our manual on how to live a blessed life.  When you obey God, you are putting your faith to the test and showing that what you believe is true.

When you trust and obey God's commandments, you will be on the way to living a life full of joy and contentment.

Vacation

Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

I am preparing to take some time off of work for a much needed family vacation, but with all that I have going on at the office, I am already feeling stressed!!

All of the extra stress that comes along with leaving for a vacation in addition to the normal responsibilities of my job have left me with very little peace.  I know that I will be fine; in fact, all of my teammates and clients will be fine too, but I cannot help but feel anxious.

Through the Cross, God has made Himself available to us at ALL times.  Jesus invites us to come into the presence of God to find the grace, mercy, and peace that we so desperately need.  We need no middle-man to speak to God either; it's as simple as getting on our knees to pray.  God is always there and ready to listen to your inner most groaning and moaning.

God loves you and is available to you whenever you need Him...

The Heart of the Matter

Freely you have received, freely give.  Matthew 10:8

We all make mistakes from time to time and sometimes we end up hurting the people we care for the most.  The good Lord knows that any member of my family or friends could attest that I have made my fair share of mistakes.  The only way to bring healing to a broken relationship, friendship, or marriage is by forgiveness.

Forgiveness allows both parties to move forward in the relationship with renewed freedom and strength.  Even if you are not at fault,  you can find peace by extending forgiveness. 

We have all been freely forgiven by our Father who loves us more than we can comprehend, so we must be fast to offer it freely to others.

What If I Stumble?

Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.  Psalm 119:165

In a personal devotional that I am currently reading, the past week’s lesson has been a painful self-examination of past sins and transgressions.  There are many details of my life that I am certainly not proud of as I was certainly keeping a distance between myself and Christ for so many years, especially during college...

Things have certainly changed for me, but I am still just a work in progress.  I do try to spend time in prayer daily, read my Bible regularly, and apply the Word of God to my life, but no matter how much my faith grows, I will always fall short of God’s grace.

It got me thinking-if we are not allowing God's Word to persuade us, influence our thinking, and impact our behavior, then who or what are we allowing to influence us?? 

You will constantly have the influence of what other people say to weigh against the written Word of God. Anything that does not line up with God's Word should be dismissed.  It’s impossible to live a sin-free life; Jesus is the only One who can make that claim, but as Christians, we should constantly be growing in our faith and looking more like our Savior each and every day. 

Maps and Legends

We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  2 Corinthians 5:20

I work for an brokerage firm here in Knoxville and am part of an awesome team that extends to Lexington, KY.   While I’d like to think that 18 years of benefits experience has made me proficient in cranking out spreadsheet comparisons in Excel or whipping up presentations in PowerPoint, I must admit that I had quite a difficult time creating a graph for a client recently. 

I won’t bore you with the details of the defined contribution strategy I was attempting to illustrate with my graph, but the one thing I realized is that no graph, as simple or detailed as they come, is readable without a proper legend and/or markers. 

The same holds true for our lives.  You see, just like a graph with an understandable legend, we too are to lead others into a relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by the way we live our lives.  If our legends and markers don’t include kindness, gentleness, patience, generosity, and love, then how can anyone possibly distinguish us as believers from the rest of the world?

We must allow God to shape our lives in such fashion that our lives guide others towards Christ.

Trouble Me

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

Someone very close to me is in desperate need of help but refuses to accept it from anyone.  This particular person seems to be defeated and overwhelmed by all of the troubles they have been experiencing in their life.

My friends and family are not the only people exclusive to experiencing difficulties; I too have had my fair share of trouble over the course of my lifetime as has every single other person on this planet.  The blessed assurance of Jesus is that we do not have to cave in by the pressures of this world or become defeated by our troubles, because we learn to accept that God is always with us.

With God, anything is possible. We never have to face anything alone.  We can face our problems, and most importantly, we can overcome them.  Jesus also taught His followers that conflicts are only passing in nature.  Troubles and sickness all occur for a season and a reason.  They help us realize our need for God.

