God's Grace Upon You

Revelation 22

21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.

With these last words in the last book of the Bible here on the last day of 2010, I want to wish all of God’s people a happy New Year. May God’s richest blessings be upon you and yours in the coming year, and may you draw closer to the Lord in 2011, than you ever dreamed of being in 2010. We who follow Christ are called to be holy because God is holy. May our holiness not only draw us closer to God, but may it draw others closer to God as well.

The Real Party

Revelation 21

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

How I long for this day. I know that I am called to remain faithful until the end. I know that I must hold steadfastly to the teachings of Christ. I know that I must live out my faith every day of my life. I also know that when all is said and done, the Lord God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Author of Life will bring me into His Holy Presence and I will have the privilege of living there with Him forever. Now, as much as I have looked forward to, and enjoyed our family cruise this week...not even that could compare to my longing for the day when I am allowed the privilege of living in the very presence of God! I know that God is with me now through the presence of the Holy Spirit, and I am grateful for that. However, when I am physically in the presence of my God...well, then we can get the real party started!

Praising God on this Cruise

Psalm 148

1 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens!
Praise him from the skies!
2 Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all the armies of heaven!
3 Praise him, sun and moon!
Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
4 Praise him, skies above!
Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
5 Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command, and they came into being.

How good and how appropriate it is to praise the Lord on a day such as this. My family cruise vacation has been so fantastical! I LOVE being here with my family, just relaxing and enjoying the company and the glory of Creation. It was marvelous watching from top deck yesterday as we docked in Nassau. The weather is beautiful, and my spirit is so calm. Praise the LORD for this time of rest, and for this time in the Word this morning.

Praise the Lord

Psalm 147

1 Praise the Lord!

How good to sing praises to our God!
How delightful and how fitting!

It is only fitting that I sing praises to our God on this day. We are on our way to Nassau aboard the Royal Caribbean Ship, “Monarch of the Seas” as our family cruise is well underway now. While this ship may be a Monarch, my Lord is THE MONARCH over all. I am such a blessed man to be able to be here with all my kids, with Peggy’s parents and with my Bride. God is better to me than I deserve, and the only appropriate response to His lovingkindness towards me is to sing praises to Him, while living a lifestyle of praise for God. May You and You alone be glorified in my life on this day and every day!

With Every Breath

Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord!

Let all that I am praise the Lord.
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

I LOVE singing God’s praises. Even more than that, I love living out God’s praises. When I have the chance to bless others in the name of my Lord, it is a double blessing...not only a blessing to the person I am blessing, but one to me as well. I am humbled to be able to serve the Lord God Almighty every day. I am so humbled that God loves me in spite of who I am. I will sing His praises forever and ever with every breath I take.

Praise God

Psalm 145

1 I will exalt you, my God and King,

and praise your name forever and ever.

2 I will praise you every day;

yes, I will praise you forever.

3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!

No one can measure his greatness.

May my life be marked by the ceaseless praise for my Lord. May this praise be with my life, not just my lips. When my actions are judged, may they be found to have been motivated by praise for the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Author of life. For You, o God, alone are worthy of this praise. No one can measure Your greatness!

God With Us

Psalm 144

3 O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them,
mere mortals that you should think about them?
4 For they are like a breath of air;
their days are like a passing shadow.

5a Open the heavens, Lord, and come down.

On that first Christmas Day, God answered David’s prayer from this Psalm. God notices people because we are made in His Image. God broke through heaven and came down to earth in the form of a little baby born in a manger. The Hope of all mankind is among us and on this day, we celebrate God coming to earth. Merry Christmas to all, and may God’s richest blessings be upon you this day and always because Emmanuel - God With Us has indeed come!

Righteous Deeds Revealed

Revelation 15

3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations.
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”

This song is one that should be on the lips and in the hearts of Christ followers every day, but especially on Christmas Eve, don’t you think? As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Messiah, may all who follow Christ proclaim the great and marvelous works of the Lord God, Almighty. May all nations come and worship before Him, for His righteous deeds have indeed been revealed. Merry Christmas!

All I really want in life

Psalm 142

5 Then I pray to you, O Lord.

I say, “You are my place of refuge.

You are all I really want in life.

