Confess and Believe

PRAYER PRACTICE

Prayer Journal – To begin your daily worship today, grab a pen and paper and write out a prayer to God. Not sure what to write? Try using ACTS to frame your prayer. Begin with adoration for who God is. Then move on to confession – being real about where you have fallen short in the last day or two. Give thanks to God for all that He gives (including forgiveness for the sin you just confessed!). And then finish with supplication – with your prayer requests to God. When you are done, tuck this away somewhere (so you can read it later and see how God has answered your prayers) and then move into hearing from God through His Word.

DAILY READING

Romans 10: 1-21

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

God's Righteousness; Confess and Believe

by Tom Richards

Today we read about the apostle Paul’s sincere love and concern for his fellow Jews. His “heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” He further states “that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” Paul’s concern was that the Israelites had rejected Jesus and continued to strive to earn a righteous standing with God through the law.

Does Paul know what he is talking about when it comes to the Jews? The answer is clearly “yes’! This is the same Paul (Saul) who persecuted the early Church. The same Paul who was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” as we read in Philippians 3:4-6 “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless."

Yet Paul came to realize that his pursuit of righteousness through the law did not work. His encounter with Jesus on the “road to Damascus” changed everything; so much so that in Philippians 3:8-9 he describes his accomplishments in his previous life as follows: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

The unbelieving Jews in Paul’s day clung to the belief that they could somehow earn their righteousness with God. They “did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own.” Do we know people like that? Do we know people who consider themselves to be “good” but do not believe in Jesus? Do we fall into the trap of thinking we can earn our own righteousness with God by being “good”? 

Thankfully, in Romans 10:4 Paul shares the good news that “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." In Romans 10:9-10 he goes further, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” That is great news! That is the gospel!

Father, help us to have the same zeal for our unbelieving friends and neighbors as Paul did for his fellow Jews.  Help us to submit our possessions and accomplishments to your will. Please allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives so that we can share the good news of Jesus to an unbelieving world.  Amen

Overcoming the Enemies in Your Life

By Thomas Denegre

We know how David overcame Goliath (1 Samuel 17). In a similar way, one woman, through Christ, overcame a South American tribe’s culture of death into life.

In the jungles of Ecuador, 33-year-old Elisabeth Elliot watched in horror as a dead man floated down the river with eighteen spears embedded in him.  The dreaded Auca tribe, known for their savagery and killings, had infiltrated her host’s village.  Filled with mixed feelings, Elisabeth made contact with the tribe she planned to evangelize with the Gospel.  Two years earlier, her husband Jim Elliot and four other missionaries were speared to death by the same tribe when they tried to evangelize to them.  Just as David was going to confront Goliath (1 Samuel 17), Elizabeth was going to confront her own foe.  Yet, her mission was not to destroy her enemy but to save them.

In the end, Elisabeth befriended the tribe and by modeling the virtues of Jesus she won many of them over to Christ.  Taken back by her character of humility, compassion, forgiveness, kindness, courage, and openness, 20% of the tribe received Jesus as their Lord. 

When she arrived in 1959 six out of ten Auca men died before the age of forty-five from homicide.  The Auca’s were a savage people and killing was an accepted form of behavior.  Within a few years the homicide rate dropped to 10% and the tribe’s population increased from 600 to 2,000 people.  The tribe changed their name from Auca to Waorani, meaning they are “the true people.” Clearly, the acceptance of Christ in these people’s hearts changed the culture of the tribe from death into life.  As Jesus once said, “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have to come to bring life, and bring it abundantly.” (John 10:10).

So, how do we overcome our great enemies in life?  More importantly, how do we love our enemies when they want to kill us?  As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” Elisabeth Elliot, who wrote the book, “End of the Spear,” gives us the lessons to conquer our enemies.  Here are just few things I learned that you can apply to your life today, that can make a difference.

The prophet Hosea once said, “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6) Or, as one of Murphy’s Law states, “if all else fails read the instructions.” As God plainly instructs us, we are called to plant and grow His Word in our heart and mind to prosper in all things.

