Saturday, January 31, 2015

Day of Praise

Sa, 01/31/15, "Day of Praise"

[God said to Daniel in a vision,] "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." - Daniel 12:13

There it is.

Resurrection.

In the Old Testament of the Holy Bible.

"You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." (Daniel 12:13)

I've been walking around for the last hour just smiling at the mere thought of it.

When I die, it's not the end.

When you die, it's not the end.

Death does not have the final word.

God does.

And as great as that is.

God actually gives us more.

Yes, if there really is resurrection...

Then there is more than resurrection.

Resurrection, until it happens, is a future event.

What about the present?

With resurrection, God covers that too.

With resurrection, God covers the present too.

That's why, in today's verse, God also said to Daniel in a vision, "As for you, go your way till the end."

Operative word is "go".

As in, "Go, get on with it."

As in, "Go! Live with confidence!"

As in, "Go! Live with a confidence that doesn't fear death because, well, because there's resurrection."

That's exciting to me for my life.

That's comforting to me too.

Ya see, I got kids. Three of 'em. I have a wife. I adore them all.

One day, unless something very rare happens and we all die together, one of us, probably me first, is gonna say some last words to the others before I die.

I think about those words from time to time.

My last words are gonna be "Go, get on with it."

I'm not being morbid.

To the contrary, it's empowering.

It's empowering to envision my wife and my kids living with a confidence that doesn't fear death because, well, because there's resurrection.

Indeed, life's good.

Now.

And forever.

Because, well, because there's resurrection.

[God said to Daniel in a vision,] "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." - Daniel 12:13

Praise God!

 

 

 

Friday, January 30, 2015

Day of Praise

Fr, 01/30/15, "Day of Praise"

"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing." - Ezra 1:1

Today's verse is the simplest reminder of why we trust the promises of God: God has the power to do whatever it takes to fulfill his word.

In the case of today's verse, God moves the heart of a foreign king to fulfill God’s word. Furthermore, that foreign king did not even acknowledge God, let alone trust or worship God. And yet God moved that king's heart so that, at the right time, God came through for all who trusted and worshiped God as Lord.

Friends, if you trust and worship God, God will come through for you. Believe it, because it's true!

Dear Lord, you know our frailties, uncertainties, burdens, fears, and needs. Give us your peace, we pray, trusting that you are Sovereign God and that, at the right time, you come through for all who trust and worship you. Amen.

Praise God!

 

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Day of Praise

Th, 01/29/15, "Day of Praise"

"Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting" - Daniel 5:5-6, 27

One of the all-time favorite activities is doodling. Ya know, while you're supposedly listening to someone else, you're drawing stuff on paper. Doodling.

I knew this guy in college who was constantly doodling crosses. All kinds of crosses. One cross looked like a scales; ya know, scales--the ancient way of weighing things, where you put something like a piece of silver on one side and a supposedly honest measure on the other to see how much the silver weighs. The key words being "supposedly honest" because the merchants used to cheat people all the time.

Like King Belshazzar of today's Bible verse. He apparently cheated his people all the time. So God sized him up and, through Daniel, told King Belshazzar, "you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting" (Daniel 5:27).

The "writing was on the wall" (Daniel 5:5-6), which is where we get that old expression from. We get it from the Bible. It's as if God is doodling crosses that look like scales and, like King Belshazzar, "the writing is on the wall" for all of us. And "we have been weighed in the balances and found wanting."

Uh oh. Unless, something happens to change things, we'd all be doomed.

And fortunately, God makes something happen. God sends his Son, Jesus Christ, to take on a very plain cross, with nothing fancy about it. It's a wooden post down into the ground and a wooden post going cross ways.

The writing was on the wall. We were going to perish because we'd been weighed by a fancy cross, a scales, and we'd been found wanting, lacking, falling short, not measuring up to the righteousness required for fellowship with God forever. The writing was on the wall, and we were on our way to hell.

But praise God that "God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son," that whosoever believes in His forgiving work on that plain old cross, would not perish, but have eternal life.

So now, for all who believe in Jesus, there's a new writing on the wall. Life forever with God.

So if we get bored at all today, maybe we could doodle that! And may God be praised as we do!

Praise God!

 

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Day of Praise

We, 01/28/15, "Day of Praise"

Here’s a rerun of one of my favorites.

"Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: 'Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.'" - Job 38:1-3

All I remember is that he looked as big as the Biblical Goliath, and all I could do was laugh.

I was a non-scholarship, practice player with The University of Tennessee football team, commonly known to the public as a "walk-on", but commonly known to the scholarship football players as a "blocking dummy".