If we never faced adversity or difficulties, would we need God?

Seek Up

"I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." -Jesus Christ, John 11:25

There have been some great people who have served their purpose to motivate and inspire others, but no one else can make the same claim as Jesus did when He said "I am the resurrection and the life." 

I have several friends who are going through some tough times and I wanted today’s Daily DEVO to serve as a reminder for anyone going through difficulties that that are indeed loved.  No matter how bad, battle-tested, weary, and beaten up we may be on the inside, we must never forget what Jesus' resurrection means for each one of us. 

Jesus overcame death, so regardless of how tired, broken, or devastated we are, we cannot forget that He has risen to give each of us new life!  Thanks be to God!

Graduate

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:13-14

I am honored and privileged to be invited to a graduation celebration for a family friend this weekend.  Just witnessing the excitement from our friends' graduate reminded me of how I once felt graduating from high school-the excitement mixed with fear about college and beginning a new chapter in my life...

I remember it like it was yesterday when I graduated from Springwood School.  Those were certainly some exciting and memorable times.  I had been accepted to Auburn University and the one thing I knew for sure was the size of the college campus was 20 times bigger than what I was accustomed to at my small private school.  My orientation was interesting as I was bunched in with several hundred freshman and we all were given a tour of the campus.  We also attended a class to prepare us for the days that were to come. We learned how to register for classes, where to eat on campus, how to find the library, and were issued our student tickets for football, baseball, and basketball. 

When all of the student body had returned from summer break, the parking situation was pure madness and I felt a bit lost among the throngs of students on campus.  No matter how early I left for classes, I could never seem to find a parking space, so I racked up several parking violations my first quarter and my parents were not happy with me, to say the very least.  To be quite honest, the orientation was helpful, but I had to learn an awful lot as I went along.  I pledged a fraternity my first quarter and many of my Pi Kappa Phi brothers helped teach me what I needed to know about college life on The Plains.

While high school graduation is the end of a chapter of a young man or woman’s life, it is by no means their final destination.  Even after college, when the milestones are fewer and far between, we must all learn to ‘press on’ toward the goal that Paul mentioned in the above letter to the Philippians. 

As followers of Christ, we must make a daily commitment to walk with the Lord, understanding that we will never learn too much by attending church or reading Scripture to earn a diploma of sorts.  Regardless, we can be at peace knowing where our final destination is-heaven, and that is the ultimate goal/prize for all believers in Jesus Christ!

Worry

Stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life...who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure to his stature or span of his life?  Matthew 6:25, 27

Many people I know, myself included, tend to worry.  While most concerns are trivial such as worrying about what to eat and what to wear, while some are based on what someone will do when faced with a certain situation before that situation even occurs.

Most of us are blessed with nice homes, food, transportation, clothes, and endless other items that we don't necessarily need, so why do we have such a problem with worrying?  I believe it is because the enemy enjoys creating doubt in our minds, especially when we are facing difficulties.  God wants us to know that worrying doesn't add a single minute to our lives; in fact chronic worrying actually shortens our lives.

Our loving Father knows our needs before we even go to Him in prayer, so it's in our best interest to stop worrying and focus on the One who is able to meet our needs and is good to us at all times!

Trouble

For I am the LORD your God, the one who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, "Don't be afraid, I am helping you." Isaiah 41:13

Just last week, a co-worker called from the tire shop as she had a flat tire on the way home from work the night before.  She was stranded on the highway until her husband could get to her and was worried that she was going to have to purchase a new set of tires unexpectedly that morning...when she called me back that afternoon, she said that they removed the object from her tire, plugged her tire and sent her on her way for only $18.  

 

While she was not pleased about the whole situation, she realized that it could have been much worse.  She also sounded pretty thankful about getting her tire repaired for a minimal fee as well. 

