The Significance of Lazarus

"Since this life is God's and cannot die, it follows that everyone born anew into possessing this life is said to have eternal life."   - Watchman Nee

Lazarus is the subject in this noteworthy bit of scripture (John 11:1-46). He was a follower of Jesus who lived in the town of Bethany, which was close to Jerusalem. He also happened to be the brother of the sisters Mary and Martha whom we heard about in Luke 10:38–42. Besides being friends and disciples of Jesus, he loved these three very much (John 11:5).

One day, Jesus received an urgent message that his friend Lazarus was seriously ill. Naturally, Lazarus' sisters Mary and Martha wanted Jesus to come and heal him as he was nearing death by the minute. Unfortunately, Lazarus dies before Jesus can make it there. By the time he arrives in Bethany the man has been gone for four days.

Now, Mary and Martha were probably a little angry at Jesus because he took so long to get there. They were probably a little confused and frustrated, too. But, they never lost their faith in him. In the end, Jesus did go to Lazarus' tomb and raised him from the dead (John 11:42-44).

Let's think for a moment, "Why was Lazarus brought back?" We know that death is the rule of the world, and not merely a catastrophe or misfortune. And Jesus never did anything as big as this without a reason. He just didn't.

It couldn't have been because Jesus wanted Lazarus to just go on living and working as usual. We all know that even the most productive and worthy person must leave this world when their time comes. Nor was it done for the sake of his loved ones.

Yes, Jesus felt bad for his sisters, and also grieved at the passing of his friend (John 11:35). But this wasn't it either. This was not a permanent remedy for death. He knew that, although brought back to life for now, Lazarus would die again at some point.

Finally, it wasn't because death is some sort of accident to be condemned. It's part of God's plan for us. We are blessed with this life and the opportunities it brings. When we pass away our place is passed to another. What would this world be like if all who were ever born never died? It's perfectly natural.

No, Jesus himself gives us the reason for raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus' illness, death, and resurrection served to aspire us to give glory to God, and increase our faith. And that we might know that death could not conquer he whom the Father sent (John 3:16).

Scripture: Romans 6:23; John 17:3; Romans 10:13; John 5:24; Luke 23:43

Prayer: And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, amen   -Acts 4:12

May the Lord bless you,

Shawna

Please God By Your Faith

“If we displease God, does it matter whom we please? If we please Him does it matter whom we displease?”  - Leonard Ravenhill

We spend a good portion of our lives trying to please others, don't we?  There are many possible reasons as to why we do what we do. But it's also very easy to forget that along with all the others there is One who desires us to please Him, as well (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

As believers, this should be our main goal. Anyone who who calls on the name of God for salvation should be aiming for this. Now, I'm not saying that the others in your life should be brushed aside or ignored. What I am saying is God needs to be your priority, or number one (Galatians 1:10).

I strongly believe that our main purpose, both in the here and now, and in eternity, is to please God, our Creator. This cannot be done by rearranging schedules, gestures, or promises. It requires our faith. There is no way to please God without faith.

Realistically speaking, I know that this might be a difficult step to take for some. However, it is necessary to do so because you can never please Him with it (Hebrews 11:6). Did I mention that there are some definite advantages to those who seek to please God?

For example, in pleasing God you are accepted by Him as His child. In addition, you become a recipient of the abundant blessings of being a member of His family, you are promised a home in heaven, and given the right to approach God in prayer. What's the catch..?

Well, there are a few things God asks for, but nothing that anybody couldn't do if they really wanted to. You must seek Him by faith, resist fleshly or earthly temptations and walk in the Spirit, and be an example to the world by obeying and submitting to His will (Colossians 3:23).

Not sure? Don't worry, God will help you out, you only have to ask. Forgiveness of our sins, our assurance of peace and happiness, and our going to heaven hinge on our faith in God which pleases Him. God loves our faith and reverence more than anything. Believe in Him.

Scripture: Romans 12:2; 1 John 3:22; Hebrews 11:5; Ephesians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 10:31

Prayer: Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created, amen   -Revelation 4:11

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Find Your Comfort in God

"It is quite useless knocking at the door of heaven for earthly comfort. It's not the sort of comfort they supply there."  - C.S. Lewis

"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God" Isaiah 40:1 (KJV). What a secure and reassuring declaration this is! There is much encouragement in the thought that we are his people and that God is our God. Who among us couldn't use more of this type of good news?

It's no secret that each of us bears his or her own sorrows. Trials and tribulations are something we all have in common. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could convince everyone that God loves them. How much that thought would ease restless hearts, bring joy and optimism to grieving hearts, and give relief and hope.