Based on my own experience with prison ministry and mentoring immature Christians, the lesson is simple.  In John 15, Jesus is the source of life, truth, and the way while we receive and apply this source of love and life to others. Jesus said, “If you live in life-union with me (Jesus) and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire, and it will be done.  When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!” (John 15:7-8 TPT)

By being in life union with Jesus and knowing his Words, I’m given the power, authority and strength to love, forgive, and care for others.  Not only does it change my life, but it changes those around me.  Today, the wardens of Ohio prisons are demanding more prison ministries to its inmates because it changes lives and changes the culture of a prison.  Just like the Auca tribe, the blessings of God are bestowed to those who hear, believe, and do his word.

To have the courage to face your enemy requires a large faith, confidence, and trust in the Lord. Elisabeth was soaked in the word and it gave her the strength and compassion to encounter her enemy.  It was not her facing the enemy, but Christ inside her that did.

Three things matter most in our faith journey. One is knowing the word of God. Two, is visualizing it working, and three being obedient to His Word.  As St. Paul said in Romans, “So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17).  Equally important is visualizing the hope of God in your heart. “For the heart is the wellspring of Life.” (Proverbs 4:20)

You have to conceive the Word, then you believe what it says, and then you’ll receive its promises. God calls us to meditate on the word to conceive its blessings as it is written in Psalm 1.  For it says,

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And, in His law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season,

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Yes, God prospers us when we own the Word of God in our heart and mind! I learned that by meditating on the Word in my heart God has prospered me with a rich life with Jesus in the Kingdom of God, and a blessed life with my wife, family and friends. Through humility I opened my heart to his love and his teachings.  By seeing how Jesus works in the Word, I can manifest these blessings from my mind’s eye into reality.  It is the same way Elisabeth was able to convert the tribe from a culture of death to Life, and the same way you can do it too.

Finally, you will always encounter doubts when facing difficult circumstances.  The way out is simple; never trust your own reasoning based on earthly teachings, never trust the reasoning of an unbeliever, and never trust the reasoning of a Christian who does not know or honors the Word of God.  Rather, through the Holy Spirit, always trust in the Word of God and the counsel of like-minded Christians. Just as Elisabeth trusted God in the jungles of Ecuador, you too can trust God to change your life and those around you.

Loving the unloved

by Thomas Denegre

Unloved is hell.  There is no worse experience than to be unloved.  Orphan babies left untouched in their cribs die within weeks from unloved. Children who are unloved by their parents develop wounds in their hearts that disable them.  Grievances are stored and cataloged bearing a fruit of rage, bitterness, and resentment. Children join criminal gangs just to get a little love. The unloved despise God and see him as the enemy. They see their condition based on a God who is indifferent. God is considered cruel. How are the unloved to be saved? 

This week’s reading gives us a clue to the answer, for it reads;

16 We have come into an intimate experience with God’s love, and we trust in the love he has for us. God is love! Those who are living in love are living in God, and God lives through them. 17 By living in God, love has been brought to its full expression in us so that we may fearlessly face the day of judgment, because all that Jesus now is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:16-17

For the past twenty years as a Christian leader in the Kairos prison ministry I have experienced a bridge that takes the unloved into God’s kingdom.  Here’s what I discovered.

There are two sides to every bridge.  For me to enter the side of the lost I learned a person doesn’t care what I know, until they know that I care.  If possible, it was important  to understand the person first before being understood.

I noticed a few trademarks of the lost.They live under a banner of pride and self-centeredness. They identify themselves with the wounds of their heart and the heavy load of grievances they carry. It's a false and self-destructive identification.  Being teachable was a problem. They carry deep feelings of anger, rebellion, fear, grief, apathy, guilt, and sometimes humiliation.  By being inwardly focused on their misery, they generally could not see the light touching them.  Sadly, they viewed God as being indifferent, vengeful, condemning, or at worse, despising. Life is viewed as survival; not joyful.

