Jesus Is Our Special Nourishment

"Christ is the meat, the bread, the food of our souls. Nothing is in him of a higher spiritual nourishment than his love, which we should always desire."  -John Owen

We receive nourishment from many different types of foods. If you stop and think about it, in reality, there are two different yet vital types of foods, or nourishment. There is the physical type, which consists of the common edibles which we consume daily. These, of course, are necessary for physical growth, health, and good condition.

The other type of nourishment is very important, too: spiritual nourishment. Though we can't cook it up on a stove, or order it in a restaurant, it is equally important for our growth, health, and good condition spiritually. Spiritual growth is essential in that it feeds the spirit and fills our lives with plentifulness that surpasses anything in the physical sense.

When one is lacking in physical sustenance, whether by a diet or illness, it shows in the way we perform and in our appearance. We can definitely see the outward results of such changes, as they tend to occur quite rapidly. But, when our spiritual store is running low, this is not the case. We could be starving spiritually and not even realize it!

Since it happens so slowly, and is less obvious physically, it can be going on for quite a while before there are any external symptoms. This is what makes spiritual malnutrition, or weakness difficult to recognize. When we're hungry our bodies let us know. If we don't eat we can become weak, irritable, and even ill, depending on the circumstances.

When our spirit is malnourished, or in a weakened and compromised state, sin can creep in. Sin usually brings some bad company along for the ride, such as: irritability, depression, anger, bitterness, hatred, hopeless, envy, addictions, vanity and, well... you get the picture. Any way you cut it, it's not pretty!

Jesus demonstrated how important spiritual nourishment is if we are to strengthen ourselves against the constant onslaught of Satan, who preys on the spiritually weak. If you recall, while out in the wilderness, Jesus battled Satan by quoting scripture (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3). He demonstrated how powerful the Word is against the adversary's attacks.

Israel, too, found out the importance of spiritual well-being (nourishment) during their travails while out in the desert. The daily supply of manna clearly indicated to them the importance of daily refreshment of spiritual nourishment. Without which, they would have surely perished (John 6:49-50).

We eat food because it is necessary for our physical survival. Similarly, our spiritual survival will be severely jeopardized without the Word of God. The Bible reminds us of this in 1 Peter 2:2, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation..."

So, the next time you head for the fridge to grab a snack, or sit down to have a nice meal, pause for a moment, and think: "Did I feed my spirit today?" Though these items may not be found on any menu; prayer, study, meditation, and obedience are essential to your spiritual well-being. This is one meal you surely can't afford, to skip!

Scripture: John 6:45; Romans 6:9; 2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 6:14; Ephesians 2:8-9

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray today for replenishment of my spirit; feed me with your mercy and grace, that I may be rejuvenated and strengthened in both, heart and soul. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Friday Faith Check-up: Faith In God Isn't Complicated

"Don't ever think that there are many ways to the Divine. Jesus is the one qualified mediator, the only qualified sacrifice, and the only qualified savior."  - Erwin Lutze

A  problem with today's world is that we are inundated with far too many options. Whether it's purchasing an automobile, choosing health coverage, or deciding what we want to watch on T.V., we are presented with a profusion of choices.

Maybe, these are just the rantings of someone from another generation, but what happened to simplicity? Is it wrong to request plainness? Or to long for a little more understandability? Besides appliances, food, and insurance plans, we can ask the same questions about our faith.

I think that most would agree that simple but genuine trust in God is the essence of true religion. No bells and whistles, or razzle-dazzle. It's uncomplicated and straight-forward. The keys to a good, rock-solid, relationship with God are: having faith in, and dependence on Him.

The apostle Paul put it well when he told the Christians in Galatia that, "a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 2:16). Plain and simple. We become the children of God as a result of faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26), and are not overwhelmed with a range of possibilities.

Faith in God, as he has graciously revealed to us in His Son Jesus Christ, is the grounds on which we let God enter our lives. Furthermore, it is through faith that we let God do wonderous things in us, to us, and through us.

Since we are talking about simplicity in faith, it might not be a bad idea take genuine faith and whittle it down a little more, making it even more clear. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a good starting point. Here, we not only find encouragement for our faith, but are given an excellent explanation of the fundamental qualities of our walk of faith.

We should also be alert for anything that might make us lean toward self-righteousness. Those of us who put faith in God would do well not to walk with the arrogant stride of a know-it-all. Rather, we should leave ourselves accessible to divine direction, and strive daily to do God's will.

It's not a stretch to say that our world has become more complicated, and will probably continue to do so. In our quest to make our lives easier and less-complicated, we have either consciously, or unconsciously added a certain degree of complexity to it. I understand that some of it is good, and even necessary, but some aspects of it, not so much.

Fortunately, there is one thing that hasn't changed hasn't changed over the course of time. Jesus Christ did not come to us in order to complicate things. His message of faith, love, hope, and salvation is quite simple, and still applies. Any confusion has been our own doing, and not God's.

In closing, God's love for the world was why he did what He did for us. For Him, it was a no-brainer. Sacrificing His Only Son Jesus Christ, in our place, He provided a way for us to be forgiven of our sins (John 3:16; 1 Peter 2:24). Through His selfless action, our salvation is secured by our faith in Him (Acts 10:43). And, I ask you, what could be more simple than that?

Scripture: Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 2:8

Prayer: Dear Lord, by Your grace and forgiveness, I have been saved; may my faith always remain strong and true; and my heart filled with Your love. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Kaye

The Offer of Salvation Never Expires!

"Since no man is excluded from calling upon God the gate of salvation is open to all. There is nothing else to hinder us from entering, but our own unbelief."  - John Calvin

The other day, I decided it was time to go through my refrigerator and purge whatever had long since passed its date of freshness; otherwise known as the "expiration date." I started with the obvious. I went straight to the vegetables and produce.