If you are like me then you also will go to great lengths to avoid problems in your daily life.  Unfortunately, it's simply unrealistic as Jesus assured us all in the Gospel of John that, "in this world you will have trouble."  Instead, we should face each day anticipating that we will face problems, seeing them as a challenge we can face with the help of our Lord and Savior. 

We must not forget that Jesus is on our side and while we are assured trouble in this world, we must also remember that He has overcome this world!  Thanks be to God!

Happy

..we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  For the joy set out for him He endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

Think for a moment about the things that make you happy....for many of us we would name our family, friends, a vacation or trip, a concert/music, food, sports; the list could go on and on.  While all of these are good and noble, they are only temporary and will only produce fleeting happiness.

Joy is completely different than happiness.  In the Biblical context, joy is not a fleeting emotion.  Joy is much deeper and actually an overall attitude or state of being rather than a feeling.

Joy lasts, while happiness is circumstantial and does not last.  Simply put, joy is only found in God and He gives it to all of His faithful followers through the Holy Spirit.

The enemy will stop at nothing to rob you of your joy, and one of his favorite deceptions is to tempt us with something that will only produce temporary happiness in the hopes that we will turn away from our loving Father.

There is a big difference between joy and happiness; hold on to your joy and live in the love, freedom, and peace that only Jesus can offer us!

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.  Jeremiah 31:3

There is some truth to the one of the Rolling Stones' most recognizable classics, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."  When you accept God's love, you experience a deep-rooted satisfaction that simply cannot be found anywhere else, because you have an understanding that despite your circumstances, God is always present and with you.

Knowing that God loves us means that we accept the price that was paid for our forgiveness and we can rest assured that we are wonderfully and fearfully made and cleansed by Jesus' death on the cross.

Understanding these truths about God sets us free from our bondage to sin and the attacks from the enemy that never cease to end while we are on this earth.  God loves each one of us and has prepared an eternal home for us in heaven.

Praise be to His holy name!!!

I’m Free

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things. Romans 8:32

Before Christ became my personal Lord and Savior, I used to think that becoming a Christian meant living a boring and tedious life filled without laughter, without fun and without pleasure.  I could not have been more wrong....in fact, I would say that life is much more enjoyable and peaceful as a follower of Christ.  This, of course, does not mean that my life is easy or without any trouble, but when I look at all of the good God has done in my life, it's almost unfathomable.

 

The same holds true for anyone who is willing to walk in obedience to God.  His desire is the same for all of His children; He wants us to enjoy a life filled with His many blessings, laughter, beauty, peace, joy, creativity, adventure, success, freedom, good health, comfort, friendships and LOVE.

Miracles

Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe." The royal official said' "Sir, come down before my child dies."  Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."  John 4:48-50

While recently praying for clarity, peace, and direction, I was tempted to ask God for a sign; anything to prove that my prayers were not falling on deaf ears.  I never actually asked for a sign, but once I began to notice God's presence in my life, it became clear and apparent that not only Has he had His hand on me, but He continues to, even when He seems miles away and distant.  

The above verse from the Gospel of John recalls Jesus' second recorded miracle in Galilee.  A royal official approached Jesus with his sick son and pleaded for Jesus to heal him.  The official took Jesus at His word and his son was miraculously healed at the seventh hour, which is when Jesus said that "his son would live."  The official and his family became believers after the boy was healed.  After pondering this verse, the key is not the miracle itself, it's actually the matter of faith that Jesus mentions.

Do we believe without seeing miracles or wonders?  Do we trust that Jesus is ever-present with us?  Do we have faith in His ability to answer our prayers?    Ask yourself these questions and allow His truth into your heart...

Victory Dance

But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.  Psalm 3:3

There are times when I feel down and out and it's easy to focus on my problems rather than seeking God.  We have all been there before...when things begin to fall apart, we lose our hope, strength and everything changes, our attitude and body language included. 

When we are downcast and only able to see our problems, we feel worse and even may consider giving up.

