Out of Action for two weeks

Hello friends in Christ!  I will be out of 'action' for two weeks beginning Monday March 1st with knee replacement surgery.  Please pray for my wife and me as I undergo surgery and the recoery therapy.  Thank you in the healing Name of Jesus

A Nineveh Moment

Jonah 3, “The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh. He ran. And God still found him. Resigned to his ministry he went to Nineveh and proclaimed God’s powerful message for repentance. Jonah’s fear of being destroyed in that great warring city came to be unfounded. The Ninevites and their king repented and dressed themselves in sack cloth and ashes as a sign that they believed God and were truly sorry for what they had done. Simply put, they believed.

Prayer: Eternal and loving God. Help us to confess, seek Your forgiveness and repent believing forever that Your Words and actions are true and in love for Your Creation. Help us Father return to Your Holy Way. In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN

Avoid them!

2 Timothy 3:1-5, “You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!”

Even in the time of this pastoral exhortation to Timothy we find the prophetic voice of the future calling out to us. We read: lovers of self, money, boasting, arrogant, and abusive; this behavior sounds like today. This self absorption and tyrannical behavior is brokenness with God and with our neighbor. Listen to the arrogant political speeches about a politician’s self-importance and follow the advice of Paul, “Avoid them!” In other words keep them out of your government, your schools, your businesses, your church congregations and your homes. There are strong words in this pastoral letter and it would serve us well to follow what is encouraged to Timothy. At the core of this wicked behavior is brokenness that leads to spiritual destruction. We must avoid them and it.

Prayer: Loving God You have set our lives in motion and You have given us Your pattern for holy life. Help us bring to this world a sense of right relationship with You and with one another. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.

Shadows and hope

Hebrews 10:1, “Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach.”

Routinely I hear of those practicing the Christian faith attempting to convert the Bible, the Holy Word of God, the foretelling and incarnation of Jesus, as a recipe that we must follow for our salvation. Human history with practice like that is long and storied. There is a simple explanation and it takes the form of humans needing some ‘thing’ to worship and follow. The law or Word of God is not followed so as to gain salvation. The Holy Word of God is the guide of our faith and within its rule we are allowed to share in the limits of our understanding of God. The basic salvific fact is accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of our life and Savior of our life. Once we get that and are moved by the Holy Spirit to yield to His Lordship we will get the rest. Let’s not let the rule of faith be our recipe for salvation. Let’s live into our faith in Christ and live out what He desires for us and in His Kingdom.

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You for today and for the gift of Your unfailing love for us – Jesus. Soften our hearts to yield to His desire for our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.

Respected Leadership

Titus 1:5-9, “I left you in charge in Crete so you could complete what I left half-done. Appoint leaders in every town according to my instructions. As you select them, ask, “Is this man well-thought-of? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?” It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to—not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.”

This pastoral letter to Titus is insightful. Paul speaks about the work that he left half-completed and why he appointed Titus. I wonder, if we chose our leaders throughout our land as our forbearers were instructed what condition would our society find itself in today? The standards that Paul offers in choosing leaders seems foundational and structurally sound to a moral and holy people. Why can’t we change the course of a nation and begin to choose leaders based upon these principles?

Prayer: Eternal and loving God, we thank You for this day, the day that wasn’t promised. Let us live lives and choose leaders because we are all guided by the same commands that You gave so very long ago in human time. Your love is timeless. Help us see Your authority and take Your authority to do Your holy will. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.

Temptation

Matthew 4:1-4, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Satan is active in this world and life. He won’t stop until he is stopped by Jesus Christ at His Second Coming (or Parousia). As we can tell from reading from Matthew, Jesus was hungry after fasting for forty days and nights. Most of us would be hungry after a one day fast (me included). Satan used Jesus’ hunger as a moment of perceived ‘weakness’ to lure Jesus into his snare and engage Him for his purposes rather than to serve God as Redeemer and Restorer. Jesus put a very quick halt to Satan’s march and gives us in this lesson an understanding of what it takes to live into God’s expectation of us, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” We cannot survive merely with sustenance for the physical we are composed of a spiritual self or soul that requires spiritual food or sustenance that only comes from God through Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Loving God, You have made us in Your very image to be fed by Your very hand and desire. Feed us with Your holy will and by Your loving heart. Lead us into Your perfect Way, Jesus Christ, for it is in Jesus Name that we pray. AMEN.

About Christmas

My friend Ginger sent this to me in the form of an email.  I've read it through several times trying to imagine how we'd explain ourselves to Jesus in light of the theology written here - simply and beautifully:

"Letter from Jesus about Christmas –

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year.. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one.. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

11. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember.

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS"

Thank you Ginger!  May God bless you in this season of His Son's birth!!

Redeeming Love

Romans 3:19-20, “Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”

We cannot do anything to please God such that we will receive salvation. It is only through God’s love and grace that we receive our salvation. As Paul writes, he became aware of his sin because of the law. He didn’t gain anything by attending to the law for a prescription to gain eternal life. What he learned and shares is that we are sinners – all of us. We should be reticent to sin and willing to confess our frailty to God who saves us. For by our confession we have made known to God that we seek His redemption and restoration. “For through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

 

Prayer: Eternal and forgiving God thank You for today and for the gift of love through Jesus Christ who by His blood redeems us. Help us to see where we have fallen short of Your Glory and come humbly before You in confession, seeking forgiveness and redemption. We pray this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

"Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified..."

Acts 4:1-12, “While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the Temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand. The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

I love this exchange among the Temple authorities, Peter and John. Luke’s witness says that 5,000 people heard and believed in Jesus; even in the face Peter’s and John’s arrest. The Temple leaders wanted to know by what authority they were saying these things. These Temple leaders had just killed Jesus for the same teaching and preaching and now they were coming after the disciples. When Peter spoke he spoke with the power of the Holy Spirit and defied the Temple leaders and reminded them that Jesus of Nazareth who they killed and whom God raised from the dead who healed the man standing before them. Then he said this, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved;” NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MORTALS BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED!!!  Peter called out the Temple leadership for what they did and reminded them that they too must claim Jesus NOW in order to be saved.

Prayer: Thank You Father for redeeming us through Jesus. Thank You for this glorious day in Your Kingdom. Please work through us to love, teach and, claim those who have yet to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.

Eyes of our hearts

Ephesians 1:15-23, “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

Open the eyes of our hearts that we may come to know you thoroughly and completely Lord Jesus. Michael W. Smith, the contemporary Christian singer and writer, wrote and sang these words:

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart

I want to see You

I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart

I want to see You

I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up

Shinin' in the light of Your glory

Pour out Your power and love

As we sing holy, holy, holy”

Words simply stated lifted from Paul’s own imploring of the churches of Ephesus to have the eyes of their own hearts opened to the glory, love and honor of God through Jesus Christ. At the Resurrection God spoke loudly and clearly for everyone to hear and to accept His love.

Prayer: Heavenly Father You acted in a powerful, dramatic and transforming Way to redeem us. Forgive us please where we have failed to see what You did and are doing. Turn our hearts back to You. In Jesus Name we pray. AMEN.

Thanksgiving

Psalm 65

Thanksgiving for Earth’s Bounty

"Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy."

Prayer:  Father we stop in this day, fall on our face realizing that everything is from You.  You created the heavens and the earth and You gave us the ability to care for Your creation.  Thank You Father.  Thank You for redeeming us through Jesus Christ.  We pray this in Jesus Name.  AMEN.

Imitate what is Good

3 John 1:11, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.”


Our elected officials are imitating what is evil. This behavior must be called into accountability as John’s letter says about those in the church are imitating what is evil and must be exposed for their imitation of evil. Nothing that we do in this life and in this moment rises to the level of exposing these official malfeasances save our own salvation. It is our duty and responsibility to call them out else we will be doing harm to those who cannot fend for themselves. Today we must choose to imitate evil or imitate good and the good is Jesus Christ.


Prayer: Father thank You for today and thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ who saves us for eternal life. Help us to be strong in our faith in Jesus to stand unflinchingly for truth – Your Truth and do what is right and holy in Your sight. Thiis we pray in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Sharing in suffering

2 Corinthians 1:3-7, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.”


There are times when we ‘go through things together.’ We, as a Nation are going through some things together.’ There is a war or terror being fought globally, the economic recession that we face each day and the disparate morality that takes more and more souls each day. We endure these afflictions together. We do not function in a vacuum. What one suffers we all suffer. While some may be closer to the impact of each of these circumstances we are all connected by our humanity, our faith and our love. Let’s pray for one another and endure with one another. Let’s help one another bear the burdens.

Prayer: Father of all Creation and Author of Life we praise You and thank You for this day that wasn’t promised. We thank You for hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. Help us to endure and persevere in faith through Jesus Christ for we pray these things in His Holy Name. Amen.

Pray for those who Abuse you

Luke 6:27-36, “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”


At a church where I served as pastor, the parsonage was vacant – just sitting unused. A family needed a place to stay so it was offered to them. They were comfortable ‘taking’ whatever churches offered them. In fact, they took and took and took, even though the husband worked. I explained before they took the offer of the home that they would need to pay a small amount on the utilities. They failed for months to do so even though they kept showing up with new appliances, alcohol and tobacco (forbidden on church property). On several occasions I spoke with them about the problems that they were creating for themselves and with promises of ‘doing better’ they didn’t. One couple in the church asked me how many times I was going to let them ‘slap’ me in the face, scoffing at what I shared with them to do. I was ‘told’ to ‘get rid of those people.’ I remember looking at the couple and saying, “Jesus told us to pray for those who abuse us, who hate us, who wish us harm. What would you have me do?”

Prayer: Father help us to live into the courage of Jesus that teaches others how He lived and guides us to eternity. Let us be thankful to You for the gift of each day and of the redemption offered through Christ Jesus. Strengthen us for Your holy service, in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Stiff necks or soft hearts?

Luke 4:42-44, “At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.”

From Luke’s witness you can tell that the people of Israel were hungry for the Truth and Jesus fed them spiritually, fulfilling their hunger. He didn’t just preach in Israel but as Luke bears witness He taught in the synagogues all over Judea. His people, the House of Jacob, were historically a stiff-necked people whom God used as His example for the world that the world may come to know Him. The House of Jacob was ‘chosen’ to be taught and led because, in part, they were so obdurate. Jesus’ message remained constant – God’s desire for us to be restored, reconciled and redeemed to Him. Where are we today? Do we remain obdurate or are we willing to be restored, reconciled, and redeemed to God through Jesus Christ?

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You for today. Thank You for lovingly calling us back to You through Jesus’ sacrificial act of redemption on the cross. Help us to hear Your powerful call on our lives to be restored perfectly back to You. We pray this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Let she or he who is without sin...

John 7:53-8:11, “Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”]]"

Often the application of the Decalogue or Ten Commandments has a sin hierarchy. Some sins are worse than others. Notwithstanding blasphemy which God alone holds as unpardonable the Ten Commandments are sin in God’s sight and forgivable. The scribes and Pharisees don’t seem to think so. They’re going to stone this woman to death until Jesus confronts them on their own sinful ways. Later in Jesus ministry at the end of His earthly time the scribes and Pharisees knew the only thing that they could ‘charge’ Him with that could not be argued by everyday folk was blasphemy. The lesson today is about the sinful nature of all humanity as an affront to God. These Temple leaders were going to kill this woman for adultery when Jesus stopped them with their sins. The truth is that all of us are sinners none more so or less so – all have sinned and that was and is His point. Only Jesus judges – we seek forgiveness.

Prayer: Father thank You for this glorious day in Your kingdom. Thank You for Jesus and thank You for forgiveness and mercy. Help us not to judge lest we be judged. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Peace be within you

Psalm 122

“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together.
To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.”
For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” says the Psalmist. As we consider the plight of the world today and the unwillingness of those who oppose Jerusalem and Yahweh we know that the world has stood in opposition to what God has called us to do and to love. We should not be deterred in our faith and our beliefs. God is faithful and so too we must be faithful. In the midst of great tragedy there is great strength and comfort. Seek God’s strength and God’s comfort and you will find a solace that has no peer. We will attain God’s peace within our hearts and souls.

Prayer: Father we thank You for today. We thank You for Jesus Christ. We thank You for redemption and restoration. Help us to seek You in all our ways and paths. Help us gain that inner peace that only You can give. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Not everyone who calls My Name

Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’”

“Only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” What is the will of God? Jesus didn’t change anything that God ever said through His prophets. We have but to look at the Ten Commandments to realize the Father’s will. The first four commandments are about our relationship with God and the remaining six are about our relationship with one another. Jesus summarized God’s will through the Ten Commandments this way, “Love God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” It means that we are to worship God, pray, study the Bible have Christian conference with one another, follow in faith what Jesus teaches us and we are to love one another.

If you show up in church on Sunday and present a holy self it is not enough. The other six days must be as holy in your life and your relationship with one another must be holy as well. You can call out Jesus’ Name day in day out but if your life doesn’t reflect a transformed self then all the calling and begging on the planet won’t change the outcome – condemnation. We must live holy lives in accordance with our faith.

Prayer: Merciful God, thank You for waking us to this day. You have spared us eternal damnation through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. Thank You! We love You and wish to serve only You. Bless us and strengthen us for Your service. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Comfort

Psalm 23
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

Our prayers this night are for the families, soldiers, friends and coworkers of the men and women who were gunned down at Ft. Hood today. This tragedy is unspeakable and devastating. Please pray for them and the dangerous work that our soldiers perform.

Prayer: Father, thank You for today and for Your Son Jesus Christ. You saw what happened today at Ft. Hood. Our hearts are saddened and hurt by this unnecessary act of violence. Help those who suffer this night the great loss of unexpected death and wounding. Heal them and strengthen them. We pray also for those who committed these senseless acts that they may come to You and seek forgiveness from those whom they harmed. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.

Living Water

John 4:7-15, “A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

This experience at the well has long been a touchstone of faith for me. It is a reminder of how Jesus sees each of us; not stained, nor damaged or beyond hope. Jesus takes this woman’s heart into His loving hands and tenderly offers her eternal waters, living waters, in the Kingdom of Heaven. There is no issue of nationality or race it is about God’s love through Him to her. It is the same for each one of us. Jesus speaks to us individually through this encounter. It is our choice to live into Jesus Christ’s offering of living water.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for this day and for Your Son Jesus Christ whose offering of living water is made to us as well. We will drink from that eternal promise. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.