Grace for your spirit 9-30-16

Grace for your spirit

He leads me beside quiet waters.    Psalm 23:2

The good shepherd knows that sheep will not drink from swiftly running water.  The are clumsy and fear tripping and falling in.  He finds still, quiet waters for refreshing.  Jesus is our good shepherd.  He knows our needs and our fears and leads us in the paths to nurture and fulfill us. When we make the Lord our shepherd, we shall not want.

Grace for your spirit 9-29-16

Grace for your spirit

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us;   Exodus  32:1

Moses was on the Mountain getting the 10 commandments.  He was gone awhile and the people got impatient and tired of waiting.  It didn't take long for them to rebel and build a gold calf to lead them.  Are we impatient like that ?  When God doesn't meet out needs right away, do we give up on Him and search for an idol?  It was a gigantic mistake for them, and it is for us too.  Let's wait on the Lord,, and take courage.  He is coming to meet our needs. 

Grace for your spirit 9-28-16

Grace for your spirit

Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.  Proverbs  10:23

Some people go wild over sports.  They are extreme fans, in fact they are fanatics.  They not only identify with their teams, they think they are part of it.  Solomon said for a fool wickedness is like a sport to them. For the man of understanding, they are fans of wisdom.  Whether we are fools or wise, one of the indicators is our sport; wickedness or wisdom.  Let's choose wisdom and become the man of understanding.

Grace for your spirit 9-27-16

Grace for your spirit

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.  Proverbs 10:25

When tornadoes, and hurricanes pass, some structures are gone while others stand firm.  The difference is often preparation and foundation. Jesus said the wise man builds his house on a rock so it will stand in the storms.  Our lives are the same.  When we access the righteousness of Christ, His foundation will be strong enough to stand the worst storms.  We all know they are coming, but not everyone gets ready.  Get ready!

Grace for your spirit 9-26-16

Grace for your spirit

When there are many words, transgression is  unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.  Proverbs 10:19

You've heard the saying, "Give a person enough rope and they will hang themselves."  Words can be like that too.  Many people talk and talk themselves into trouble.  Let's choose our words carefully, and keep them soft and sweet.  We never know when we might have to eat them

Grace for your spirit 9-23-16

Grace for your spirit

And the Lord said, "Do you have good reason to be angry?  

Jonah 4:4

Jonah defied God's call.  He ran from His presence.  He took a three day ride in a whale.  He preached repentance to his enemies and was wildly successful.  His success made him angry.  Later a plant that he was using for shade died.  This made him angry too.  We might say today that Jonah had "anger issues." The Lord had given him success in his mission and provided for him. He had no good reason for being angry.  How about us?  Does anger issues control our lives, even when we are successful.   If anyone has the right to be angry, it is God.  So, cut it out.

Grace for your spirit 9-22-16

Grace for your spirit

So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp saying, "Let neither man nor woman any longer perform work for the contribution of the sanctuary.  Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more.  Exodus 36:6

Do we know the difference between law giving and grace giving? Basically, law giving is "got to", and grace giving is "get to".  These people had previously thought that all of God's blessing belonged to them.  After a great ordeal of God's wrath and God's grace, their minds were changed.  Under God's grace, when the call went out for the building of the Ark of the Covenant, they abounded in giving, and had to be restrained.  Let's no longer think what we "have to do", and start praising God for what we "get to do".

Grace for your spirit 9-21-16

Grace for your spirit

And Nathaniel said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  John 1:46

When Philip was trying to get Nathaniel to Jesus, Nathaniel objected. Philip could have argued with him about the prophecies of Moses and the Prophets, and what he had experienced personally.  Instead, he simply said to Nathaniel, "Come and see."  Our world today is very skeptical about churches, religions, and Jesus.  No one will ever be won over until they really see Jesus.  Just ask them to "Come and see."

Grace for your spirit 9-20-16

Grace for your spirit

And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house,, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.  Mark 2:15

When Jesus called Levi the tax collector to follow Him, He opened new doors of opportunity immediately.  Levi immediately invited Jesus to eat with his friends, his fellow tax collectors.  These were people that the religious people of the day would not and could not reach.  Jesus, the Great Physician, was eager to touch them with the love of God.  Even today, each and every person that has been touched by Jesus, has a unique circle of friends and influences.  Let’s open some new doors for Jesus today.  It will lift our day like nothing else can.

Grace for your spirit 9-19-16

Grace for your spirit

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel.  Numbers 14:5

When Israel received the report of the 12 spies in Canaan, they cried all night, they grumbled, and wished they had died in Egypt.  They sought to appoint new leaders to take them back to Egypt.  Their leaders were so crushed by this, they fell on their faces in a demonstration of sorrow, fear, and humility.  In our current rebellion and apostasy, we need some church leaders to fall on their faces in sorrow, fear, and humility.  We desperately need to let God and the church know we are serious about the challenges before us.  What will it take to get on our faces before the Lord?

Grace for your spirit 9-16-16

Grace for your spirit

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

Jesus was able to endure the sacrifice because He kept His eyes on the prize.  "For the joy set before Him" is the key.  As we travel life's road of trials on our journey to the throne of God, may we never dwell on our troubles but the glory to come. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus for all things, and He will bring us through troubles and guide us home.

Grace for your spirit 9-15-16

Grace for your spirit

Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.  Philemon 20

Paul wrote to Philemon asking him to forgive his former slave Onesimus, who had stolen from him, and later met Paul.  After Onesimus became a Christian, Paul sent him back that they might be reconciled.  Paul hoped for the best in this meeting, and expected great things to come from it.  It would also refresh and benefit Paul's heart as well. When we do God's will, we not only refresh ourselves, we also send refreshments to all those around us.  Refreshments for everyone.

Grace for your spirit 9-14-16

Grace for your spirit

They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning with us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"  Luke 24:32

The men on the road to Emmaus were walking with Jesus, but didn't know it.  Like Isaiah who felt the burning coals on his lips, and Jeremiah who had a burning in his bones, they felt the fire of the Spirit within them and they were compelled to leap into action.  May His Word burn within us until we are launched into action and service for our Master.

Grace for your spirit 9-13-16

Grace for your spirit

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.  Hebrews 12:28

It seems everything changes.  The kingdoms of earth rise and then fall. The things we have counted on go away, and even the solid ground we stand on experiences quakes.  May we never take God's blessings for granted. Let's show our gratitude by honoring God with respect and service.

Grace for your spirit 9-12-16

Grace for your spirit

"Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb."  Revelation 19:9

In the Bible, Jesus is pictured a bridegroom, and Christians are called the Bride of Christ.  One of the focal points in the future is the time when the bride and groom can be joined for eternity.  What a blessing to receive an invitation to that event.  Our R.S.V.P. is our faithfulness and purity.  The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  Where else would we want to be?

Grace for your spirit 9-

Grace for your spirit

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Have you ever seen a dangerous stunt performed on television that was accompanied by this warning? "Don’t try this at home". Too many Christians are performing a dangerous stunt each week. They are trying to grow and prosper as Christians at home alone.  

Grace for your spirit 9-8-16

Grace for your spirit

But let your statement be, Yes, yes, or No, no; anything beyond these is of evil.  Matthew 5:37 / James 5:12

Do we have to swear on a stack of Bibles that we are telling the truth? Cross your heart,  hope to die, stick a needle in your eye?  As Christians, we should never have to swear by anything that we are telling the truth.  Our word should be our bond.  For us, Yes should mean Yes and No, no.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Our Christian character and our word should be our bond.

Grace for your spirit 9-7-16

Grace for your spirit

For they disciplined us for a short time, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  Hebrews 12:10

God calls for us to be holy as He is holy.  He calls for our sanctification, and separation from the world.  The discipline that he leads us to is definitely for our good. It is the threshold to holy living.  Without discipline we cannot reach those goals.  Discipline doesn't feel good in the short run, but it is always best for the long run.

Grace for your spirit 9-6-16

Grace for your spirit

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.  John 13:35

If we would slip in and out of church pews asking people how they can show they are true disciples, we would get lots of answers.  Some might say, "church attendance, baptism, and generous giving.  Others might say, a bumper sticker, a cross pin, or by carrying a big Bible.  All those are easy compared to the Jesus proposed.  He has asked us to love our enemies, love the unlovable, and love our brethren.  Love.  That's our sign.  Wear it.

Grace for your spirit 9-2-16

Grace for your spirit

A certain man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to those who had been invited, 'Come for everything is ready now.'  But they all alike begin to make excuses...Luke 14:16-18

This parable given by Jesus was a picture of His invitation to His kingdom, and His supper in heaven.  All the excuse makers missed it and their invitation were cancelled.  Jesus is still calling, What is our answer?  Remember the old song, "Excuses, Excuses"

Excuses, excuses, you'll hear them every day.

And the Devil he'll supply them, if the church you stay away.

When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses

So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses.

Let's respond to Jesus, not the devil.

Grace for your spirit 9-1-16

Grace for your spirit

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another a more important than yourselves; Philippians 2:3

Almost every sin we commit can be directly traced to selfishness, conceit, and only thinking only of ourselves.  If we would put ourselves last, and have the attitude of Jesus, most of our sins would go away. When our purposes are like Christ's purposes, we will walk after the Spirit as we should.