Monday, July 31, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-31-17

Grace for your spirit
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.  I Thessalonians 5:21-22

What is on our list for today?  Where are we going and what do we plan to do?  As our lives ricochet around the world, let's never forget the top three things that need to be on our list every day.  Examine everything carefully, hold fast to good, stay away from even the appearance of evil. When we do those things right, everything else will be better for us and everyone we meet.  Let's put them on our list right now.

Friday, July 28, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-28-17

Grace for your spirit
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.   I John 4:7

As Christians we like to proclaim that we are born again and know God. With that close relationship with God we should know the love of God and know how to share it with others.  When we say we love God and don't love our brothers, something is very wrong.  Is it time to reexamine our relationship with God and our brethren?  Perhaps it is.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-27-17

Grace for your spirit
When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Colossians 2:15

Whenever the Romans conquered a town, they removed the leaders and had them parade down the street in chains.  This was a public display to let all the citizens know that there was a new boss in town. When Jesus went to the cross and rose from the dead, the Old Law with its regulations, and priests were nailed to the cross.  As the curtains in the temple were ripped in two, it signaled a New Covenant of Jesus as Lord.  God moved quickly to announce that Jesus was now the way, the truth, and the life.  Let's follow Him.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-26-17

Grace for your spirit
You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.  I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 116:8-9

When we rescue others, we rescue ourselves.  It begins with allowing God to rescue our soul from death.  With a clear eye and a steady foot, we walk before the Lord. With that walk of God, we will help God rescue others who are perishing.  As we rescue others, we will continue to rescue ourselves from pitfalls of our walk in this world.  Let's continue to be in the rescue business all the days the Lord gives us.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-25-17

Grace for your spirit
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping is according to Your word.  Psalm 119:9

Mary had a little lamb, It's fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day which was against the rules.  It made the children laugh and play to have a lamb at school. And then the rules all changed one day, illegal it became; To bring the Lamb of God to school or even say His name.  Every day got worse and worse, and days turned into years.  Instead of hearing children laugh we heard gunshots and tears.  What must we do to stop the crime in our schools today?  Let the Lamb of God come back to school and teach our kids to pray.

Monday, July 24, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-24-17

Grace for your spirit
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.       
John 12:24

Grain in the field must die, Jesus in the world had to die,  We need to die to sin to be His disciple.  Grain dies, Jesus dies, we must die, for everything to work.  It is the spiritual and physical order of life.  When we are determine to stand alone, we will remain alone, and never bear fruit for the Lord.  Surrender is the force of life and victory.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-21-17

Grace for your spirit
Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.   John 12:6

Judas Iscariot; When we hear that name, we think of the man who betrayed Jesus.  What else was he? Apostle, business man, treasurer, greedy, complainer, crook, and betrayer.  Some people have thought that of all the apostles, he might have been our first choice. Here just before He turns Jesus over to the authorities, we start to see his true nature.  When a  person sells their soul to the devil, one deed of the flesh seldom stands alone. Let's learn to watch for the "tip of the iceberg", and make corrections before it is too late

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-20-17

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

The love of money is the root of all forms of evil.  It is impossible to love the Lord and love money at the same time.  When all of our attention is on money, we are seldom content with what we have now.  If our character is free from the love of money, we have the time and attention to love and serve the Lord.  He will take care of the rest when we trust in Him.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-19-17

Grace for your spirit
Now Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.  I Samuel 18:12

Saul had known the power of God directing his steps, but now he knew the Lord had departed.  His unfaithfulness had destroyed their relationship and he was completely lost.  At the same time, David was walking with the Lord.  His confidence before Goliath was well known throughout the nation.  Saul was afraid and jealous of David.  When we walk  through the valley and shadow of death alone, we will fear everything.  If and when we have those feeling, may we make a quick turn and get back with the Lord.  His is waiting.  Are we turning?

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-18-17

Grace for your spirit
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.  Colossians 3:22

Do we work heartily, o1r hardly work?   Maybe we have a job that we dislike so much we can't get excited about it.  Or perhaps we just don't like the people we work with and wish we could change.  It is especially important at those times that we remember that ultimately we work for the Lord.  Let's serve heartily for Him, and the rest will take care of itself.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-17-17

Grace for your spirit
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for to you follow in His steps.  I Peter 2:21

Jesus called us to be lights in a dark world.  When we try to make changes, we will often feel the sting of persecution.  Jesus said that they persecuted Him and they will also persecute us. He suffered to show us how to do it and be victorious. He did it better but we need to do it.  Resistance and persecution is one way to know we are getting somewhere.  Let's get somewhere and help the lost and suffering.  That really is our purpose.

Friday, July 14, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-14-17

Grace for your spirit
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ.  Ephesians 2:4-5

His love and mercy brought us life.   Israel often saw God as a God of justice and wrath.  God sent Jesus to change all that, so we would see God as mercy and love.  Jesus paid for our sins on the cross.  God's love draws us to Him through all things.  When we commit to those paths from God, even though we were once dead, now we can be alive forever. His love and mercy brought us life.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-13-17

Grace for your spirit
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. 
Philippians 2:14-15

One of the most basic teachings of Jesus is our charge to be "The Light of the World."  When we hide it under a bushel, or let Satan blow it out, we fail to meet the challenge.  Throughout history the number one way God's people have hidden their light  was by complaining.  Grumbling and complaining kept Israel out of the promised land, and it continues to "poison our water" too.  God knows this world needs light.  Do we know it?  It is channeled through our lives or it doesn't get here at all.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-12-17

Grace for your spirit
Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, even strife and dishonor will cease.  Proverbs 22:10

A scoffer is one who mocks, jeers, and generally makes fun of everyone and their thoughts.  It is the root of most contention, strife, and dishonor.  Like pouring gasoline on a fire, it causes explosions and consumes everyone.  There may always be scoffers, but we can keep it from being us.  Let's not make our decisions led by scoffers, but rather trust in the Lord.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-11-17

Grace for your spirit
You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth.    Psalm 60:4-5

His banner over us is love.  Because of His love, we have salvation in Christ, an eternal inheritance, and a loving fellowship in His church. When we display His banner, we can draw all men to Him.   If our banner is not displayed, tattered, or displayed improperly, it does not bring honor to the Lord or our lives.  Let's remember to display the truth of God's love wherever we go.

Monday, July 10, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-10-17

Grace for your spirit
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Throughout history, God has given His creation many great and wonderful things.  His greatest and most enduring gift was the sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus, for our sins.  As we possess His greatest gift, salvation in Christ, how could we possibly doubt that He would be there for the little things?  He will.

Friday, July 7, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-7-17

Grace for your spirit
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.    Hebrews 12:14

What are the chief pursuits in our lives?  If we have decided we will do anything to be rich and famous, we are most likely ignoring God's principles for happy living.  He wants us to pursue peace, as much as it depends on us.  At the same time we can find no peace with God, ourselves, or others without holy living.  Sanctification is a big for holiness.  If holy living is on the top of our list, all the rest will follow. Trust God.

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-6-17

Grace for your spirit
I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications.  Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.  Psalm 116:1-2

It is great when we have someone we can talk to and they will really listen.  When they listen, care, and help, it's even better.  Many people have lived in despair because no one will listen.  We need to spread the good news about God.  With God, we never have to be truly alone.  He is always listening and it is time for us to listen to Him. 

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-5-17

Grace for your spirit
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying,  yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.               II Corinthians 4:16

As life progresses there are many things that can discourage us all. With age, illnesses, and disappointments, it is easy to become discouraged and lose heart.  The cure is spiritual.  Regardless of our lives, we can renew our inner self every day.  Active renewal as we serve the Lord, passive renewal as He changes us.  The love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning.  Thank you Lord.

Monday, July 3, 2017

Grace for your spirit 7-3-17

Grace for your spirit
So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.  John 8:36

We are blessed to celebrate freedom.  Let us be thankful for those who have brought us our freedom.  Although our liberty is a free gift, somebody paid for it.  We enjoy the 4th of July because of the sacrifice of those who provided it.  We enjoy freedom from our sins by the blood of Jesus who died for us all.  Let's not forget to be thankful.