Sunday, January 31, 2016

Day of Praise

Mon, 02/01/16, "Day of Praise"

Galatians 6:1 - "If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."

This is a hard verse about being in mission for Christ. In sum, God's saying that we have a ministry that we "should" do; we cannot do nothing. And what we do should be done in "gentleness." And on top of how we're supposed to do it there is this warning which basically is a warning against becoming full of ourselves and thinking we're better than others. It's a hard charge.

To illustrate, I was with our daughter, Cassidy, one time, getting lunch. A very well-dressed guy went to the soda machine three times to fill his drink; each time he over-filled his cup, turned around, watched his cup overflow onto the ground right next to our table, and looked around to see if anyone noticed his mistake. He was clearly embarrassed. (He never did notice the drink splash onto my pants and feet.)

According to today's Bible verse, what should I have done? Should I have a sense of humor and comfort the guy, saying that I do that all the time too, (which I do)? Should I be silent and smile at him? Should I look the other way as if I don't see what's happened repeatedly? Each of these responses has the potential to be right. Each has the potential to be wrong.

Ultimately, there's only one thing to do, based on today's Bible verse. Do something with faith that God will do what God promises to do, namely, God promises to work through all things together for good.

In sum, boy oh boy, do we all need God's help, or what? May God help us all!

And God surely does.

We know this in Jesus Christ.

Praise God!

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Day of Praise


Sat, 01/30/16, "Day of Praise" 

Acts 15:39-40 - "Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord." 

Some time ago, our younger daughter, Cassidy, was telling me how she was driving to another house very early one morning to let the dog out to run and eat breakfast. Shortly after she left our house, she pulled up to a stop sign with a pedestrian crossing for the students in the nearby Middle School, and her headlights shone on the most adorable sight. In line and in order, from biggest to smallest, were five armadillos, crossing the street in the darkness right down the middle of the ped crossing. 

It's a simple concept that's clear from a line of armadillos and in today's Bible verse. Yes, it's important that we mature and become the wonderful individual that God made us to be, but God made us to work together and stick together. Two or more working together has been God's plan in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 and all through God's Word in scripture. Through companionship and teamwork, God works eternal blessings in and through our lives. 

May God bless you to seek, find, invest in, and share the blessings of relationships just has God in Christ keeps doing with us. 

Praise God! 







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Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Friday, January 29, 2016

Day of Praise

Fri, 01/29/16, "Day of Praise"

Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

I always chuckle when people ask me where my younger daughter goes to college. I'm glad to tell them; it's just that when I say, "Mississippi University for Women in Columbus," then people often say, "Now, what state is that in?"

If we don't listen, look, and seek, then we usually don't find the answer to our questions.

A friend of mine was telling me that he used to wonder how all his friends kept having all these great conversations about eternity come their way from random people. He said he asked them, and they said, "We look for them."

Friends, it's just that simple. God is with us. But God ordained that the way to see him is to look for him. The way to find him is to seek him. Seek him, not halfheartedly, but with all your heart!

Happy Seeing-God-Day today (and everyday) as you look for Him with all your heart!

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






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Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Day of Praise

Thur, 01/28/16, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus said to her, 'Mary.'" - John 20:16

My wife and children have this supernatural power over me, like with our 16-year old son, Caden, who has a gift. He only needs to calmly say my name, "Dad," and I know exactly what he means.

Like when we used to drive to school in the morning, and the first of many people used the side of the road that's not the road to pass all of us who are waiting in line on the road. I'd let out my annoyed driver siiiiiiiiigh. And Caden would calmly say, "Dad."

What Caden meant was, "Dad, don't start getting all excited. You know that doesn't help anything. People drive like this everyday. And your getting upset with them hasn't, to this day, miraculously turned them into good drivers. So calm down." Caden says all that with a calm, "Dad."

That's what Jesus did in today's verse when he said, "Mary." Mary was all excited about nothing as she was frantically weeping about Jesus's body being taken. And Jesus calmly says, "Mary. Calm down. I'm right here with you. Your getting all excited doesn't make anything better. It actually makes things worse because you don't even see me standing right here. And I've got everything under control." Jesus says all that with, "Mary."

So today, when something happens and you start to get upset, stop, for just a moment. And listen. Jesus is calmly calling your name, maybe through someone, like my wife and children do for me. And with one word, he's saying, "Take a breath. Calm down. I've got it all under control. Just trust me."

Blessed are those who do.

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






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Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Day of Praise

Wed, 01/27/16, "Day of Praise"

"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." - Genesis 1:3

After Sunday evening worship, it's usually my job to check all the lights, doors, and thermostats. Usually, I knock on the bathroom doors, barely open them, and call out "Hey, anybody in there?"

Once in a while, everybody seems gone, so I just open the bathroom doors and turn off the lights. However, one time, from one restroom came a "Hey, I'm in here!" So immediately, I turned the light back on.

