You Can't Be Just a Little Bit Pregnant

Psalm 116:12-19

 

 

In 2001, Kevin Kline starred in a movie called, “Life as a House”. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, he decides to focus on repairing his relationships with his ex-wife and disenfranchised teenage son. He does so by recruiting them to help him rebuild his dilapidated house which sits in the middle of an upscale neighborhood. In the end, he admits that he always thought of his life as a house.

 

What are you building with your life?

 

Ray Boltz is a contemporary Christian musician. One of his songs is titled, “Thank you for Giving to the Lord”. It’s about a dream of two people visiting Heaven where person after person came up to them saying, “Thank you” for investing your life into mine. The things that this person had done were small, seemingly insignificant details of life that made a huge impact on them for eternity.

 

Who are you investing your life into?

 

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, is quoted as follows: “God has given you unique abilities, talents and gifts. At Saddleback Church, we say they represent a person’s SHARE – Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experiences. This bundle of talents is the thing God has given you that makes you who you are and sets you apart from other people.”          

 

How are you using your SHARE to build the kingdom?

 

The psalmist asks us this question: “What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?”  The answer is simple – all of you, everything that you have and are. He wants you to be fully committed. It’s like a woman who is pregnant. She’s not just a little bit pregnant, she is fully pregnant. She is fully committed to the child within her. It’s all or nothing.

 

In the same way, the Lord, our Father, is fully committed to us as His children. Even to the point of sacrificing His one and only son so that we might be reconciled to Him. By doing this, He has blessed us so that we might be a blessing to others.

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20116%3A12-19&version=NIV;GNT
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Ps.116.12-Ps.116.19

 

A Lesson Learned from Clark Kellogg

Philippians 4

　
　
Clark Kellogg is an announcer for CBS Sports. He was an All-American basketball player at Ohio State and went on to play in the NBA. He is also a solid believer in Christ who shares his faith by word and deed.

Last week there was a short article in The Columbus Dispatch about Clark. Apparently CBS switched him from the lead game analyst to a studio anchor. I don’t know how Clark actually felt about this change. The article said it was a "surprise he wasn’t expecting".

It’s possible that he could have felt like it was a demotion. He could have taken it that his bosses lost confidence in him. He might have felt like someone beat him out of his position. Maybe he loved and preferred doing the live game analysis. He could have felt angry and resentful.

Instead, here is Clark’s response: "Organizational change is inevitable. My job is to embrace and do my best in whatever job I’ve been given. I’ve always felt that nobody’s indispensable. I’m a team guy. The Bible says be joyful, prayerful and thankful at all times. That’s how I try to live."

There are changes that come along in all of our lives. Expectations are not met. It might be at work or in our marriage or with our kids. Maybe it’s a personal disappointment about ourselves. Life is dynamic, not static. It is constantly changing and we don’t have control over it as much as we would like to. So the question for us is how do we respond to these changes?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Paul was under house arrest when he wrote this. I’m pretty sure he could have thought of a thousand other places he would rather have been. I’m pretty sure he didn’t expect to be there. I’m pretty sure that this is one change that was a "surprise he wasn’t expecting".

"I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation."
And what is that secret?

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again rejoice."

　
　http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians%204&version=NIV;TLB
http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Phil.4

The Heart of the Leper

Watching thankfulness is a great spectator sport!  It’s fun, touching and heartening, all at the same time.  A smile that lights up a face ... a tear on a cheek ... a pause to absorb an expression of love ... arms thrown around a neck ... a squeal and a jump for joy.  True thankfulness cannot be contained in our spirits alone, but always seeks physical release.  Nor is it an obligation we begrudgingly dispatch, rather a natural response that pours forth from within us in both humility and joy.

When it comes right down to it, we are most grateful when we have received grace, an unexpected kindness.  But we're not always thankful ...

One day as Jesus was heading into a village, ten lepers called out to him, asking for pity on their condition.  At his instruction, they went to show themselves to the priests and, along the way, all of them were healed.  Yet only one returned to throw himself at Jesus’ feet and give, in exchange, a precious gift of his own – praise and thanksgiving from his heart to his God, his healer.  Surely, all ten men went home happy that day, but only one was thankful.

So Paul reminds us to be mindful of God's grace, as well, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).”   

Like the ten lepers, we have received grace.  Like the one leper, may we give, in return, our all.

“What language shall I borrow
     To thank thee, dearest friend,
For this thy dying sorrow,
     Thy pity without end?

O make thee thine forever,
     And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
     Outlive my love to thee.”

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Thanks for Unending Love - Psalm 136

As I read today's Psalm I kept singing the hymn: How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure…That He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure. I am reminded that throughout everything…throughout my life, God's love has never changed. His love for me has endured forever…and will continue forevermore.

Psalm 136 reminds us to give thanks to God for His great power and wisdom in creating the heavens and earth. (v 4-9) We are prompted to give thanks to God for rescuing us and protecting us. (v 10–22).Finally, the psalmist calls us to give thanks to God for His goodness and unfailing care. (v 23–26).

God gives us life, breath and food to sustain us. He rescues us, protects us, and delivers us. God cares for us. He gives us peace and joy. All we are, all we have, all we see is because of the Lord's faithfulness and love for us…His love that endures forever.

The psalmist reminds us 26 times to give thanks to God because "His love endures forever." Each time I read the words I am reminded how wonderful and powerful His enduring love is in my life. I don't understand it. I don't deserve it, but focusing on the Love of God brings me into His presence…I want to sing praise for His love, power, comfort, joy and strength…thanking Him for His unending love.

Read today's text on Biblegateway.

Thankful Praise -- Psalm 100

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  This day is set aside just for us to give thanks to God for all He has done for us; to give thanks for all He has given us.  During difficult or lean times, we seem to recognize just what we do have.  It is sometimes a challenge to see our blessings in the midst of trouble, but once we do see that God truly is with us; He really is the One in control, life can be sweeter.

I plan to take time today to read Psalm 100 -- it is short and to the point. Read it out loud and see if you don't feel His love and His presence in your heart.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
 ² Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations.

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

Don't Be Caught With Your Praise Down, Psalm 30

How often do you praise God? Do you make sure and thank Him for all the blessings you have? Often when I pray I immediately start pouring out my needs to God. Asking for wisdom, strength or guidance, I also pray for my family and friends. None of those prayers are bad or wrong, but many times I forget to praise God.

Our scripture today is full of praises to God. “I will exalt you, LORD… You lifted me out of the depths… you healed me.” The praises continue and then something at the end of the passage struck me. The psalmist writes, “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you?”

Wow, that made me think, would the lack of my praises be noticed if I were to pass away? I’m afraid to tell you what I think. All I know is, I have a lot to Praise God for and I should be filling the heavens with those praises. How about you, are you going to leave it to the dust to give God praise?

Read the entire passage on Biblegateway Psalm 30

Paul Gives Thanks - Ephesians 1:15-23

Do you know who you are?

Paul prays continually for the Ephesians. He gives thanks for their faith in Christ and their love for all God’s people. He continually asks God to give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. He prays that the eyes of their heart be enlightened; that the Truth be revealed to them.

Paul wants the Ephesians, and you and me, to know God better. If we are to live our lives by faith we must know and understand who we are…the Truth of the hope we have, the knowledge of our inheritance, and the power we have in Christ.

We are Christians. Nothing we do will make God love us more than He already does. We need to be more than Christians by name…attending church because it’s what we do on Sunday, praying a prayer when we need to, and reading scripture when we have time.

Getting a clearer picture of who we are and the blessings we inherit as Christians requires us to devote time to prayer, study and reading of God’s Word. Truth is revealed to us when we consciously commit to a relationship with Him…that we would “set [our] minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col. 3:2)

Let us show we are thankful that “… He fills everything with His presence” (v 23 TM) by living our lives with Christ truly IN us as a real part of our hearts.

Read today's scripture on Biblegateway.

Let Go and Let God, Philipians 4:4-9

I tend to be an anxious person, so today’s scripture is repeated a lot in my mind. I worry about things I cannot control and about things where I have done all I can. It’s a problem of mine and I am working to, “let go and let God” as the common phrase states.

Do you worry? Are you naturally an anxious person? Then can I challenge you to not only read today’s passage, but memorize it. The words are so true, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” The hard part of that statement, for me, is where it says, “with thanksgiving…” I tend to be the more, with desperation, or with fear type of person.

How does one approach God with thanksgiving when feeling distracted with worry? The rest of the passage tells us how. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” When our mind is focused on these things it is much easier to go to God with thanksgiving.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Philipians 4:4-9

Thanks for Salvation - Isaiah 12

Have you thanked God today?

Isaiah reminds us to be thankful. Be grateful that God, who was angry with us, removed His anger and comforted us. (v 1) Jesus Christ took our sins with Him on the cross and God’s anger against us melted away. How gracious God has been to us…it cost Him His Only Son!

Say, “I thank you, God.” (v 1) You can trust God to save you, to give you strength and a song in your heart every day. He'll take away your fear. (v 2) Be thankful to God for His faithfulness as He answers your prayers and promises to take care of you.

Be thankful for the Joy that salvation brings to your life. (v 3) You have peace and joy because you are saved. You have Someone who cares about you. You have hope!

Let thankfulness overflow your heart with the desire to tell others about Him. (v 4,5) Tell of the joy and hope He has brought to you. Make it a habit to speak openly about God’s work in your life. God wants to be generous to the world.

Show your thankfulness for His salvation through worship, in song and in every part of your life. (v 6) This means not only worshiping in song on Sunday morning, but praising Him and His creation as you go about your daily life.

Jesus becomes more precious to us as our hearts worship Him in thankfulness and praise. Thank Him every day for His blessings, care, comfort, and hope…your salvation.

Read today's text on Biblegateway.