Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-31-16

 Grace for your spirit
Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily and you shall prophecy with them and be changed into another man.  I Samuel 10:6

Saul was the first king of Israel.  On the day Samuel gave him the news, he was hardly qualified to be king.  He was assured that God would equip him to rule, in fact, God would change him into another man. Verse 9 states that when he took his first step forward that God change his heart.  None of us are qualified or equipped to  be saints and priests in His kingdom.  By faith, when we take our first step of faith, He will change us too.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-30-16

Grace for your spirit
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.  For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.  III John 2-3

"Here's to your good your prosperity, your good health, and your prospering soul."  Somehow our money and our health concerns seem to consume us.  If we put all the effort we spend on those things into our spiritual lives, we would be prospering and walking in truth.  Funny isn't it.  The eternal things get the least attention.  If we would turn that around with our soul prospering first, the others things would prosper as well, even better.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-29-16

Grace for your spirit
Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.        I Peter 2:17

Have we drawn our circle of acceptance so small that it is impossible for us to do any of these things?  In the strife of life and the challenges we face, sometimes we feel we can only honor, love, and, fear those who love us.  Does that leave us standing in our circle all alone?  It is time for us to erase our lines, and redraw them where God wants them to be.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-26-16

Grace for your spirit
Now to Him who is able to do abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,  to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

As the song goes, "He is able, more than able, to accomplish what concerns me today.  He is able more than able, to handle anything that comes my way."  Let's give Him the glory and enjoy the benefits.  He is able!!  "Nuff said."

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-25-16

Grace for your spirit
Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.  Daniel 12:

All true insight comes from the Lord.  All true righteousness comes from Jesus.  When we combine His sight and His righteousness, we will be a shining light that cannot be hidden from others.  Then they will be able to follow the light to eternal insight and righteousness too.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-24-16

Grace for your spirit
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips that give thanks to His name.  Hebrews 13:15

Under the old covenant, God's priests were continually offering animal sacrifices in thanksgiving.  In Christ's kingdom,  our sacrifices are the fruit of our lips in praise, worship, and thanksgiving.  Continually you say?  Remember, we are never too busy and too tired to receive His blessings.  Let's use that same energy to say thank you.  All Christians are priests in His kingdom, so let's lead the way in thanking God.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-23-16

Grace for your spirit
O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy. Psalm 47:1

We teach little kids the song, "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands." "If you're happy and you know it, shout Amen.'"  At what point during our transition to adulthood, does that not apply?  It is hard to communicate that we are happy and we know it with that frown on our face.  Let's not let the joy in our spirits to be muffled until it goes away.  If people know we are blessed and filled with joy, perhaps they will want to know the reason.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-22-16

Grace for your spirit
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.  John 14:3

The night before Jesus went to the cross, He met with His apostles to prepare and comfort them.  He said He was going, but none of them knew where He was going.  Do we?  Many have speculated that He was going to build heaven for their eternity.  Since He spoke the universe into existence, I hardly think He was in the construction business.  Jesus was most certainly going to the cross.  He would die for our sins, and be raised for our justification.  The place He was going to prepare was salvation in His kingdom for us all.  We can now be transferred there and find redemption and salvation. 

Friday, August 19, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-19-16

Grace for your spirit
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.  Romans 5:12

We are all subject to the law of sin and death.  Christ set us free from that law, because He paid our debt for us at the cross.  We can freely admit we are sinners, because we can confidently proclaim our forgiveness.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-18-16

Grace for your spirit
The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness.  Psalm 147:11

Do we want to make our Father in heaven happy?  Do we wish to enjoy His favor ?  Fear Him, respect Him, and  put your every hope in Him.  Any father loves that, especially God our Father.  Now that we know how to get His favor, let's commit to do it.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-17-16

Grace for your spirit
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.  John 1:12

Jesus came to the Jews to bring them salvation.  The Jews felt they were the children of God and they were due for a Messiah. Mostly they rejected Jesus.  Anyone who did receive Him, Jesus gave the right to be born into His kingdom.  Not because there were Jews or Gentiles, but because the will of God in Christ.  Never think that Jesus didn't come for you.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-16-16

Grace for your spirit
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.  Revelation 3:20

Jesus is knocking on our door.  We heard His voice, and saw Him through the peephole. We're afraid to face Him.  We have turned down the TV and hid all our disgusting things.  Now we are remaining quiet hoping He will go away.  Trouble is, He knows we're home, He knows we're hiding, and He knows about our disgusting things anyway.  He is really there with good news on how to overcome and be saved.  Let's open up and be filled with joy.  Will we ?

Monday, August 15, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-15-16

Grace for your spirit
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

Many people have learned to hide their weariness.  They keep their burdened lives secret until one day they just explode.  Maybe we are like that.  We might be at the end of our rope, but no one knows it.  We can't know everything, but we can know the rest that is available in Christ.  Let's spread the good news about the gentle and humble yoke of Jesus.  If people don't access that rest today, maybe they can use it tomorrow.  Save a soul, save a life.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-12-15

Grace for your spirit
By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous.  God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.  Hebrews 11:4

Abel was killed by his brother early in Genesis.  Although he was killed thousands of years ago, his righteousness, his faith and his memory still speaks to us.  When we have a testimony of righteousness and wisdom that comes from God, even though we pass on, our lives can still speak. Our words and our actions can live on indefinitely as long as they are still spoken of by anyone.  People often talk of "losing a loved one." When we still speak of them, we didn't lose them.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-11-15

Grace for your spirit
Begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.    II Corinthians 8:4-5

Paul hadn't expected many contributions from the churches in Macedonia, but he was pleasantly surprised.  They begged him to let them be a part of his support. How did that happen?  Easy, First they gave themselves to the Lord, and then to Paul by the will of God.  We have no idea what we can do with our time, talent, and resources, until we wholly give ourselves to the Lord.  When we test ourselves in the will of God, everyone wins.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-10-16

Grace for your spirit
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.  Proverbs18:16

Solomon was one of the riches men in history, yet everyone who came to see him brought him a valuable gift. He didn't need it, but it was a way to obtain his favor. People of wealth and influence today experience the same thing.  People know that gifts open doors to great favors.  The same is true with God and  all people.  Our generous heart brings us before people in a pleasant way.  A humble gift is a great way to open doors in our life.  Give a little and get a lot.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-9-16

Grace for your spirit
Keep deception and lies far from me.  Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be full and deny Thee and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or lest I be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.  Proverbs 30:8-9

There is always a danger when we have too much.  We can think we don't need God or anyone.  There is also a problem when we have too little.  We may blame God other resent others for our lack.  What a great prayer.  Lord, don't give me too little or too much.  Bless me with the whatever amount that will cause me to give You all the glory

Monday, August 8, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-8-16

Grace for your spirit
I have been young and now I am old.  Yet, I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread. Psalm 37:25

How often do we look at those around us who are evil yet rich?  We are trying to keep up the the Jones' and thinking the grass is always greener over there.  Have we got to the point where we are tempted to turn away from God for worldly security?  David faced these challenges and saw it in others often.  His experiences and the wisdom of God taught him that in the long run, those who stick with God are never forsaken.  Stick with God. He will never forsake us.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-5-16

Grace for your spirit
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.  Matthew 13:45

Serendipity is a great word with a great meaning.  It is an accidental happy discovery.   Many an antique collector has experienced serendipity.  They had something plain, but an appraisal proved it was very valuable.  The good news of salvation in Christ is just like that, and we can continue that discovery every day.  When we realize the value that we have found, we will do whatever we must do to receive it. Serendipity makes our day great, and makes our lives happy.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-4-16

Grace for your spirit
For when Herod had John arrested he bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of his brother Philip.  For John had been saying to him “It is not lawful for you to have her.”  Matthew 14:3-4

John the Baptist was jailed and ultimately beheaded because he told Herod the truth.  Herod was guilty which caused him to strike out against the messenger of God.  Speak up and watch the resistance come from all sides.  When people are guilty, they often get mad when confronted.  Paul once asked “Have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?”  Do we wish the praise of people or the praise of God?  Our actions may be proving we really want the praise of men more.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-3-16

Grace for your spirit
Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself said, "I will never desert you, nor will I forsake you."  Hebrews 13:5

When our life is built on the love of money and the fear that we will never have enough, it can be  an enemy of our faith in God.  Our efforts show we can't rest unless we can always rest on our bankroll. That is not laying up our treasures in heaven.  God shows us that when we lay up our treasures in heaven, He will always be there for us.  We need to believe it, and live it.

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-2-16

Grace for your spirit
He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.  But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.  Revelation 21:6-7

He who overcomes gets the blessings.  All of us have obstacles and challenges in our lives. Some turn back, some quit, and some take other roads. When we overcome, we find our eternal place with God. All other decisions lead us away from God and into the hands of the devil. Overcoming is our best choice.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Grace for your spirit 8-1-16

Grace for your spirit
And the tempter came and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones  become bread."  But He answered and said, "It is written,..."  Matthew 4:3-4

The devil came to Jesus in the wilderness three times with temptations. Three times Jesus drove the devil with Scripture.  If an intruder was trying to knock down our door, what would we use to defend ourselves and drive them away.  A gun?  No gun!  A knife?  No knife!  A club? No club!  We can't use what we don't have.  Well, like Cain and Jesus, the devil is crouching outside our door.  Will we use Scripture?  Not unless we have it and know it.  Let's search the Scripture daily to arm ourselves against the attacks that will come.  It is written!