Friends, somebody's going to turn your light off today and leave you in the dark. But God is a God of light, and Jesus is the light of the world. So, I know from lots of experience besides yesterday, and I hope you do too, that if you'll just call out to God, God will either shine light onto your path or give you a peace beyond understanding in your dark.

Call on the Lord! He will not fail 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






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Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Day of Praise

Tue, 01/26/16, "Day of Praise"

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" - Galatians 4:4-6

Our oldest, now 23 year old daughter, Calley, wrote this once in her blog, and it's worth repeating:

Some people have said I have a "Save the World" mentality because I'm still young and things can be black and white. Actually I have a "The World is Saved" mentality, because that's what it is. The things I do aren't done to redeem anything; they're done because everything has been done, because redemption is here, because we can be sons!

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" - Galatians 4:4-6

So have a great day, y'all, as God's children!!!

Praise God!






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Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Monday, January 25, 2016

Day of Praise

Mon, 01/25/16, "Day of Praise"

John 1:17 - "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

One way for us to apply the contrast in today's Bible verse is by asking ourselves if we deal with people in a heavy-handed, condemning way or a gracious, give-them-the-benefit-of-the-doubt way.

When my son, Caden, was in second grade, he played in a city, recreational, basketball league. Yes, everybody's trying to win, but it's ultimately a rec league. Nobody's career or salary is at stake. But maybe somebody's reputation is at stake. Are they heavy-handed, taking this stuff way too seriously? Or are they gracious, giving the benefit of the doubt?

This one game was nearing halftime. A boy threw Caden the ball at half-court. Caden turned and shot it, just as the halftime horn sounded. It went in! Everybody cheered like crazy! A second grader made a half-court shot in a game!

But wait!

The referee said it didn't count because his x-ray vision ascertained that the ball was still on Caden's fingertips as the halftime horn sounded.

Seriously? Second-graders? Rec league? C'mon ref, do you really need to be right and have your pickiness be more important than a thrill of a lifetime for a second grader? How about a little grace?

Can y'all imagine a world full of stuff like that?

God couldn't either.

That's why God sent Jesus!

John 1:17 - "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

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






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Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Day of Praise

Sat, 01/23/16, "Day of Praise"

John 1:14 - "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

The weather's gotten colder, so I saw and read this article about energy saving tips. The author said that we should turn our water heaters down to 120 degrees but no lower because, at 119, harmful bacteria will start to grow in the water heater. I just laughed. It's as if the author was saying that we should save energy by putting in as little as possible and just barely staying away from danger.

It's a good thing that God's not like that.

God is a God of super-abundance, like we hear in today's Bible verse. God did not send Jesus with just enough grace to get by, leaving us just on the edge of danger. Instead, God sent Jesus "full of grace," which is more than enough for all of us to be covered in God's love and to have enough to pass a lot to everyone else.

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






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Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Friday, January 22, 2016

Day of Praise

Friday, 01/22/16, "Day of Praise"

Isaiah 25:9 - It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

One of the things that God actually saves us from is ourselves. Praise God for that because everyday is filled with potential frustrations.

But in the face of such potential frustrations, like I've tasted before, where, in the span of one hour, a cashier made a time-consuming mistake with me, a driver dangerously pulled on the road in front of me with no car lights on, and another cashier didn't give me all that I paid for, God says, "Lighten up! 'Be glad and rejoice!'"

And that's a good thing because in the next hour, as it turned out, I pulled on the road with no car lights on and didn't get honked at, and a different cashier gave me a $5 gift card just because they liked my smile. Funny how things work out, isn't it?

So, let's hear it for joy and gladness instead of harumphing and frustration.

Expect God to do great things for you! And TELL HIM that you expect it!!!!

And thank you, God, for always working things out so that joy and gladness can reign with you today and everyday!!!

Praise God!






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Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Day of Praise

Thursday, 01/21/16, "Day of Praise"

Isaiah 41:6, 8a, 10b - "Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, 'Be strong!'...But you, Israel, my servant...I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

And there we have it.

God tells us plainly that it's fine for us to encourage one another, saying, "You can do it! Be strong!" But if we really want to encourage someone, then it's a much greater blessing for us to claim God's promise, saying, "You can do it! God will be your strength!"

Indeed, God will be our strength as we encourage others with the same!

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






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Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Day of Praise

Wed, 01/20/16, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 73:1-2 - "Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped."

Have you ever had a bad time in your life? A hard time? Have you ever "almost stumbled" and "nearly slipped"?

Having gone to a football camp with our son, Caden, this past weekend, I was reminded of the two times I went to camp with our girls and the special time we had for parent-child conversation. As a remembrance of that parent-child time, the camp gives each parent and each child a simple, string bracelet with beads that spell "G-O-D". I wore mine until they literally rotted off. 

However, one day before the one bracelet had rotted, the black string broke as I was getting ready for bed. The beads bounced around, including one that bounced into the bathtub and was headed straight for the drain. I quickly prayed, "Please, Lord." And right at the lip of the drain, it stopped. 

Did my prayer make a difference? I believe so. Even moreso, did God stop the bead that carries a special meaning for me? I believe so even more. 