After some agonizing moments of tossing the wilted, shredded, decaying, and that of "unknown origin," I wiped, scrubbed, and cleaned the bins. Now, it was time to tackle the jars and containers. Of course, there was that solitary, jar with two olives, that was shoved way in the back behind the small can of mandarin orange slices, which expired in 2012!

Some more tossing, scrubbing, wiping up, and the job was done! Other than a few odds and ends, it really wasn't too bad.  Subsequently, as I was staring at my full trash bag, "expiration dates" kept bouncing around in my head.

I started to think how this might apply to Jesus Christ and our salvation. I know that his offer of salvation is a gift and is absolutely free. That's right, free! Additionally, salvation is the true gift of God in Christ, received by our faith in Him (John 1:12; 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

This is wonderful because we could never do enough good things to earn salvation on our own. That is, there are no "good works" that will save us. There are some who might argue this with you. Even the apostles Paul and James had slightly different perspectives on this subject.

Paul said: "salvation is by faith alone" (Ephesians 2:8-9), while James added a little variation to it: "salvation is by faith plus works (James 2:17-18)." The former stressed "faith alone," while the latter emphasized "good works were produced as the result of genuine faith in Christ" (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26).

Both gentlemen agreed, however, that when we are saved by Christ, we have been made new again. And being "new" in Christ, we want to do, or produce good works because of our acceptance of him into our lives (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

An important point to mention here is that salvation is eternal. As a matter of fact, there are several scriptures that bring this to our attention: John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35, 38-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:4-5. God is eternal and unchangeable. The God of today is the same as yesterday, and will be tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).

So, does the offer of salvation ever expire, or have an "expiration date?" Not, per se, but it's a good idea to accept it while you are still alive to do so! Don't let another day go by. Admit you are a sinner, that you need a Savior, believe that Jesus died for you, and accept his gift of forgiveness. Do it today!

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-11; Isaiah 57:12; Luke 3:8; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:9-10

Prayer: Dear Jesus, my salvation is Your gift to me; it is not by anything that I have done; I have been saved because of my faith in You. Amen

May God bless you always!

Kasey

Video - Beth Moore: You Are Free

In this video message, Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore emphasizes Christ's desire to set you free from all spiritual bondage. Amen to that!  ~Eve

True Joy in Christ Makes the Difference!

"The very nature of Joy makes nonsense of our common distinction between having and wanting." -C.S. Lewis

Here's a great question for you: "What makes you truly happy?" Paula Francis, a woman from Vermont is trying to find out. She is currently walking across the U.S. asking people along the way what happiness means to them. She began doing this in 2012 with short walks that grew into longer ones.

Why is she doing this? It all began when a friend visited the small Himalayan country Bhutan. While there, she learned about a term Gross National Happiness, or GNH, which was coined by the king there in 1972. Just as the Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, measures a country's economy, the GNH measures the happiness of the country's poplace.

After visiting Bhutan herself, Paula started the non-profit organization Gross National Happiness, USA. The focus of the group has gradually changed its focus onto measuring the things that truly matter, omitting wealth and financial status. The challenge in this is that the source of happiness differs between individuals.

Happiness can be defined as: the state of being happy. The Bible uses both "happy" and "happiness" about 30 times, depending on the translation. Another similar word "joy," or "rejoice" pops up over 300 times. Understandably, we may sometimes confuse "happy" with "joy." But there is a definite difference as they pertain to our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The thing about happiness is that it can be fleeting, or temporary. Temporal, or earthly factors such as circumstances, or other people can affect it. Things like job promotions, buying a new car, following a diet, even friendships are good examples of this.

On the other hand, joy provides a sturdier foundation. Consider joy as true contentment that is derived from internal, or inner factors such as our faith in Christ. True joy is not short-term, nor is it dependent on situations or conditions.

Need to see this in action, you say? Check out the Book of Philippians for an excellent study in the difference between joy and happiness. Paul wrote this book while being held as a prisoner in Rome. It instructs us on how to possess true contentment in Jesus Christ, no matter what our state of affairs may be (Philippians 1:12-24; 4:13; 4:19).

Ms. Francis' journey to find out what makes people "happy" has taken her many places, and many miles. But, as we have discussed, happiness can be brief, and is dependent on situations outside of our influence.

Although, happiness and joy, may appear similar in how they apply to our faith, there is a distinct difference. What separates the two is that joy is solidly, founded in both our relationship, and dependence on Jesus Christ. And, no other special method or measurement is required to learn more about this than your Bible.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:12; Philippians 4:4; Proverbs 16:20; James 1:2; Galatians 5:22

Prayer: Dear Lord, in Your presence I find fullness of joy and peace. Make clear to me the path of life; and strengthen me always in Your glory. Amen

Have a blessed Tuesday!

Hailey

"In God" Our Leaders Must Trust

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." - John C. Maxwell

For the past year or so, the American people have been transfixed, entranced, and at times, even dumb-founded as we attempt to elect a new president. Regardless of who may win, the qualities of a competent leader have not changed over time.

Qualities such as goodness, steady-handedness, fair-mindedness, and being principled, among others. have always been important traits. But, does a leader need to be perfect? To help with this question, one need only look back to the past.

Throughout history there have been good, great, and excellent leaders However, none were perfect by any stretch. Even King David, the great leader of Israel who was hand-picked by God to lead His people, was far from perfect; notably 2 Samuel 11.

What lesson(s) can any leader take away from King David's life and experience as king? In 2 Samuel 23-24, we find David reflecting on his life at the end of his kingly career. He holds himself up to the description of leadership which God had given to him, and finds that he is not even close (2 Samuel 23:3-4).

