Day of Praise

Th, Jan 31, "Day of Praise"

Sometimes I just need to be quiet and let God tell us why we should praise him. Here ya go.

Psalm 104
1 Praise the Lord, my soul.
Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate--bringing forth food from the earth:
15 wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
16 The trees of the Lord are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers. 18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
23 Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.
24 How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
27 All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Praise the Lord.

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

We, Jan 30, "Day of Praise"

"Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping." - Matthew 8:24

Stormy weather for us here in Alabama and for many around this region.

Fellowship with the Sovereign God, as we have through faith in Jesus Christ, gives us rest and peace in every storm.

Praise God!





Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Tu, Jan 29, "Day of Praise"

"Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." - Proverbs 30:7-9

When I was a kid, my mom went with my dad on a business trip. My dad worked in the international division of chemical sales for Tennessee Eastman, which was a part of Eastman Kodak at that time. Their trip was to Europe, which meant that somebody had to stay with us four kids for about a week.

Her name was Mrs. White. I have no idea how old she was. My goodness, I can't remember how old I was. All I knew then was that she looked old and over-matched by us four kids, of which I was the third.

To the best of my knowledge, we kids had never met Mrs. White before her stay with us, and, afterwards, we never saw her again. We must have terrified her.

I know I did. I can't remember anybody's age, but I can remember my offense. All I wanted to eat was macaroni and cheese. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For a week.

I thought I was in heaven.

She must've thought I was unstable or something because every time she asked me what I wanted to eat, I'd say, "Macaroni and Cheese." Then she'd look at me like I was crazy. And then she'd make it for me. Every meal for a week.

It was like I was saying, "Give me only my mac and cheese." It was a child's version of the heart of today's Bible passage where God teaches us to say, "Give me only my daily bread," which is what Jesus also teaches us in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread," which is only to ask for each day's portion of bread for the belly and bread for the soul.

Can you imagine how awesome the whole world would be if every single person was content with the day's portion of bread for the belly and bread for the soul? Everybody would have God and friendships and enough food for the belly to satisfy. Everyday. Forever. Can you imagine the peace and contentment and joy?

Oh sure there'd be some who would look at us like we were crazy as they were thinking, "You're able to live and be satisfied with 'only your daily bread'?"

Can you imagine?

I can. It would be the adult version of a kid who was happy for a week with only his mac and cheese!

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Mo, Jan 28, "Day of Praise"

"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name." - Psalm 103:1

My poor dad.

When I was eight, I would praise the Lord with "all my inmost being" every time we went to church so much so that even my left leg got involved. Ya see, my left leg would start praising God by tappin' up and down, usually while we were sitting and listening to the sermon.

However, my praises had a tendency to drive my dad, (who always sat on my left), and his right leg, nuts.

And then, like magic, without even looking, he'd reach over and touch my left leg and send my praise of God directly to my right leg!

It was amazing!

Then, without looking, he'd reach toward my right leg, and before he even touched me, he could send my praise of God to my neck, which would swirl my head all around like a praise-filled bobble head doll.

And then, he'd finally turn his head and look at me.

To this day, I have no idea what expression he had on his face because his look would freeze my whole body.

For at least three or four minutes.

And then all my praising God would start all over again.

My poor dad.

But now I'm forty-eight. And I hope my dad can see the payoff.

Now I just lift my heart and voice all the time. And I lift my hands a lot of the time. And I really can't get enough worship.

I could worship at church seven days every week, probably three times a day, and I wouldn't get tired of it.

But since my current station in life as a father of three amazing middle school, high school and college kids won't exactly permit being at church that much, (though, I'm quite sure my kids would love to worship that much too if it was practical), I just walk around with a song of praise to God in my heart.

Most of the time.

I do have my moments.

But all the time I really do walk around, thanking God for my dad, who endured my younger years of worship, and for my kids and my mom and my church family and all you Day of Praise friends who send inspiring stories and/or uplifting brief replies.

I know today's Monday, but I pray that the praise of God will overflow from us all so much that we, well, maybe move a person or two to look our way and wonder what in the world all the leg-tappin' and head-bobbin' is all about.