He, by contrast, was the all-time quarterback sack leader at Tennessee and was on his way to being the all-time sack leader in the National Football League, who would have his number retired at the University and enter the Pro Hall of Fame.

When we ran our conditioning tests at the start of training camp, we ran side by side, and he ran them faster than me, even though I was 5'10" and 174 lbs, and he was 6'3" and 295 lbs.

His name was Reggie White, aka, The Minister of Defense, because he was also ordained as a Baptist Minister around the end of high school.

Tragically he tasted a premature death from a heart condition, but he did a lot of great things with his life.

One thing he did was humble me, along with a lot of other people. In my case, I was supposed to block him, as he was on the punt return team and I was on the practice-squad punt team.

He said, "C'mon Chris, give me some more resistance!" I said, "Reggie, it takes three guys, twice my size, to try to block you in real games, and they can't do it. So what do you want me to do?"

It was humbling. And Reggie was merely a man.

Imagine how humbled Job felt in today's verse when God says, "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me." (Job 38:1-3)

I was humbled by a mountain of a man. Job was humbled by the God who made every mountain!

And yet if you read the balance of the book of Job, you see some great things come from being humbled: 1) Job's prayers are rich toward God and others, 2) Job's prayers are effective, 3) Job and his life are restored in a multitude of ways.

Today, there is some mountain or mountain of a person that is waiting for you that will humble you.

Trust the God who made every mountain!

He will work with your humility and bless you!

Praise God!

 

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Day of Praise for Today and an apology

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your patience. Please accept my apology for the major headaches I continue to have in setting up and correcting the groups that I’d created over four years on my Blackberry. The groups got very garbled in switching to my new phone which I needed because my Blackberry was literally falling apart.  Thank you for your kindness, and please keep telling me what needs to be fixed. I want this to be right so it can be a blessing to you and all of us instead of a headache!

PS – You all have ordered almost 300 Day of Praise books.  Knowing that, we’re preparing the first order of books, including the financial details, so that every penny can go to long-term missionaries. Thank you for your additional patience on this matter.

 

Tu, 01/27/15, "Day of Praise" 

"And [God] said to man, 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'" - Job 28:28 

Throughout Job 28, Job has been repeatedly "asking" where one can find wisdom and understanding. 

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Job's conclusion is twofold: 1) wisdom and understanding do not belong to humanity and can't even be "found" by humanity and 2) wisdom and understanding belong to God and must be revealed by God to humanity, which is why "The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." (Job 28:28) 

The "fear of the Lord" can be summed as "a recognition that God is God, and we're not." And because God is God, God can do whatever God wants to do, including annihilate us for our sin, if God wanted to. 

Such fear of the Lord, such recognition that God can do whatever God wants to do, including annihilate us for our sin, is God's ordained way to open the eyes of our heart then to the magnitude of God's grace. 

As the famous song goes, it (grace) is amazing, simply amazing, unfathomable, inspiring beyond compare. 

God's grace then compels us to "shun evil" and find that, just as God has ordained the fear of the Lord as wisdom, so too has God ordained that to shun evil is understanding (Job 28:28). It just works because God has ordained it that our brains just work better and see things they wouldn't otherwise see when we pursue God and flee/shun evil. It's amazing, God's saying, how many "Oh, I get it!" moments we have when running to God and running from evil. 

After all, God is God, God is the Creator of how things work, and we're not. 

"And [God] said to man, 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'" - Job 28:28 

Praaaaaaaaise God!

 

Day of Praise

We, 01/21/15, "Day of Praise"

"Then Job replied: 'Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?'" - Job 9:1-4

A dear, older friend of mine once summed up things like this, "God good; sin bad." Job used only slightly different words in today's verse, saying, "Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Answer: We can't.

We can no more be righteous, in and of ourselves, before God than I can reach out my screened window and grab these beautiful stars that I'm looking at this very moment.

Yes, yes, I remember what we’ve said in this devotion, we noted from Job 1:1 how God speaks of Job as being "blameless." Surely Job could be righteous, in and of himself, before God, couldn't he? But, biblically speaking, "blameless" merely means a person who is confronted by their sin and doesn't have to be dragged into a legal courtroom to get them to admit that they messed up.

So Job was blameless, but he was not sinless.

No one is sinless, except Jesus, which means that no one's heart is so in tune with the will of God the Father that they constantly act in accord with God's will. Only Jesus.

Which throws us back to Job's original question in Job 9:1, "How can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Only through faith in Jesus, which means that we trust Jesus to make all things right, including us.

To be sure, sometimes in surrendering to Jesus, he sends us to do something like pray for an enemy or pay retribution to someone we hurt.

But there is no way to pay back God. All we can do is thank Him.