But, this is more than merely a wishful desire. We do have that soothing affirmation Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 66:13(KJV). God's love is strong like a father's and gentle like a mother's. And though, we may not understand God's ways, we can be confident that his actions are always motivated by love.

God performs his work in our lives with love, sympathy, and wisdom. Though there will be times when it is difficult to accept this. Still, he knows what is best for us. For that reason he does what he does as any loving and wise parent would do. We can trustingly let God guide us in the way he sees fit. His direction is never wrong.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 1 Peter 5:10; Psalm 119:82; Psalm 119:52; Isaiah 49:13

Prayer: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God, amen   - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

May God's Word be the life you live, 

Marcie

The Patience of Jesus

"Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work."  - Peter Marshall

Our patience is tried or tested practically every day of our lives. Getting stuck in traffic, waiting in a long, long line, dealing with tired and hungry children, and, well, you get the picture. Some situations we handle with minimal effort, while others might shred our last working nerve.

Human patience can be fickle at best. I've seen even the most patient person crack under the pressure of waiting too long for a latte macchiato! We just never really know how we'll react in any certain circumstance until it is set before us. Jesus Christ has patience, too. But there is a definite difference between His patience and ours.

The patience of Jesus is infinite and great. This is truly beneficial when it comes to dealing with humanity. As has been explained many times before, we are a sinful lot, which is bad enough in itself. Any one else would have thrown their hands up and shown us to the door by now, but not Jesus (2 Timothy 2:24).

Jesus loves us too much to do that. He knows that we are far from perfect, that we are going to blunder from time to time. Yet, He is ever patient with us. He listens as we confess our sins, reassures us, and absolves us of sin. What Jesus does is more that just a simple act of patience; it is a consummate act of love (Galatians 5:22).

What makes this so is that Jesus doesn't mind stooping low, making himself inferior to bear our sins over and over again. He doesn't have to do this, but he does. When it comes to dealing with all of us and our repeated transgressions, Jesus is unfailingly patient and willing to do so for you and I.

Scripture: Romans 12:12; Romans 8:25; Psalm 37:7-9; Ecclesiastes 7:9; James 1:19

Prayer: Dear Jesus, may You grant me the humility to recognize when I need Your patience, and the he wisdom to ask for it, amen

May your day be blessed,

Edie

Are You a True Christian?

"Christians are not perfect, by any means, but they can be people made fully alive."  - Phillips Brooks

Simply calling oneself a "Christian" doesn't make it so. You're probably familiar with those "Hello, my name is ________" identification badges that are passed out at meetings or gatherings so others can know who you are. All you have to do is fill in the blank space with your name.

As such, "Christian" can become just a label for many that can be slapped on their lapel whenever they feel like it. But one must understand that there's more to being a Christian than self-designation. There is a divine power at work in the life of a Christian; a real disciple of Christ. 

American evangelist David Wilkerson once said, "Today, some Christians are content to merely exist until they die. They don't want to risk anything, to believe God, to grow or mature. They refuse to believe his Word, and have become hardened in their unbelief. Now they're living just to die."

Contrary to common, misguided belief, just because a person attends church, has Christian friends, or lives in a Christian nation does not make them a Christian by association or default. Nor does the number of puppies you pet, babies you kiss, or little old ladies you help cross the street.

Luckily for you and I, there are no longer any strict Laws or sacrificial ceremonies that must be adhered to in order to draw closer to Him. What's the big deal about that? Because as I mentioned above, we can't please God by our actions. The only path to God is through Jesus Christ. There is no other way (James 2:18).

Therefore, being a Christian signifies our commitment to follow, desire, have a close relationship with, have Him abide within; and glorify Christ in our life. True Christians put their faith and trust in His person and work, thus becoming a child of God, a member of His family. And the best part is the gift of a "new" life in Jesus Christ. It is the gift of a loving God (Acts 4:12).

Scripture: Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16; Acts 26:28; 1 Timothy 4:12; Ephesians 2:8

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your infinite grace which has saved me from my sins. change my life so that I may bring glory and honor to You alone and no one else, amen.

Have a blessed day!

Bethany

The Eternality of God's Love

"God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’"  - Billy Graham

An aged man over ninety years of age was asked by his pastor this question: "My dear aged friend, do you love Jesus?" His deeply-furrowed face was lit up with a smile that sixty-seven years of discipleship had imparted, and, grasping my hand with both of his, said: "Oh! I can tell you something better than that." I asked him, "What is that?" "Oh, sir!" he said, "He loves me!"

