Thursday, June 30, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-30-16

Grace for your spirit
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  John 10:10

In this passage Jesus is pictured as the Good Shepherd.  He is the sheepfold of protection, He is the door in and out of the fold, and He is the shepherd that leads, and protects the flock.  Thieves will come around and they are the enemies of the sheep.  If we listen to the voice
of our shepherd, Jesus will lead us to an abundant life.  Never trust any other voice.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-29-16

Grace for your spirit
Every man's way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.  Proverbs 21:2

It is easy for us to justify any behavior.  We might say we aren't as bad as lots of other people, or any number of things to make us believe what we are doing is all right.  The Lord knows what is right and wrong, and He knows when we are really violating His principles.  Since God knows, let's confer with Him before we make our life decisions.  He gives us the Bible, prayer, and His Spirit to help us see the right way to go.  May we never exclude Him for what we want to do.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-28-16

Grace for your spirit
If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.  Psalm 94:18

Ever heard the expression, "Like a hog on ice"?  It's the picture I get of myself every time I have to walk on ice or across a wet floor.  I feel like I'm going to slip and fall.  I step carefully, hold on and pray.  Spiritually our walk can be the same.  It is great to know that the Lord is near and helping when we slip.  Several times in the Old Testament, God is thank\ed for making our feet like deer feet, and setting us up on high places.  Thanks for holding us up Lord when they way is slippery, and for Your loving kindness.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-27-16

Grace for your spirit
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.  James 1:21

It is impossible for the Word of the Living God to dwell and dominate our lives, while our spirit is involved in wickedness and filthiness.  Just as it is almost impossible to sin and pray at the same time.  When we commit to die to sin, the cleansing power of God can save our souls. Let's make two commitments.  One, to put aside sin, and two, to allow the Word to dwell in us richly.  It is our only path to salvation.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-24-16

Grace for your spirit
Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  James 3:13

Anyone can proclaim themselves to be wise and understanding, but the proof is in our behavior.  If we must proclaim it, we may have completely missed it.  It is far better for others to proclaim our wisdom, understanding and gentleness, because to he way we have touch their lives.  May our acts of kindness reflect Jesus living in us.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-23-16

Grace for your spirit
Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.  Acts 4:13

The religious status of the day was education and knowledge.  The men Jesus chose came with neither.  They're inspiration came from their walk with Jesus.  Their power and confidence could not be explained without Jesus. Paul expressed his presence in the world as "the aroma of Christ", and the "fragrance of life."  His aroma and fragrance came from Jesus too.  When we walk with people, do they take note that we have been with Jesus too? We can still make it that way.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-22-16

Grace for your spirit
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think;  Romans 12:3

Paul could not and would not tell all he had seen and heard from God. He was very careful not to boast about his many accomplishments as a servant of Jesus.  His goal in life was to seek and save the lost, just as Jesus did.  Bragging about ourselves and being conceited, is a sure fire way not to connect with people.  Conceit is a weird disease.  It makes everyone sick except the one who has it.  As we talk to people, let's find out about others so we can connect them with Jesus.  Remember the formula for joy.  Jesus first, Others next, and Yourself last. 

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-21-16

Grace for your spirit
As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my souls pants for You, O God.  Psalm 42:1

Break Thou The Bread of Life is a hymn of learning about God deeply.  About stretching, learning, and knowing the will of God completely.  Having His Word multiply in us like He multiplied the fish and loaves.  The song continues, "beyond the sacred page, I seek Thee Lord. My Spirit pants for Thee, O living Word."  While is it important to know the Bible, we need to let His Spirit take us beyond the sacred page daily, letting our spirit pant for more and more all day.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-20-16

Grace for your spirit
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.  I Timothy 1:15

The Apostle Paul's conversion is most interesting.  When we was lost in sin as a Pharisee, he proclaimed himself to be blameless.  After meeting Jesus and his subsequent conversion his view changed.  Now he recognized himself saved from being the chief of sinners.  He had now found a sure remedy for his sins, and glory of his cleansing. Admitting our sin, is an important first step toward our cleansing. Thank you Jesus for the sacrifice.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Grace for your spirit June 17, 2016

Grace for your spirit
How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.  When you shall eat the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you.  Your wife will be a fruitful vine, your children  like olive plants around your table.  Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.  Psalm 128:1-4

Do we know the key to happiness and wellness in the family?  When the man fears the Lord, and walks in His ways.  blessings will follow. Blessings for the man, the wife, and the children.  Faithfulness is not just for old ladies and little kids, but especially those whom God has placed as head of the home.  How does the fruit of our faithfulness taste?  Happy Father's Day

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-16-16

Grace for your spirit
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on.  Philippians 3:13-14

Have you ever been lying in bed and wanted to get something off a nearby table that was out of your reach?  Instead of getting up, you try reaching, stretching, even straining until we reach it   As we press on toward the mark, sometimes things are just out of our reach. Let's reach, and stretch and little farther, and a little farther  The goal really is within our reach.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-15-16

Grace for your spirit
Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.   Isaiah 40:28

Recently a horse race had an interesting finish.  As the horses in the Belmont Stakes approached the finish line, they were a bunch of horses running close together.  Which one would win?  At the wire, it was Creator, who had the strength to win by a nose.  How prophetic !  God and His enemies are running in a pack in our world today.  Sometimes it is hard to tell who will win.  The last pages of the Bible show us.  At the end it will our Lord God Creator holding out for the big win. 

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-14-16

Grace for your spirit
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.  I Thessalonians 5:15

When we love one another, and do the best for each other, we fulfill part of the God's will.  We need to make a commitment to never repay evil with evil for three reasons.  1) It is right. 2)It is best for us  3)To encourage others  as well.  Let's no only do His will, let's see to it that others do it as well.  That's a big part of loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Monday, June 13, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-13-16

Grace for your spirit
A righteous man who walks in his integrity--How blessed are his sons after him.  Proverbs 20:7

The life we live will almost always affect those around us, and especially the next generation.  Sin is not inherited, but it certainly can trouble our family.  The good news is, righteousness and integrity will affect those around us too.  It may not be quite as loud, but it brings a blessing to those who must be around us.  Do you want to leave something in your will for your family?  Give them the blessing of a life lived with the righteousness of Christ, and a walk of integrity.

Friday, June 10, 2016

grace for your spirit 6-10-16

Grace for your spirit
Better is a little, with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and turmoil with it.  Proverbs 15:16

Money will buy great food, but it is no good is you can't digest it.  Money will buy a great mattress, but not a good nights sleep.  Money can buy lots of stuff, but nothing in comparison to what the Lord can supply.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge, and the provisions that do not fade away.  Thank you Lord.  Help us to wait on You.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Grace for your spirit June 9, 2016

Grace for your spirit
Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.  Ecclesiastes 11:5

Every once in a while, most people get a little to big for their britches. We think we know it all, and maybe even start correcting God.  Several times in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, God calls us to step away and look at things in a different way.  We don't know it all, in fact, we really know very little.  We need to trust in an everlasting, and all knowing God for His wisdom and His perspective.  When we get the picture, we will know we should trust in Him.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-8-16

Grace for your spirit
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

Our mindset determines the road in life we will take.  When we are led by the law of sin and death, or any law that cannot save us, our mindset will cause us to be lost forever.  When we set our minds on the Spirit of life in Christ, His righteousness will set us free from sin and death.  If we can't shake ourselves loose from the flesh, it is time for the renewing our minds and a new mindset on Jesus.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-7-16

Grace for your spirit
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.  I Peter 5:8

If we are of sober spirit and on the alert, we will know that a roaring lion doesn't roar while he is stalking us.  He prowls silently towards his prey. The roaring starts when dinner is served.  The devil is like that.  If we're not careful, the devil will silently overtake us.  When we hear the roar, it may be too late.  Stay alert, and stay ready.  He is always hunting.

Monday, June 6, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-6-16

Grace for your spirit
Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with the words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me,  And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.  Isaiah 29:13

How much of the last worship service you just left do we even remember?  We sang, prayed, took communion, didn't we?  Did we pray to start the day, and before we ate?  Yes, didn't we?  Rote is mindless repetition that means nothing.  It is a sure path to wandering off on our own.  Let's start tuning in before we fall out.  A thin reverence for God will certainly blow away.  Let's draw near with all we have.

Friday, June 3, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-3-16

Grace for your spirit
To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.   Revelation 1:5-6

 In every generation, God has saved His people from bondage, gave them a kingdom, and priests to minister to them.  The time we live in is no different.  Christ died on the cross to release us from our sins.  He set up a kingdom for us that will never be destroyed, and made us all a royal priesthood ministry. Do you think you are something special?  Well you are.  The revelation of our future is extremely bright.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-2-16

Grace for your spirit
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:1

Shade and shelter are valuable commodities in a hot and barren land. God promises the faithful that shelter and shadow.  The Almighty is big enough, and He is powerful enough to provide protection for all who seek it.  As we wander through the desert of sorrow and sin, let's make sure we keep the shadow and shelter of God close at all times.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Grace for your spirit 6-1-16

Grace for your spirit
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  Matthew 11:25

Location, location, location. Big factors in real estate.  Chorazin and Bethsaida were coastal cities on the Sea of Galilee.  They had the presence of Jesus and His apostles in town all the time.  Tyre and Sidon where far away from the ministry of Jesus in Syrophenicia and enemies of Israel.  The Galilean cities had greater opportunities but the didn't do well.  Jesus is shaming them into paying attention.  Often we look at the sinful world with contempt.  If they had the exposure to the gospel that we have, would they be doing better?  Greater opportunities means greater responsibilities.  It time for the church to step up.