Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-31-18

Grace for your spirit
I will set no worthless thing before my eyes;  Psalm 101:3

This is a really great commitment for us all.  When we feast our eyes on worthless things, the will always draw us away from the things that are worthy.   Now we need to make sound judgments on the things that are worthless.  God invites us into His Word, encourages us to walk with Jesus, and commune with the Holy Spirit.    These actions will train our mind to know what is worthless.  Now let's keep ourselves from them.  No, don't even look that way.  Do we hear an alarm going off?

Monday, July 30, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-30-18

Grace for your spirit
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, Behold you have become well, do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you."   John 5:14

Jesus had just healed a man who was crippled and had been ill for thirty eight years.  What could be worse than being crippled for 38 years?  Jesus warned him not to sin so that nothing worse would happen to him.  Many times we are blessed with healing from God, and show no appreciation, abusing our freedom by living a life of sin.  A state that is far worse than the former.  Sickness is temporary, sinfulness is eternal.  Let's show appreciation with faithfulness.

Friday, July 27, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-27-18

Grace for your spirit
The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord.  He turns it wherever He wishes.  Proverbs 21:20

Have we ever put our hands in a stream?  By turning our hand one way and then another, we can change the course of the waters flow.  God can do that with the hearts of men, even kings.  Nehemiah worked for a tyrant king in a foreign land.  He needed the kings help, but he also knew that was an impossible task.  Nehemiah prayed for four months for God to show him a way.  Finally, God changed the heart of that king and granted Nehemiah all he needed.  Do we have an stubborn, immovable person in our lives?  God can change the heart of that person, and cause the help us.  May we pray and plan for better days ahead.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-26-18

Grace for your spirit
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Matthew 6:12

Are we willing to forgive in the same amount and measure as God forgives us?  When Saul of Tarsus was on his rampage he saw himself as being blameless. He needed no grace and he had no grace to give After his conversion, Paul counted himself as the chief of sinners. Desperately needing God grace and forgiveness, he became generous in his grace to others.  How about us? If we feel we are blameless having no need for grace and forgiveness, we will very little to give to others.  That is a flaw and fatal mistake because it limits God grace that we need.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-25-18

Grace for your spirit
Set up for yourself roadmarks. Place for yourself guideposts; Direct your mind to the highway, the highway by which you went.  Return, O virgin of Israel, return to your cities.  Jeremiah 31:21

Israel was about to be led away from their home to the bondage of Babylon.  These were God's exhortations to remember the way home.  When I am lost far from home, I try to make special note of landmarks so I can find my way back.  The same is true for our spiritual walk.  When we are wandering far from God, let's make note of the way back, so we can find our way back home too.

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-24-18

Grace for your spirit
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  James 1:17

There are so many misconceptions about God.  Many think He is only watching to punish us for wrong.  When we get to know God, we learn that he loves us, cares for us, and that all good things in our life come from Him.  How thankful we can be that He is good all the time and never changes.  In Him we live, and move, and have our being.  Let's never blame God for anything, but rather appeal to Him for the blessing we need.

Monday, July 23, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-23-18

Grace for your spirit
Then some of the children were brought to Him so that he might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.  Jesus said "Let the children alone and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.  Matthew 19:13-14

Apparently the disciples saw no need for children.  They had no value to them and only got in the way of their pursuits.  Could it have been that the disciples felt this way about all kinds of people?  The children were a object lesson for them.  Never pass over people who you don't think bring value to the kingdom and the church.  All souls have value and the gospel is for all. 

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-18-18

Grace for your spirit
And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  II Chronicles 7:14

Right after Solomon's temple was dedicated, God spoke of the promises and warnings that would come their way.  If His people followed His conditions, they would be blessed.  If they didn't they would feel the punishment of the Lord.  The same is true today. IF is the heart of life.  L IF E.  Let's all humble ourselves to obedience and blessings.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-17-18

Grace for your spirit
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?  And who may stand in His Holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart.    Psalm 24:3-4

Jerusalem and the temple were on the highest hill in Israel.  There were several cleansing rituals for them to reach the temple with clean hands.  Unfortunately, there were no cleansing stations for the heart.  Too often their relationships with the Father left them without pure hearts.  May we remember as we approach worship, it is not our "Sunday-go-meeting" clothes, but pure hearts that open the doors to the heart of God.  Jesus said it this way, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Monday, July 16, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7=16=18

Grace for your spirit
David was playing the harp with his hand.  Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, so that he stuck the spear into the wall.  And David fled and escaped that night.     I Samuel 19:9-10

David played his harp for King Saul to sooth him and keep him from suffering greatly.  Eventually Saul's anger turned to David, and while David tried to comfort him, Saul tried to kill David.  When an evil spirit gets hold of anyone, it is difficult for it to be controlled.  We can even turn on those who want to help us the most.  Let's fill ourselves with the Spirit of God and make no room for any evil spirit to control us.  Everyone around us will be grateful.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-13-18

Grace for your spirit
For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:20

Years ago, an elder told our congregation that this was the scariest verse in the Bible to him.  He was frightened about the challenge of surpassing the righteousness of the Pharisees.  In fact, they were not righteous, they only thought they were righteous.  Fact two, when we become Christians, the righteousness of God in Christ clothes us in His righteousness.  Walking with Christ, we exceed their righteousness the first day and every day.  Thank God for the great gift we don't have to earn.

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-12-18

Grace for your spirit
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Matthew 5:9

When the angels came to proclaim the coming of Jesus, they proclaimed glory to God, and peace among men with whom He is pleased.  Our peace with God is based on our relationship with Him.  It came to us through His Son, and now we have the opportunity to spread that peace to our world.  Go and be blessed, O sons of God.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-11-18

Grace for your spirit
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,  on those who hope for His lovingkindness.  Psalm  33:18

When we walk with the Lord, we can be assured that His eyes are on us, His ears are open to us, and our good works are pleasing to Him.  Because we have that walking talking relationship, we can continually be confident of His love. We know He will deliver us in troubled times, and our heart rejoices in Him always.  That is the abundant life Jesus promised us. 

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-10-18

Grace for your spirit
A perverse heart shall depart from Me; I will know no evil.  
Psalm 101:4

Would we like to be forgiven and enjoy a refreshing relationship with God?  May I suggest that we try walking with God, and opening our heart to Him and His will.  Many people say they want a closer more satisfying walk with Him, while going another way.  Evil hearts are "refresh-proof".  Our repentance opens that door and the handle is only on the inside. 

Monday, July 9, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-9-18

Grace for your spirit
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will not escape.  Proverbs 19:5

"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."
From Genesis to Revelation, God speaks strongly against lying.  People often think they will get ahead with lies, even when God promises that ultimately we will not escape judgment.  We tangle ourselves up with people, lying and lying to cover our lies.  Worse than that, we tangle ourselves up with God.  Let's make a commitment to live by truth, be known for our truthfulness, and never get involved in anything we think we need to cover up.

Friday, July 6, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-6-18

Grace for your spirit
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.    Psalm  33:12

Peter spoke of  Christians being a royal priesthood and a holy nation, created  for God's own possession.  How blessed we will be when the Lord is our God, and we walk with His mission and create an inheritance for Him.  The family of Jesus are the chosen ones to carry out His will.  Let's all be a part of that, never giving up or giving in.

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-5-18

Grace for your spirit
In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them.  To You they cried out and were delivered;  In you they trusted and were not disappointed,  Psalm 22:4-5

This is a great thought of confidence that we all need every day.  God's record of performance is heart warming.  They trusted, they cried out, they were delivered and never disappointed.  May we never forget to trust, cry out, and thank Him when we have been delivered.  This is what the generations have passed on to us.  Let's get with it, so we can pass it on in our days.

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-3-18

Grace for your spirit
A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.   Proverbs 12:23

A prudent person is known to  be wise, discreet and careful about what they say and do,  The prudent person does not need to tell everything they know about everyone.  The heart of fools loves to talk about things that are not their concern. If spreading gossip is your only talent, may I suggest you bury it.  The disciple of Christ needs to have control of their words and action.  We should pray for a prudent heart.

Monday, July 2, 2018

Grace for your spirit 7-2-18

Grace for your spirit
Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.  For He inflicts pain and gives relief; He wounds, and He hands also heal.  Job 5:17-18

Most of us are more concerned with being happy in the short run, than in the long run.  God knows that in order for us to end up happy, there needs to be some unpleasant reproving, rebuking, and exhorting along the way.  Unfortunately, in order to make it to the "promised land," we will need to spend some time in the valleys.  Let's thank God that although He must wound, He always heals.  Let's learn to rejoice in His reproving.