This wonderful illustration from years ago serves as a reminder of the unconditional and merciful love Jesus has for us. As we must all surely know, not one of us is deserving of it, nor should we be expectant of it. And yet, there it is laid out before us in Romans 8:38-39; Christ's assurance that his love for us is truthfully safe, firm, and resolute.

His assurance or guarantee is personally offered to us because of our belief in him. Christ does not play games with us. He will never makes promises He can't keep (Numbers 23:19). And unlike breakable promises proposed by man, the love of Christ is unaffected by even the most extreme changes of our condition.

That anything can produce a change in the love of God is impossible. God knew everything there was to know about us before He bestowed His love on us. We can't surprise Him by new changes or developments in our lives. We cannot be separated from His love. Even death has no effect on it. 

He chose us as objects of His love while we were still sinners. And once determined to do this, He never changed His mind (Jeremiah 31:3). This love, my friends, is God's love, and we should be continually thankful for it.

Scripture: 1 John 4:10; Lamentations 3:22; James 1:17; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 62:7

Prayer: Dear Lord, What a privilege it is to be safe in Your love, beyond all power of harm, and to have an inheritance with You forever.

May God be with you always,

Carol

Christ Loves to Save!

"The grace of God hath power to bring salvation to all men, and if a man is unsaved it is because he wants to work it out; he wants to receive salvation in some other way than God's way; but we are told that "he that climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber."  - Dwight L. Moody

How does sin affect our relationship with God? It's a simple enough question, but one that we should stop and consider if we are serious about having a healthy connection with Him. Mercy graciously considers sin a disease. But, sin is so much more than any disease (a lot more!)

Generally, with sickness there is a certain amount of sympathy extended to the unfortunate one. In the case of sin, our willfully perverted nature, voluntary defiance, and planned transgressions all come into play with our sin. This is what makes it more than a sickness and worse than a disease.

Sin disables, impairs, and undermines our relationship with God. Just as a person who suffers from illness or disease is limited in the things that they can do until their condition improves or is corrected, so it is with sin. Sin hinders us, keeping us less than capable of loving Him as we could.

It also undermines our ability to pray to Him, weakens our capacity to praise Him, and prevents us from serving God as he desires us to. The end result being we are too weak, and lacking moral power. Sin has stripped us of our strength to bathe in His glory. We are a captive of sin like a leaf carried along in a river current.

Which brings us to Jesus Christ. He can save you from sin. All you are asked to do is believe that He can, and trust Him to do it!  Don't worry how low you've fallen or how ugly your situation may be at this moment. Trust Him, let the Spirit of God lead you to understand Him, know that you can rely on Him. Christ loves to save!

Scripture: Galatians 5:16; Genesis 4:7; James 1:15; John 8:34; Romans 5:12

Prayers: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, amen.  - Psalm 51:10

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

God's Extraordinary Love

"The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation."   - Charles Spurgeon

Christ did not come simply to teach, to educate or reveal, but to save. Had the world not need saving there would have been no need for him to do so. But, what exactly did he rescue us from? The answer is not complicated. We needed to be delivered from perishing.

Not perishing from the sense that we might think from disease, maladies, or some other type of mortal infirmity. What Christ came to save us from was everlasting death. Some might raise the question, "Why bother?" After all we are a self-obsessed, narcissistic, immoral and corrupt lot, are we not? Fortunately, God saw us worthy of the effort.

At the core of this rescue mission was God's great heart of love. In other words. the redemptive motive was love. For God is love, and love is sacrifice; the death of Christ was the sacrifice of God. Our redemption was love prompted, love conceived, love achieved. Our salvation was planned by God before anything existed (Ephesians 1:4).

God knew how Jesus would be treated and how it would all end. He was fully aware that from Jesus' birth to his cross His Son would be humiliated, tempted, persecuted, tried, condemned, scourged, punched, crowned with thorns, spit upon, and cruelly, and shamefully crucified by men (Mark 14:64-65).

Yet despite all of this, God sent Jesus anyway because of the great love in his heart for man. Let this sink in for a minute, and as you do, think about the way we live, relate, and act toward one another. The sheer size of this sacrifice is beyond what our temporal minds can fathom. It was huge!

If we could but only bring every conscious sinner to seriously consider this one reflection of God's love, it would melt all hearts. Not only that, it would soften every defiant thought, remove each doubt, and take away every fear. Perhaps then, every soul would submissively, tenderly, and lovingly approach and kneel at the foot of the cross.

Scripture: Matthew 25:34; Acts 2:23; Romans 8:29; 1 Peter 1:20; Hebrews 2:14

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that I do not have to live under condemnation anymore; that You have truly set me free, amen

Have a safe and blessed weekend!