This psalm of lament from David gets to the bottom line here in verse 5. This is not David’s last line of defense type prayer, this is the attitude of his heart in the good times and in the bad times. He prays to the Lord: “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.” That is my daily prayer as well. God has blessed me with so much. A loving wife, beautiful, God-fearing children, the privilege of serving Him in full-time vocational ministry, living in Vero Beach...this list could go on and on and on. However, all I really want in life in my Lord Jesus.

Anyone with ears to hear

Revelation 13

9 Anyone with ears to hear
should listen and understand.
10 Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.

This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.

Now, here’s an encouraging word, eh? God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful. We Christians in America pray for peace and safety, and personal protection, when we should be praying for patient endurance. We wince when our culture makes fun of us, and we lash out when the culture “attacks” our faith. Still, we have not been faced with death, like so many of our brothers and sisters around the world. We should be crying out with thanksgiving that we have not had to undergo such persecution so far. We should be preparing for such times, and we should be wondering if our faith is really that effective in our culture, since we are not really undergoing any serious persecution. Yeah, these are the thoughts swirling through my head as I read from Revelation. The church in America is so much like the seven churches to whom this letter was written...a church often that is simply going through the motions. Our most needed prayer is one of repentance.

Anyone with ears to hear

Revelation 13

9 Anyone with ears to hear
should listen and understand.
10 Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.

This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.

Now, here’s an encouraging word, eh? God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful. We Christians in America pray for peace and safety, and personal protection, when we should be praying for patient endurance. We wince when our culture makes fun of us, and we lash out when the culture “attacks” our faith. Still, we have not been faced with death, like so many of our brothers and sisters around the world. We should be crying out with thanksgiving that we have not had to undergo such persecution so far. We should be preparing for such times, and we should be wondering if our faith is really that effective in our culture, since we are not really undergoing any serious persecution. Yeah, these are the thoughts swirling through my head as I read from Revelation. The church in America is so much like the seven churches to whom this letter was written...a church often that is simply going through the motions. Our most needed prayer is one of repentance.

Time is Short

Revelation 12

10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,

“It has come at last—
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
that they were afraid to die.
12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!
And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!
But terror will come on the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you in great anger,
knowing that he has little time.”

Of this, there is no doubt: the devil seeks to destroy the very souls of people everywhere. He hates what God loves, and God loves people. Those who turn to Christ, and are in Christ will be saved. Those who reject Christ are fated to spend eternity in the same place of torment that has been prepared for the devil and his angels of rebellion. Satan knows that he doesn’t have a lot of time, so he is working hard to take as many people with him to that place of torment. Since I know that the time is short, how much more important is it for me to bring as many people as possible into a saving relationship with Christ?

How Precious

Psalm 139

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

18 I can’t even count them;

they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up,

you are still with me!

David expresses my sentiments so perfectly! It absolutely boggles my mind that the Creator of heaven and earth would give me even a passing thought. Yet, God loves me so much that He sent jesus to pay for my sins! Scripture (especially Psalm 139) tells me that God is with me always. He watches over me even when I am asleep. He desire what is best for me. And you know what? God feels the same way about you, too! In fact, He feels this way about everybody. Now, THAT is some love, my brothers and sisters. How precious. How humbling.

Praise God Always

Psalm 138

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;

I will sing your praises before the gods.

2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.

I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;

for your promises are backed

by all the honor of your name.

May my lips be filled with the praises of God my King, and may my life reflect that attitude of praise always! In this Psalm, David acknowledges that although he is surrounded by his enemies, God is faithful and will protect him. I want to have the attitude of David and the attitude of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who told the Babylonian King that they would not bow down to the big statue/idol, even under threat of being thrown in the firey furnace. They knew that God could rescue them. They also proclaimed that even if God chose not to rescue them, they would only serve Him. Now, THAT is praise in the face of the fire for real! I will bow before the God Who is able, knowing that my life is in His hands anyway. May He be praised always!

Eternally Grateful

Habakkuk 3

2 I have heard all about you, Lord.

I am filled with awe by your amazing works.

In this time of our deep need,

help us again as you did in years gone by.

And in your anger,

remember your mercy.

When I think about all that God has done, is doing, and will do, I am totally blown away! The almighty Creator of Heaven and earth, the Author of Life, the Giver of Salvation, is absolutely amazing! I am filled with awe when I think that God loves little ole me. How could I even possibly be the object of God’s love, mercy and grace? It is because I (like every other human who ever lived) was created in the image of God! You see, God’s love for me is not based on anything I have done or could ever do. God’s love for me is based on Whose I am, not on what I have done. God’s love is based on the fact that I am a child of the King. For that I am eternally grateful.

Eternally Grateful

Habakkuk 3

2 I have heard all about you, Lord.

I am filled with awe by your amazing works.

In this time of our deep need,

help us again as you did in years gone by.

And in your anger,

remember your mercy.

When I think about all that God has done, is doing, and will do, I am totally blown away! The almighty Creator of Heaven and earth, the Author of Life, the Giver of Salvation, is absolutely amazing! I am filled with awe when I think that God loves little ole me. How could I even possibly be the object of God’s love, mercy and grace? It is because I (like every other human who ever lived) was created in the image of God! You see, God’s love for me is not based on anything I have done or could ever do. God’s love for me is based on Whose I am, not on what I have done. God’s love is based on the fact that I am a child of the King. For that I am eternally grateful.

Vengeful God

Nahum 1

2 The Lord is a jealous God,

filled with vengeance and rage.

He takes revenge on all who oppose him

and continues to rage against his enemies!

3 The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great,

and he never lets the guilty go unpunished.

But wait, I thought God is LOVE? Yet, one of God’s prophets flat out says that God is filled with vengeance and rage. How can we possibly reconcile these polar opposites? Quite easily. God IS LOVE. His love sent Jesus to take our sins away, His love is more than evident. God also HATES sin. Those who choose to reject the free gift of salvation through Jesus are condemned to an eternity of torment and separation from God. They will feel the rage and vengeance of God forever and ever without any chance of relief. God will not tolerate sin. Yes, God is intolerant of sin. He has provided the escape, but those who reject that escape must suffer the full wrath of a Holy God for eternity.

Encouraging Words

Micah 5

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

are only a small village among all the people of Judah.

Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you,

one whose origins are from the distant past.

Once again, hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, God spoke through a prophet to encourage His people to hang in there. As we are in the midst of the celebration of this Holy Season of Christmas, I want to remind followers of Christ to hang in there. Don’t be swayed by the culture that would try to take our focus off of the Christ, and place it on material greed. Don’t allow the joy of Jesus in our lives be taken away from the grinches who rail against manger scenes in the public square. We don’t need those physical reminders, we need to stay grounded in God’s Word. We need to listen to the voice of God and allow that voice to drown out all of the pap being spewed in our society. Jesus has come, He was born of a virgin. Jesus lived on this planet, and He died on the cross to take away our sins. Jesus raised from the dead, defeating death and hell, and He now sits at the right hand of God the Father, speaking to Him on our behalf. Praise God! The ruler whose origins are from the distant past has fulfilled God’s plans for the redemption of us all!

Lifestyle of Praise

Psalm 134

1 Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,

you who serve at night in the house of the Lord.

2 Lift up holy hands in prayer,

and praise the Lord.

This Psalm is for those ascending to Jerusalem, but I want to relate it to praise and worship of the Almighty God today. Being privileged to lead the corporate worship services at VCC each Lord’s Day, I simply want my life to be a song of praise to God always. May my actions 24/7 bring glory, honor, and praise to the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. He and He alone is worthy, and it is my life’s desire to lead others to a lifestyle that honors God in all they do.

Goober

Jonah 4

1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

What a goober Jonah was. What a goober I am. I have found myself in Jonah’s frame of mind more than once in my life. Just when I think I have God all figured out, He shows mercy and grace. But, why should that anger me? Why should I get all bent out of shape when I follow God, even when He doesn’t do what I think should be done? No excuse, whatsoever. Who do I think I am that I should tell God what should happen, or how a certain situation should be handled? They key is found in Jonah’s statement found in verse 3. God is a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I celebrate when those attributes are aimed towards me. How could I dare be angry or resentful when God displays such unfailing love to “other, undeserving people”? What a goober way of thinking on my part! May it never be so again.

Revelation 4

1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

I love this picture of worship taking place around the Throne of God. It is loud and raucous, filled with the praises being given to the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. This is worship not for the timid or faint of heart, but this is a boisterous proclamation of Who God is. While there certainly is a time for quiet, reverent worship, there is also a time to be loud for our Creator. May my worship be pleasing to Him whether I am being still, or whether I am shouting at the top of my lungs that God is Holy, Holy, Holy and worthy to receive all glory and honor and power!

Someone's Knocking At The Door

Revelation 3

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.”

One of the most misused passages of Scripture is Revelation 3:21. This is written to the CHURCH at Laodicia (you know, the same one that Jesus said He would spit out of His mouth, because they were neither hot nor cold)! This is NOT an evangelistic passage, it is a teaching passage for Christians who need to get back on track. Jesus desires to be close with us, to fellowship with us, to share a meal with us if you will. Jesus wants to be our friend. We must desire to be His friend as well. For those who hang with Jesus, a victory over sin and (spiritual) death is promised. Look, Jesus wants us to be His friend. He desires a close personal relationship with us. He’s knocking on the door. As Christians, it should be a no-brainer to eagerly desire to let Him in!

Adjust My Attitude

Revelation 3

1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

Here we go again, with another warning to a body of believers whose outward appearance does not match their inward motivation. Seems like a pretty consistent complaint God has with His churches, doesn’t it? Lord, help me to have the proper motivation and the proper attitude...one that pleases You and meets Your requirements. My desire to is serve You in love. My desire is love the way You love, and let my service flow out of that love. Protect me from my selfish and self-serving attitude. I do not want to be guilty of a “Sardis” Father. Thank You for Your Word and for this reminder to get my attitude adjusted accordingly.

Proper Motivation

Revelation 2

2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

The church at Epehesus gets a harsh rebuke from the Lord in the book of Revelation. While known for patient endurance, not tolerating evil, etc., BUT look at the complaint Jesus has against this body of believers: “You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!” Our actions must be accompanied by proper motivation. Love is the motivation for Christians, and when we act without love, we are not acting in a Christ-like manner.

Prepare for the Day of the Lord

Joel 2

11b The day of the Lord is an awesome, terrible thing. Who can possibly survive?

12 That is why the Lord says,

“Turn to me now, while there is time.

Give me your hearts.

Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,

but tear your hearts instead.”

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is merciful and compassionate,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

He is eager to relent and not punish.

I know that Joel is talking specifically to the people of Judah here, but this admonition is relevant for us all. Those who are in the Lord have nothing to fear from the “day of the Lord.” Those who are outside of Christ have nothing but fear. We don’t know when Jesus will return, we just know that He will indeed return to take His people with Him. There is still time to turn to Christ as long as you have breath, and make no mistake, God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell. So why do so many people insist on playing “chicken” with God in this regard? Makes no sense to me. Lord, help me to show those outside of Christ that living for Jesus, and living in Jesus is the best way to live both on this planet, and in the aftermath of the “day of the Lord.” May my life draw all people to Jesus always.

Prepare for the Day of the Lord

Joel 2

11b The day of the Lord is an awesome, terrible thing. Who can possibly survive?

12 That is why the Lord says,

“Turn to me now, while there is time.

Give me your hearts.

Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,

but tear your hearts instead.”

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is merciful and compassionate,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

He is eager to relent and not punish.

I know that Joel is talking specifically to the people of Judah here, but this admonition is relevant for us all. Those who are in the Lord have nothing to fear from the “day of the Lord.” Those who are outside of Christ have nothing but fear. We don’t know when Jesus will return, we just know that He will indeed return to take His people with Him. There is still time to turn to Christ as long as you have breath, and make no mistake, God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell. So why do so many people insist on playing “chicken” with God in this regard? Makes no sense to me. Lord, help me to show those outside of Christ that living for Jesus, and living in Jesus is the best way to live both on this planet, and in the aftermath of the “day of the Lord.” May my life draw all people to Jesus always.

Hey Jude

Jude

24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

I love how Jude ends his letter. He has had some heavy stuff to say, some serious warnings to hand out, and then he just busts out in a praise service! May my life reflect Jude’s attitude. May I be gentle to those who need to be restored, may I be firm with those who would lead people astray, and may I always be filled with praises for my Lord and Savior Jesus!

Wicked Advisors

Proverbs 29

12 If a ruler pays attention to liars,

all his advisers will be wicked.

This applies not just to rulers, but to us all. When we pay attention to liars, we will accept evil advice. When the culture says stuff like, “it’s okay to have sex before marriage,” or “homosexual behavior is okay,” or “disrespect those in authority,” or “five miles over the speed limit is okay” well, we are accepting advice from liars and it is not pleasing to God. Pretty simple when we think of it in those terms, isn’t it?

Remain In Christ

2 John 1

7 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. 9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

The Gnostics taught (among other things) that Jesus didn’t come to earth in a physical body. Gnosticism was infecting the Church in the 1st century, just as forms of it still try to infect Christianity today. The bottom line is this: whether it is a form of Gnosticism or just someone who wants to twist the Scripture for their own purposes, anyone who teaches different stuff from what is CLEARLY taught in the Bible is to be shunned! They are antichrist and we are to avoid them at all costs! Remaining in the teaching of Christ as spelled out in the Bible is the ONLY safe position in which to find one’s self.

Proper Priority

1 John 5

21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

John could not put it any more plainly than this. As followers of Christ, we need to keep away from anything that might take God’s place in our hearts. In my walk with Christ over these past couple of decades, I am doing better at this, but I still have a ways to go in some respects. I do try to make sure that NOTHING takes the place of God on the throne in my life. It is not easy, but it is becoming easier. Learning to be content, and learning that life on this planet is temporary are the keys. I am so glad to have learned those keys. My life is so much more fulfilled because of it. May I stay focused on my Savior, and may everything else be thrown on the rubbish heap of this life.

Proper Priority

1 John 5

21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

John could not put it any more plainly than this. As followers of Christ, we need to keep away from anything that might take God’s place in our hearts. In my walk with Christ over these past couple of decades, I am doing better at this, but I still have a ways to go in some respects. I do try to make sure that NOTHING takes the place of God on the throne in my life. It is not easy, but it is becoming easier. Learning to be content, and learning that life on this planet is temporary are the keys. I am so glad to have learned those keys. My life is so much more fulfilled because of it. May I stay focused on my Savior, and may everything else be thrown on the rubbish heap of this life.

Just Sayin

Proverbs 29

  2 When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice.
      But when the wicked are in power, they groan.

I’ve been groaning for the past 23 months. I’m just saying.

Love in Action

1 John 3

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

Words are not enough. Actions are the proof in the pudding. When we love, we ACT like it. When we love we ACT on it. When we love we ACT it out. To the very end. No matter what. Yes, it is true, actions speak louder than words. But may we never forget that action includes words. Father, as I live my daily life may my actions AND my words express my love for You and for the people whom You love (that would be everyone).

Antichrists Among Us

1 John 2

18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

American culture is certainly filled with antichrists. For those of us who follow Christ, who know the Truth, it is up to us to take a stand against such foolishness and lies. We who know Jesus know that anyone who denies His Lordship should be immediately dismissed as having anything valid to say to us. Now, there is a difference between the lost who need Christ, and those who deliberately teach in opposition to Him. We need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but we also need to guard against allowing the antichrist teachings of our culture penetrate our thought processes, too!

Living the Light of Love

1 John 2

  9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

John is known as the Apostle of Love. What a transformation to have gone from a “son of thunder” to the Apostle of Love! Yet John practiced what he preached. As he reminds those of us who want to live in the LIGHT of Christ that we are to love one another, may I be reminded today to love like Jesus loves. December 1st is International Aids Awareness Day. Countless numbers of Christians (and non-Christians) around the globe are suffering with this terrible disease, and many will die this day! Father, may my love for people not just be limited to saying prayers from the safety of my pitiful little existence, but may I step out of my comfort zone and show love not just to brothers and sisters in Christ, but to lost and dying people wherever You would have me to be on any day of the year.

The Light

1 John 1

5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

This was the first passage of Scripture we examined in my Beginning Greek class at Kentucky Christian College way back in the last century. I will never forget Dr. Jim Girdwood helping us understand the emphatic nature of verse five. In God, there is no darkness at all, NOT EVEN ONE. Since it is so emphatic in the original language, and since the thought goes on to remind us that we who want to follow Christ must live in the light (where there is no darkness at all, NOT EVEN ONE), then we CANNOT allow our lives to be darkened by sin. Not that we won’t ever sin after becoming a Christian, but that we must not allow sin to become our master. We must not allow a sinful mindset to take hold in our lives. I still struggle with this, in some areas of my life. I know that I must purge the darkness from my life, and live in the Light of Christ always. Father, this is my prayer for today. Help me to live in the Light as You are in the Light (because You ARE the Light).

Forgetful Lot We Are

2 Peter 3

1 This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. 2 I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.

We are a forgetful lot. Peter recognized that, thus his letters were sent out to remind people to stay focused on the Lord Jesus, and not be drawn away by liars who pervert the Gospel for their own evil purposes. Staying in the Word every day is the BEST way to avoid such a pitfall. Thank You, Lord for giving me the ability to read and comprehend Your Word, and for giving me the desire to spend time in the Bible on a regular basis. May my life reflect what I am daily being reminded of and learning!

Dog Vomit

2 Peter 2

20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

Those who teach the false doctrine of “Once saved, always saved” just simply don’t read the Bible. How much more plainly could Peter put it here? Yeah, exactly. For Christians who turn their backs on the Savior, it would have been better for them to never have known Jesus to start with. The only thing worse than spending eternity in hell is knowing that you didn’t have to spend it there, but chose to anyway.

Stoked

2 Peter 1

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

Wow! God has given us EVERYTHING we need for living a godly life. While I know this to be true, because God has given us Jesus, seeing these words in Peter’s letter just blow me away. I am so pumped! God has called us to Himself, and God wants us to be confident in Him. Not because of us, but because of Jesus. Yeah, baby, I am stoked!!!

Closer To The End

1 Peter 4

7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

Since we are even closer to the end of the world today than we were when Peter wrote these words, how much more should we be earnest and disciplined in our prayer lives? How much more important must it be to show deep love for each other, to cheerfully share our homes with those in need? Thank You, Father for allowing us to make the “Fabulous Blount Mansion” a place where people can know the love of God, share a meal, and even crash for the night when need be. What a blessing to show the love of Christ to those who hang out with us in this place!

Hope

I Peter 3

15b And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Heard a good sermon from this text a couple of weeks ago. Key takeaways from the message and from this passage of Scripture include: 1)Hope looks forward, faith looks back - the world is in desperate need of hope, and we have it in Christ, so we need to share that Hope with confidence. 2)Sharing hope in a gentle and respectful way gains the attention of those with whom you share. We don’t need to beat people over the head with the Bible, we need to live out biblical precepts in a way that glorifies God and draws people to Him. 3)Live a life above reproach so that even if people try to slander you, their words will come back to bring them shame. Not that we are trying to shame anyone, but if we live above reproach, shame will come to those who would try to harm us with untrue words. My Hope is in Christ, and I want to live a life that glorifies Him and draws people to Him every day.

Give Me Jesus

1 Peter 2

11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

It is a daily struggle to remember and to live like someone who is not a resident of this world. My citizenship is in the Kingdom of Christ. I am a resident alien in the United States of America. The American Dream is NOT my dream. I desire to follow Christ and His teachings always. That puts me at odds with the prevailing culture in this land. So be it. Jesus was at odds with the prevailing culture when he walked the planet. May I stay focused on His example, and live my life to the best of my ability in following Him daily. I know all too well, the war waging against my very soul. I lose plenty of battles in that war, but I am striving towards victory that has been secured by Jesus. As the songwriter put it: “You can have all of this world, give me Jesus.”

Self Control

I Peter 1

13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

Self-control. It is a fruit of the Spirit. It is a sign of growth in Christ. It is something I still struggle with daily. I’d like to say that I am better than I used to be in this regard, but that would be an arrogant brag not based in reality. Father, I pray that You will continue to draw me closer to You each day, and that each day, my self-control will be stronger than it was the day before. I desire to live a holy life because You are Holy.

Joy

1 Peter 1

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Joy is a decision I make no matter the circumstances. Oh, I am not always happy, but I can always be joyful. Thanks, Lord for reminding me of this today. I need to choose joy. I need to remember that trials that I face are temporary and that I should use them as opportunities to give You the praise, glory and honor that You deserve!

Patience

James 5

7 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

Patience is not just a virtue, it is a command! I am so terrible in obeying this command. Patience is something that God continues teaching me, because I need to learn it. I must, because God keeps placing me in situations where patience is required. I know that my greatest need for patience is in the area of praying for the return of my Lord and Savior, Jesus. I pray for Him to return every day, but I also know that if this is not the Day, then that must mean there is still plenty of Kingdom work for me to do. May I do so, lovingly, willingly, and patiently.

Humbly Serving

James 4

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Okay, let’s think about this for a second. God Almighty Creator of heaven and earth on the one side. Me on the other. How could I be anything less than humble? Yet, why is it that my pride, my arrogance, and my sense of self righteousness always seem to kick in leading me away from where God would have me to be? Because humility is not natural for me. Satan knows that, and uses it to his advantage. Since I know that, I must work that much more diligently to not allow satan the victory in that area of my life. I am humbled to think that God could love me in spite of who I am. May I serve Him only. Daily. Humbly.

Nothing More Nothing Less

James 3

1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.

For me personally, this is one of the most sobering verses in all of Scripture. I AM a teacher in the church, and I KNOW that I will be judged more strictly because of it. That is why I endeavor to teach what the Scripture says, not what I want it to say. That’s why I remind my students often that they should not take my word for it, make sure that my words match up with God’s Word. I pray that my preparation for leading study of God’s Word brings glory and honor to Him, and that my teaching is ONLY what He wants. Nothing more and nothing less.

Listen and Obey

James 1

19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

James lays it all on the line here: listen to God’s Word and do what it says. Period. There is no room for human anger in the Kingdom of God. There is no excuse for those who do not put their faith into action. The tongue must be under control (James speaks more on this later in his letter). Faith in action looks like people taking care of those in need. Not the government, but the people taking care of those in need. The church in America has ceded its God-given responsibility to care for people to the government. No wonder we are in such a mess. Not only in this country, but as a people who claim to want to follow Christ! Listen to what God’s Word says, and obey!

Endurance

James 1

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

My Bride is one of my heroes on so many levels. She is absolutely a vessel shining the light of Jesus wherever she is. Over the past month or so, she has dealt with chronic back pain (going to a spine specialist for treatment), and over the past week, her sinuses have gone haywire. Yet, she plugs along with a smile on her face always. This week, her school is dealing with the trauma of a neighborhood shooting spree that left three dead...likely gang violence, so tensions are quite high. Yeah, and my stress consists of changing a song or two in this weekend’s Celebration Service lineup. Father, please continue to strengthen my Bride, and help me to serve her in any way possible. I know that she is filled with Your joy, and while she is facing many physical and emotional trials, her spiritual condition grows stronger each day because of her unwavering love for You.

Stay Anchored In Christ

Hebrews 13

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9a So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas.

Having Jesus as the Constant in our lives gives us the anchor we so badly need. The prevailing winds of culture cannot save us. The winds of political “power” cannot save us. The good intentions of man cannot save us. Only Jesus can save us. Only through Jesus may we dare to dream about entering into the presence of the Lord God Almighty. So, why is it that people are so seemingly easily enticed to turn their backs upon the One who said that His burden is easy and His yoke is light? Why is it that so many people are attracted by strange, new ideas? Because they are not properly anchored in the Word! They don’t really know Jesus. Now, remember, this letter was written to Christians of a Hebrew background. This is written to those who have been baptized into Christ, who claim to follow Christ, to love Christ, and to want to live like & for Him. But this whole letter has been a reminder to Christians that Jesus is Superior to the Old Covenant, and that they should never forget Who Jesus is! The best way I can think of to combat our natural tendency of forgetfulness is to stay in the Word every day. No matter what!

Holy Fear and Awe

Hebrews 12

28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29For our God is a devouring fire.

Being part of this unshakable Kingdom of Christ should indeed move us to worship God with holy fear and awe. The Almighty Creator of the Universe, the Author of all life, and the Forgiver of our sins is worthy of no less. While we who are part of this New, Improved Covenant with God may now DARE to approach His Throne of Grace, we needn’t become complacent about Who He is! Our God is a devouring fire! Our God is Holy, Holy, Holy. We cannot approach His Throne of Grace except that we are made Holy through the precious blood of Jesus. Not because of anything we have done, or because of who we are, but because of Who Jesus is and what He has done for us. I am humbled beyond words today as I think about the privilege to be a tiny part of God’s unshakeable Kingdom put into place by Jesus.

No Matter What

Hebrews 12

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

How could I ever grow weary in living for my Lord? I haven’t had to face anything in comparison to the Old Testament prophets, much less the Apostles and other leaders of the 1st century church, or even anything remotely resembling what modern day martyrs face! May I keep my eyes fixed on Christ, remembering that no matter what I may go through in this life for the cause of Christ, it is worth it. No matter what!

Celebrating

Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart


as I meet with his godly people.

My favorite time of the week each week, is the Lord’s Day morning Celebration gathering. I am so blessed to be at Vero Christian Church. This is my family in Christ, and the privilege of being able to help lead the Celebration Services there is an honor that I still cannot believe that I am allowed to have. Thank You, Lord, for the blessings You pour upon me every day of my life. Thank You for the ability to celebrate with family each Lord’s Day.

Faith

Hebrews 11

1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

This week, my brother Ed has been put through a test of faith. Facing a Friday deadline to move from his abode of the past couple of years, he had no idea where or how he was going to accomplish this as late as Tuesday. I kept telling him that God had it under control (and we were both putting feet on our prayers in this regard). As of this writing, Ed is loading his packed up stuff, and heading towards his new digs thanks to the Lord working through my brother, Phatrok. God, I have been totally confident throughout this process, and I pray that Ed has been drawn closer to You, realizing that he (like all of us) MUST depend on You daily. Thank You for your faithfulness, o Lord. Thank You for Your unfailing love.

Natural Response

Hebrews 10

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

On this day when we remember the sacrifices made by those who serve this country in military service, our freedom has been secured by those willing to give it all. Our freedom from the penalty of sin is secured by the willing sacrifice once and for all times by our Lord and Savior Jesus. Therefore, we need to hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm in Christ Jesus. The only natural response to what Jesus has done for us is to live in such a way as to bring Him glory and honor. We should never neglect meeting together with other believers so we can always encourage each other in the natural response to God’s love for us. May my life be one that draws others to Jesus always. To Him be the glory and honor and praise forever and ever!

My Heart Is Confident In God

Psalm 108

  1 My heart is confident in you, O God;
      no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
 2 Wake up, lyre and harp!
      I will wake the dawn with my song.
 3 I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
      I will sing your praises among the nations.
 4 For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
      Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
 5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
      May your glory shine over all the earth.

With everything going on these days in my brother Ed’s life (and it is plenty stinky), as well as in my Dad’s life (with prostate cancer diagnosis and more), with Peggy’s life (pinched nerve in her back), with Ian’s life (jobless for more than six months now), whew, I could get really depressed. However, I serve a God Who has it all under control. I am thankful that while I cannot see how any of this is going to work itself out, He already knows. All I know is that I will give God the glory. My heart is confident in God, and I will proclaim His praises every day. I have a sense of peace that passes understanding, and the Source of that peace is Jesus.

Eagerly Awaiting the Day

Hebrews 9

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

I eagerly await the Day of the Lord’s return. The older I get, the more eagerly I await. I know that there is plenty of work for the Kingdom to be done until that Day, and I am all about doing that work. However, if Jesus returned to take His Bride (the church) home before I finished typing this devotional thought out...well, that would RAWK! My prayer daily is, “come quickly, Lord Jesus.”

Judgement and Sin

Ezekiel 9

 4 For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.

It is not my place to judge, for only God is able to judge in fairness and holiness. God’s Word contains judgement for those who disobey Him. A sinner is a sinner not because I call them a sinner, but because God calls them a sinner. Those who disobey what God clearly states in His Word must answer to the Righteous Judge. It is my duty to point out sinful actions and urge those guilty of such actions to repent. That is NOT judging. That is simply attempting to open the eyes of those who are blinded by sin. May I do so in love always. May I remember that when someone reminds me of sin in my life, that they are doing me a favor by calling me to repentance. God’s judgement is clear: the one who sins will die (be separated from God for eternity). I have no desire to be counted among those folks, nor do I want anyone I know to be counted among those folks, either!

Heartfelt Counsel

Proverbs 27

 9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend
      is as sweet as perfume and incense.

As I read this passage, I miss the face-to-face contact with my dear brothers in Christ from the days when we all were ministering in the Tri-State region of KY, Ohio, and WV. Today, I miss Brent Baker, Jeff Sagstetter, Jeff Patrick, Jason Thomas, and Tracy Tooley. I miss the times when we were able to be together, counsel one another, laugh together, cry together, and cut-up together (not necessarily in that order). In the ten years I have been in Florida, I have not forged that kind of close bond with fellow ministers here. I have some buds that I truly enjoy hanging out with, but I miss my best friends and brothers in ministry. I praise God for technology, because even though we aren’t in the same physical location any longer (literally scattered around the country), we can still be in contact via cellphone, text message, Facebook, etc. I truly appreciate the heartfelt counsel I still receive from my brothers from afar.

'Nuff Said

Hebrews 7

18 Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. 19 For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20 This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron’s descendants became priests without such an oath, 21 but there was an oath regarding Jesus. For God said to him,

“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
‘You are a priest forever.’”

22 Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God.

23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Jesus is not only the Way, but He is the BEST way and the ONLY Way. ‘Nuff said.