Regardless of who you are, or what you are do, life will always provide trials and discouraging situations.  God is always waiting for us to seek His help, sometimes we have to lift our heads and look to Him.  We can rest assured with confidence that God can guide us through even the most dismal circumstances.

The next time you encounter problems and feel like giving up, don't focus on all that's going wrong, but keep your heart, mind, and soul focused on the One who will see you through to victory.

Horizon

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed...continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort-for the sake of His good pleasure-is God.  Philippians 2:12-13

  

Recently, I was able to use a painful experience from my past to help minister to a good friend with a situation that they are going through now.  Without sharing any details, this was a dark period of my life where I was essentially running away from God, but in all of His glory, God took my shameful failure and worked it into good for His kingdom.

God's awesome power is often found in our weakest and darkest moments.  It brings to mind many of the gripping testimonies that I have heard at places such as Celebrate Recovery-people who have lost everything due to a destructive habit, hang-up, or addiction and with God's love were able to completely turn their lives around.  It's hard to wrap our minds around this concept, but God can always produce positive results in all circumstances, even people's pain. 

If you will allow Him to do so, God will use your life-the good and the bad, to impact people with the good news of the gospel.  During difficult times, it's hard to focus upon God's will and the many blessings He has in store, but you must learn to trust that ALL things work for the greater good of His kingdom!

Are We Ourselves?

A sound heart is life to the body.  Proverbs 14:30

Being in sales and trying to maintain proper nutrition has been and is difficult and still an ongoing struggle for me.  On any given week, I am eating lunch with prospects, clients, and insurance carrier representatives several days during normal business hours.  In the evenings, we sometimes normally don't eat dinner until after both boys have gone to bed which is seemingly later in the evenings during the spring and summer.

I am committed to exercising every single day, but often, I feel that I am only exercising to prevent myself from gaining a bunch of weight.  Since Easter, I have remained committed to eating lighter and making wiser choices and the results have been remarkable in a very short period of time.  I feel healthier, I have more energy, and I have been more focused-due to a healthier diet. (Not to mention, I have shed a few stubborn lbs. along the way.)

Most Christians understand the harmful effects from partaking in certain substances, drinking too much, or smoking, but often overlook the benefits of maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a well-balanced diet and exercising.  God commands us to love ourselves which means that we are to do nothing that will bring harm to our bodies.

God doesn't want to damper our life experience by any stretch of the imagination, He just wants us to avoid things that cause us spiritual, physical, and emotional harm.  

Small Town

How joyful are those who fear the Lord-all who follow His ways!  Psalm 128:1

Growing up, I never truly grasped what it meant to 'fear God' as mentioned in the John Mellencamp's classic 80's hit, "Small Town." The word 'fear' evokes feelings of being scared or frightened, but when mentioned with God, it means being awestruck by His power, grace, forgiveness, and goodness.

When you 'fear' God, you draw closer to Him, and experience much greater joy.  It's almost too simple, but the further you are from our Father, the less joy you have in your life.  I am sure that you can name many folks who could use some more joy in their lives.

Loving respect and awe for God also motivates us to do our best to follow His principles for living.  Fear God because He is awesome and experience the joy and blessings from being close to Him!

People Are People

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  1 John 4:11

I am amazed by some of the posts I read on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. There are times when I can easily become disenchanted with reading my news feed on Facebook because it is so full of negativity...

Despite my own personal, religious, and political convictions, I realize and respect that other people hold different and opposing views than me. Too often, people feel that they should only mesh with people who are of similar belief, culture, nationality, race, gender, or income level.

The truth is that God wants us to treat EVERYONE with the same mercy, kindness, forgiveness, civility, and compassion as Jesus did.  And what about good manners?  I am not sure if it’s because I am more in tune with what people say to each other now that I am 'plugged in', but where has the common courtesy gone to these days?

I realize that I personally have a lot to learn and am not being self-righteous; I guess I am just wondering why people can't try to get along more often; we just aren't living together the way God intended us to....