Amanda

Humility Is Desirable to God

"Vanity, or love of display, is one of the most contemptible and pernicious passions that can take possession of the human mind. Its roots are in self-ignorance — its fruits are affectation and falsehood."  - D. Thomas, D. D

It's not so unusual for humans to put themselves up on a pedestal and look down on others. I wish that I could say otherwise, but then I wouldn't be telling the truth. Pride was even counted as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic moralists of old. It's a sin in which many succumb to, yet refuse to accept.

Let's talk about true humility for a moment. Humility doesn't involve grovelling or malice. Contrary to others may say, it isn't cowardliness or gutlessness either. In fact. it doesn't contain anything that might degrade or disgrace human nature at all. What it is, however, is a very necessary attribute in all who walk with God (1 Peter 5:5).

Humility is the direct opposite of pride. Simply put, pride exists when we have high thoughts of ourselves. On the other hand, humility consists of toning it down a bit. It has been said that pride is the child of ignorance, humility the offspring of knowledge. Another way to look at the two is: pride is a vice, the humility is a virtue.

One really has to pay attention to this because pride is somewhat sneaky and seductive. We've all had encounters with people that are more than a little vain or prideful. But, that could never happen to us, right? Wrong! Pride is sinful behavior in God's eyes. We are sinful beings, which makes all of us susceptible to it.

In order to instill and reinforce true humility into our lives we must first humble ourselves before God. It is also important that we compare ourselves with His infinite greatness and superiority, infinite power and wisdom. Only by doing this will we develop a proper assessment of where we are, and what yet needs to be done.

One other thing to consider is our demeanor towards others (Colossians 3:12). Showing respect and consideration, while guarding against snobbish and arrogant behavior is desirable to God. Humility is necessary to our steadfastness in the Divine life. And the dependence on God it generates is the driving force of our religion.

Scripture: James 4:6; Luke 14:11; Proverbs 22:4; Matthew 23:12; Proverbs 11:2

Prayer: Grant, O Lord, that I may look for nothing, claim nothing; and that I may live my life not seeking my own glory, but looking entirely unto you, and acting completely for you, amen.

God bless you!

Ashlee

You Are Never Lonely with Christ

"The desire for fellowship, a sense of belonging, and the assurance of acceptance are basic human needs."  -Mother Teresa

You'd never think that people living today in this always-connected,  21st century world would ever be lonely, but this is not necessarily true. In fact, a person can suffer from loneliness even though they are surrounded by others, or be involved in a long-term relationship such as a marriage, for instance.

Naturally, the Christian is not immune from the effects of loneliness. So what can one do when it strikes? First, we need to admit that we can't make ourselves totally immune from loneliness. It's a problem we will have to confront as time goes by. Fortunately, there are some things that may help us work through the bleakness.

When we feel lonely we should look to the Lord for grace, guidance, and help. It is not the will of God that any of us experience the painful agony of loneliness. But, it is His will that each of us be members of his family and that we live together and relate to each other with warm, generous love.

It is vital that we develop a positive mental attitude based on faith in God; that He will help us overcome loneliness. We also need to accept humanity for what it is so as not to be knocked off our feet by their misunderstanding or mistreatment. Forgiveness goes a long way in overcoming loneliness!

Sometimes unconfessed sin and unforsaken sin can cause loneliness. We need to recognize the cause for our feeling of isolation and unhappiness, and confess and set aside the attitude or action that is encouraging the vicious, destructive cycle in our lives. Not doing so only so can add fuel to the fire.

Suffering from loneliness is not anything to be ashamed of or unique. The desire for fellowship, a sense of belonging, and the assurance of acceptance are basic human needs. Even Jesus Christ experienced the pain of loneliness and feeling deserted. In Matthew 27:46 he cried out to God in his time of need. 

If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, then trust in in his promise to be with you at all times and under every circumstance. Hebrews 13:5 tells us that, "..."Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Keep this in your heart always.

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10; 1 Peter 5:7; Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 27:10; John 14:18 

Prayer: For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him, amen.  - Psalm 62:5

Have a blessed day!

Marcie

That We May Be Redeemed

"Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ."  - Watchman Nee

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  -John 3:16

One of the most well-known verses from Scriptures is John 3:16, and rightly so. The powerful impact of this single verse has long been called attention to by many important figures of Christianity.

As an example, Martin Luther, the seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation called these words of Christ, "the Bible in miniature," for example. Also, this specific verse has been referred to as "the epitome of the Bible." The sheer number of similar praise from others is quite overwhelming.