So, "How can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Answer: 1) Don't wait to be dragged to court to admit a wrong. 2) Put your faith in God's Son, Jesus, who makes all things right. 3) Thank God. 4) Serve people...with a joy that springs from thanks to God.

That should make for a Happy Day and a Happy World. Let's go!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

We, 01/21/15, "Day of Praise"

"Then Job replied: 'Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?'" - Job 9:1-4

A dear, older friend of mine once summed up things like this, "God good; sin bad." Job used only slightly different words in today's verse, saying, "Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Answer: We can't.

We can no more be righteous, in and of ourselves, before God than I can reach out my screened window and grab these beautiful stars that I'm looking at this very moment.

Yes, yes, I remember what we’ve said in this devotion, we noted from Job 1:1 how God speaks of Job as being "blameless." Surely Job could be righteous, in and of himself, before God, couldn't he? But, biblically speaking, "blameless" merely means a person who is confronted by their sin and doesn't have to be dragged into a legal courtroom to get them to admit that they messed up.

So Job was blameless, but he was not sinless.

No one is sinless, except Jesus, which means that no one's heart is so in tune with the will of God the Father that they constantly act in accord with God's will. Only Jesus.

Which throws us back to Job's original question in Job 9:1, "How can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Only through faith in Jesus, which means that we trust Jesus to make all things right, including us.

To be sure, sometimes in surrendering to Jesus, he sends us to do something like pray for an enemy or pay retribution to someone we hurt.

But there is no way to pay back God. All we can do is thank Him.

So, "How can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Answer: 1) Don't wait to be dragged to court to admit a wrong. 2) Put your faith in God's Son, Jesus, who makes all things right. 3) Thank God. 4) Serve people...with a joy that springs from thanks to God.

That should make for a Happy Day and a Happy World. Let's go!

Praise God!

 

Monday, January 26, 2015

Day of Praise

Mo, 01/26/15, "Day of Praise"

"How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?" - Psalm 137:4

Psalm 137 is a lament. A dictionary defines lament in this way: la·ment/l
əˈment - Noun: A passionate expression of grief.

I respect grief.

But with all due respect, I think Psalm 137 is mislabeled. Psalm 137 is not a passionate expression of grief. It's whining.

Yes, things have not gone the way that the people want them to, but they do have a choice at this point. They can whine, or they can believe that God is in their midst, blessing them and working on the situation.

I have a friend who doesn't sing very well, but he's singing some kind of a God song all through the day. He's the happiest, most thoughtful, and most generous person I know. He's got troubles. But he's happy. Because he hums and sings and thinks about God all day.

Maybe there's something to that. Think about it. Better yet. Let's hum and sing about it. All through the day.

So, "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?" (Psalm 137:4) Well, believe in God, trust God, and just do it. Sing and hum to God all day. You and those around you will be blessed.

Praise God!

 

 

 

 

Pastor Chris DeGreen

Senior Pastor
Christ The King Lutheran Church, LCMC
611 Riverchase Parkway West
Hoover, Alabama 35226
Ph: (205) 988-5004
Empastorchris@ctkbham.org
Web: www.ctkbham.org

 

 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Day of Praise

Th, 01/22/15, "Day of Praise"

"My face is red with weeping, deep shadows ring my eyes" - Job 16:16

God understands, and no one is exempt. God understands the weeping of every soul.

I remember the time I had just visited a dear friend's mom at a local hospital. When I came out of her room, a young nurse came up to me and said, "Chaplain, the woman in 3102 wants to see you."

I told the nurse that I wasn't one of the hospital's chaplains, but I'd be glad to visit the room nonetheless.

As I entered the room, the woman who requested the chaplain was quick to offer that she and the strong man, who was wearing the tight bandana, were not married as I would think of it, but they were married in the eyes of the Lord.

I'd been down this road before, and what that means is "Don't jump to conclusions! Listen! Because God understands, and no one is exempt."

The strong man didn't say a word as the woman, who was in bed awaiting open heart surgery, never stopped talking about her fears.

I merely listened, waited, and asked if I could pray with them.

Holding their hands (with hers being small and his like leather), I had barely said "Lord" and started praying God's promises, when the tears started to pour.

From both of them.

Small woman needing open-heart surgery. And large, strong, unshaven, bandana-covered, leather-handed man alike.

No one is exempt.

Our hearts, and more specifically our fears, as we walk in faith, yearn to hear and hunger to taste the promises of Almighty God in Jesus Christ.

Look at people today as God is looking at you. The eyes never lie. Someone is hurting in their heart, "My face is red with weeping, deep shadows ring my eyes" (Job 16:16).

Greet them. Ask how they're doing. Listen. And offer to pray.

The tears won't be far behind.

God understands the weeping of every soul. And we are his ears and mouthpiece of comfort for those who need to cry.

Praise God!

 

 

 

 

Pastor Chris DeGreen

Senior Pastor
Christ The King Lutheran Church, LCMC
611 Riverchase Parkway West
Hoover, Alabama 35226
Ph: (205) 988-5004
Empastorchris@ctkbham.org
Web: www.ctkbham.org

 

 

Day of Praise

We, 01/21/15, "Day of Praise"

"Then Job replied: 'Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?'" - Job 9:1-4

A dear, older friend of mine once summed up things like this, "God good; sin bad." Job used only slightly different words in today's verse, saying, "Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Answer: We can't.

We can no more be righteous, in and of ourselves, before God than I can reach out my screened window and grab these beautiful stars that I'm looking at this very moment.

Yes, yes, I remember what we've said in this devotion, we noted from Job 1:1 how God speaks of Job as being "blameless." Surely Job could be righteous, in and of himself, before God, couldn't he? But, biblically speaking, "blameless" merely means a person who is confronted by their sin and doesn't have to be dragged into a legal courtroom to get them to admit that they messed up.

So Job was blameless, but he was not sinless.

No one is sinless, except Jesus, which means that no one's heart is so in tune with the will of God the Father that they constantly act in accord with God's will. Only Jesus.

Which throws us back to Job's original question in Job 9:1, "How can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Only through faith in Jesus, which means that we trust Jesus to make all things right, including us.

To be sure, sometimes in surrendering to Jesus, he sends us to do something like pray for an enemy or pay retribution to someone we hurt.

But there is no way to pay back God. All we can do is thank Him.

So, "How can a mortal be righteous before God?"

Answer: 1) Don't wait to be dragged to court to admit a wrong. 2) Put your faith in God's Son, Jesus, who makes all things right. 3) Thank God. 4) Serve people...with a joy that springs from thanks to God.

That should make for a Happy Day and a Happy World. Let's go!

Praise God!

 

 

 

 

Pastor Chris DeGreen

Senior Pastor
Christ The King Lutheran Church, LCMC
611 Riverchase Parkway West
Hoover, Alabama 35226
Ph: (205) 988-5004
Empastorchris@ctkbham.org
Web: www.ctkbham.org

 

 

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Day of Praise

Tu, 01/20/15, "Day of Praise"

"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up." - Psalm 71:20

In the Bible book of Job, Job is said to be blameless, upright, a God-fearer, and one who shuns evil. And yet Job loses all; he's personally afflicted; and he curses his birth.

How should we respond when calamity comes upon us, whether it's Job-like or 9-11ish or something to a much smaller degree at work or in our home?

Giving up often makes things worse, so hopefully we won't give up.

 

But how do we hang in there and not give up? God speaks through the Psalmist to Job and to all who've tasted any magnitude of difficulty, along with you and me. God calls us to stop and pray and believe the word of God in our verse, "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up." (Psalm 71:20)

Let us be found believing and encouraging others to do the same. And may God be praised as we do!


Praise God!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Day of Praise

Mo, 01/19/15, “Day of Praise”

 

"Day of Praise"

"At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored." - Daniel 4:34

Recently, someone dear to me asked if they could tell me something. "Of course," I said. They proceeded to tell me how they'd been drawn into the temptations of the world.

When they were done, we talked about both the temptation itself but also the process of confessing. Their closing comment was, "I feel better now that I've told you."

Confession is good for the soul.

Just ask powerful King Nebuchadnezzar, who, in today's Bible verse, tells how he himself had persistently turned away from God by sinning. But God, Nebuchadnezzar confesses, was and is more powerful; God is powerful and loving enough to bring us down to our knees.

And God is powerful and loving enough to restore us.

Nebuchadnezzar, who had persistently opposed God, was so moved by God's power and love, in dealing with Nebuchadnezzar's sin, that Nebuchadnezzar was compelled to confess his own sin to the world and encourage others to do the same. For he says in Daniel 4:37, "And those who walk in pride, [God] is able to humble."

Nebuchadnezzar had learned first hand what surely many of us have heard in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

Let us be encouraged by powerful King Nebuchadnezzar's testimony and the dear one who said to me, "I feel better now that I've told you."

Confession is good for the soul.

Praise God!

 

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Day of Praise

Sa, 01/17/15, "Day of Praise"

Let me start with a “Happy 75th Birthday!” to my mom who still sells real estate, works out at a gym, and inspires me to live well everyday!

 

Now to the devotion.


"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" - James 1:19

Many of us here at Christ the King Lutheran Church (LCMC) in Birmingham, Alabama remember our brother Tom Nelson's witness. Tom was at a conference at the World Trade Centers Hotel when the tragic events unfolded that day. His witness was and is that, as he and the others were being moved quickly away from the scene, he was moved by the Spirit of God to ask, "God, what do you want me to do?"

Such is the essence of today's Bible verse from James 1:19. We are called to "be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" so we can ask, "God, what do you want me to do?" and then listen for God's reply.

This same counsel is given by Andy Stanley in his book "Enemies of the Heart" as he describes the antidote to greed, which is generosity. Stanley says that you know that you have yielded to God's life-giving word so that generosity reigns in your heart over greed when you have a monetary windfall come your way and the first thing you do is ask, "God, what do you want me to do with this money?"

The TV commercials for insurance are true; life does come at you fast. But as it does, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19). For in so doing we can listen for God's response as we ask, "God, what do you want me to do?"

Praise God!

 

Friday, January 16, 2015

Day of Praise

Sorry! Still getting kinks worked out of the new lists.

Fr, 01/16/15, "Day of Praise"

"and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east" - Ezekiel 43:2

Amazing!

What must it have been like for Ezekiel to have seen the glory of God?

Can anything compare?

What are the greatest things you've ever seen?

I've seen three things on an internet list of top 10 sights in the world and 39 of a top 100 in the USA. 

But none of them compares to seeing each of my three children burst into the world. And seeing them laugh together (especially now as they're all three teenagers and older) is a very, very, very close second. 

But God says in the Bible, in John 1:14, that each of us, like Ezekiel, has seen the greatest wonder known to humankind. We have beheld God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ, who even now is with us and dwelling in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Describing what we've seen in Christ is hard. How do you describe “Glory” which is what some Bible dictionaries call "Weighty Importance" and "Inspiring Majesty"?

And yet it's possible. 

God's glory, God's "Weighty Importance" and "Inspiring Majesty" is seen through God's mighty acts in creation. 

No, you probably haven't seen the parting of the Red Sea as God did for Moses and the Israelites. 

But, c'mon, think! God has done something for you that, when you stop and think about it, it's marvelous to behold.

Stars at night. Heart stopper!

Cahaba Lilies by day. Breathtaking!

Birth of a child. Oh, wow!

Laughter of a child. Glorious!

Laughter of an adult. Miraculous!

Looking in the mirror and smiling at what you see because life is beautiful, and by God's grace you have it. Glory!

Dinner on the table, prepared by your teenage children. Are you kidding me?!?!?!?

At their initiative. Silly amazing!

Jesus on a cross. Shedding his blood for you and me. Speechless!

Peeking for a moment at your loved ones together and bowed before God in prayer saying, "Dear Lord, thank you for...". Priceless!

A sun rise in the east. Incomparable!

The Son Rising from the grave after dying for your sin and mine. Beyond understanding and explanation!

Glorious. Weighty. Important. Inspiring. Majestic. 

"and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east" - Ezekiel 43:2

Praise God!

 

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Day of Praise

Th, 01/15/15, "Day of Praise"

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'" - Daniel 3:16-18

 

Dear Friends,
Come what may today, remember that if you have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, then you know the "God who is able." And you will be able, therefore, to stand and endure, with courage, confidence, and wisdom from God, whatever comes your way.

For God sends forth His word by the Holy Spirit that we might yield to His Spirit and receive His Word where God literally tells us what He "is able" to do for you and all who believe.

Daniel 3:17 - If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.

Daniel 6:20 - When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" [Yes, God did.]

Matthew 26:61 - "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'" [Yes, Jesus did say that, as he referred to his body as the temple with the crucifixion and resurrection.]

Acts 5:39 - [Gamaliel said], "But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

Romans 8:39 - neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 11:23 - And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again [to the vine of God's people].

2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Hebrews 7:25 - Therefore [Jesus Christ] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

God in Christ is able to do incomparable things for you and all people. Trust Him today, and you will see.

Praise God!

 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Day of Praise

We, 01/14/15, "Day of Praise"

"[The LORD says,] I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean" - Ezekiel 36:25

Sprinkle. Clean. Water.

What a nice reminder...

of Jesus telling us that God's grace, like rain showers, falls on all people,

of Jesus washing the disciples feet and calling us to share such love,

of water spilling from Jesus' side when he was pierced on the cross where he died to cleanse us from sin,

of your baptism, where you heard of God's love for you, and you were touched with water and the Holy Spirit and, depending on your tradition, maybe declared your love for God too, right then or maybe it was later at your Confirmation,

of the water of hurricanes and our prayers for, on the one hand, the people who've tasted sorrow from those waters, but on the other hand, some drought-stricken lands that need water,

of the innumerable wonders of God relating to "Sprinkle. Clean. Water."

"[The LORD says,] I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean" - Ezekiel 36:25

Praise God!

 

 

 

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Day of Praise

Tu, 01/13/15, "Day of Praise" (Thank you all for your patience. I'm still transitioning Group Lists)

"Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians," [Gedaliah] said. "Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you." - Jeremiah 40:9

Wait! Isn't Gedaliah one of God's people? And aren't the Babylonians the enemy? And Gedaliah's saying, "Serve the Babylonians"?

Yes.

I remember, years ago, facing the young man who had trespassed against me in a major way. Sinned against me in a major way. Hurt me in a major way. 

To be sure, there are nuances about the whole encounter that now, 37 years later, I'd do a little differently. But the major part of God's instruction to me was clear then and now.

Forgive the Babylonian, uh, I mean, forgive the guy who hurt you. Forgive your enemy. He's standing right in front of you, so stick out your hand. Greet him. Look him in the eye. And tell him that you forgive him. 

In so doing, you not only serve your enemy. You also serve yourself.

The rational (not emotional) decision to forgive serves not only your enemy. Forgiving your enemy, choosing not to pursue getting even, letting go of the figurative stranglehold on your enemy's throat, forgiving also serves the forgiver.

Forgiveness rIds the forgiver of anger. And since anger can destroy the heart, ridding your heart of all anger, like sweeping away anything that feels like spider web when you unexpectedly walk into a spider web, rids the heart of all that would destroy your heart.

This is why St. Paul is God's servant to write in Ephesians 4:31, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."
And in Colossians 3:8, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."

This is why Jesus, in Matthew 5:44, says, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Because loving your enemies, praying for those who hurt you, serving your enemies, and getting rid of the cancer of anger from your heart, they all go hand in hand.

To be sure, the wound will be poked and called back to mind by a song or a smell or a story or something, and the hurt that was inflicted on you will be stirred again in your heart and mind.

But when this happens, look up to God, call on God's name and say, "Lord, I'm so thankful that you forgave me an infinite debt for my sin and rebellion against you. May your forgiveness in Christ be my strength to remember that I've already chosen to forgive the person who hurt me. It was a decision. And even now, as the hurt was stirred back up, give me your strength to return to and keep my decision in place so that you and your healing forgiveness, not destructive anger and hurt, are the rulers and master of my life. In Jesus' name I ask this. May it be so, Amen."

Friends, a hurt will most definitely be stirred today. Like Gedaliah in days of old, serve the enemy. Pray for them. Get rid of all anger, like sweeping away anything that feels like spider web in your heart. And return to a decision to forgive, just as God in Christ forgave 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

Tu, 01/13/15, "Day of Praise" (Thank you all for your patience. Still transitioning Group Lists)

"Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians," [Gedaliah] said. "Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you." - Jeremiah 40:9

Wait! Isn't Gedaliah one of God's people? And aren't the Babylonians the enemy? And Gedaliah's saying, "Serve the Babylonians"?

Yes.

I remember, years ago, facing the young man who had trespassed against me in a major way. Sinned against me in a major way. Hurt me in a major way. 

To be sure, there are nuances about the whole encounter that now, 37 years later, I'd do a little differently. But the major part of God's instruction to me was clear then and now.

Forgive the Babylonian, uh, I mean, forgive the guy who hurt you. Forgive your enemy. He's standing right in front of you, so stick out your hand. Greet him. Look him in the eye. And tell him that you forgive him. 

In so doing, you not only serve your enemy. You also serve yourself.

The rational (not emotional) decision to forgive serves not only your enemy. Forgiving your enemy, choosing not to pursue getting even, letting go of the figurative stranglehold on your enemy's throat, forgiving also serves the forgiver.

Forgiveness rIds the forgiver of anger. And since anger can destroy the heart, ridding your heart of all anger, like sweeping away anything that feels like spider web when you unexpectedly walk into a spider web, rids the heart of all that would destroy your heart.

This is why St. Paul is God's servant to write in Ephesians 4:31, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."
And in Colossians 3:8, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."

This is why Jesus, in Matthew 5:44, says, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Because loving your enemies, praying for those who hurt you, serving your enemies, and getting rid of the cancer of anger from your heart, they all go hand in hand.

To be sure, the wound will be poked and called back to mind by a song or a smell or a story or something, and the hurt that was inflicted on you will be stirred again in your heart and mind.

But when this happens, look up to God, call on God's name and say, "Lord, I'm so thankful that you forgave me an infinite debt for my sin and rebellion against you. May your forgiveness in Christ be my strength to remember that I've already chosen to forgive the person who hurt me. It was a decision. And even now, as the hurt was stirred back up, give me your strength to return to and keep my decision in place so that you and your healing forgiveness, not destructive anger and hurt, are the rulers and master of my life. In Jesus' name I ask this. May it be so, Amen."

Friends, a hurt will most definitely be stirred today. Like Gedaliah in days of old, serve the enemy. Pray for them. Get rid of all anger, like sweeping away anything that feels like spider web in your heart. And return to a decision to forgive, just as God in Christ forgave 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

 

 

 

Monday, January 12, 2015

Day of Praise

Mo, 01/12/15, "Day of Praise"

 

Hi, All! My new phone is in place. But I'm still transitioning the final bits with group lists. PLEASE REPLY TO my new email address pastorchrisdegreen@gmail.com to help me complete the task. Thank you!

Here's today's devotion.

"For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men." - Lamentations 3:31-33

I am thankful for my parents, athletic coaches, Boy Scout leaders, school teachers, pastors, Sunday School teachers, job supervisors, grandparents and anyone else that God worked through to bring the grief of discipline into my life as a child.

All of them made me a better person through honest, pruning love.

Bishops, Church Councils, bosses, Elder Boards, Personnel Committees, and other wise friends in Christ do the same for me as an adult.

They speak truth that hurts to the end of shaping me into the likeness of Christ.

Today is Monday. We don't usually get excited on any day, let alone Monday, to hear truth that hurts.

But it seems to me that we're blessed to have anyone in our lives, be it God or a human being, who is willing to love us enough to tell us what we probably don't want to hear because their words will truly make us better.

In that vein, as we read the two Bible passages below, let's pause and give thanks for people who are willing to love us enough to tell us what we probably don't want to hear because their words will truly make us better.

Proverbs 29:21 - "If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the end." - Proverbs 29:21

Hebrews 12:5-11 - "And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." - Hebrews 12:5-11

"For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men." - Lamentations 3:31-33

Praise God!

 

 

 

 

Pastor Chris DeGreen

Senior Pastor
Christ The King Lutheran Church, LCMC
611 Riverchase Parkway West
Hoover, Alabama 35226
Ph: (205) 988-5004
Empastorchris@ctkbham.org
Web: www.ctkbham.org

 

 

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Day of Praise

Sa, 01/10/15, "Day of Praise"

"My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together.
They have come upon my neck and the LORD has sapped my strength. He has handed me over to those I cannot withstand." - Lamentations 1:14

What does it mean that the LORD "has handed me over to those I cannot withstand"?

For whatever other things it could mean, one thing it does mean is this: whatever you feed will be the strongest.

It is a way that God made things to work. The more you feed something, the stronger it becomes.

The internationally-noted Atlanta preacher, Andy Stanley, talks about this
very plainly in his book "Enemies of the Heart". The more you feed something, the stronger it becomes.

God made us to hunger for God as we hear in Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants
for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." If we would surrender to the Holy Spirit and feed our hunger for God, then our hunger for God and God's word and God's wisdom would grow stronger.

But when we feed our hunger for the things of the world, like food or sex or
violence or sugar or risqué tv or money or sports or alcohol or anger or pornography or power or material stuff, then our appetite for those things is actually not satisfied, but our appetite for those things grows. Before long, the appetite has become a strong appetite which becomes an addiction. It happens because it's a way that God made things to work. The more you feed something, the stronger it becomes.

This is the Order of Creation that's at work in Romans 1 where God inspires
St. Paul to write: "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one
another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served
created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because
of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts." (Romans 1:24-26a)

What are you hungry for? Is it something constructive of God? Or are you hungry for something destructive of the world?

If you're hungry for God and His truly satisfying word and His life-giving ways, then keep going and feed that hunger with God's word.

But if you're hungry for the perishing things and destructive ways of the world, take it to God. There may be medical elements to your growing appetite for perishing things, but ultimately God is The Great Physician who is able to truly free you because ultimately every matter is a matter of the heart. And being made in the image of God, God made our hearts to hunger for God as we hear in Psalm 42:1, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."

Think about it. Pray about it. And I hope you might even grab Andy Stanley's book, "Enemies of the Heart". Pastor Stanley is truly God's servant to help us understand from scripture that the more you feed something, the stronger it becomes.

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

Friday, January 9, 2015

NEW Day of Praise

Ok, everyone!
Tomorrow is my official switch day to my new phone. I feel confident that I got the Day of Praise email groups reset correctly.
Please contact me if you don't get the Day of Praise on Monday!!! You can reach me at this email or call/text me at 205-401-2553.
Thank you all!
PS - We are working out the details on how to handle your payments for your Day of Praise book orders so that every penny of profit from books that you order through me can go to long-term missionaries. Thank you for your patience, and don't hesitate to ask when it's coming!!! :-)
Thank you all!
Chris
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, 01/09/15, "Day of Praise"

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

Look for him. Listen for him. Trust him. Christ will be your strength.

May God bless 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

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Day of Praise

Th, 01/08/15, "Day of Praise"

God wants to build up everyone more than any of us could ever imagine. Everyone. Even the king of Egypt, as the following passage from Ezekiel 31:1-9 attests.

Unfortunately, the king of Egypt chooses to do his own thing (he sins), instead of surrendering to the more wonderful thing that God wants to do. The consequence is that everything comes crashing down around the king of Egypt.

Why we choose the lesser (doing our own thing), instead of believing and receiving the greater (God's thing for us), is a mystery that reminds us of the power of sin.

Jesus Christ alone can overcome our sin. Jesus alone can make brand new our will and our mind and our heart so that we can receive God's amazing blessings.

Surrender to the Holy Spirit, and trust Jesus to the point of following Him, learning from Him, and obeying Him. Blessings beyond measure will be seen.

So here's the beautiful passage from Ezekiel 31:1-9 of what God wanted to do for the king of Egypt and wants to do for you and me. May it inspire you to trust God today and always.

Ezekiel 31:1-18 - (New International Version 1984 (NIV 1984) A Cedar in Lebanon)

1 In the eleventh year, in the third month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 "Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:

"'Who can be compared with you in majesty?
3 Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon,
with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
its top above the thick foliage.
4 The waters nourished it,
deep springs made it grow tall;
their streams flowed
all around its base
and sent their channels
to all the trees of the field.
5 So it towered higher
than all the trees of the field;
its boughs increased
and its branches grew long,
spreading because of abundant waters.
6 All the birds of the air
nested in its boughs,
all the beasts of the field
gave birth under its branches;
all the great nations
lived in its shade.
7 It was majestic in beauty,
with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
to abundant waters.
8 The cedars in the garden of God
could not rival it,
nor could the pine trees
equal its boughs,
nor could the plane trees
compare with its branches—
no tree in the garden of God
could match its beauty.
9 I made it beautiful
with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden
in the garden of 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

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Day of Praise

We, 01/07/15, "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 22 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 missionary and adopt children from China, Mexico, and Russia. 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's 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 that 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

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Day of Praise

Tu, 01/06/15, The Epiphany of Our Lord, "Day of Praise"

Matthew 2:10-11 - "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."

Today is January 6, which is celebrated by many Christians as The Day of The Epiphany of Our Lord, which celebrates Jesus being revealed to all nations as The King of all kings when the Magi book a camel in Babylon for unlimited miles, which they'd need as they traveled as long as two years to see and worship Jesus.

The Magi went a long way to see and worship Jesus because they knew he'd come a long way for us. In the words of an ancient Creed, "for us and our salvation, he came down from heaven." Two years was a long way for the Magi, and "down from heaven" was a longer way for Jesus.

How far will we go to see the One who's gone farther to see us? One family in our church drives 160 miles round-trip to worship. Now that's a testimony!

Hey, y'all, there's a lot of us reading this devotion today; we're all flesh and blood. Mornings are hard for almost everyone. But Jesus's cross was harder. Much harder. He went all the way for us. It's worth it for us to go a ways for him. Ya know, to say, "Thank you."

So how about in 2015, starting today, we all find a church and get there, no matter how far away it might be, and worship God and God's Savior Son, Jesus.

Thank you all for almost 3 1/2 years together. By God's grace, we've journeyed a long way together in Christ. And by God's grace 2015's going to be a great year too!

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

Monday, January 5, 2015

Day of Praise - 12th, 11th Day of Christmas

Mo, 01/05/14, 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 a long time ago 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 a couple years ago 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 a couple years ago poured it into the heart of a new support group ministry at our church for parents who have children with Asperger's Syndrome.

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

It's been 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!

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

So, 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

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Day of Praise

Sa, 01/03/15, 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

Friday, January 2, 2015

Day of Praise

Fr, 01/02/15, 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 2015 for many, 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

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Day of Praise

Th, 01/01/15, 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 the year I was at two hospital emergency rooms in Tuscaloosa on New Year's Eve. 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 hear so many talk of being blessed when others look at us that way, namely 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, we're made to enjoy sharing with others what God has first shared with us. If we believe this and share his strength and encouragement, 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