In the same way, in your bad time in your life, in your hard time, when you "almost stumbled" and "nearly slipped" right down the drain, who kept you from going right down the tubes like a tiny bead on its way to its end? And if necessary, who would've kept going with you, even if you'd come to your end?

In Jesus the Christ, we have One who is God with us, holding us close, keeping us together, like a special bracelet on God's own wrist. But Jesus, the very Son of God, has also shown us plainly, on his cross and in his death, that when our lives are headed for the drain, he's pleading for us, advocating for us, to keep us from going straight down the tubes. 

In essence, he keeps us from stumbling and holds us upright. He's certainly held me up, by his Spirit and through his people, in the worst times of my life and in every other season too. And even if I'd fallen, he would've gone with me, all the way, because in the depths he meets us and from the depths he raises us up. 

Give thanks, dear friends, for Mighty God who is with us. And pray for your friends who are struggling, not only that God would keep them from falling and heading straight down the tubes, but also that your friend would know who is with them, even in the depths of despair. 

And even better than prayer for them, reach out and personally tell them! God promises to speak to them through your faith in Him with a powerful and life-changing encouragement that will give them strength in the Lord, if they'll but receive your testimony and trust God to hold them up and keep them from going down the drain!

For He who is with us when we stumble is the One who also raises us up!

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







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Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Day of Praise

Tues, 01/19/16, "Day of Praise"

2 Chronicles 34:33 - "Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors."

Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites so that all who were present in Israel could serve the Lord their God. Wow! That was nice of him. 

What needs to be removed from your life?

There's a television commercial for some product (which I think is a truck) that shows some kids playing ball on a very nice baseball field. Then the advertisers kick the video in reverse and show everything that went into making the ball field, including "removing all the detestable boulders." I hope those kids thanked the person and the machine that did all the heavy lifting so they could have a ball field, even if it was just a commercial. 

That's what Josiah did for Israel. He did all the heavy lifting. He removed stuff that got in the way, not of people having a good time playing ball, but he removed the stuff that got in the way of having a good time serving the Lord. 

Let me ask you a personal question? 

Do you enjoy serving the Lord?

If you answered "no, I do not enjoy serving the Lord," then today's Bible verse is just one of many where God tells us that there's something in your life that needs to be removed (maybe something detestable) because it's claiming your eagerness and anticipation more than the Lord. Quite frankly, God's Word basically says that God is constantly amazed at how nonchalant we are about our relationship with the Lord. We'll swap time with God through His Word for time with the world and its pleasures in a heartbeat. All we need to do to have proof that God is right about this is look at our calendar and checkbook.

The major problem with letting the world dictate our calendars and checkbooks, which creates spiritual boulders in our lives, is that Jesus says that we are nothing apart from the Lord, have nothing apart from the Lord, and can do nothing apart from the Lord. And spiritual boulders tragically make sure that we're apart from the Lord. 

So let's get to the point. You know where the Lord is on your priority list. If God isn't first on the list and the center of everything else on the list, then you (like all of us) have some detestable boulders that need to be removed so that you can have a good time serving the Lord. Now the question is, "So who's going to remove these things from our lives, especially if ironically they're so big we can't see them?"

Yep, you got it! God through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit is the only one who can remove the spiritual boulders. After all, he overcame the sin of the whole world, overcame death, and overcame the grave. And he removed some big ol' literal honker of a boulder from his grave. So I'm sure he can remove some relatively little ol' boulders from our little ol' lives. 

Keep it simple. Just ask Him! And he will!

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







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Monday, January 18, 2016

Day of Praise

Mo, 01/18/16, "Day of Praise"

We're finishing an out of town football camp with our son, Caden, and have an early morning flight, so here's a rerun of a devotion from a few years ago that both made me laugh today and also celebrate the agility I had years ago. 😀

"His arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob." - Genesis 49:23-24

When Jacob blessed Joseph in today's Bible verse, he spoke of agility coming Joseph's way.

Maybe we should ask for some agility for each other.

For myself, I need a little physical agility to go dumpster diving later this morning. In my typical helpfully unhelpful fashion, I thought I'd help after our church's annual Thanksgiving Feast last night by taking four big garbage bags out to the dumpster. Turns out that one of the garbage bags had $400 worth of linens that were borrowed from a member of the church.

Dumpster, here I come.

Pray for me. I need some agility.

Pertaining to us all, it's a short week because of Thanksgiving and probably a lot of good eating ahead. But before we get to the turkey, I'd guess many of us are in the same position, namely, the same amount of work needs to get done but now in a shorter period of time. A little mental agility would probably be helpful to us all.

So let's pray for one another for the Almighty One of Jacob to dwell in us and give us some mental agility to get it all done before Thursday. And while we're at it, it probably isn't a bad idea either to pray for one another for a little physical agility so we can all get in a little physical exercise before the big eats day gets here.

Happy Agility Monday!

May God grant it to all of us today as it was granted to Joseph in days of old!

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






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