There is one thing for certain, and I feel that most would agree with me on this, that these significant words compose a marvelously, far-reaching sentence that sweeps us up and carries us to the very apex of truth.

Within this telling and meaningful statement lie the essential, fundamental truths of redemption. If I could choose one, single verse from the Bible; this would be it.

While other truths abound within the pages of the Bible, they are secondary to the words contained in John 3:16. These words are vital; they are paramount. And therefore they must be preached if Christ is preached.

If there's any inspirational, reinvigorating, saving power in Christianity, it can be found here. By reading, studying, and meditating on just this one, forceful sentence we are in essence honing in, or fixating on the whole plan of God's redemptive love.

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:14; Romans 10:10; Psalm 107:2

Prayer: I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, amen.   - Job 19:25-26


Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

We Must Love One Another...

"Learning how to love your neighbor requires a willingness to draw on the strength of Jesus Christ as you die to self and live for Him. Living in this manner allows you to practice biblical love for others in spite of adverse circumstances or your feelings to the contrary."  - John C. Broger

There appears to be a strong wind blowing around the world today that is gusting in the direction of preconceived opinions towards others. We see evidence of this as individuals become labeled by the way they look, act, or dress. Those who do not conform to whatever the majority standard is are quickly judged and condemned as a possible threat.

Unfortunately, none of this is new. Throughout our world history, human beings have been unfairly subjected to judgment, chastisement, and expulsion for no good reason other than because they were different from everyone else. One cannot possibly begin to understand the true repulsiveness of this if they have never been the subject of contempt, disdain, or scorn,

The world in which Jesus walked was not exempt from this type of hostility. Much like today, nations and people did not get along because of whatever differences they had. I suppose that's why many were afraid of Jesus. He was different from anyone they had known before. And it was that difference that they perceived as a threat.

There was there never a hint of prejudice or prejudgment in anything Jesus said or did. When Jesus interacted with the lone Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:1-42, we saw a kind, loving, and accepting Jesus. She was not considered "acceptable" because of her background, lifestyle, and beliefs. But this did not sway Jesus' perception of her one iota.

There is a lesson here that Jesus wanted to get across. He instructed us to "...love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). He just didn't spout out words or use illustrations to those he taught simply because it was "a good thing to do." Jesus not only talked the talk, he walked the walk!

Scripture tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and "there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins" (Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20). Are we really following Jesus' example? Or only cutting and pasting the parts of his teachings that suit our own agenda.

Scripture: 1 John 4:19; 1 Peter 4:8; John 15:9; Leviticus 19:18;  1 Corinthians 16:14

Prayer: Dear God, may I be slow to anger and filled with love. Please fill my heart with patience and  understanding; give me the wisdom to follow Your example always, amen.

Have a safe and blessed weekend,

Amanda

Blessed Are the Peacemakers...

"We hear much of love to God; Christ spoke much of love to man. We make a great deal of peace with heaven; Christ spoke much of peace on earth."  - Henry Drummond

The entire Bible describes the extent to which divine love will go in seeking peace with sinful persons. Let me share some examples with you. Matthew 5:9 powerfully speaks of God's peacemaking mission. Three verses contained within 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 back this up nicely. The role of peacemaker is further illustrated in Isaiah 9:7 when God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, calls the Messiah "the Prince of Peace."

Additionally, he foretells Christ's reconciling ministry in Isaiah 53:5. Hebrew prophet Zechariah also predicted the mission of Jesus in Luke 1:79. Even the angelic chorus at Jesus' birth praised God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14). Jesus preached peace in the Upper Room (John 14:27; 16:33). He appeared to to the disciples on that first resurrection evening, telling them "Peace be unto you" (Luke 24:36).

One important thing we must be clear on is that God will not make peace with sinners at any price. When it comes to peace He will not soften His stance. God does not compromise, nor does He cut deals. He offers peace on the terms of absolute surrender (Isaiah 57:21; Luke 13:3). The gospel which Jesus directed us to preach to all nations is a gospel of repentance and remission of sins in his name (Luke 24:47). The remission (or pardon) of sins is conditioned on repentance.

This brings me to my final point today. God does make peace with those who repent of sin and believe on Jesus. As a matter of fact, this is the very heart of the gospel (Ephesians 2:14-17; Romans 5: 1-10; Galatians 3:24-29). What this all means is that God has given us, the redeemed, that ministry. And as the ambassadors of Christ we have full authority to declare the gospel, but none to change it. We call people to peace with God on His terms, and His terms alone.