"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name." - Psalm 103:1

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Sa, Jan 26, "Day of Praise"

"As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart." - Proverbs 27:19

Another translation of today's verse from Proverbs 27:19 is "As water reflects the face, so others reflect your heart back to you."

This is what I hear in either translation: It's Saturday. Take a walk. Wave at some people. Call out to strangers with a "Hello!" Practice your British accent. Be silly. Lay on your back, and count the clouds. Set up a lemonade stand, and give it away for free. Go to Krispy Kreme, and buy two dozen donuts, and then go to Tony's Hot Dog Shop in Pelham, Alabama, and get a Giant Cheeseburger "all the way." Go into a pet store, and bark at the cats. And chirp at the fish.

Enjoy life. Life's too short.

Spread the love, and a lot of it will come back to you. What doesn't come back to you is clearly needed by the one's who couldn't return it, which is satisfying in itself.

Spread the love of Jesus.

Spread the love. Spread the love.

"As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart." - Proverbs 27:19

Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Fr, Jan 25 "Day of Praise"

"Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down." - Proverbs 26:20

We all have different battlefields. So we all have different battles. But ultimately the war is all the same.

Every human being lives a life of faith, not because every human being has faith in God, but because every human being has faith in something.

Of course, it's only when our faith is in God that the battles and the war can be won. And therein lies the war that's set before us all.

Today, every single one of us is going to encounter a number of quarrels. Some of those quarrels will be between two people. Most of the quarrels will be within the one person who's in front of us.

Here are the words of God through Paul in Romans 7:21-25, describing the quarrel within, "So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

In sum, God's word alone through Jesus is able to deliver a human being from the war being waged within us.

So, be a warrior today.

Acknowledge that there's a battle going on in every person. But instead of "adding fuel to the fire," speak the word that alone can deliver a human being from the war being waged within us.

Speak of Jesus. Speak the word of God to the most important person in the world...which is the one standing right before you.

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Th, Jan 24 "Day of Praise"

"Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil." - Proverbs 15:16

Some things are strange.

Some things are wonderfully strange.

I didn't go looking for today's verse. It's a long story, but the verse presented itself to me.

And the reason that's wonderfully strange is because a number of people in my life have actually been talking about the substance of today's verse recently.

And guess what?

They all agree. It's true! "Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil" (Proverbs 15:16).

It's not that wealth is bad, in and of itself, just as Jesus makes clear in the parable of the talents. The one who humbly, skillfully, and faithfully manages much wealth is always praised above the one who greedily, carelessly, and haughtily manages little.

The issue is what are you having to do to get wealth? And to keep it? And to protect it? And to manage it? If whatever you're having to do is causing great turmoil in your life, then you might want to ask yourself if your life would be better with less.

And if your life would be better with less, then that's ok because God's word says, "Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil" (Proverbs 15:16).

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

We, Jan 23, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" - John 14:6

I could say, "Sometime today, you're going to need direction. Stop! Ask Jesus."

And someone (none of you, of course) could reply, "I tried that, and Jesus didn't reply."

I actually did hear a conversation once where one person asked another for guidance. The person responded, "Have you prayed about it?" And the first person got mad because the other person seemed "holier than thou."

Here's the deal, gang. Jesus and Jesus alone is The Way to God. When the eventual St. Paul of the Bible was still Saul, he persecuted and killed followers of "The Way" as noted in Acts 9:1-2, "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. "

And what, pray tell, might be the reason that those people were willing to lose their lives at the hands of the unbeliever Saul? And why, through the ages, were countless Christians willing to endure persecutions at the hands of unbelieving emperors? And why were five missionaries to Ecuador in the 1950's willing to lose their lives in 1956 at "The End of the Spear" in service to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? And why is my daughter one of countless people who are willing to entertain and live out the "foolish-to-the-world" notion of pursuing years of medical education and then using it to serve poor (translation "can't pay") people in distant lands or on our home soil of inner cities or rural America?

People do these "foolish-to-the-world" things because there are lots of ways to live your life.