When reaching out to the lost, the biggest failure I made was trying to save them with my own love. I did not have the capacity, nor the ability nor the job description to do it.  Paul expressed this in Romans, “hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Rom. 5:5

 

Clearly it was God’s job to love and to save the lost while nourishing and empowering his saints to carry out the mission. By living in life union with Jesus and having his words living powerfully within me, it was easy to allow God's love to flow through me. By having an intimate relationship with Jesus, I was capable of extending that same relationship to the unloved. More than anything else the unloved want to be loved. When the unloved knew they were genuinely loved, then they refocus their view from themselves to the source of the love.

By relying on the Holy Spirit I’m able to see the lost person as God does. I channel the Holy Spirit by acknowledging the goodness, uniqueness, value, gifts, and love to that person.  I let them know that before the foundations of the earth were made, they were loved.  How precious is that?

To cross the bridge from darkness into light, the unloved person must trust God and believe that he is a God of love and abundant life.. By being affirmed that they are loved, they must take the courage to cross the line from darkness into the the truth. It requires them to open their hearts to God so he can heal their wounds and empty their grievances. 

As saints abiding in God, we have the intimate relationship and love to reach the unloved.  It is through this genuine love that draws the sinner to trust, believe, open their heart, and take the courage to cross the bridge to salvation.

Ready to Declare?

John 1:9-13

The world didn’t recognize him, they didn’t even notice.  Not being recognized for who you are and what you mean; not being believed, can be crushing.  We all want to be recognized and validated and have people believe in us.  

Was Jesus hurt by this?  Was he disappointed and frustrated?  If he came as a man to live among men, then he had feelings.  He felt what others felt, yet it was heaped with a God-sized portion of empathy.  It’s why he hung out with the “lowly.”  

Jesus knew what it was like to be overlooked and taken for granted.  He knew pain, but the difference was he didn’t let it cloud his vision and cause him to lash out, shut down and abandon his mission.  Jesus knew the truth and he wasn’t about to let people’s failure to take notice throw him off course.  

He came to make those who believed, children of God.  Why children and not men and women of God?  Because a child’s capacity to believe is so much greater.  Once we’re tainted by life, it gets harder and harder to believe in anything. Our minds want to study and analyze and prove or disprove any information we receive.  It’s why it’s so much harder to convince us of anything at 40, than it is at four.

Some say that children are naive and unwise, but what I wouldn’t give to love with abandon the way a child does.  I want to be a child of God, I need to be a child of God, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. 

It’s that simple.  Believe, and receive the right to become His child.  In this new year, are you ready to declare (or redeclare) your status as His child?  It’s not a step back - it’s really the only way forward.  

Enjoy the journey in 2019!

Trust Issues

Faith. Belief.  These two words all come down to one thing. Trust.

Do you easily trust others?  I know I don’t.  I struggle relinquishing control to someone else.  I have lived much of my life following the motto, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”

Why is it hard for us to trust others?  The obvious answer is, because they could fail us.

Is it hard for you to trust God?  Ouch! Is that a hard question to be honest about?  Trusting God can be hard because we can’t control the outcome.  We can know in our head that God wants the best for us, but trusting with our heart is not as easy.

Our scripture passage today says,

“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

and also,

“However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.” 

Abraham trusted God.  God said, pack up your stuff and your family and go to the place I will show you.  So Abraham trusted God and obeyed. 

I have found it easier to trust others the more I know them.  I trust my husband because we have been married for 18 years. The closer you are to someone, the more you know if they are trustworthy, and the easier it is to give them control.

The same goes for God. The closer we get to him.  The more we know about him.  The easier it is to trust him.  If he is a stranger to you, it only makes sense that you don’t trust him.

Corrie ten Boom said it wonderfully, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”  If you don’t know him yet, today’s a good day to start.  Trust me, it will be worth it.

Trials and Temptations/Ask for Wisdom Without Doubt

James 1: 2-8

How often God removes our shackles in the furnace of affliction.  (Streams in the Desert-April 2)

A few days ago, Judy sited this line from a daily devotional. As we travel through this week’s reading on doubt and trials I believe it’s worth repeating and internalizing.

James, the brother of Jesus began the book of James by asking us to consider it pure joy to face trials and that the testing of our faith develops perseverance.