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14; Proverbs 19:17; Jeremiah 8:11; Colossians 3:15; James 3:17-18

Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us grace and courage to give and to receive the forgiveness which by itself, and only itself can heal our wounds; and guide us always toward peace, amen.

May God bless you always,

Melinda

Spiritual Poverty Is a Good Thing!

“The blessed ones who possess the Kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing. These are the "poor in spirit.  -A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

What comes to mind when you hear the word "poor?" For most of us, it might mean being poverty-stricken, penniless, money-less, impoverished, low-income, indigent, needy, or destitute, for example. It may also signify the lack of sufficient means to live at a comfortable or normal level in a community.

When we consider it in this way we referring to being "poor" in regards to material or earthly goods. Scripture talks about being "poor in spirit," which has nothing in common with what we associate "poor" with. In this case, it means being poor in the realm of the spirit, as in when we realize that we are not self-sufficient and that we need God.

We carry around a lot of spiritual baggage and clutter. It makes it so much easier if He has a clean slate to work with. Keep in mind that we are focusing on the spiritual aspect of our lives here. This should always be first and foremost! Once this is satisfied, the rest will fall into place.

Before you can faithfully come to God and take full advantage of His offer of salvation and spiritual riches, you must first admit to our spiritual destitution. In other words, you are spiritually E-M-P-T-Y! There is no way to get over, under, or around this situation without God's help.

Scripture: Psalm 34:17; Matthew 5:3; James 2:5; Matthew 6:24; Mark 10:21 

Prayer: Dear God, may You enlighten my heart with the grace of Your Holy Spirit. Grant that I may always be obedient to Your commandments. And let me never be separated from You, amen.

God bless you, 

Trina

Eternal Life: God's Gift to All

"What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we have in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? To know God. What is the best thing in life? To know God. What in humans gives God most pleasure? Knowledge of himself."  - J.I. Packer

For untold generations man has searched for ways in which to extend his life span. Modern scientific research has considered such things as different diets, habitations, medical and non-medical procedures; even freezing one's deceased body (or certain parts of it) for revival at some future date.

Maybe it all sounds outlandish, even a little Frankenstein-ish, but humans have always been fascinated by the possibility of immortality or eternal life. Long ago, we actually held it in the palm of our hand. But, our own selfish and arrogant nature caused God to yank it away from us. 

Ever since, humans have longed to get it back by whatever means. Maybe it's because somewhere deep inside of all of us we know we had it once. But what if I were to tell you that "eternal life" is not only possible, but it is available to all? God never meant for us to lose eternal life forever! He always wanted us to live with Him eternally. It was lost as the result of our disobedience (Proverbs 3:6). 

Although we had hurt God, He never stopped loving you and I. So much so, that he was willing to give up His Only Begotten Son on our behalf in order to enable us to make things right with Him (John 3:16). His Son was sacrificed on the cross to clean up a mess that was of our own making. No matter what you may have heard true, eternal life is possible!

There is only one way to eternal life and it comes by contact with Jesus Christ. God's gift of eternal life comes to those who believe in Jesus Christ (John 11:25; Romans 6:23). The amazing thing about this gift is that the invitation to receive it is freely extended to all (Romans 6:23). What is required to obtain this gift? 

You can begin by confessing your sin before God. After all, that's what originally got us in trouble (2 Peter 3:9). Next, accept God's providing His Son to save us from our sin by giving up his life for it; then rising on the third day to free us from the shackles of eternal death. By believing this and trusting in Jesus Christ we will be saved (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9 –10).

Scripture: John 5:24; John 14:23; Matthew 7:13-14; 1 John 2:25; Luke 20:35-36 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for providing Your gift of salvation to me. I don't deserve it, but in Your great mercy You have once again shown Your great love for Your humble servant, and for that I am eternally grateful, amen.

May the Lord bless,

Shawna

The Imperfect Man

"Let this be thy whole Endeavour, this thy prayer, this thy desire, that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only."  - Thomas a Kempis

Perfection. The noun "perfection" as defined is: "the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects." Many of us strive for it in our personal relationships, hobbies, sports and leisure activities, body image, and the list goes on. It even becomes a detrimental obsession or elusive dream to those who desperately chase after it.

Christians, too, can be duped by the siren call of perfection. We can fall under the spell of seeking perfection in various forms, such as trying to live perfect lives, have perfect families, marry a perfect spouse, or be involved in a perfect work situation to name a few.

The world is not perfect, and neither are we. We fight, get hurt, lose, fail, and argue with one another. Perfection is not possible; at least not on this side of heaven. Even the apostles themselves were not exempt from showing their "imperfect" humanity. I know this may sound a little crazy but it's true!