But only One Way, namely The Way of Jesus Christ, works.

So, let's try this again.

I could and am going to say right now, "Sometime today, you're going to need direction. Stop! Ask Jesus."

And someone (maybe each of you) could and is about to reply, "Amen!"

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" - John 14:6

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Tu, Jan 22, "Day of Praise"

"The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." - Proverbs 12:26

Today's verse is God's call for us to think about our associations, not to get all uppity and condemning. But we are called to "choose our friends carefully."

As always, Jesus can help us think about this. In John 15:15, Jesus says, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Friends share something in common. Friends in Christ share a relationship with God the Father through God the Son by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Think about it for a moment.

When Jesus died for us to forgive our sin, he changed our life for the better. He then calls us to live differently. To live thankfully. To live like God's forgiveness changed our lives in a way that nothing else could. To live for God.

"Choosing our friends carefully" means we're looking for friends with whom we share the most important things in common. If what's most important for us is living thankfully to God, why would we be friends with someone who doesn't live thankfully to God? Yes, Jesus ate with tax collectors and "sinners," but it was always for the purpose of bringing them to share in God the Father's business of changing lives and bringing them to a new life with God. In other words, Jesus didn't eat with sinners to share in their business and become a sinner.

And hold on a minute before you get stirred up because I realize we're all sinners.

But here's the deal. Let's be honest. Most of us think that being someone's friend is accepting them the way they are. In other words, the whole matter of changed lives never comes into play.

But Friends, and I am indeed calling you Friends, our business is the only business that changed our lives, namely, the life-changing work of God in Christ. Oh sure, we all have different jobs. We're not all preachers. But our jobs are the place that God planted us to be about our ultimate business. Be ye an accountant, a vet, a dentist, a teacher, a parent, a cafeteria worker, we are called to do our jobs so that Jesus and his life-changing work touches others.

And we rejoice when we find a Friend who understands that. With such a friend, we might gripe about the boss, but the last thing we do is pray for the boss and for God's help for us to work so that the boss is drawn to Christ. With such a friend, we might share the things that weren't so pleasant that day, but the last thing we do is rejoice in the amazing thing that God did that day which trumped all the others.

Christian friends look for and talk about the work of God through Christ by His Spirit in the lives of people.

People who don't share Christ in common, well, they just gripe and gossip.

It's a lot to chew on. It would probably help us if we had a Christian friend to help us chew.

Think about it.

"The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." - Proverbs 12:26

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Mo, Jan 21 "Day of Praise"

"Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly." - Proverbs 14:29

Wait on the Lord. God has great things in store for you today.

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Sa, Jan 19, "Day of Praise"

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

Jesus came to us that we might have forgiveness. He comes to us that we might live in his light. He will come again to bring us to our everlasting home.

Enjoy his presence. And encourage others to do the same.

Happy Saturday!

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Fr, Jan 18, "Day of Praise"

"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." - Proverbs 12:19

I understand that Abraham Lincoln once said, "No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar." And it follows then that if part of continuous living is being remembered, then the "unsuccessful liar" can't even remember himself, which means that their lie lasts only a moment. Oh, that's what God had already said long ago, "A lying tongue lasts only a moment" (Proverbs 12:19).

Well anyway, what was mostly put on my heart with today's Bible verse is this question: "What are your lips bearing?"

And I don't feel preachy, so I just want to offer one simple thought from the Bible verse.

If you have a person in your life, who is "dying on the vine" spiritually, then please love them enough for your lips to bear the truth of the word of God.

Please don't tell them, "It's all gonna be okay" or anything else that sounds nice but doesn't speak The Truth to them. God's word is Truth. And when you speak God's word of Truth to someone, then you're breathing life into the "dying vine" of their soul.

So often we're so worried about sounding spiritually "uppity" to someone that we speak our words to them instead of God's Word. To begin, just read your Bible or read some Biblically-rooted devotional material and latch on to the words that breathe life into your soul. And then take those same words that encouraged you and speak them to that friend of yours who is dying on the vine.

I'm not trying to turn everyone into a preacher or an evangelist. All I want is what you want. I want to live in a world where marriages last. Where parents make lasting impressions. Where friendships last. Where companies thrive...and last. Where coaches and teachers and scout leaders and professors and mail carriers and garbage men and mayors and governors and presidents make positive and life-giving and lasting impressions.

And God's word says that the only way that a world like that is gonna be and is gonna last and is gonna be filled with positive things that last is if we trust God enough to have courage enough to love enough for our lips to bear the truth of the word of God.

"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." - Proverbs 12:19

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Th, Jan 17 "Day of Praise"

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." - Psalm 5:3

Dear Lord,

Good morning!

Well, you've given me another day. Thank you.

And I thank you also for bringing me safely through the night.

Father God, you know what I've got going on today, which is certainly more than I know. You've taught me to accept that everyday has its own twists and turns, and not just to accept them but also to see those twists and turns as, well, kinda like your toys. You put everything to use for good just like you promise. So whenever something unexpected happens in my day, I've come to expect some other wonderful surprise to follow. So I wait expectantly.

Also Lord, can I please ask you to protect the hearts of my family? And also the hearts of my friends. Oh, and the innocent children in this world; you know how much kids depend on their parents and depend even more on you. Please Lord.

And Lord, about my job, well, please make this a day that has some good job stuff. Good news. Good opportunities. Good attitude.

And Lord, if it isn't too much to ask, could you please do something miraculous for maybe a few people in my life. I know you're smarter and wiser than me, but it really bothers me that I've got a little baby friend in one hospital and a little older friend in another and a really nice old friend, who has always been so good to everyone, in another hospital.

Oh yea, please help a couple of my friends to cheer up. You know who they are; I don't even like to say their names sometimes because they're so negative that the mere thought of them just kinda depresses me. But I pray for them because it must be even worse for them to have to live with themselves.

Oh oh oh, and thank you so much for the prosperity that you've brought to my friends who have turned to you in recent months. Most of all, thanks for showing them that the greatest prosperity is a connection to you, through Jesus by the awesome power of your Holy Spirit. Everything else just pales in comparison.

Well, Lord, I've got a lot more requests to lay before you, but I'll just sprinkle 'em your way through the day since I'm so grateful that you taught me that prayer is just a way for us to share amazing fellowship all day.

Okay, God. Thanks for hearing my voice this morning and letting me lay my requests before you.

Now I'm listening for you.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

We, Jan 16, "Day of Praise"

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers." - Psalm 1:1-3

When I was a kid, I did some things that, well, were not too smart.

What about you?

Like when I was in first grade, I got a rush out of leaning back in my classroom chair and falling backwards. All the way to the floor. To this day I have no idea why that seemed fun. I do know, however, that the fun did indeed stop when, with one of the falls, I broke a chair. I remember being sent to the principal's office and getting a different rendition of "you'll shoot your eye out, kid." My teacher, Miss Deakins', and the principal, Miss Carmack's version was, "Don't you know you could crack your skull open, kid?"

"Uh, no, Ma'am, it never occurred to me," was what I thought, I think, but I really don't remember because, well, I don't think I was thinkin' at all. I mean that's why we all do stupid things as kids...and as adults.

We just don't think.

That's clearly the point in the contrast of today's Bible verses.

The only reason that we "walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers" is because that's what we do (walk, stand, even sit) when we don't think. We do stupid, wicked, sinful, mocking, destructive stuff.

In contrast is the one who thinks...with their heart. The one "whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night." To delight is to think with your heart. To delight is to want to please another, to want to find out how to please another. So day and night thought is given, one meditates day and night on the law and commands and statutes and word of the Lord.

I know people who admit to going weeks at a time without even once thinking about the Lord or his word or worshiping him. I want to say, "what are you thinking?" But, of course, that's the point: they're not.

Hey, I'm not condemning anyone; we're all sinners for whom Jesus died. But the one who's not thinkin' about the Lord, who just walks/stands/sits, well, they're missin' out on a lot of good livin'.

I mean God says in today's verse, "That person [who delights in God's Word and meditates on it day and night] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers." Whatever they do prospers!

I mean think about it this way. Don't people in this country want to prosper? And yet around every turn, people are either tryin' to get rid of God's Word or find every way under the sun to not make time for it. And look at the result. Our country's not prospering. By any earthly measure not one thing is really getting better. What are people thinkin' that they could possibly have a better life by getting rid of God's Word or by neglecting it? What could they possibly be thinking?

Uuuuuuuuh, they're not.

So, let's all do this. Let's all pick one person who clearly doesn't walk with God, and let's think about 'em. Study 'em. Think about 'em some more. And ask God to help us see how we can feed 'em with and invite 'em to God and to his word and to the worship and praise of Him who made us...with a brain...maybe a simple brain...but a brain nonetheless...so we can think of Him...and delight in Him...and meditate on his word day and night...and prosper.

Come to think of it. I've got a person in mind right now. What about you? Think about it!

"Blessed is the one... whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night...whatever they do prospers." - Psalm 1:1-3

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Tu, Jan 15, "Day of Praise"

"Guard my teachings as the apple of your eye." - Proverbs 7:2

When God calls us to have his "teachings as the apple of [our] eye" (Proverbs 7:2), God's calling us to have his word as the love of our life.

Our inspiration to have God's word as the apple of our eye, to have his word as the love of our life, comes from the very fact that God promises to have us as the apple of his eye. He promises that we are the love of his life!

God makes this plain in Deuteronomy 32:9-11, where it's written:

9 For the Lord's portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted inheritance.
10 In a desert land he found him,
in a barren and howling waste.
He shielded him and cared for him;
he guarded him as the apple of his eye,
11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young,
that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft.

You may not love the poetic style of God's words there in Deuteronomy 32, but how can you not like the substance?

In sum, God's saying that what he wants out of life is us! The love that he longs for is a relationship with us. We are God's "portion." And so much does he love us that he comes and looks for us when we're lost and rescues us from the gutter. He then shields us, cares for us, and guards us "as the apple of [his] eye," like an eagle vigilantly watching its young, so that when we fall, God catches us and "carries [us] aloft" and lifts us back up.

Friends, whether or not you resonate with poetry, I beg you to ponder God's testimony here as to how deeply he loves you "as the apple of [his] eye."

And if you will ponder his deep love for you, you will gladly "Guard [his] teachings as the apple of your eye" (Proverbs 7:2), and you'll probably even pray to God as in Psalm 17:8, "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings."

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Mo, Jan 14, "Day of Praise"

A few verses from Proverbs 11:
2 - "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
11 - "Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed."
17 - "Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves."
24 - "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty."
25 - "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." - Proverbs 11:2,11,17,24,25

I've got so many stories from this weekend, I can't make up my mind. Sorry. It's just as well because one of this weekend's pastoral ministry stories led me to Proverbs 11. And Proverbs 11 has five very practIcal ways for us to live with faith in God's grace on this Monday morning:

1 - Be humble. In Proverbs 11:2, God promises that the humble will get wisdom, and who doesn't need wisdom on Monday?
2 - Speak a blessing on your city. In Proverbs 11:11, God promises that a word of blessing from a believer onto a city will lift up that city, and who doesn't want to live in a city that's growing closer to God?
3 - Be kind. In Proverbs 11:17, God promises that the one who is kind to another actually also benefits oneself, and who doesn't want more divine benefits?
4 - Give freely. In Proverbs 11:24, God promises that, well, you can't outgive God. Period!
5 - Be refreshing. In Proverbs 11:25, God promises that "whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." I'm not sure how to describe "refreshing" succinctly, so let's try this: we all know someone who's refreshing; act like them, and the same will come back to you. So says God, so I say let's take it to the bank. Ahhh, refreshing!

So, come what may, there's your formula for a happy Monday. May God's blessings rain abundantly on you, your peeps, and your city!

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Sa, Jan 12, "Day of Praise"

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." - Proverbs 3:9-10

Enjoy the fruits of your generosity!

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Fr, Jan 11 "Day of Praise"

"Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?'
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away." - Mark 16:2-4

Good Morning!
This is Dear and Divine, Sweet and Sovereign, Almighty and All-Knowing and All-Present God, who has shown you my face and my heart through my Son, Jesus. I know what's in front of you today, including the large stones that you're wondering how they're going to be rolled away. I will be handling all your heavy lifting today, large stones included. And I will be your strength for everything else.
Okay, now that we've got that established, have a nice day!
Love,
God

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Th, Jan 10 "Day of Praise"

"The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." - Proverbs 18:10

Ya know those cardboard "bricks"? Ya know, the ones that every preschool and kindergarten and church nursery has for little kids to play with and build on? I used to love playing with those things and building tunnels and towers.

Don't tell anyone, but I still do.

However, there were times when I played with the bricks and I got really nervous, mostly when The Bully, LH, was around. He'd act like he was minding his own business until you finished your cardboard brick project. Then he'd waste no time in coming over and kicking it at you and into you and over you. Quite frankly, it hurt.

In lots of ways.

Because I was so focused and put so much energy into building it, LH's bullying made me feel like my whole world was crashing down around me. Even now 40+ years later, I can remember the sensations of anger and hurt and fear and disappointment. What I don't remember was knowing what to do. For some reason, it never dawned on me to tell the teacher. All I could see was my world crashing down and the one who had destroyed it.

Don't tell anyone, but I still do.

Has your world ever come crashing down around you? Maybe when you were 5? Or were you 25? I can relate to 45.

Sensations of anger, hurt, fear, and disappointment. And for some reason, it never dawns on us to tell the "Teacher." All we can see is our world crashing down and the one who destroyed it.

God has a "suggestion" for times like this.
Run.

Run to the "Teacher," the Lord.

To find shelter and refuge, safety and peace, courage and strength. Treasures of the soul. That lift up our hearts. Like a Lord of the Rings giant eagle scooping us up and bringing us to rest on an Elfish Tower where the masters of healing can do their thing to give healing to a hurting and injured soul.

Indeed, when your world is crashing down in small ways or large, run to the Lord. Call on his name.

For "the name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10).

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

We, Jan 9 "Day of Praise"

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21

Seems like I have this conversation a lot. What about you?

It goes like this. "I just never dreamed that my life would turn out this way."

That's it. That's the conversation.

In the vein of today's Bible verse, the person is saying, "My life is ruined from here on. And I can't envision it being anything other than a bummer from here on out."

At this point, we all have two choices for what we might do. We can leave the person where they are, namely, drowning in disappointment. Or. Or. Or. Or we can both acknowledge their disappointment and also speak a word of life and a word of hope and a word of truth into the situation.

For example, we might say, "I know things are hard and hurtful and disappointing right now, but I also love you enough to tell you that God is going to prevail over this. God is already even now taking this situation and using it for some kind of good."

Oh, that doesn't sound like the way you talk? Well, then say it like you would say it. Because here's the deal gang. We live in a world that is full of people who see things going in a way they never dreamed. In our world. In our nation. In our politics. In our cultural belief in marriage (or lack thereof). In our cultural acceptance of things that God plainly says are forgivable, to be sure, but also plainly says are not beneficial. To anyone.
The world is a mess, and "I just never dreamed that the world would turn out this way."

Well, I, for one, am not buying it. The rest of the world may have plans for the world to go down the tubes based on the way it's going. But I'm not buying it.

God promised to do something about it. He did do something about through Jesus. And the last time I looked, Jesus' tomb was still empty. And the Risen One lives in my heart and many other hearts. And the hearts that haven't let him in yet, well, he's like my 13 year old son ringing the daylights out of the doorbell until somebody let's him in!!!

God reigns! Period!

So. Come what may today. I don't know what you're planning on. But here's what I'm planning for. God's gonna prevail. Period.

And the reason I believe it. And the reason I'm gonna plan on it. Is because God loves me and you enough to tell us that he doesn't care what we're planning on. His plans are better.

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21).

Plan on it!

And while you're at it, Praise God!

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Tu, Jan 8 "Day of Praise"

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." - Acts 2:42

Life is so good in the Body of Christ, which is also known as the Fellowship of Believers, the Communion of Saints, and the Church.

Most of you know that I'm a pastor. But three of the last four nights, I've been at church gatherings, not because I'm a pastor, but because life is so good in the Body of Christ.

Friday was Joy leading the Asperger Parents outreach. Sunday was Linda leading a Wellness Night. Monday was Laura hosting a College Football Fellowship.

My two youngest kids were happily at a combination of The Pulse youth event with Pr Scott on Friday, the Wellness Night on Sunday, and hanging out with some church youth on Monday.

I tell you all this because there are hundreds of you who read this devotion, but not all of you are enjoying all that's available to you in the Fellowship of Believers.

I realize that hurtful or disappointing things happened to many of you in a church, but there are so many more positives available for you going forward than there are negatives behind you.

Besides, the Everlasting and Eternal Heaven is going to have other believers in it, so you might as well start to enjoy it now!

Get involved in a church. And if you are involved, get more involved and/or invite others to get involved.

Because life is so good in the Body of Christ. So good! That's why in days of old "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42).

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Mo, Jan 7, "Day of Praise"

"To this John replied, 'A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.'" - John 3:27

Let me start by saying, "Happy Birthday, Calley!" My amazing, oldest child turns 20 today. Many of you know Calley because she writes this Day of Praise devotion from time to time.

Calley is also a great example of the encouragement in today's Bible verse, as John the Baptist's comment testifies to his acceptance of his station in life, namely, he's here to point to and rejoice in Jesus Christ. That's what Calley does; she points to and rejoices in Jesus Christ.

She aspires to be a medical missionary in Africa and adopt children from China, Mexico, and Russia. This May, Calley's coordinating a three-week mission trip to the Ukraine where they'll share Christ with a boatload of early teenage mothers.

Calley is living and pursuing the life that has been "given [her] from heaven" (John 3:27). Her life brings joy to her and all of us who know her.

That what happens when you surrender to the Holy Spirit and accept your calling that's been given you from heaven. You bring joy to many. And you will bring joy to many in all the days God grants you on this side of the resurrection.

So, friends, whatever you've got in front of you today, try to see it as a gift and a calling from God in Heaven. Then get after it with a spirit of thankfulness to God.

People will notice. Probably even perk up. And God will be praised. Yep! God will be praised!

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Sa, Jan 5, 12th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." - Luke 6:45

So, this is how it unfolded.

God brought the good thing of His love out of the good stored up in His heart and poured it into Ted's heart.

Ted brought the good thing of God's love out of the good stored up in his heart and poured it into Joy's heart, inviting her to church.

Joy came to church and brought the good thing of God's love out of the good stored up in her heart and poured it into the heart of a new support group ministry at our church for parents who have children with Asperger's Syndrome.

And, last night, 63 parents I've never seen before showed up at our church (not counting the volunteer organizers and cooks) for the support group! There was a lot of pouring out of hearts.

It was really good. Amazing good.

So God's good heart, passed to Ted's heart, passed to Joy's heart, joined to other volunteers hearts, passed to 63 hearts, who will pass to other hearts.

God's love makes life really good.

Spread the love, friends, spread the love.
Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Fr, Jan 4, 11th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God." - 2 Corinthians 1:20

There's an ad campaign that plays on the fact that people always want more. So the scenes show the person being given something, and immediately they say, "Aaaaaaand?" And then they get the one more thing.

It's a good thing it's not a commercial about God who has revealed himself through Jesus Christ because the commercial would never end.

The promises of God are countless so that no matter how many of them you have listed, you can always say, "Aaaaand?" and there will still be one more.

And it doesn't stop there. "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:20)
What "they are 'Yes' in Christ" means is this: with every promise of God, we can look to Jesus and say, "Really? That's promised to me?!?!" And Jesus Christ looks at us and says, "Yes! That's promised to you!"

God's countless promises are so amazing for our lives that "the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20). "Amen" means "so be it" or "let it be true for me," or in modern day lingo it might be "Wow! Bring it on!"

And such an "Amen! Wow! Bring it on!" is "to the glory of God" because it's also like saying, "God is off-the-chart awesome with all these marvelous promises."

This is why we live each moment in the Lord and go to church and read our Bibles "for no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God." - 2 Corinthians 1:20

Have a great and glorious day with God!

Praise God!




Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Th, Jan 3, 10th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." - Proverbs 3:3

When I had just turned 16, (don't you love it when a story starts like that?), I ran my parents' new car into a parked car.

Somebody out there has done the same. C'mon, 'fess up!

The rest of you are saying, "How do you do that?"

In my case, I was nervously looking at street numbers on the houses at dark-dusk, trying to find the house of the girl I was going to a school dance with.

In sum, I wasn't watching where I was going.

People do that all the time. They don't watch where they're going...spiritually speaking especially.

Ya see, here's the deal, Jesus is the Way. Period. He leads us on the Way. Period. He is faithful in leading us on the Way. Period. His "love and faithfulness never leave" us (Proverbs 3:3). Period.

So why do we keep running into things spiritually...at least? Because we're not watching where we're going. We're not watching the Way. We're not watching Jesus.

So, since so many of you responded to the Biblical meditation encouragement yesterday, here's the meditation for today: "Lord, you're always faithful." "Lord, you're always faithful." "Lord, you're always faithful, and help me keep my eyes on you!"

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you..." - Proverbs 3:3

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

We, Jan 2, 9th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me." - Psalm 3:5

Happy Day, Everyone!

Today is the first day of work in 2013 for most, though I know a number of you worked yesterday and some others are still travelling. But whatever your first day of work may be, it was put on my heart to encourage you to try Biblical meditation this year while you work.

Biblical meditation simply works like this. When you come to a spot in your work day that you feel frustrated or need a break, instead of saying something that's empty (like "Oh, Man!") or worse (like a profanity), try a Bible phrase as in today's verse, "the Lord sustains me" (Psalm 3:5).

And, each time, say it over and over again, "the Lord sustains me", "the Lord sustains me", "the Lord sustains me."

Three times for the verse is usually good for each moment of frustration or just when you need a rest.

In this way, not only will God's Word be a blessing for you, but you'll have God's Word on the tip of your tongue so you can encourage others each day with the same. All our acquaintances, no matter their faith, hunger for a word of life. And we'll always be ready to give one to them.

So, have a great day!

And remember, "the Lord sustains me", "the Lord sustains me", "the Lord sustains me."

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me." - Psalm 3:5

Praise God!



Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Tu, Jan 1, 2013, 8th Day of Christmas, "Day of Praise"

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." - 2 Chronicles 16:9

Happy New Year!

One reason it's happy is, as today's verse notes, God is looking for you and looking to strengthen your heart and your commitment to him.

It's something like last night, as I was at two hospital emergency rooms in Tuscaloosa. Of course, when you think emergency room, then you think sad and sick and gloomy. Even moreso, what I noticed was the number of small children and then children that were a little older. Some seemingly poor, but not most.

I'm thinking, "What a way for these poor souls to spend New Year's Eve!" So, I was even more resolved to do what I always do, namely look for people who were willing to look at me and then smile at them with compassion and encouragement. I'm sure you know what I mean because I'm so blessed when others look at me that way, with a smile of compassion and encouragement.

And ya know what? In both hospitals, in both security areas, in both waiting rooms, in both sets of hallways, in both sets of regular ER rooms, in both sets of psych ER rooms, almost every single person looked towards me.

And every single person, even those with small children, every single person, smiled in return and nodded as if to say, "May compassion and encouragement come to you too."

Friends, our world, our towns, our towns that are an hour away from our towns as Tuscaloosa is from where I live in Hoover, the whole world is filled with people who are hungry for encouragement in the loving-kindness of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

God is looking around the whole world to share his strength and encouragement in Christ. As we're made in God's image, let's rededicate ourselves on this New Year's Day to sharing with others what God has first shared with us. And a happier new year will be shared by us all.
"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." - 2 Chronicles 16:9

Happy New Year!

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson