Whatever

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17 

We all won’t someday be President or a CEO of a global company.

Not everyone will be the boss.

Maybe you think, given whatever your station in life, that the contribution you make is somehow less important than that of some ‘big wig.’

But if your job is to clean toilets, unclog sewers or picking up garbage the words spoken in today’s verse are spoken as much to you as they are to any Ivy League college graduate or someone else society may hold in high regard.

The writer, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God I might remind you, said whatever you do, do it all in His Name and with a heart of gratitude.

Some tasks are less glamorous than others.

Some jobs can stroke our egos while others have a way of humbling us.

But whatever you put your hand to tomorrow, as a believer in Jesus Christ, honor Him by doing that work, whether you deem it menial or profound, in His Name.

Thank him too for the stamina, health, knowledge and skill He has given to you.

Are you willing to honor Him even if a ‘promotion’ or recognition this side of heaven never comes?

That kind of heart catches the eye of God.

Will you do it?

Put Yourself in Remembrance

“Let the one who is wise...ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.”

Psalm 107:43

It is indeed a wise thing to ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

There is so much we can consider and set our minds to.

But much of what we meditate on or think about is unprofitable at best and dangerous at worst.

The world offers much to think about, worry over or obsess about.

It is never at a loss for offering us garbage.

But the wise one considers and thinks about all God has done for them.

It is a good thing to think on such things.

It reminds us of His faithfulness over the years.

Do you recall that time He rescued you?

What about the miraculous touch to a family member.

There is an old song that went something like this...

“Count your many blessing,

Name them one by one.

Count your many blessings,

See what God has done!”

Why not make it habit forming?

It is certainly a good and wise habit to have.

Ponder the loving deeds of the Lord!

Pray For Your Children

“And the child grew and became strong;

he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”

Luke 2:40

Maybe you recognize this verse from Luke.

You may even know that it is speaking of Jesus.

But how about this – let it also be a prayer that every parent would pray for their child?

What mom or dad wouldn’t want their child to grow and become strong?

Or who wouldn’t want their son or daughter to be filled with wisdom and have the grace of God on them?

Let’s all do our part to not only live for God ourselves but to raise a generation of children who grow up in His grace!

Your children are grown?

Pray for your grandchildren or adopt in prayer some other youngsters.

You never know who God will use to impact the world.

He might use someone you have been faithfully praying for.

How exciting is that?

Why on Earth?

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you;

You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:11-12

I guess if I were playing a word association game I could see two words from the above verses that I might associate with each other.

Those two words would be Saviour and Lord.

But then the angels making the announcement to the shepherds said they would find the baby lying in a...manger?

A Saviour and Lord lying in a manger.

One doesn’t’ seem to follow the others.

Maybe in their fear from seeing the angels they heard them incorrectly.  

Why on earth would Israel’s Messiah be lying in a manger.

A gold crib would seem more appropriate wouldn’t it?

Why on earth indeed.

God came to earth in an unexpected way.

He sometimes comes into our lives and our struggles in unexpected ways too.

We pray and He answers but it is not at all how we thought He would or should answer our prayer.

But God is never wrong.

We sometimes miss Him because we are looking for a gold crib answer and He responds with a baby in a manger.

Don’t miss God because He comes to you in unexpected ways.

He may choose to visit you in the most surprising and unpredictable ways.  

Our Wish for you is that you are touched by the message

and

the Messenger of Christmas.

May His Blessing rest on you today!

...In a Manger

“And this shall be a sign unto you;

You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12

He was royalty.

He was a King.

As a matter of fact, He was The King of Kings.

Yet, He was born into this messy world in a messy place.

The greatest King the globe would ever know was born in a manger.

Those words – born in a manger – are so familiar to us now and somehow the reality of what that meant alludes us.

The High and Mighty one came to us lowly and meekly.

He came to us not in a palace but lying in an animals feeding trough.

Those who would be kings could not imagine a more ignominious entry into the world.

But...He is coming again.

He will return as reigning King to judge the earth.

This Christmas as we remember and celebrate His birth won’t you say yes to the King?

Yes, come into and change my heart and life.

For that reason He was born!

  

Blessed Sleep

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,

    for you alone, Lord,

    make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 4:8

A good night’s sleep is so elusive to many.

A racing mind, vivid dreams, restless hearts; they all make for a tough time closing your eyes and sleeping peacefully.

But according to Psalm 127, God gives His beloved sleep.

How wonderful to rest and sleep in peace and safety.

How wonderful God is to His children.

Perhaps sleep, I mean deep, peaceful, restful sleep has been hard for you to come by.

Take the time today to pray before you put head to pillow.

Ask God for that restful sleep He has promised and as you close your eyes consider His many multiplied blessings.

As you drift off to sleep know that He continues to care for and love you.