Check out Acts 15:36-41 and you'll see an example of what I mean. There is a definite disagreement between the apostles Paul and Barnabas. This is interesting because I never really thought about the apostles arguing or disagreeing about anything. In my mind they embodied perfection.

Later on forgiveness and reconciliation smoothed things over between the two. But the big takeaway from this example in scripture is that aside from Jesus himself, the apostles were as imperfect as you and I. So don't be too hard on yourself, or blame God if perfection is always just out of reach (Proverbs 19:3).

Just because the apostles walked with Christ didn't make them perfect by default. At times they were vigorous, united, and harmonious. At others, they were just as weak, cowardly, and insecure as we are. Simply put, they were human. Therefore, they were imperfect (1 Corinthians 2:14).

We mustn't beat ourselves up for a lack of perfection in our lives. It just isn't a possibility in our sinful and corrupted world (Jeremiah 17:9). Does this mean that we should just throw our hands up and surrender?

There are some things we can do to help you overcome the hypnotic effect of perfection? Pray for guidance, wisdom, and support. Ask the Lord for forgiveness and mercy. Take comfort in knowing that none of us are perfect, but we do have a perfect Father in heaven who will never turn you away  (1 John 4:16).

Scripture: Matthew 15:19; Isaiah 55:8; 2 Timothy 1:7; Galatians 4:16; Isaiah 48:10

Prayer: Dear Lord, sow in me the good seed of humility; and under the wings of your grace hide me through your mercy, amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

The Quiet After the Storm

"Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued above all."  - Augustine

Much has been mentioned about the storms of life. These are the rough patches that we traverse from time to time. In fact, how we handle these trying experiences can either make us stronger or break us. This is understandable, but what about the time following the proverbial storm? What do we do then?

Generally speaking, this period is a time to rest and regroup, if you will. We need to pull ourselves together physically, emotionally, mentally, and most importantly, spiritually. It's no big secret that a major calamity in someone's life can really knock them for a loop. So it will take a little time and effort to bounce back.

Remember when Jesus and his disciples were suddenly stricken by a violent storm as they crossed the Sea of Galilee in a boat (Matthew 8:23-27)? Storms withing our own lives commonly occur just like this. They strike suddenly and can toss our lives around; creating confusion and chaos.

The disciples were caught totally off guard by the turbulent storm and panicked. This is interesting because there were some experienced fishermen on board that night, but even they were too overcome by fear and doubt to figure out what to do. It would appear that all was lost.

Then they remembered that Jesus happened to be on board in the stern, or rear of the boat, asleep on a cushion. The disciples woke Jesus up and asked him to help them (Mark 4:38), which he then proceeded to do. Jesus questioned their faith, but all the disciples could do was be amazed at what they had just witnessed (Luke 8:24-25).

I admit that it would be amazing! Who wouldn't? But, what happened after this incident? Scripture doesn't tell us what the disciples did. This is kind of typical behavior for us as well, too. We run into some trouble, call on Jesus for help, then breathe a sigh of relief and...?

After the storm passes,of course we should give thanks to Our Lord for his help, but we should also reflect on what just transpired while the memory is still fresh on our minds. Had we kept up with our prayers to Jesus prior to the difficulty? Or, did we suddenly remember Jesus when our back was against the wall?

Up to that point, had your relationship to Christ cooled off from what it use to be? Was he stashed away somewhere in the back of your mind; to be used in emergencies only? You see, the period after a storm in life has lifted is the perfect time to look for leaks in your relationship with Jesus and patch them up.

Jesus Christ doesn't treat us in the manner which some of us treat him. He is always ready to step in if we call on him. But, Jesus is available at all times; not just when our world is crashing in on us. Take stock of your relationship with Christ today, so that the next time a storm suddenly churns up you will be prepared.

Scripture: Philippians 4:13; Psalm 46:10; James 2:18; Mark 11:22; 1 Corinthians 16:13

Prayer: Dear God, allow your eternal strength to abide with me always, amen

Have a blessed day!

Bethany

Let God Be the GPS in Your Life!

"He is not a God of confusion, of discordance, or accidental, random, private courses in the execution of His will, but of determinate, regulated, prescribed action."  - John Henry Newman

Thanks to a network of satellites that orbit around our planet we are able to get directional guidance to, or locate virtually any place on earth. This network called GPS or Global Positionary System sends signals from space to GPS receivers which help navigate our cars, planes, boats, farming equipment, and so on.

We certainly have come a long way from using sextants, compasses, even those fold-out, paper road maps which could never quite be folded back to their original form when you were done using them! But as easy as modern technology has made guiding our way around, there's one area where it can't help us: guiding our lives.