James wasn’t suggesting we should be glad we are in pain, but because of the benefit coming our way as a result of the pain.

I know a couple that suffered a tremendous loss when their teenage daughter took her own life about seven years ago. Before this event, the entire family was connected and involved in their church. After all the formalities were taken care of and the funeral was behind them, the mother of the teen developed intense bitterness and refused to attend church. She was angry with God for taking her child and to this day she bears the burden only the Lord can remove. Her husband, on the other hand chose to use the pain to persevere and become mature and complete in the Lord. I see him regularly worshiping, maturing, sharing, and glorifying God with no doubt what so ever. He is a true man of God despite his experience in the furnace of affliction. He has allowed God to remove his shackles.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6

God offers to turn the pain we experience into something positive, but without Him the Bible offers no assurance that our pain will serve any good purpose. 

In the hands of our redeemer, Nothing is Wasted; by Jason Gray (listen) 

Read/Listen to James 1:2-8

Luke 24:13-33

On The Road To Emmaus

Two men traveling down a dirt road from Jerusalem to Emmaus were talking about everything that happened in Jerusalem to Jesus of Nazareth. They were approached by a stranger and asked what they were talking about. They could not believe he did not know of the event. He seemed oblivious. The two men share that “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.” They had hoped Jesus was going to redeem Israel, but shared great disappointed that it had not happened. That Jesus was not the one.

As they traveled on foot together, this stranger shared with them what was in the scriptures about Jesus. He knew the complete version of the story, for He WAS Jesus, but they did not recognize him. He wanted his followers to know that His life, death, and resurrection were all foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures. Can you imagine walking and talking with Jesus, and not knowing it’s him?

These two unknowing believers even got to share dinner with Jesus. At their table, Jesus broke bread and shared it with them. At that moment their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. Then in an instant, He disappeared. Just when they would have had the opportunity to have really had great conversation with Jesus, He vanished.

Perhaps there are times we too, unknowingly see, walk or talk with Jesus. He certainly has the power to arrive on the scene in a moments notice. If perchance Jesus does show up unannounced and in disguise, will we love Him as He modeled for us; unconditionally and without hesitation, with our whole heart?

This relational God we serve expects that of us. His sacrifice was for everyone. His love knows no boundaries. His forgiveness is unending. Is ours?

Read/Listen to: Luke 24:13-33

BELIEVE

Revelation 7:9-17

 

Following the Sugar Bowl, there was a billboard near my home that simply read, “BELIEVE”. The letters were scarlet and gray. Now I’m just guessing that its intent might have been to rally the Buckeye nation to get behind their team for the College Football Playoff championship game.

 

After all, it would have been easy to give up on the Buckeyes this year. They have dealt with numerous setbacks and adversity throughout the season, and yet here they were preparing for the championship game. Obviously the players and coaches didn’t lose hope, so this billboard was to help the fans not lose theirs.

 

The Christian church at the time of John’s revelation was suffering severe persecution from the Romans. The church needed hope. According to the notes in my Life Application Bible, “Revelation is written in “apocalyptic” form which is a type of Jewish literature which uses symbolic imagery to communicate hope (the ultimate triumph of God) to those in the midst of persecution”.

 

In today’s passage John describes, “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands”.     Revelation 7:9 NIV

 

Also included was this image: ^“All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God”.                   Revelation 7:11 NIV

 

Visualize these two scenes for a minute. Angels, and a multitude in white robes, both in the presence of the Lord worshipping Him.

 

Before the College Football Playoff started, Buckeye fans “hoped” their team would get to, and win, the Championship game. However, there was no certainty of it. Jesus is telling us through John, that we can be certain of His love, faithfulness and presence in our lives; we can be certain of His promises; we can be certain of His ultimate triumph.

 

Most of us haven’t experienced persecution but we have experienced the struggles of life: a lost job, the death of a family member, divorce, addiction. One thing that is certain in an uncertain world is Jesus – “the same yesterday today and forever”.

 

The Buckeyes may not win the championship every year, but you can hope and BELIEVE, with certainty, in the “ultimate triumph of God”.

 

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be your shepherd; ‘he will lead you to springs of living water. And God will wipe away your every tear from your eyes.”    Revelation 7:17 NIV

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%207%3A9-17&version=NIV;TLB
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Rev.7.9-Rev.7.17

 

 

Matthew 2: 1-12

                                                      Epiphany Sunday

                                            God in the Flesh                                   

Epiphany comes from two Greek words basically meaning to shine upon, to reveal, or to appear or manifest. At this place in scripture, the Epiphany celebrates God’s revealing or manifesting of Jesus’ identity as true God, Messiah, and Savior of the world.

From The Journey (A bible for seeking God and understanding life)

Reasons to Believe:

Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Micah wrote that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5: 2) When the Maji and King Herod wanted to know where the new king would be born, the Jewish leaders who knew the passage well were able to tell them. Detailed predictions like these, show that the Bible is unlike any other religious book in the world. Jesus is the only holy founder of a major world religion whose birthplace was prophesied hundreds of years in advance of his birth.

Today “wise” men and women continue to seek the word of God, and strive to live as Jesus lived. The Maji (wise men) who followed the star and found the Christ child, were a great example of ignoring worldly directions to protect the sanctity of the Lord. Herod told them to find the child and report back to him so he too could go and worship the child. Knowing that the intentions of the king were not to worship but to harm the baby, they did not comply with his command.

Each day of our lives we are faced with worldly choices that can result in dishonoring the word of God. We can choose to ignore the negative forces in this world for the honor and glory of His name, or we can weaken and comply. Though we may falter along the way, and it is difficult to remain strong, it is “wise.”

Read/Listen to Matthew 2:1-12 

John 14: 1-7, 32-29

Heaven

John 14 contains all the reminders we need. It holds comfort, guidance, truth and the promise of salvation in the words of Jesus.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my house there are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am.”

Jesus the Way to The Father

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”

“I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

“You heard me say I am going away and am coming back to you. If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.”

 ---

Each of these verses deserves a separate blog entry, for the power within them is immense. They do however, speak for themselves. I feel honored to be able to share so many powerful words of Jesus on one page.

Recently I attended the funeral of a friend's mother. The experiences reminded me of the grief I felt when I lost my parents, brother, and oldest son. Though the sorrow was at times overwhelming, I felt a peace knowing they were resting in the arms of God. I long for others to feel that sense of love and peace that comes only from knowing of, and trusting in these promises of the Lord delivered through Jesus.

Read/Listen to John 14

Joshua 24:29-33

"Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel." (Joshua 24:31)

Joshua was known as a servant of the Lord.  What an honor and privilege to have spent the past two months learning of this man who was used by God in such a powerful way. This book took us on a journey through a wilderness, into The Promised Land.  We witnessed God's miracles as He led His people to the other side of the Jordan without a drop of water touching them.


God escorted the people to victory after victory over enemies more powerful than this army could have handled on their own.  God truly went before them paving a path of conquests and triumphs.  Looking back on my life I can see God going before me also, clearing away stumbling blocks and fallen logs that would impede my steps.

God’s presence in my life has made the difference between success and failure, pain and happiness, despair and hope. Joshua's work for the LORD has influenced me. I want to be like him, leaning on the promises made centuries ago to descendants never met but through stories and family tales.  My heart desires to believe as Joshua did and to lead others to believe also.  What a legacy!

Read Joshua 24:29-33 here

Listen to Joshua 24:29-33 here

Mark 16: 1-8 He Is Risen!

"He is not here."
What do you mean He is not here? He was put through intense torture and ridicule, crowned with thorns, nailed to a wooden cross and left to die just hanging there! His body was laid within this tomb upon bloody cloaks once it was finished. A large stone secured the entrance. It was a stone no man could move on his own. This place was guarded. Now he is gone?

A young man dressed in a white robe was within the tomb. How could that be? He told the female visitors not to be alarmed. "You are looking for Jesus of Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."

He Is Risen: Listen...and turn it up!