He never slumbers nor sleeps and will not weary of watching over you.

And may you sleep the sleep of the blessed tonight.

Multiplication

“May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you

[filling your heart with the spiritual well-being and serenity experienced by those who walk closely with God].”

Jude 2

I suppose there are a lot of different things that can be multiplied to you; some good and some not so good things.

It seems that at times in life troubles can pile up and one bad thing happens after another.

How refreshing then, these words from the tiny little Book of Jude which is found just before the Book of Revelation in your Bible.

Imagine for a moment the life that has mercy, peace and love multiplied to it.

I would have to guess that person would attract a lot of others to themselves.

But because that multiplication happens as we walk closely with God what a wonderful way to introduce others to Him.  

I don’t know many people who would turn away from mercy, peace or love.

Even those who claim to be atheists or agnostics would be drawn to the man or woman whose life is filled with these attributes.

But the best news of all – this is another one of those ‘whosoever’ promises.

God will push no one away who desires to walk closely with Him.

As a matter of fact, here is another of the ‘whosoever’ promises available to you –

“Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you.”

James 4:8a

Who Would Turn Down This Gift?

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

Peace is defined as a persons’ inner sense of contentment, comfort, trust and quietness, regardless of the surrounding circumstances they are facing.

Can you sleep through a storm?

Jesus did.

The waves were tossing the little boat and the wind was howling.

Still He continued to sleep.

That is, until the panicked disciples woke him up.

I have been in a storm at sea.

It can be frightening, even on a large vessel.

Some of His disciples were skilled fisherman who had probably encountered storms before but this one clearly frightened them.

They needed Jesus awake – all hands on deck I guess.  

But Jesus was able to sleep in the midst of the storm because the same peace He spoke to the wind and the waves was also the peace that dwelled in Him.

Most importantly, it is the same peace He offers you.

There will still be storms that rage around you but, like Jesus, you can know peace in the midst of them.

Now that’s a gift worth receiving, wouldn’t you agree?

My Feelings are Hurt!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

Peace is defined as a persons’ inner sense of contentment, comfort, trust and quietness, regardless of the surrounding circumstances they are facing.

We live in a world of offended people.

It is so easy to be offended.

It almost seems like a national pastime lately to see what can offend someone.

Your work, your boss, your spouse, maybe even your paycheck have offended you.

Just turn on the news and listen; people are offended by Christmas songs and greeting, by statues honoring heroes in history.

I know, I know, there are as many ‘legitimate’ reasons for offense as there are offenses.

But what quality of life is it when we go through it always hurt by what someone else said or did.

How do you develop a thicker skin?

How do you become ‘unoffendable’?

“Those who love Your law have great peace; Nothing makes them stumble.” Psalm 119:165 Amp

Did you catch that?

Nothing, that is, N-O   T-H-I-N-G makes them stumble.

NADA

When we immerse ourselves and are in love with the Word of God and not in all the noise around us we build a thicker skin.

We are no longer offended by every little (or big) thing.  

Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

Peace is defined as a persons’ inner sense of contentment, comfort, trust and quietness, regardless of the surrounding circumstances they are facing.

When I was a teen-ager it was popular to raise a hand and, with two fingers forming a “V”,   greet someone by saying “peace”.

As well intentioned as some may have been, that was not the biblical peace that Jesus spoke of.

The peace that Jesus gives is most unique.

It is not given by the world; it is not simply a lack of adversity or troubles and is not necessarily evidenced by a serene demeanor.

The peace that Jesus gives cannot be taken away by the world.

It is a gift from God and is often most obvious in the lives of individuals when they are in the midst of the storms of life.

How appropriate that Gods’ peace is not dictated by the circumstances we may find ourselves in.

We can know the peace of God when all hell is breaking loose around us.

Jesus gives us peace.

It is His peace in us and is not quenched by the ups and downs of life.

Have you asked Him for the gift of His peace?

Too Soon Old

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10 Amplified

 

God does not waste your time.

Sometimes we doubt that truth.

We are anxious for an answer – now!

We are eager to see a resolution to our problem – now!

But there is value in the wait.

There is purpose in the season you are in now.

We can so look forward to the next season that we miss the opportunities that would otherwise present themselves.

Have you ever been so preoccupied in thought that you totally miss something right in front of your nose?

Been there, done that?

Me too!

But let’s not be guilty of that same preoccupation when it comes to the things of God.

Appreciate the season He has you in.

Do not neglect to stop and enjoy the now in spite of the many later pressing matters.

Someone once teasingly said:

We are too soon old and too late smart!

Don’t let that be you.

If Only I...

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10 Amplified

 

If only I...

...were married

...were single again

...had a different job

...didn’t live in this town

...could choose my boss.

Have you ever said “...if only...”

Sure, I think we probably all have.

But what does living in a dream world of “if only” do for our present circumstances?

Not much!

It saps the energy and joy out of life in the here and now.

God wants us to have dreams, plans, purpose and vision.

But He doesn’t delight in us living in the “only ifs” so that our joy in the present moments is lost.

Jesus said he came so that we could have and enjoy life.

Set the ‘if only’s’ aside and enjoy the moment God has given you today.

Beyond a Meager Life

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10 Amplified

We all have days that are winners.

We all have days that are losers.

But, as believers, we are gifted by God with the opportunity for a full, abundant, overflowing life.

I deliberately chose the word ‘opportunity’ because that is exactly what it is.

We can live beneath what is available.

Like a King who lives like a pauper we can live far, far beneath the abundant life Jesus offers us.

When we choose the abundant life we may still have some winning days and some losing days but they no longer define us.

We recognize that we can live life to the full and see it overflowing form us to others.

Jesus lived an abundant life.

Yes, you heard me right.

He did.

Calvary did not steal from Him the joy and the love of the Father.    

Calvary did not erase the overflowing and abundant life that He brought for us but also demonstrated and lived out Himself.

You and I may still have a few ‘loser’ days yet to be realized.

But that does not make me a loser.

I receive the abundant and overflowing life that Jesus brought.

Will you receive it too?

Wait and Work

“...because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

James 1:6b-8

Let’s suppose a farmer sows the seeds for a crop in April.

As he walks away from his planted field he doesn’t simply say:

“See you in September.”

He doesn’t abandon his labors at the point of sowing them.

In dry weather, he will irrigate the crop.

He will work through weed and pest control issues.

He will monitor the crops progress and when it is time to harvest he will work sun-up to sundown to be sure the harvest is brought in before it rots on the vine, the stalk or in the ground.

If you are standing in faith and expectation for anything from God,  

don’t walk away from the initial request expecting it is all up to God.  

Persevere in prayer and do what you can to align your life with that answered prayer.

Like the farmer you anticipate a crop but you work until it is harvest season!

Expect an Answer

“...because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

James 1:6b-8

 

“That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

What a sad commentary that would be on any life.

But how much more so for the man or woman who prays but lives a life, outside of their prayer closet, of doubt.

They ask but then they doubt.

They believe God can answer (and will answer) any prayer but theirs.

But God is prepared to answer the prayer of faith.

When we call on Him, He is quick to answer, if only we believe.

There was a man in the Bible who spoke words we all have probably uttered at one time or another.

He said: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”

Have you been there?

I have.

But it is not a place to live.

When you struggle with believing God can or will answer your prayer, confess that to Him.

It may even help to enlist the help of others who can stand with you in prayer.

Let them know of your difficulty and struggle to believe God to answer but that you want to overcome that doubt and unbelief.

We do not need to battle this alone.

God delights in answering your prayers and He will not turn a deaf ear to one who cries out to Him for help!

No Hemming and Hawing

“...because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

James 1:6b-8

“...is like a wave of the sea...”

Sea waves cannot be controlled.

They are wind-driven and tempestuous.

I served in the US Navy and saw my share of raging seas.

What I remember most is how vulnerable and small I and the ship I served on seemed in comparison to storm-tossed waves.

There certainly was no controlling them.

If you were caught in an Atlantic storm you did your best to ride it out.

We are not to be tossed to and fro by double-mindedness.

We are to anchor our faith and our thoughts in the Lord and His Word.

The double-minded person is unreliable and fickle at best.

Their inability to make a decision and stick by it spreads into every area of their lives and often impacts the lives of others as well.

We need to be single-minded, not only in our devotion to the Lord but in all areas of our lives.

We need to be men and woman who can be relied upon.

Leave the hemming and hawing to others!  

Unwavering, Not Staggering!

“...because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

James 1:6b-8

“...because the one who doubts...”

The one who doubts is double-minded and unstable.

That is to say, they are giving the enemy of their soul fuel for the fire.

Yes, we do have an enemy whose goal is to take us out.

Sometimes we may even be in cahoots with him.

“How” you ask?

By praying in one way but expecting results different than how you prayed.

You stagger through life like a man with divided allegiances.

You believe one thing in prayer only to doubt when your present circumstances don’t seem to match your expectations.

When things change don’t let them alter your expectations from God.

Stick with it and don’t relinquish that hope you have.

To be sure your faith and your expectations will be tested.  

Joseph found that out in the pit, Daniel in the lion’s den and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had their single-minded expectation tested in the fiery furnace.

In every one of these stories they held fast to their testimony and their promise form God.

Their confidence, their faith, their expectation was unwavering and they did not stagger.

Their hope was not ‘all over the map’.

They rested confidently in Him because, like Abraham, they were:

“...fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

Romans 4:21