The only one who can provide correct guidance for us is God. I suppose we could have a little fun with Global Positionary System (GPS) and change it to God's Positionary System. Unlike the other GPS, God's guidance doesn't have a potential to fail. And, there aren't any periodical maintenance or upgrades needed, either (Isaiah 48:17).

Exodus gives us a wonderful example of GPS in action. After releasing his people from servitude and bondage, God led them out of Egypt toward the land of Canaan. With a strong hand, and mighty arm, he guided and directed them every step of the way until they reached their destination (Proverbs 16:9). If God could do that for an entire people, think about what He can do for you and I!

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 32:8; John 16:13; Isaiah 30:21; Psalm 119:105

Prayer: Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful to me, because I am lonely and weak. Relieve me of my worries and save me from all my troubles.Consider my distress and suffering and forgive all my sins, amen.  -Psalm 25:16-18

May your day be blessed,

Marcie

The Blame Game

"Men box God into the contents of personal experiences, and then seek to define his attributes by this limited exposure to eternity."  - R.M. Harrington

We are all quite aware of how tragedy and/or disaster, whether natural or otherwise, can reach out with its wretched hand and touch us at anytime. It's not uncommon during times like those we are experiencing now when some lament, "Why does God allow this to happen?" or "If God really does exist, where is he at time like this?"

Naturally, it's in our nature to question or place blame events that overwhelm us in times of misfortune. Sickness, divorce, death, etc., can also be included as sad events of life. There is not one living being who hasn't been affected by life's heartbreaking moments, or will be. These inescapable things simply go hand in hand with living life here. 

During trying times many grasp for answers or signs of hope. And when they are not readily available, anger, frustration, and resentment begin to seep in and take hold. No one ever said that living in the world would be a walk in the park. But, as you recall, originally it was a very different place. It was a paradise (Genesis 1:28).

God didn't mean for the world to turn out the way it did. He always wanted better for us; his creation (1 Chronicles 16:34). In fact, the culprit for the ruination of paradise is us. I don't mean that you and I were specifically responsible for the infraction, but we inherited the punishment. When we blame God for the wicked, injurious, damaging, and immoral occurrences in the world, we are wrong (Micah 6:8).

After all, He sent His Only Son Jesus to take on our sins, be beaten and crucified, and finally rise from the dead (John 3:16-17). All of this to save us from sin, free us from death, and enable us to live eternally with Him in heaven (Romans 6:23). I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like a scheming, hurtful, bitter, inattentive God in any way. 

Make no mistake, though. As our heavenly Father, he will reprimand us if he deems it necessary, but only for correction and never to purposely inflict pain or misery. In dark times we must remember there is always a light of hope, love, and compassion. And that light is Jesus Christ (John 8:12).

Scripture: Psalm 34:8; Exodus 33:19; Psalm 145:9; Mark 10:18; Romans 12:2

Prayer: Dear God, You are strength to those who suffer and comfort to those who grieve. You are our refuge, strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Let the prayers of your children who are in trouble rise to you, amen.

God bless you,

Lee

He Knows the Secrets of The Heart

"A fault, once denied, is twice committed."  - Thomas Fuller

Concealment may be considered a good thing when it comes to danger or self-preservation. In nature it can make the difference between looking for a meal, or becoming the meal. When it comes to concealing things from God, that's where it becomes unarguable.

If we think that, even for a moment, we can hide anything we do or say from God, we are sadly mistaken. Nothing is missed by Him! Consider the actions of Ananias and Sapphira, a husband and wife who were early members of the Christian church in Jerusalem (Acts 5:1-11).

Yes, they were punished severely for their sin against God. They paid for it with their very lives. However, you have to look at the way they went about their sin. They each knowingly sinned against God, and tried to cover it up. You could say that they tried to "pull a fast one" on God and got caught. Like I said, God misses nothing! (Psalm 139:1-2)

How many of us has knowingly done something wrong, yet foolishly thinking that we got away with it? Ananias and Sapphira probably thought they were free and clear; that they had gotten away with something. But we know how that turned out for them. Do we really think we can get away with anything under God's eyes? (Isaiah 55:8-9)

We are certainly not perfect. Our sin will be dealt with according to God's will. But concealment from God is never a good idea nor is it possible. It may be useful as it applies to survival in nature. But when it comes to our heart, it is an open book for God who can peer right through any outer facade and see inside with crystal clarity (Jeremiah 16:17).

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:23-24; Genesis 3:10; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Psalm 69:5;  

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me hold to the truth and give me the strength to help others do the same. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey