Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 31, 2009

Grace for your spirit

Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king's face. Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent again a second time, but he would not come.  II Samuel 14:28-29

King David loved his son Absalom, but they had a lot of serious issues.  Absalom had killed his brother Amnon, because of the rape of their sister.  Their anger brought a break in communication in the family of David.  As the years went by without working out their troubles, their separation grew.  David loved Absalom and always wanted the best for him, but Absalom did not know that.  The separation brought rebellion, and eventually Absalom was killed in battle.  How often do we see this in families today?  Although there is deep love, anger brings about separation, silence, and rebellion   David built a fence when they should have built a bridge.  What are we building in our relationships?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Monday, March 30, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 30, 2009

Grace for your spirit

Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;   II Corinthians 1:9

Most of us like to be in control of our lives.  We like to feel confident that we can handle any situation that comes our way all alone.  When this confident self trust fails us in time of trouble, we can be hit pretty hard.  The apostle Paul found strength by living a life that was out of his control.  He didn’t play it safe, and restrict his life to what he could handle alone.  At the times that he faced a dim future, he learned to trust in the Lord completely.  God has a great work for all of us to do.  It is doubtful we will ever accomplish His will inside our “comfort zone.”  May we all have the courage to step out of our comfort zone, and into the comfort of the Lord’s complete protection.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Friday, March 27, 2009

Grace for your spirit March27, 2009

Grace for your spirit

Then David said, "Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"  II Samuel 9:1

When Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, David rose to the throne of Israel.  Although Saul and his family were his arch enemies, David respected the anointed one of Israel and loved Jonathan.  Normally when a king comes to power, everyone who might be an heir to the throne is killed.  This was not true with David.  Rather than killing the heirs of Saul, he searched for a way to show kindness to them.  He found Mephibosheth, and brought him to his house.  This heir of Saul was blessed with the kindness of King David.  This is just another reason why David is called “a man after God’s own heart.  What shall we do with our enemies?  Shall we kill them with kindness, or just kill them?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 26, 2009

Grace for your spirit

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;  Matthew 6:20

Many people are struggling with their investments these days.  The economy is turning treasures into rust, and the thieves are running off with our money.  Financial organizations are struggling to assure their investors that they are trustworthy and solvent.   I saw a bank sign the other day that said, A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR 135 YEARS.  I went to our church sign and put up this notice.  JESUS, A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR 2000 YEARS.  No one can boast of an investment portfolio like Jesus.  When we lay up our treasures in heaven, God will always keep His promises and His projections.  Let’s learn to trust in the Lord in these troubled times.  Read His prospectus today;  Genesis through Revelation.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 25, 2009

Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Matthew 7:3

Jesus wants to us be careful about the judgment we make of others.  Too often we see a speck in our brother’s eye, while we have a log of the same thing in our own eye.  If we took the log out of our own eye, it would change our view of the speck in another’s eye. Then we could help them get their speck out.  I have often noticed that the worse thing we see in others, is usually the worse thing about ourselves.  It turns out that old schoolyard saying may be true.  “It takes one to know one.”  Get the log out, and refuse the temptation to judge.  Let’s be helpful instead, and our Christian walk will be filled with joy.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23


Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 24, 2009

When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD."   Hosea 1:2

The prophet Hosea’s life was a living sermon for the people of Israel.  The prophet was directed to marry a prostitute who would not be faithful to him.  He continued to love and attempt restoration with his unfaithful wife, even though she didn’t deserve it.    Can you imagine the gossiping that would take place in your church, if your preacher had a such a wife?  They might ask, “What kind of holy man of God would put up with such a wife?”  Hosea knew that was the question they needed to ask about themselves.  What kind of a Holy God would put up with their unfaithfulness? Through Hosea, God called for the reconciliation of His bride.  Let’s quit worrying about the prophet’s wife, and start being concerned about our life before God.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23


Monday, March 23, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 23, 2009

Grace for your spirit

A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.  Proverbs 17:22

Have you ever had one of those weeks when everything seems to break your spirit?  Sometimes under the weight of criticism and problems we can feel our bones drying up.  Those are the times when we need some medical attention right away.  God said that a joyful heart is good medicine.  A good laugh or two can lift us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Last night I spent a little time with a group of laughing Christians.  Mostly we were laughing about funny things we had experienced with our church families.  As we left the restaurant, I heard this statement more than once, “After the week I’ve had, I really needed that laugh.”  May we all find a little joy, have a little laugh, enjoy the medicine, and enjoy the healing today.

 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians4:23


Friday, March 20, 2009

Grace for your spirit March20, 2009

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,9and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  Ephesians 1:18-19

God has great power available for all who will believe.  When we plug into that great power, our hearts are enlightened, and we are aware of His rich inheritance for us.  When we aren’t connected to the power source, nothing will work.  Are we missing the power, the hope, and His riches?  Check the power source.  Every service technician always asks the #1 question when someone calls with a problem.  “Check and see if it is plugged in.”  And what is the #1 answer to that question?  “Oh, sorry I called.  The plug came out.”  Before we started questioning the power of God to provide in our lives, make sure we are plugged in.

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23


Thursday, March 19, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 19, 2009

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies.  I Peter 4:11

The more we learn about God, the more we should want to tell others about His wonderful blessings.  The more we are strengthened by God, the more we should want to use that strength to serve others.  We can say we know all we need to know about God, and that are as strong as anyone, but what is the proof of that claim?  When we have nothing to say about the presence of God in our lives, and we have no desire to serve Him, isn’t there something missing?  When God fills our lives with His presence, we can’t help but speak of Him and work for Him.  Let’s go back to the source of our power until He fills us to overflowing.

 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23


Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 18, 2009

Grace for your spirit

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.  I Corinthians 13:13

There was an old old song that said, “You gotta faith, hope, and charity.  That’s the way to live successfully.  How do I know?  The Bible tells me so!”   For every temptation He has provided a way of escape. When we faced with overwhelming obstacles and don’t know what to do, how about going with God’s direction?  Try faith in God and His Word.  A renewed hope for the future, combined with love for God and our fellowman.  May we learn to pave our walk with faith, hope and love. When we begin with God’s proven principles, many of our troubles will be solved.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

graceforyourspirit.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 17, 2009


But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my life or my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?"   I Samuel 18:18

When we first hear about David, he was a humble shepherd boy.  Even after he was anointed to be the next King of Israel, and had faced and defeated the mighty Goliath, he still was a humble man.  When offered the king’s daughter, he could not believe he was worthy of such blessings.  As long as David kept that humble spirit, God gave him victory in all things.  Later in life, with all his triumphs and victories, he lost some of that humility and it got him in lots of trouble.  He began to think everything belonged to him.  He found out that he needed to humble himself again and approach God with a contrite heart.  May we learn this lesson from David.  No matter how much we are blessed, may we never lose that humble heart and thankful heart.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Monday, March 16, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 16, 2009

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!  Mt 7:11

If we ask our earthly fathers for bread or a fish, do we expect a stone and a snake?  Of course not.  Most of us live with the assurance that our fathers love us.  Why then would we be afraid to ask our heavenly Father for the good things we need.  I suppose we may be afraid to ask our heavenly Father because we don’t know Him well enough.  The more we know about God, the more confidence we will have that He loves us and wants to give us the best always.  Let’s go ahead and ask for the things we need and the things we need to know.  He is anxious to show His love.  Let’s not be afraid to give Him the opportunity

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Friday, March 13, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 13, 2009

All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;   Matthew 25:32

God gives us this preview of the judgment day.  Everyone will stand before Him to give an account of what we did in this life.  Will we hear the words, “Well done, come to heaven?”  Or will we hear “Depart from Me accursed ones?”  The ones that will hear the good news will be His lambs on His right.  The ones that will hear the bad news will be the goats on His left.   Let’s picture our lives before God right now.  Are we a lamb of God, or a goat?  We used to sing a kid’s song at camp with these words.  “I don’t want to be goat, nope.  Never having any hope, nope.  I just want to be a sheep, baaaa, with a Savior for my soul to keep.  I just want to be a sheep baaaa”.  Look around.  Are we in the sheep pen or off with the goats?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23


Thursday, March 12, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 12, 2009

Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."       Mark 9:24

This man brought his son to Jesus for healing.  He asked Jesus to help them if He could.  His faith needed a little help.  He had a difficult life with a sick son.  He had been to the apostles for help and they were not able to heal him, and perhaps he was at his wit’s end.  The man still had belief, but it needed a little help.  Jesus rewarded his positive desires.  His son was healed and the faith of the father restored.  Often we may wonder why people don’t have strong faith.  Sometimes our faith may have  taken quite a beating.  Troubles, trials, and pain just seem to keep coming.  We want to be people of faith, but we need a little help.  That help for others may come from us.  We may be able to bring people back to a strong faith with our strong faith.  Spiritual healing is still a job we all can do.  If we are willing, we are able to help the unbelief of others.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23


Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 11, 2009

Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king's household."  II Kings 7:9

Four lepers who were condemned to death, suddenly had a new lease on life.  Through a great miracle, God had provided all the food and riches they could possibly want.  As they hoarded the blessings for themselves, it occurred to them that there was a city full of people starving to death just over the hill.  They realized they were wrong and judgment would certainly catch up with them.  The analogy to Christians is clear.  God has provided for us, others are dying in need, and we are certainly not doing right keeping it to ourselves.  Go ye means go me.  Let’s not wait for light of judgment to overtake us.

 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 10, 2009

You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  Mt 5:38-39

It really was written in the Old Testament.  People really did practice this revenge and retribution.  An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a burn for a burn, and a life for a life never really helped anyone, because they were a rebellion and obstinate people.  It just left them with a lot of half blind, toothless, burned, dead people.  No one ever got better nor felt better. Jesus desires something much better for us in His new covenant.  He knows that when we resist an evil person, and try to get back or get even with the evil ones, we are likely to become just like them.  Instead, he calls for us to turn the other cheek, and go the extra mile.  Return love for anger.  If there a retribution and vengeance to be paid, let the Lord handle it.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23


Monday, March 9, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 9, 2009

For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.  Matt 25:3-4

This is a story about getting ready for the judgment day.  Young virgins were waiting for the bridegroom to appear.  Their wedding was imminent. The foolish ones didn’t take enough oil to keep them ready for the coming.  When the time came to light their lamps and get ready, they had to go find oil.  While they were gone, the bridegroom came and the door was shut.  They missed it.  The analogy is clear.  We have the opportunity to be the bride of Christ.  We don’t know exactly when God has chosen the ceremony to take place, so we need to get ready now.   We need to make plans to be faithful for our whole life, so we won’t find ourselves missing the wedding call.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Friday, March 6, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 6, 2009

Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.   Luke 22:54

Jesus had just told Peter that the devil was ready to sift him like wheat.   It would a great time to stay close to Jesus and draw on His strength during this time of temptation.  Instead, as Jesus was arrested that night, Peter was following at a distance.  That distance made it much easier to deny the Lord three times that evening, just as was predicted.  In our solar system,. Mercury is hotter than Pluto because Mercury is closest to the sun.  It our Christian rotation, we need to be a hot Mercury, not a cold Pluto by being close to the SON.  Pluto is so far away, many now dispute whether it is a real planet.  Are people disputing our discipleship because of our cold distance?   Move closer today

 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 5, 2009

Dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and  to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,  II Thes 1:8-9

God promised in His Word that His Son Jesus would return to reward the faithful and punish the wicked.  The question is often asked, who are the faithful and who are the wicked?   The Holy Spirit revealed that the punishment will be for those who do not know God, and have not obeyed the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  When we know God, we will obey His commands.  When we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will believe in Him and obey Him in baptism.  If we choose to live outside the will of the Father, and reject being in Christ, then we are certainly in jeopardy of eternal destruction.  God does not grade on the degrees of good and bad behavior.  He grades and saves based on our obedience to Him.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 4, 2009

When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.      Psalm 73:21-22

When we live in a bitter world, it is very easy to be infected.  We make our commitments to love God with all our heart, and also love our neighbor as ourselves, and then something happens.  We may get hurt, get mad, and turn bitter.  How easy it is to lose our sense and knowledge of right and wrong.  When we do, we turn from being a lamb to a beast.  Those are the times we really need to reach out to God, and remember He is still right there for us.  With His counsel, He can guide back to our senses, and bring us to His glory.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 3, 2009

Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.  Proverb 15:16


It is better to enjoy a little bit with the Lord, than have too much with great turmoil.  For most of us one dip on an ice cream cone is plenty for us to enjoy.  Everyone tells us we need another dip or two.  Now we have more treat than we need, plus we run the risk of it melting before we can eat it, or watching it fall on the ground.  We worry about consuming it before it consumes us. That’s how the lust of the world works.  Let’s not ask the Lord to bless us with more than we can enjoy, and walk with Him in the right way.  Too much, and the love of too much, has turned many a life into turmoil and trouble. 

 

 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Monday, March 2, 2009

Grace for your spirit March 2, 2009

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  John  14:1

Jesus looked into the hearts of his apostles the night before He went to the cross and knew they were troubled.  He knew that their troubles would grow larger in the days ahead.  He encouraged them to be strong in belief, and look to the future with confidence,  no matter how rough the road would be, He wanted them to know He would be back for them.  Jesus knows our hearts can and will be troubled too.  He has prepared a place where we can find rest for our souls.  Will we open the door to rest in Christ, or we will choose the door of doubt and trouble?  Don’t live on each day with a troubled heart.  Let’s choose Jesus and keep our eyes on the prize.

 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23