Read "The Resurrection" passage
Listen to "The Resurrection" passage

Ecclesiastes 3:11 God's Timing Is Perfect

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

As I get older my thinking changes. I find myself more frequently pondering my future with the Lord, and as I believe many do, questioning once again my worthiness. Have I truly done what the Lord wanted me to do with my life. Did I use my gifts appropriately? Do I truly deserve a place at his side? This world and satan play games with our minds and often cause us to question and doubt.

The truth is this: as stated is Ecclesiastes, "....they cannot fathom what God has done....." I believe this is the bottom line. It is not humanly possible for us to understand what God's promises truly entail. What our eternal world will be like is only a fantasy in our minds. Minds that are far to small and inexperienced to comprehend the depth and breath of His unfailing love for us.

These eternal plans so often spoken of in the bible, are difficult for our minds to wrap around, and virtually impossible to truly grasp. Only time will tell,..... not in our time though, in God's time. If we trust in God with our lives and hearts, his good and masterful timing will take care of the rest. As the theme of the movie "The Polar Express" clearly communicates, Believe........................

God's Up to Somethin' -- Acts 11:4-18

Do you remember a VBS t-shirt imprinted, "God's up to somethin'?" I have repeated this phrase to myself many times when something in my life has taken an unexpected direction. It reminds me to keep closer to God and wait for something new to happen.

Peter knew God was up to something when he experienced a dream. The people around him, his fellow Jews, weren't open to the fact that God could change the rules, turn old things around and upside down.

Peter's reaction: "...Who was I to think that I could oppose God?" (vs. 17) He did the faithful thing by adapting and following what God's Spirit revealed. He opened to God. He trusted God. This gave him the strength and courage he needed. He led his fellow Jews into a new way of thinking. God is no longer just a God of the Jews. Now everyone is a child of God.

When God is up to something, new things can happen. We may or may not expect them. We may or may not be ready. But we know we can trust God to give us what we need to see our way through change.

What an awesome journey when we take on the courage to embrace something new God puts in our path!

Let's welcome the entire VBS t-shirt imprint: "God's up to Somethin', Count me in!"

We would like to hear your thoughts. Click on Comments below.

Read today's text on Biblegateway, Acts 11:4-18

Local Life - Titus 2:1-8

The Scripture today is convicting, especially to those who embrace the mistaken belief that if you can behave yourself, you are welcome to come to my church.  There are churches/people (churches are the people) which believe these words which I heard a church member boldly announce one day, "They can see the sign out front telling which church we are.  If they can't act like we do they need to find another place to go."  That statement brought tears to my eyes.

Titus still has his work cut out for him, as do we.  He was to promote right teaching which results in right living.  As we study this book we learn there is an order to things; an order to our progression from sinful non believers or fence sitters, to examples of Christian vitality and faith.

Belong, believe and behave are catchy phrases used in this day to explain that we aren't expected to have it all together when we come to church.  We aren't required to know what we believe and why, when we first walk through those doors.  Knowing the proper way to act, to dress, to speak, will come in time.  Our behavior too, will come around in time.

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." (Titus 2:7-8)

First we must encourage those we invite to come, join us today and we will sit together. This text is all about being an example to others, not a stumbling block.

Read the Titus 2:1-8 text here.  Listen to the Titus 2:1-8 text here.

John 20:19-29

Are you one of those trusting people who will believe what you are told, even if a stranger makes the statement?  I am not, and it used to drive my husband crazy.  Anytime he would repeat something he heard from a customer I would pepper him with questions about the statement, usually ending the discussion with, "You believe everything you hear?"  I am sure he didn't, he only shared those things with me that he did believe were true, but my negative nature questioned everything.

I have probably missed some mighty blessings because of my behavior.  Thomas could have missed out too, but Jesus gave him another chance to see and believe.  That second chance came at a price though.  Thomas missed a blessing because he didn't trust the word of his fellow disciples.  Jesus even told him, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

"Stop doubting and believe."  These were Jesus' words to Thomas.  I wonder how many times Jesus has said that to me.  Having faith is not an easy thing to learn.  It is our struggles with life that increase our faith - confusing, isn't it?  I am learning this is true.  My current pain and struggle with life has only strengthened my faith.  I have to lean on God and trust Him.  That is belief to me.

Read the John 20:19-29 text here.

Seeing Isn't Alway's Believing, John 14:1-11

Do you ever struggle believing God? I didn’t say believing in God, though some of us may struggle with that at times. Do you ever struggle believing God, believing that He loves you, or that He will take care of you. Maybe you struggle believing God will never leave you or forsake you.

There is a difference in believing in God and believing God. One way to know if you struggle believing God is by the amount of peace you feel. If life is hard, and stress is high yet you are surrounded by peace, you probably don’t struggle much with believing God. Peace comes from knowing you're not in control and the one who is can be trusted.

Jesus told his disciple in today’s scripture, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.” If you struggle believing God and experiencing His peace, stop and look around. Can you see evidence of God at work? Can you remember a time when God moved mightily in your life or the life of someone close to you?

If you find yourself in a state of unbelief cling to those memories. God will prove Himself faithful again, but He may be taking you through a valley right now and is calling you to wait on Him. Don’t worry He is still there and all he asks is that you believe.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway John 14:1-11

Saints in Heaven - Revelation - 21:22-22:6

As a child, I would often play make-believe.  My friends and I would go to a dream world, using our imagination as we interacted with one another.  Sometimes we would argue over who would be the good guy and who had to be the bad guy.  The one who wore the black hat would hide in the shadows while the white hatted hero got to ride off into the sunset victorious.

When I read the Book of Revelation I am amazed and awestruck.  It seems like the land of make believe I once played in; a place where all the bad became good, and evil lost out every time.  I don't recall any of these sessions ending with any of us gaining lots of money, but there was always laughter and happiness.

My small mind has this great vision of a perfect world, but it is so limited in scope that I will have to wait until the day Jesus reads of the Book, and calls my name to understand just what this will be like.  For now, I will cling to "These words are trustworthy and true.  The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, set his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place." (Revelation 22:6)

To read the complete text for today click here .  To return to this posting hit the back arrow.

The Empty Tomb John 20:1-9

The stone at the entrance to the tomb is gone. Where is the body of Jesus? While it is still dark, Mary is running to Peter and John. She tells them that the tomb is empty. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!”

Peter, who denied knowing Jesus, and John run quickly to the tomb to see what is happening. Their eyes settle on strips of linen lying inside the tomb. They see the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head neatly folded and laid aside. I can imagine a distressing stillness surrounding them.

Something happens to John and Peter as they stand peering into the empty tomb. It is said that John sees and believes. He believes Jesus is resurrected. John and Peter actually witness the resurrection through what they see in the tomb before it is written in Scripture as God's plan. How awesome, but overwhelming and confusing this experience must be!

As I read today's text, I find myself looking into the open tomb with John and Peter. I am a believer. I believe the tomb could not hold Jesus. I believe the evil in the world could not destroy the Truth of His resurrection. As at Easter, I raise my arms and say, "Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed!"

Email your comments, here. We enjoy hearing from you.

Read today's text, John 20:1-9, on Biblegateway.

Covenant Confirmed - Genesis 15

Abram believed and trusted God. He took Him at His word. He hung onto His promise. This can be said about faith and living by faith today; believing God will do what He says He will do.

At times we may get stressed from lack of understanding when God takes His time to act on things. But we realize in His perfect will, He knows the right time to act.

In today’s reading we note that Abram is stressed and God reassures him by confirming His promise. The promise of a child or many children to Abram has not been completed. The same is true about the possession of land. He just doesn't see and understand God’s plan. Basically Abram has to trust God to fulfill His promise even long after Abram is dead.

The message seems to be that God is repeating His promise to test or prove Abram's faith. God is working in Abram's life. What really matters is Abram believes and trusts God when He speaks. He can’t see God, but he believes Him. It is all about faith alone!

God is looking today for hearts that are willing to believe, trust and obey Him. Today I am asking myself, "Could I respond to God as Abram did?" How is your heart?

Want to comment? Click on Comment below.

If you would like to send your comments to us by email, click here.

To read today's text on Biblegateway, click here for Genesis 15