Righteousness towards others and reverence to God are a "must" in a king, or leader of men. The lack of either, or both has caused leaders to be curses rather than blessings, oppression, and the ruination of kingdoms. These same essential traits apply to the normal, everyday person, as well.

Conversely, where God's authority has been acknowledged, and the respect of people's rights have not been ignored; you will find flourishing nations with leaders who strike fear into the hearts of those who seek to cause evil, and serve as beacons of hope and strength to those who seek to do good.

These essential fundamentals, as they apply to the governance of people, sometimes get pushed aside in the rush to prove who is right and who is wrong. Fortunately, our leaders have God's Word as the means by which to lead; not by the seat of one's pants, but by His timeless guidance.

As for the rest of us, we can do our part by praying to God for leaders who exemplify his template for leadership. The standards as set by God are lofty, but would you want or expect anything less in a leader? Does this require perfection? Of course not. Just a genuine love and respect for God.

The kind, gracious, and favorable influence of a ruler who is righteous, and God-fearing is laid out in the bright light for all to see within the pages of Scripture. It is the playbook for exceptional leadership. We need leaders who will "...be as the light of the morning..." (2 Samuel 23:4).

Scripture: Philippians 2:3; Jeremiah 23:1; Exodus 18:21; 2 Timothy 2:2; Proverbs 25:28

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for leaders who follow Your principles and example. May You also provide us with leaders who ask for Your wisdom, and guidance; and put it into action.  Amen

May your day be blessed!

Charlene

Friday Faith Check-up: We Have No Ability to Offer...We Can Only Obey!

"God does not will He should follow what man has initiated. Other than following God's direction, we have no right to direct Him. We have no ability to offer save to obey God's guidance." - Watchman Nee

All children, at some point, will dare to question an adult's authority. We, as mature and reasonably intelligent adults, sometimes do the same thing with God. Of course, we know the outcome of this, but allow me to elaborate for a moment.

It is our self-will and rebelliousness that encourages us to fracture our right and good relationship with God. We alone are responsible for the broken peace between ourselves and Our Heavenly Father. Fortunately, God is more than capable of restoring it (Isaiah 27:5).

Our bond with God relies on our submission and obedience. In order for peace to be maintained, we as God's children,  must observe obedience. Furthermore, we are God's servants. As such, peace depends on serving our Master, or doing His will. Hold fast that the essence, or intrinsic nature of sin is willfulness.

Some might say, "What's the big deal? All that God has to do is snap His fingers and all will be well again." Though this might be true, God long had a plan in mind, a plan of peace-making, if you will, that He conceived and put into action. In fact, He accomplished this Himself, as the atonement through His Son (John 3:16).

Thus, God graciously offers to fix, or restore the broken peace between us. He calls for us to let Him strengthen us, and invites us to reconcile with Him. God even grieves, over our hesitancy, saying, "Why Will ye die, O house of Israel? why will ye die" (Ezekiel 18:31; 33:11)? God has offered us, no, better yet, He has given us"eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11).

Although God can make everything right again, we must do our part, too. If we truly seek to mend our broken relationship, or make peace, with God we must approach Him with the right disposition or temperament. There's no room for bargaining here. Either you're all in, or all out, as they say.

What does this appropriate mentality consist of? How about: humility?; an awareness of sin?; repentance or sorrow for sin?; showing that you are serious about renouncing sin?; abandoning any pridefulness?; displaying a passion for God?; and last, but not least, a sincere, enthusiastic intention of making this all come about?

God tells us in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Even though a child may be disobedient from time to time, when it's all said and done, a parent's love is strong enough to overcome this snag. Thus it is with God. His love for us is eternal and merciful (Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5).

Scripture: John 14:15; Romans 6:16; Matthew 7:21; James 1:22; John 14:23

Prayer: Dear Jesus, You who were made perfect are the source of my eternal salvation; may I always honor and obey You. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Kaye

The Trouble with Deception...

"Many deceptions only appeal to us because there is something inside us that "wants" to believe them. They are seductive because of darkness and wrong motives in our own lives. We must search our hearts and root these out."   - Andrew Strom

Deception, by its definition, is the act of deceiving; the state of being deceived. It comes from the word "deceive," which means: to mislead by a false appearance or statement. Maybe you're more familiar with "deceive" by some of its synonyms, such as: fool, dupe, trick, defraud, and cheat.

Sadly, we live in a fallen world where self-deception is just part of the territory. Jeremiah 17:9, Isaiah 44:20; Obadiah 1:3; and Proverbs 16:18 speak, or warn us of how deceitful our own hearts are. Think you're immune just because you never miss a Sunday service, or faithfully read your daily allotment of Scripture? If you do... you are wrong!

Although it's commendable that you do these things, unless you actually practice what you have learned, or put it into action, you are only deceiving yourself. The accumulation of vast amounts of Biblical truths is awesome. But it does no good if you keep it all to yourself. It must be shared, and put to work (2 Timothy 3:17).

Deception, as it relates to our practice of religion, may be examined in a couple of contrasting ways. James points to the first type of deception in James 1:26. This type leads us to believe that what we say doesn't matter. This is an inferior or ineffective religion.

Next, he points out another type in James 1:27. This religion is untainted and righteous. This is where we practice true religion, free from being tripped up by self-deception. An empty, hollow religion only serves to fuel false, self-centered motives, which lack in faith and love. This is not what God desires (Galatians 5:6).

This trouble with self-deception is brought to our attention on many occasions in the Bible. For example, Samson's tragic experience with his own self-deception didn't turn out well for him (Judges 16:20). And, in the story of David and Goliath, Goliath fatally learned what it means to believe in yourself more than God (1 Samuel 17: 41-51).

To avoid falling into the trap of deception, as it relates to our relationship with Jesus Christ, we must follow what James tells us in James 1:25 (NLT). You and I should "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."

Remember, always keep the Word close to your heart, follow its instructions, and stay focused on and devoted to it. Self-deception can only be kept in check by letting God occupy both, your heart and mind (Psalm 73:26).

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:13; Galatians 6:7-8; Mark 7:20-22; Mark 10:19

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to choose the path of truth, and not be deceived by the enemy. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Brandi

Video - Lisa Bevere: I Didn't Make The List

Lisa Bevere, international speaker and best-selling Christian author, confesses her tendency to compare herself to others and reveals the dangers of falling into this trap. Enjoy!  ~Eve

The "Thirst" of Your Soul

"Those who do not thirst for the pure waters of desire which are poured out for us by the strong, living God, are usually those who have drunk from other rivers or have dug for themselves broken cisterns."  -Thomas Merton

When one thinks of the word thirst, a few things can come to mind. For instance, someone who has exerted themselves, in one way or another, might think of thirst as a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat caused by the need of liquid.

Another type of thirst can be a strong, eager desire or craving for something. It is this second type of thirst that I would like to discuss with you today. Let's apply this definition to the scripture verse found in John 19:28 (KJV).

As you initially read this verse, you might find it confusing that He who is "the Living Water" would be thirsty. But if you go back and read John, Chapter 19 again in its entirety, it all starts to come together to form a picture.

It wasn't so much that the crucified Jesus "thirsted" as we think of thirst in our frail, mortal understanding of the word. To truly comprehend, we must look at his "thirst" through a spiritual lens. It is only then that "thirst" takes on a completely different meaning.

From this perspective, it's possible to see his considerable, spiritual "thirst" and ardent desire for the salvation of his people; that's you and I! We could never in a million years begin to understand the mystery of God's amazing grace in which Christ took our sins upon himself and suffered as a sinner (2 Corinthians 5:21).

And, it was while on the cross that Jesus experienced the deprivation of being stripped of the conscious awareness of both the favor, and the company of God. He didn't go through all without reason. He suffered through this lonely, poverty for our sake, so that we might experience the riches of the promise of God's love, and abiding presence (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Jesus strongly, desired to return to heaven and be reunited with his Father. With this in mind, we can see now that Jesus "thirsted" for the full restoration of fellowship with God; which he had known before creation and the beginning of his earthly mission of salvation (John 17:5); and which would ultimately lead to his crucifixion.

In his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew, Chapters 5-7), Jesus laid out the ideal characteristics of the citizens of his kingdom. One of these is a "hunger and a thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6). Ask yourself this, "Do you further or strengthen the "thirst" of your soul for God through Bible study and prayer?"

Another way to intensify the "thirst" of your soul for fellowship with God is by improving or refining both your public, and private worship habits. The lack of a passionate "thirst" for God may indicate that you are either spiritually dead, or a Christian who is ailing spiritually.

Don't let this describe you! Satisfy the "thirst" of Jesus today, right now, by opening the door of your heart and allowing him to enter as Lord and Savior!

Scripture: John 4:14; Isaiah 44:3; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; Exodus 17:6  

Prayer: Dear God, my soul thirsts for You, lead me to Your Living Water that I may quench my thirst for righteousness. Amen

May God bless you always!

Kasey

God's Compass

"The Word of God I think of as a straight edge, which shows up our own crookedness. We can't really tell how crooked our thinking is until we line it up with the straight edge of Scripture."  - Elisabeth Elliot

A regular compass has what are called: Cardinal Directions. The ones most familiar to us are: North, South, East and West. Included between these points are the Primary InterCardinal directions which are divided into four equal divisions: Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest.  

This was a very useful instrument to have. If a traveler, explorer, soldier, etc., wanted to know whether they were headed in the right direction, one would simply pull out their trusty compass and verify their direction, for example.

Of course, now with GPS (Global Positioning System) embedded in our smartphones, and cars, etc., we are theoretically better equipped to find our way in most situations. But as, wonderful as this all sounds, it isn't fool-proof.

There have been instances of individuals veering off onto the wrong path, and even becoming lost and/or disoriented despite having this modern technology at their fingertips. How much of it is due to an equipment malfunction, or just plain human error, I honestly can't say.

Similarly, Christians may lose their direction, too. How you ask? We can succumb to the siren's song of worldly temptation. This shouldn't surprise anyone, after all, none of us is without sin or perfect. Getting swept up in the flow of daily life leaves us vulnerable, weak, and open to it. We need help in finding our way along this journey here.

Thankfully, by his awesome mercy and grace, God has provided each of us with a compass to follow. This helps to keep our lives on the right course, and if we need to, it can help to correct our direction. An added bonus it that His compass is 100% fool-proof!

"God's compass" has a different design. In place of the Cardinal Directions we have: God, Family, Work, Interests. The other Primary InterCardinal points may be filled-in according to your own preferences; but the main points are as above.

Naturally, just as the needle of a regular compass should always point to North, the needle of this compass should always point to God. If it points to anything other than God, something is wrong. God is the beginning and the end. Nothing else should come before, or first (Proverbs 3:6).

Sadly, many neglect to check their God's compass, or just stop using it altogether. This, of course, causes many problems to arise. Like the voyager of old, it's a good idea to get that compass out and check it every now and again.

You may have guessed what this compass is. God's compass is His Word; the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us about this compass:  "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (NASB).

Along the same lines, Romans 15:4 tells us that, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." So, you see, we haven't been left clueless, or to face life without direction. God gave us this compass, His compass, to stay on course to Him.

Without His Word we are lost. We are like a feather in the ocean, carried off wherever the current takes us. We are like a rudder-less ship, or plane; out of control. We need God's guidance in our lives everyday, not just on occasion.

As Proverbs 15:21 iterates, " Foolishness brings joy to one without sense, but a man with understanding walks a straight path" (HCSB). Make sure that needle still points to God. Check it as if your life depends on it. Because, you know what? It does!

Scripture: Psalm 32:8; Psalm 119:105; Psalm 25:4-5; Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 30:21

Prayer: Dear Lord, always keep me on Your path and in Your ways throughout the days of my life. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Friday Faith Check-up: Do You Suffer from the "Same Old, Same Old" Faith Syndrome..?

"If you're going in the wrong direction, turning around is the only right direction." -Woodrow Kroll

Too much familiarity with things has the potential to lead to boredom, apathy, lethargy, dullness, torpor, and a myriad other nouns that can be used to describe our relationship with them.

I call this "the same old, same old" syndrome. This malady, like a disease, develops gradually over time; and is almost unnoticeable until it has become well entrenched. We can readily apply this indisposition to personal or romantic relationships, for example.

Usually, they start off like gang-busters. The energy, drive, desire, and devotion is running at full speed. Everything is fresh, new, and exciting, and the possibilities are endless. Now, let's compare this to when you first came to know Christ.

Honestly, most of us were probably just like this, too. Everything was great, wasn't it? We found a good Bible-based church to attend, ran out and bought a new Bible, signed up for study groups, and couldn't wait to tell any and all about our new life! Yes, it was pretty exciting stuff to be sure.

But, something, somehow, happened along the way. Maybe not on purpose, or planned, but something changed. What was once thrilling and heart-racing became mundane and even uninteresting. A once white-hot relationship has now fizzled out to a smoldering heap. This happens to a lot of relationships...even with our relationship to Jesus Christ.

Now that I have pointed all of this out, is it time to panic? As in any type of stressful situation, it's a good idea to stop, take a deep breath, and calm down. Fortunately, it's a lot easier to restore a faltering relationship with Our Lord than with another individual. You see, God always wants us to come back to Him. And He will patiently wait (Isaiah 30:18).

So what can we do to re-kindle the spark? Although, we couldn't possibly cover all that I'd like to here today, I can share a few suggestions to help start the process. First, understand that there is a purpose for our being here, and God is fully committed to helping each of us realize that purpose, Keep in mind however, it's His purpose and not ours.

Next, be appreciative for every gift that God has provided to you. It doesn't have to be anything earth-shattering. Even be those little things like a kind smile, or word, from someone when you really needed it can be considered a gift. Isn't God wonderful like that? Give him thanks!

Then, and I can't stress this enough, get back into the Word. Dust off that Bible, open it up, and start reading! Let God's Word refresh, and replenish your dry, starved spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). Don't wait for God to text you, or connect with You on social media. The best place to get the ball rolling again is that Bible sitting there on your shelf. Get to it!

And finally, I understand that life can get very busy and unpredictable, believe me. But you must stay committed to God. You must hang tough, stay faithful, and loyal. Relationships with others are dependent on both parties being on the same page. We have no control over what the other person ultimately wants to do. Which can be problematic.

We don't ever have to worry about this with God. God's love is without end. He will never pull away, turn away, or run away from us. No matter what ugly, selfish, or knuckle-headed thing we do, He will always be there (Isaiah 54:8; Romans 8:39). He is not the weakest link in this relationship. We are!

Jesus came to earth, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and ascended to Heaven in order to give us a direct connection to God (Romans 8:1). This does us no good if we don't use it. Repent, pray for forgiveness, and come back to God. Fire up your relationship with Him today!

Scripture: Psalm 51:10; Revelation 21:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:23; Deuteronomy 30:14

Prayer: Dear Lord, may our relationship always be strong and unshakeable; and my faith firm and committed to You always. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Kaye

Hypocrisy Fools Only Ourselves

"Those that boast most of the religion may be suspected of partiality and hypocrisy in it." - Matthew Henry

Hypocrisy. Webster's Dictionary defines it as: a feigning to be what one is not; a concealment of one's real character or motives. More generally, hypocrisy is simulation, or the assuming of a false appearance of virtue or religion; a deceitful show of a good character, in morals or religion; a counterfeiting of religion.

Here's a harsh question: "Are you a hypocrite when it comes to following Christ?" I hate to be blunt, but I believe that's a fair question to ask ourselves. How do we stack up? It's not that difficult to put on airs, point our fingers at others, and slip into a comfortable and righteous state of mind.

According to the Bible "hypocrisy" is a sin (Hosea 10:13; James 5:12). As mentioned, hypocrisy comes in a couple of different flavors. First, it might come in the form of proclaiming belief in something and then acting in a totally, contradictory way to that, and then, the  more familiar, looking down at others as if we were all that ourselves.

Hypocrisy rubbed a lot of the big, biblical people the wrong way. Isiah the prophet condemned it (Isaiah 29:13). John the Baptist didn't care for it either, and made had no qualms about letting everyone know (Luke 3:8; Matthew 7:15; 23:27; 23:33). Even Jesus Christ referred to Isaiah while rebuking the religious leaders of his day (Matthew 15:8-9).

Christ, in his teachings, also conveyed the importance of not following the examples of hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16). The Pharisees were one of a group of Jews who thought they did a pretty good job of keeping all of God's rules. They thought that their viewpoints about religion were always right. It was no surprise that they didn't like what Jesus was teaching.

Granted, not all of the Pharisees felt this way, but enough of them did that we still use them as examples of hypocrites today. They weren't "bad" people. Being sticklers about Old Testament, they tried to carry out all of God's laws. It was impossible for anyone then to follow God's Laws literally by the letter; and it still is.

So, they looked for ways to get around some of the stickier parts of it. To make matters worse, they had even added some of their own amendments to God's Law over the years. This, of course, is forbidden (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18)!

In addition to this, they weren't very compassionate towards others. And, they loved to flaunt their religious superiority in order to gather praise and admiration (Matthew 23:5-7; Luke 18:11). It was this same pride, or feeling of superiority that prevented the Pharisees from being receptive to Jesus. Of course, this caused Jesus and the Pharisees to butt heads on more than one occasion!

Jesus called them out on their behavior. He pointed out that justice, mercy, and faithfulness were much more important than chasing after some kind of religious or spiritual perfection that was based on flawed principles (Matthew 23:23). Jesus expounded that the problem wasn't with the Law, but rather in the way in which they applied it (Matthew 23:2-3).

If you add all of this up, the Pharisees were hypocrites because they would present themselves in a way that was not a true picture of themselves. They liked to think of themselves as holier than others, while ignoring their own shortcomings (Matthew 7:3-5). Similar to an apple, what looks good on the outside isn't necessarily a reflection of what is going on inside.

In conclusion, none of us as Christians can ever live up to the standards taught in the Bible; at least not the way we are now. There's no way that we could ever be like Christ. Perfection just isn't in the cards for us in this life. It wasn't so for the Pharisees, nor is it for you or I. Trying to live and act as though we are is a mistake. We're only fooling ourselves.

Even though we have been saved from the eternal penalty of sin by the blood of Jesus and the Cross (Romans 5:1; 6:23). we aren't out of the woods yet. We still need to be saved and delivered from "sin in our lives" (1 John 1:8-9). This includes the "sin of hypocrisy."

But, by way of our living faith in Christ, we will unceasingly prevail over sin's power until that time in which you and I are finally delivered by the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 5:4-5).

Scripture: Luke 2:2; 2 Timothy 3:5; Psalm 101:7; Galatians 6:3; Titus 1:16

Prayer: Jesus, my prayer to You is simple but from the heart; May I always live my life in faith to You, and in what You have instructed us to do. Amen

May God bless you!

Brandi

Video - Beth Moore: Christ's Supremacy and Sufficiency

Bible teacher Beth Moore gives examples of God’s ability to free us from bondage to demonstrate both His supremacy and his sufficiency.  Amen!    ~Eve

Eternal Life: God's Gift to You

"Believing the right things about Jesus isn't enough. You're not adopted as God's child until you confess and turn away from your wrongdoing and receive the freely offered gift of forgiveness and eternal life that Jesus purchased with his death on the cross. Until you do that, you'll always be on the outside looking in." - Lee Strobel

There was a story in the news recently about a woman in San Jose, California who found something special in a Domino's Pizza box. No, it wasn't some new, specialty pizza, or a free, extra order of toppings. Imagine her surprise when she opened her pizza box and saw $5,000 cash! Now, that's some kind of pizza, right??!!

Naturally, the honest woman returned the money and was in turn rewarded "pizza for life" by Domino's Pizza for her good deed. I guess you could call it a gift that will definitely keep on giving long after the newsworthiness of this incident has faded.

The Bible tells us of a gift that we can receive, too. And though it isn't free pizza for life, it is something much more substantial than any type of reward we could ever receive in our lives. This gift doesn't come from any corporation, or other earthly entity. You might already be familiar with this reward, or gift. It is known as "eternal life."

How does one lay hold of this reward? Scripture refers to eternal life as a gift of God. The only way to receive it is through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). This very special gift comes only to believers in Jesus Christ; who is called "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). The beautiful thing about eternal life is that continues perpetually. That's right. Forever.

Is there a waiting period, or processing time to receive it? No. Believers can possess it the moment they put their faith in Christ (John 3:36). Some may be under the impression that eternal life is something that starts after death. Not true! We may take hold of it right now in our present state. Eternal life is not centered around whatever our future may be, but on where we currently stand in Jesus Christ.

Now, how does one know that they have eternal life? There are a few things that need to happen. Don't worry, it won't cost you anything but some honesty and commitment. Now, the first thing you need to do is confess your sin before God. If you can't get past this first step,  you cannot move forward.

Then (this is extremely crucial), you must accept that God provided a Savior who died in your place for your (our) sins (Romans 10:9-10; Romans 10:13; Acts 16:31). Why? None of us, in our natural  state of sin could ever be good, or acceptable to God on our own merits no matter what we did or say (Romans 3:23).

But thankfully, you don't have to wait for a surprise in a pizza box to receive the gift of eternal life from God. We all have been invited to know Christ and take advantage of his special offer of eternal life. (Revelation 22:17). And, it's within your grasp right now (1 John 5:11-12)!

Scripture: Job 19:25-27; Ecclesiastes 3:14; John 1:1; Hebrews 10:12-14; John 10:27-28

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to save me from sin, so that I, by my confession of sin and acceptance of You, and by faith, may receive eternal life. Amen

God bless you,

Bree

God's Promise of Forgiveness

"It's Satan's delight to tell me that once he's got me, he will keep me. But at that moment I can go back to God. And I know that if I confess my sins, God is faithful and just to forgive me."  - Alan Redpath

The love and appeal of the parables of Chirst is that they have to do with everyday life.  Each parable is a life lesson that offers sensible and sound advice to any who care to listen and reflect on it. One could say that an understanding of the parables is absolutely essential in acquiring insight to the kind of persons you and I should be.

I'd like to talk about one of the more popular topics of the parables: forgiveness. The word forgiveness is used sixty-two times in the Bible. Of these, twenty-two refer to our forgiving one another;  the other forty times  refer to God's forgiveness of us. There are a couple of good examples of this in Luke 7:41-43  (the parable of the two debtors), and Matthew 18:23-35 (the parable of the unmerciful servant).

Most would agree that forgiveness is never petty or trifling. It never says, "I'll forgive small debts, but not big ones." Real forgiveness grants pardons indiscriminately; whether the offense is major or minor. This applies to sinners, too. All are forgiven by the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ (Mark 3:28).

One may be a "great" or "big" sinner. Another may be a "moderate" or "average" sinner. Maybe you fall somewhere in between the two. The point is, we are sinners, and because of this fact we are spiritually destitute. Yet, Christ liberally grants forgiveness to one and all.

It's very crucial that we are conscious of sin. The need of our forgiveness has everything to do with the way in which we respond to it. Even so, many Christians fail to acknowledge that they are sinners. As a result, the failure to accept this prevents them from trusting Jesus Christ to forgive their sins (Luke 7:47).

Now, here comes the big question: "How can I receive forgiveness?" One must trust in God's goodness and be patient in his faithfulness to keep his promise to forgive and grant peace. We need to believe and keep on believing God's promises of forgiveness.

What does this mean for us? It means that no matter what happens, no matter what hurdle or stumbling block we face, and no matter how unfavorable or adverse our situation, or lot in life may be, we must remain strong in our belief!

And when you are comforted in the security that God is honest and will keep his promise of forgiveness, you too will hear Him say, "Go in peace" (Luke 7:50).

Scripture: Isaiah 55:7; Zechariah 1:3; John 15:12; Psalm 25:18; Ephesians 2:4-9

Prayer: Dear Lord, because of your merciful gift of forgiveness we don't have to be bound and shackled to it. Teach me also how to be as forgiving of others as You are to me. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Friday Faith Check-Up: We Need God at the Controls

"Science may prove the insignificance of this globe in the scale of creation, but it cannot prove the insignificance of man."  -B. D’Israeli 

Humanity, that's us ladies and gentlemen, is constantly striving to climb higher in order to accomplish our aspirations and ambitions. We are forever reaching out to our dreams and desires. As a result of this, we've developed philosophies and have organized governments with a view of achieving goals that are "out of this world."

We keep trying to be what we are meant to be. We persist in gaining glory and honor. We make a noble effort to bring everything under our control, leaving nothing out of our command. But in doing so, something happens. We forget about God, and begin acting like gods. We are continually seeking control militarily, politically, economically, physically, sexually, intellectually, and even religiously.

Yes, God made us in his own image, a little less than divine, "crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet (gave him mastery over everything). Now in in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control" (Hebrews 2:7-8).

The trouble, if you read on, is that "we do not yet see everything in subjection to him" (Hebrews 2:8). You see, God made man right, but man went wrong (Ephesians 4:22-24). God made Adam perfect, but Adam fell, and all since him are fallen. Sadly, as soon as we are old enough to begin making choices, we start making the wrong ones.

Scripture doesn't let us forget this fact, either. It's written there for any and all to see in Psalm 53:3; Isaiah 56:3; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23; and 1 John 1:8, to point out a few examples. What's worse is that even after we become Christians this sinful nature is still there staring right at us in our faces (Romans 7:15-20).

Naturally, this brings up the question, "Why didn't God just make man so he couldn't sin?" If he had done this then we wouldn't be in the likeness of God with freedom (Genesis 1:27). Where would the glory and honor be if we were mere robots without choice? The cold, hard truth is that we were given freedom, but became slaves.

Even the most carefully laid foundations often crumble. That's what happened in our case. That's why we regularly struggle to reach reach our potential. If left to our own devices, we would be in deep trouble. Thankfully, we are not. Because of the saving grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, we don't have to labor through this alone.

You can keep muddling through the muck and mire of sin, but it's always one step forward and two steps back. There's just no way to do it alone. We need help. The only way we can ever truly be the persons we are meant to be is to let God take over the controls (Romans 8:9). Afterwards, you'll wonder why it took you so long to do so!

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:20; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 4:12; Revelation 14:12; Romans 5:8;

Prayer: Holy Father, I pray for Your guidance and inspiration in my life. I am an unworthy sinner, who needs You to keep me on the righteous path away from sin and evil. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Kaye

Christ is the Interpretation of Truth

"Jesus Christ Himself is the final exegesis of all truth. He is all that we need to know about God, and He is all that we need to know about man."  - Major Ian Thomas

Most of us have been amazed, and even thrilled, by astounding acts of sleight of hand as performed on stage or television by magicians. We've seen things that seem to disappear and reappear before our very eyes. Or perhaps, objects appear real one second, but turn out to be non-existent the next.

These examples, and others like them, are done purely for entertainment purposes. We may talk about them for a bit afterwards, then the fog slowly lifts and we understand them for what they truly are: a fun, diversion from daily life. We had a good, up-lifting experience, then we move on.

In his travels, to spread his word, Jesus performed miraculous acts. He cast out evil spirits, made the blind see again, healed the sick, and even brought a few back to life, among many others. Though many thought of these as "entertainment," they weren't. The acts he performed were intentional and purposeful.

The teachers of religious law viewed these miracles as blasphemy, and even as acts perpetrated and supported by Satan (John 10:36; Luke 5:21; Matthew 12:24). Sometimes, Jesus' own disciples were astonished by what he had done (Matthew 8:27). Honestly, if we saw someone walk on water, our jaws would probably hit the floor, too!

An illusionist, or conjuror uses our own minds against us. You might be familiar with the old adage: the hand is quicker than the eye. His success or failure depends on how good he is at trickery. This does not apply to Jesus. Nothing he does has anything to do with leading us astray or playing with our minds.

In fact, Christ even tried framing some of his teachings in the form of parables that they might be easier to understand. But none of this was done to fool the people. They just weren't ready to understand his message yet, including his disciples (John 12:16; Luke 18:34).

It wasn't until after the resurrection of Jesus Christ was understanding of the scriptures opened to all (Luke 24: 27; 45). And that is where we are today. We have before us, in the Bible, God's plan. It's all laid out beautifully in front of us, if we care to find out.

God cannot, nor will he ever lie to us (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2). There is no deceit, deception, or funny-business, with Him (Galatians 6:7). Though many have tried to dispute or discredit Him through the years, none has succeeded. He is the Alpha and the Omega; the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Revelation 1:8; 22:13; Hebrews 13:8). He is truth (John 14:6).

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 119:142; Job 34:12; John 8:46; 2 John 1:2

Prayer: Dear Lord, lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. -Psalm 25:5

May the Lord bless you always,

Katherine

Connect with God Through Prayer

"Sometimes, perhaps, thou hearest another pray with much freedom and fluency, whilst thou canst hardly get out a few broken words. Hence thou art ready to accuse thyself and admire him, as if the gilding of the key made it open the door the better."   - William Gurnall

There are many questions regarding prayer, which is unquestionably the most important thing any believer in Christ can do. Straight away, prayer is our direct connection to the Lord himself. Yet, many disregard prayer until a situation arises or even drop it altogether.

This is not good, but maybe worse are those who practice prayer as a sort of self-righteous act, or "attention-grabber." The Scribes and Pharisees were such practitioners. Two of the main flaws in their prayer practice were vain-glory and vain repetitions. This only insinuated their superiority over the average praying individual, which was not true at all.

There's no scorecard kept in heaven over who prays how many times, or the length and and how much effort was put into it. Prayer is a very confidential thing, as it should be. And it varies from individual to individual. Certainly a drowning man is probably going to pray a little harder than one who is not. But, are not the prayers of both just as important?

When a person prays it should be a personal, intimate experience with God. That is, there's no need to be on street corner on Main Street, or making a scene so others may notice what you are doing. God wants only your company and full attention. Showboating and "prayer divas" are not exactly what He's looking for; Just you and He.

I will not get into a discourse about it here, but any prayer for self-gratification, self-promotion, or any other less-than-pious reasons are a no-no. Sincere prayer groups, teams and the like do not fall into this category. That is something entirely different. And believe me, God knows the difference!

Matthew, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, provides us with an excellent set of instructions pertaining to prayer in Matthew 6:5-15. To enhance the prayer experience, Matthew suggests going into a room, or closet and shutting the door. In other words, shut out any possible distractions during your prayer time (Matthew 6:6). Remember, just you and God.

When you approach the Lord in prayer, keep in mind that he already knows what you need before you even ask (Matthew 6:8). That's why I mentioned earlier about keeping your prayers sincere and to the point. Theatrics in prayer don't add anything extra to them. Concentration and focus are infinitely better than smoke and mirrors when it comes to prayer.

Prayer should be a special time between you and God. We approach him, not the other way around. Therefore, we must give Him all of our attention and respect. God listens to our petitions and takes everything into consideration. If you are expecting a genie who will grant wishes, you're missing the point entirely.

Psalm 34:15 tells us, "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry." Enter into prayer as your time to touch base with God. It's not complicated at all. We have a direct line with heaven and He's waiting to hear from you!

Scripture: John 9:31; Psalm 145:18-19; Luke 11:1; Romans 12:12; Isaiah 26:3  

Prayer:   The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

God bless you,

Kathi Ann

And Where Does Your Treasure Lie..?

"Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; Where your treasure is, there is your heart; Where your heart is, there is your happiness."  - Augustine

It's easy to get swept up in our lives full of all the wonderful things it has to offer. So much so, that the most fundamental things can be forgotten, or even lost. Unfortunately, for many, poverty, affliction, and temptations to worldliness and indulgence in carnal or sensual pleasures rule and ruin lives.

Jesus Christ, attempted on several occasions, through his teachings, to get this point across to those who would listen to him. Even so, many mocked him for this. This shouldn't surprise us. There are plenty out there who do the same thing now. People haven't changed that much over the ages.

The Parable of the Rich Man and the Beggar in Luke 16: 19-31, gives us a glimpse at what lies ahead for those who refuse to be reconciled to the dangerous trap of the corrupted world we live in (1 Timothy 6:9-11). Is it a sin to be wealthy and successful? Not at all. Neither does Our Heavenly Father make no promises, or bargains concerning this (Jeremiah 29:11).

Similarly, he does not make one poor, or suffer in order to dole out punishment for something or other. As a matter of fact, God's people may be rich or poor. There are no criteria specifying the condition of one's financial situation as a requirement for a room in His house.

However, one thing Jesus did try to clarify, as was so vividly illustrated in this parable, is that those who are blessed with wealth or means, have a responsibility to share it with others who are less fortunate (1 John 3:17). In other words, spread it around and do some good with it.

I am very much aware that this is a touchy subject for a lot of folks, but God never said he would make things easy for you! After all, it's not a cinch to get into His kingdom (Acts 14:22). But nothing worth the trouble and effort ever is.

The sharing of wealth can include many things besides "monetary" wealth. Wealth may be  other things such as generosity and compassion, for example. Is it better to be rich or poor? Well, it depends on who you talk to, and where they have been in their earthly journey. But keep this in mind: it is us who make a big deal out of it, not God (Matthew 6:19-21).

But before we get too far off the path here, let me steer us back on track. All of this discussion about money, or the lack thereof, and sharing the wealth, or not, isn't the crux of the matter. Are we (that's you and I) doing all we can in order to carry out His work on earth? Distractions in whatever shape or form impede us from doing so.

The most important thing in our lives should always be God. Always! Our journey through this life is short, and growing shorter by the hour. As we saw with the rich man and Lazarus, by the time they left this temporary home their rewards were already set! There are no "do-overs" for the life you have now. Friends, I urge you to use it wisely. Use it for God's purpose (Matthew 5:14-16).

Scripture: Mark 8:36; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Proverbs 11:4; Proverbs 17:5; Mark 10:25

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for the many blessings You have given me. Fill my heart with your love and compassion that I may use what You have provided to help those who are lacking. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey