Day of Praise

Mon, 08/01/16, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 28:6 - "Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy."

It's the world in which we live.

Many people find it hard to praise God.

People who find it hard to praise God are people who are just flat out overwhelmed by difficulties in their personal life, usually, because of financial issues, marital issues, health issues, the needs of their parents, or problems with their kids. They can't see God to praise him for who he is because their issues are so big and just right up in their face. 

So we listen. 

To one another. 

And we pray. 

For one another.

And with one another. 

To help one another to see that God is listening. 

Even though it's hard to see beyond the many issues. 

We listen to one another because God promises to send someone into our life who will listen to us. And it helps. It helps when someone listens to us. Because after listening to so many others in the day, we sometimes don't feel like praising God. Instead, we feel overwhelmed by all the people problems put in front of us. But when our special someone listens, it feels like God is listening. And when God listens to us, then our soul is watered, and we can't help but praise God for who he is and for the one he sent us. 

To listen. 

To us. 

That's what God is talking about in today's Bible verse from Psalm 28:6 - "Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy."

That's what people are talking about when they say they feel closer to God after we listen to them and pray with them.

And that's what the people in front of you need today. It's why they'll talk to you. Because you'll listen. And it will make them feel closer to God.

Dear God, we praise you for listening to us. And we thank you for the people you send us who listen to us. And for the people who will pray with us. And pray for us. Help us, Lord, to be that person for others who listens to them and prays with them so that more people might praise you today for bending your ear to us all. Amen.

Psalm 28:6 - "Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy."

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

Sat, 07/30/16, "Day of Praise"

Luke 22:19 - "And [Jesus] took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'"

Pictures take us back. They can take us back to days of fond remembrances. To memories of cherished moments. To past moments that kindle a very real warmth of heart in the present. That kindle a warmth in the heart of everyone in the picture in a way that strengthens together the bond of all those hearts. 

The picture doesn't need to be on paper. The image of a reality can be in our heart. That's the kind of image, the picture, the remembrance that Jesus is talking about in today's Bible verse in Luke 22:19. Jesus is saying that whenever we remember him in our hearts, not just some glance, but really stop and focus, and remember how he sat at a table with bread and with people who believed in him so strongly that they followed him. When we remember how he took that bread and gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to those people who believed in him so strongly that they followed him. When we really focus and remember him saying, "This is my body given for you," then the remembrance of Jesus is so strong that it's almost like he's right here. 

Because he is.

He's right here kindling a very real warmth of heart in the present. Kindling a warmth in the heart of everyone in the mental picture, in a way that strengthens together the bond of all those hearts. Including our own. Because our remembrance of Jesus at that table both inserts us into the picture of that table but even more importantly, our remembrance of Jesus at that table welcomes him into the picture of this table. The table that is our present moment. To remember him and his outpouring of his life in the past is to receive him and his outpouring in the present.

How can this be? It's really quite simple. To remember somebody literally means to be rejoined to somebody. The Biblical-language Greek word for remember emphasizes the rejoining of minds. The Biblical-language Hebrew word for remember emphasizes the rejoining of hearts; literally the Hebrew carries the meaning of physically visiting someone. So God has ordained that remembering someone joins our hearts and minds and actually joins us together as if we're sitting there visiting together.

Because we are.

Do you need some companionship today? Do you need someone to walk with you today? Someone to keep you company? Someone to show you how much you're loved? Then remember Jesus. Remember how he's poured himself out for you. And it'll be just like he's walking with you and telling you how much he loves you.

Because he is.

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

Sat, 07/30/16, "Day of Praise"

Luke 22:19 - "And [Jesus] took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'"

Pictures take us back. They can take us back to days of fond remembrances. To memories of cherished moments. To past moments that kindle a very real warmth of heart in the present. That kindle a warmth in the heart of everyone in the picture in a way that strengthens together the bond of all those hearts. 

The picture doesn't need to be on paper. The image of a reality can be in our heart. That's the kind of image, the picture, the remembrance that Jesus is talking about in today's Bible verse in Luke 22:19. Jesus is saying that whenever we remember him in our hearts, not just some glance, but really stop and focus, and remember how he sat at a table with bread and with people who believed in him so strongly that they followed him. When we remember how he took that bread and gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to those people who believed in him so strongly that they followed him. When we really focus and remember him saying, "This is my body given for you," then the remembrance of Jesus is so strong that it's almost like he's right here. 

Because he is.

He's right here kindling a very real warmth of heart in the present. Kindling a warmth in the heart of everyone in the mental picture, in a way that strengthens together the bond of all those hearts. Including our own. Because our remembrance of Jesus at that table both inserts us into the picture of that table but even more importantly, our remembrance of Jesus at that table welcomes him into the picture of this table. The table that is our present moment. To remember him and his outpouring of his life in the past is to receive him and his outpouring in the present.

How can this be? It's really quite simple. To remember somebody literally means to be rejoined to somebody. The Biblical-language Greek word for remember emphasizes the rejoining of minds. The Biblical-language Hebrew word for remember emphasizes the rejoining of hearts; literally the Hebrew carries the meaning of physically visiting someone. So God has ordained that remembering someone joins our hearts and minds and actually joins us together as if we're sitting there visiting together.

Because we are.

Do you need some companionship today? Do you need someone to walk with you today? Someone to keep you company? Someone to show you how much you're loved? Then remember Jesus. Remember how he's poured himself out for you. And it'll be just like he's walking with you and telling you how much he loves you.

Because he is.

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

Fri, 07/29/16, "Day of Praise"

John 1:44-46 -  Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.

As I remember it, I passed beginner swim lessons seven times. To move on to intermediate, you had to be able to swim the length of the pool without stopping. That never happened with me, so I passed beginner but never moved on to intermediate. 

There were worse things, though, than not moving on to intermediate. Like not even passing beginners. At the Moose Lodge, where we took swim lessons, the culture was for moms to take their children who failed beginners and, while angrily yelling "Swim!", they'd throw the wailing, panicked child out into the middle of the pool. I saw that scenario so many times it made me sick to my stomach and still does to this day. I saw it as children being forced to take a plunge into learning something that they dread or that they're incapable of accomplishing. 

Such a forced plunge is the image I get when I hear people talk about telling others about Jesus or inviting someone to church. Whenever people hear a sermon or other encouragement that appeals to them to tell others about Jesus or invite someone to church, they feel like they're the panicked, wailing child being thrown into the middle of the pool by an angry parent who might as well be yelling, "Swim!" I've heard people say that it feels like they're being forced to take a plunge.

The thing is that today's Bible reading is a place where God shows us through Philip that we're making this harder than it has to be. Talking to someone about Jesus or inviting someone to church can be more simple than beginner swim lessons because it can be as simple as saying, "Come and see!" (John 1:46). The studies show that the vast majority of people who don't go to church would actually come if someone just invited them. All people are made by God, and God made all people with a longing to be in fellowship with God. But many people who don't have a church home are worried that they won't be welcomed or won't know anyone or won't know what to do when they go into a church. So when you say, "Come and see," then you're saying to them "you'll be welcomed by me, and you'll know me, and I'll show you what to do." And inviting someone to church then becomes a blessing for everybody.

You might say, then, that inviting someone to church is, yes, taking a plunge, but it's not the angry-parent-throwing-the-wailing-child-into-the-pool kind of plunge. Instead, it's a plunge that's more along the lines of the old iced tea tv ads that showed hot, sweaty adults eagerly jumping into a swimming pool that was filled with iced tea, and all those adults would let out a refreshing, "Aaaaaah!"

Be refreshed, dear friends, and take an eager plunge into inviting someone to Jesus and worship. Like Philip in today's Bible verses, all we need to say to someone is "Come and see!"

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

Fri, 07/29/16, "Day of Praise"

John 1:44-46 -  Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.

As I remember it, I passed beginner swim lessons seven times. To move on to intermediate, you had to be able to swim the length of the pool without stopping. That never happened with me, so I passed beginner but never moved on to intermediate. 

There were worse things, though, than not moving on to intermediate. Like not even passing beginners. At the Moose Lodge, where we took swim lessons, the culture was for moms to take their children who failed beginners and, while angrily yelling "Swim!", they'd throw the wailing, panicked child out into the middle of the pool. I saw that scenario so many times it made me sick to my stomach and still does to this day. I saw it as children being forced to take a plunge into learning something that they dread or that they're incapable of accomplishing. 

Such a forced plunge is the image I get when I hear people talk about telling others about Jesus or inviting someone to church. Whenever people hear a sermon or other encouragement that appeals to them to tell others about Jesus or invite someone to church, they feel like they're the panicked, wailing child being thrown into the middle of the pool by an angry parent who might as well be yelling, "Swim!" I've heard people say that it feels like they're being forced to take a plunge.

The thing is that today's Bible reading is a place where God shows us through Philip that we're making this harder than it has to be. Talking to someone about Jesus or inviting someone to church can be more simple than beginner swim lessons because it can be as simple as saying, "Come and see!" (John 1:46). The studies show that the vast majority of people who don't go to church would actually come if someone just invited them. All people are made by God, and God made all people with a longing to be in fellowship with God. But many people who don't have a church home are worried that they won't be welcomed or won't know anyone or won't know what to do when they go into a church. So when you say, "Come and see," then you're saying to them "you'll be welcomed by me, and you'll know me, and I'll show you what to do." And inviting someone to church then becomes a blessing for everybody.

You might say, then, that inviting someone to church is, yes, taking a plunge, but it's not the angry-parent-throwing-the-wailing-child-into-the-pool kind of plunge. Instead, it's a plunge that's more along the lines of the old iced tea tv ads that showed hot, sweaty adults eagerly jumping into a swimming pool that was filled with iced tea, and all those adults would let out a refreshing, "Aaaaaah!"

Be refreshed, dear friends, and take an eager plunge into inviting someone to Jesus and worship. Like Philip in today's Bible verses, all we need to say to someone is "Come and see!"

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

Thur, 07/28/16, "Day of Praise"

Ecclesiastes 12:1 - "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'"

The preacher who long ago wrote today's verse from Ecclesiastes was inspired by God to recognize that life's short -- very short in the grand scheme of the everlasting into which we'll all be raised up when Jesus comes again!

So get out there, and make the most of this blessed day today. See some people. Spend time with loved ones. Or as I and my loved ones enjoy, spend time with your loved ones by going to visit someone who needs a visitor. Get outside and enjoy the wonder of God's creation. Go celebrate somebody or something. Be active and energetic and cheerful. Make the most of today!!!

Ah, sure, I know today's Thursday. It's a workday. But what's that got to do with it?

Life is short!

So I'll say it again...

Get out there, and make the most of this blessed day today. See some people. Spend time with loved ones. Or as I and my loved ones enjoy, spend time with your loved ones by going to visit someone who needs a visitor. Get outside and enjoy the wonder of God's creation. Go celebrate somebody or something. Be active and energetic and cheerful. Make the most of today!!!

And as, in essence, God says through today's verse, live today in a way that then you're prepared and eager to thank God for all the good things you've enjoyed!!!

Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them."

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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Thur, 07/28/16, "Day of Praise"

Ecclesiastes 12:1 - "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'"

The preacher who long ago wrote today's verse from Ecclesiastes was inspired by God to recognize that life's short -- very short in the grand scheme of the everlasting into which we'll all be raised up when Jesus comes again!

So get out there, and make the most of this blessed day today. See some people. Spend time with loved ones. Or as I and my loved ones enjoy, spend time with your loved ones by going to visit someone who needs a visitor. Get outside and enjoy the wonder of God's creation. Go celebrate somebody or something. Be active and energetic and cheerful. Make the most of today!!!

Ah, sure, I know today's Thursday. It's a workday. But what's that got to do with it?

Life is short!

So I'll say it again...

Get out there, and make the most of this blessed day today. See some people. Spend time with loved ones. Or as I and my loved ones enjoy, spend time with your loved ones by going to visit someone who needs a visitor. Get outside and enjoy the wonder of God's creation. Go celebrate somebody or something. Be active and energetic and cheerful. Make the most of today!!!

And as, in essence, God says through today's verse, live today in a way that then you're prepared and eager to thank God for all the good things you've enjoyed!!!

Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them."

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

Wed, 07/27/16, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 34:8 - "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

I'm telling you, I'm not kidding, when I was out mowing my grass last night, I smelled it. It was fantastic. I smelled Fall in the air. It comes in a cooling breeze mixed with the smell of fresh cut grass. I smelled Fall in the air. And with Fall comes Paula Deen's and other Fall recipe suggestions in various magazines like I saw at Walgreen's drug store earlier in the evening. Oh my goodness, do those recipe pictures look good!

But as delicious as those Fall recipes always look and always are, they can't hold a candle to the dishes God is cooking up in today's verse from Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." God's telling us that when we really trust the Lord with our situations, when we really throw our situations and the worries that go with those situations into God's care, there is such an overwhelming sense of God's provision in those matters that you can taste it.

So, whatever you've got going on today, and whatever is ongoing from days gone by and spilling into today, give it to the Lord. Really really really give it to the Lord. And God says that you'll be so sure that God's on it that you can taste it!

Mmm, mmm, good!

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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Wed, 07/27/16, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 34:8 - "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

I'm telling you, I'm not kidding, when I was out mowing my grass last night, I smelled it. It was fantastic. I smelled Fall in the air. It comes in a cooling breeze mixed with the smell of fresh cut grass. I smelled Fall in the air. And with Fall comes Paula Deen's and other Fall recipe suggestions in various magazines like I saw at Walgreen's drug store earlier in the evening. Oh my goodness, do those recipe pictures look good!

But as delicious as those Fall recipes always look and always are, they can't hold a candle to the dishes God is cooking up in today's verse from Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." God's telling us that when we really trust the Lord with our situations, when we really throw our situations and the worries that go with those situations into God's care, there is such an overwhelming sense of God's provision in those matters that you can taste it.

So, whatever you've got going on today, and whatever is ongoing from days gone by and spilling into today, give it to the Lord. Really really really give it to the Lord. And God says that you'll be so sure that God's on it that you can taste it!

Mmm, mmm, good!

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

Tues, 07/26/16, "Day of Praise" 

"The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-27 

If I've told you once, I've told you a million times, "stop exaggerating!" In that vein, we've probably heard, read, said, or prayed the blessing in today's verse a gazillion times, which means one thing, namely, see what somebody else has to say about it! 

And guess what I found? An article at http://www.wordsoflife.co.uk/bible-studies/study-12-the-benediction-in-numbers-624-26/

What I hear in that translation of the blessing is that God Almighty wants to serve us, guard us, guide us, provide for us, encourage us, and give us every single thing that we really and truly need to be happy. Wow! That's a lot! Almost seems exaggerated. 

Before she died in her 80's, a charter member of our church, Juanita Hoffmann, was receiving Holy Communion. After hearing a brief explanation about Communion, she asked, "Jesus did all that for me?" 

Yes, Juanita, Almighty God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, does all that for you and for all who will believe His promises (as in Communion) and His blessings (as in Numbers 6). And that's no exaggeration! 

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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Tues, 07/26/16, "Day of Praise" 

"The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-27 

If I've told you once, I've told you a million times, "stop exaggerating!" In that vein, we've probably heard, read, said, or prayed the blessing in today's verse a gazillion times, which means one thing, namely, see what somebody else has to say about it! 

And guess what I found? An article at http://www.wordsoflife.co.uk/bible-studies/study-12-the-benediction-in-numbers-624-26/

What I hear in that translation of the blessing is that God Almighty wants to serve us, guard us, guide us, provide for us, encourage us, and give us every single thing that we really and truly need to be happy. Wow! That's a lot! Almost seems exaggerated. 

Before she died in her 80's, a charter member of our church, Juanita Hoffmann, was receiving Holy Communion. After hearing a brief explanation about Communion, she asked, "Jesus did all that for me?" 

Yes, Juanita, Almighty God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, does all that for you and for all who will believe His promises (as in Communion) and His blessings (as in Numbers 6). And that's no exaggeration! 

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

Mon, 07/25/16, "Day of Praise"

Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

There's a lot in life that I don't understand. 

So much I don't understand. 

But praise God that the one thing I don't understand the most is one of God's greatest gifts to us all. I don't understand how God can give us peace in the face of tragic deaths and accidents and so many other things that life throws at us. 

And, as it turns out, it's a-okay that we don't understand how God can give us peace in the face of so many other things that life throws at us because God's peace is bigger. God's peace is bigger than your death and my death. God's peace is bigger than my life and yours. And God's peace is bigger than our lack of understanding about any of the things we don't understand. 

God's peace is bigger than we could ever understand. 

That's why you don't get God's peace with your head. You don't get God's peace with your mind. Instead you do get God's peace with your heart. You get God's peace through faith. You get God's peace through faith that, though I don't understand something, God does, and God's on it. He's got it, whatever it is, he's got it in his hands, ya know, those hands that he stretched out through Jesus to embrace a world in love, even though our world showed God that we don't understand his love, which is why we nailed his love to a tree, namely, we just flat out don't understand God's love. It boggles the mind; God's love does. But it also quiets the mind that believes God's love. His big love. His love that's bigger than our "whatever-it-is-we-don't-understand."

So, give it to him. You know what it is. It's your problems. It's whatever you don't understand that's troubling your mind. Give it to him. 

And in exchange for your troubles, he'll give you his peace.

Pretty good deal! Don't ya think? Uh, no, on second thought, don't think. Just believe. Because it's true.

Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Mon, 07/25/16, "Day of Praise"

Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

There's a lot in life that I don't understand. 

So much I don't understand. 

But praise God that the one thing I don't understand the most is one of God's greatest gifts to us all. I don't understand how God can give us peace in the face of tragic deaths and accidents and so many other things that life throws at us. 

And, as it turns out, it's a-okay that we don't understand how God can give us peace in the face of so many other things that life throws at us because God's peace is bigger. God's peace is bigger than your death and my death. God's peace is bigger than my life and yours. And God's peace is bigger than our lack of understanding about any of the things we don't understand. 

God's peace is bigger than we could ever understand. 

That's why you don't get God's peace with your head. You don't get God's peace with your mind. Instead you do get God's peace with your heart. You get God's peace through faith. You get God's peace through faith that, though I don't understand something, God does, and God's on it. He's got it, whatever it is, he's got it in his hands, ya know, those hands that he stretched out through Jesus to embrace a world in love, even though our world showed God that we don't understand his love, which is why we nailed his love to a tree, namely, we just flat out don't understand God's love. It boggles the mind; God's love does. But it also quiets the mind that believes God's love. His big love. His love that's bigger than our "whatever-it-is-we-don't-understand."

So, give it to him. You know what it is. It's your problems. It's whatever you don't understand that's troubling your mind. Give it to him. 

And in exchange for your troubles, he'll give you his peace.

Pretty good deal! Don't ya think? Uh, no, on second thought, don't think. Just believe. Because it's true.

Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

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

Sat, 07/23/16, "Day of Praise" 

3 John 1:3 - "It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it."

When I was a kid, I had a coach who loved to play "Small Ball." Small Ball was what he called his philosophy for coaching little league baseball. He believed that if his own team was good at bunting, which is intentionally hitting the ball a very short distance, then the other team would never be as good at fielding the ball and getting his team out. In sum, my coach felt that making a little progress a lot of times added up to scoring runs and winning games. 

That's what God is also talking about in today's Bible verse from 3 John 1:3; a believer's "faithfulness to the truth" and continuing "to walk in it" happens one small step at a time. But small steps add up and contribute to victories.

There are small steps we all can take to claim God's promises and advance the Kingdom of God by making time every morning to 1) praise God out loud for all believers and our ministries in our various communities, 2) praise God out loud for those who he will bring to Christ through all of us each day, and finally, 3) sing the doxology out loud, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye, heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 

Realistically, doing those three things each morning takes about one minute of time. It's Small Ball. But it's God's Small Ball, so if my baseball coach's small ball philosophy added up to victories, then how much more does God's small steps philosophy add up and contribute to victories? Indeed, that's exactly what God promises for us all--small praises to God add up to big victories for those who praise Him.

So, 1) generally speaking, I invite you to believe, as in today's verse, that "faithfulness to the truth" will bring you great blessing and victory today as you do the little things, the small steps that honor God and love others. And 2) specifically, I invite you to join a group of people who read this and are committed to daily praising God for ministries, for new believers, and by singing the doxology of praise which is a small, one minute commitment, which will advance God's Kingdom and bring blessing to us all.

Thank you all for your partnership in Christ! I praise God for 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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Day of Praise

Sat, 07/23/16, "Day of Praise" 

3 John 1:3 - "It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it."

When I was a kid, I had a coach who loved to play "Small Ball." Small Ball was what he called his philosophy for coaching little league baseball. He believed that if his own team was good at bunting, which is intentionally hitting the ball a very short distance, then the other team would never be as good at fielding the ball and getting his team out. In sum, my coach felt that making a little progress a lot of times added up to scoring runs and winning games. 

That's what God is also talking about in today's Bible verse from 3 John 1:3; a believer's "faithfulness to the truth" and continuing "to walk in it" happens one small step at a time. But small steps add up and contribute to victories.

There are small steps we all can take to claim God's promises and advance the Kingdom of God by making time every morning to 1) praise God out loud for all believers and our ministries in our various communities, 2) praise God out loud for those who he will bring to Christ through all of us each day, and finally, 3) sing the doxology out loud, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye, heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 

Realistically, doing those three things each morning takes about one minute of time. It's Small Ball. But it's God's Small Ball, so if my baseball coach's small ball philosophy added up to victories, then how much more does God's small steps philosophy add up and contribute to victories? Indeed, that's exactly what God promises for us all--small praises to God add up to big victories for those who praise Him.

So, 1) generally speaking, I invite you to believe, as in today's verse, that "faithfulness to the truth" will bring you great blessing and victory today as you do the little things, the small steps that honor God and love others. And 2) specifically, I invite you to join a group of people who read this and are committed to daily praising God for ministries, for new believers, and by singing the doxology of praise which is a small, one minute commitment, which will advance God's Kingdom and bring blessing to us all.

Thank you all for your partnership in Christ! I praise God for 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

Friday, 07/22/16, "Day of Praise"

Jude 1:24-25 - "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

I've been blessed in life to have two fabulous parents. One of my big memories with my dad is that he traveled a lot with his job. So, when he was home, we four kids would try to get the other seat next to him at dinner. Of course, mom sat next to him too. 

Our eagerness to sit next to my dad was matched by his pride in us kids. Though I don't remember this actually happening, today's Bible verse stirs an image in me of how our dad may have displayed his pride in us kids. It's this image of a dad whose small child is walking in front of him. The child stumbles. But the dad, ever-vigilant, quickly reaches forward and keeps the stumbling child from falling to the ground. And then the dad, strongly and gently, helps the child get reset on their feet, as he looks up to see if anyone's watching so he can look at them and say, "I'm proud of my child!" I could see my dad having done that.

And, in today's Bible verse, that's what I definitely hear God saying that he does for us all in Jesus Christ. God is always ever-vigilant in walking with us each day. And when, for whatever reason, we start to stumble, God "is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy" (Jude 1:24-25). God so loves us, keeping us from falling to the ground. And then strongly and gently helping us get reset on our feet, as he looks up to see if anyone's watching so he can look at them and say, "I'm proud of my child!"

So, friends, come what may today, remember that God is with you through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. He loves you. He's watching out for you. And he'll help you stay on your feet to keep moving in the path he has planned for us in order to show all the world his great love for and pride in you!

Trust him and you'll see!

So have a great day with God. And remember to claim his blessings by praising him aloud!

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

Friday, 07/22/16, "Day of Praise"

Jude 1:24-25 - "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

I've been blessed in life to have two fabulous parents. One of my big memories with my dad is that he traveled a lot with his job. So, when he was home, we four kids would try to get the other seat next to him at dinner. Of course, mom sat next to him too. 

Our eagerness to sit next to my dad was matched by his pride in us kids. Though I don't remember this actually happening, today's Bible verse stirs an image in me of how our dad may have displayed his pride in us kids. It's this image of a dad whose small child is walking in front of him. The child stumbles. But the dad, ever-vigilant, quickly reaches forward and keeps the stumbling child from falling to the ground. And then the dad, strongly and gently, helps the child get reset on their feet, as he looks up to see if anyone's watching so he can look at them and say, "I'm proud of my child!" I could see my dad having done that.

And, in today's Bible verse, that's what I definitely hear God saying that he does for us all in Jesus Christ. God is always ever-vigilant in walking with us each day. And when, for whatever reason, we start to stumble, God "is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy" (Jude 1:24-25). God so loves us, keeping us from falling to the ground. And then strongly and gently helping us get reset on our feet, as he looks up to see if anyone's watching so he can look at them and say, "I'm proud of my child!"

So, friends, come what may today, remember that God is with you through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. He loves you. He's watching out for you. And he'll help you stay on your feet to keep moving in the path he has planned for us in order to show all the world his great love for and pride in you!

Trust him and you'll see!

So have a great day with God. And remember to claim his blessings by praising him aloud!

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, 07/21/16, "Day of Praise"

It's really late here at camp, so here's one from a couple years ago that is also in the "Day of Praise" book. Many of you who are new to this devotion may not know there is a book "60 Days of Praise" of which all the proceeds go to support our missionaries in Mexico (building homes to keep families together) and Niger (which is less than 1/2 percent Christian). Just hit reply if you'd like to buy one and tell me how many you want at $20 each, including shipping, and I'll get it in the mail to you. Thanks!

Exodus 15:2 - "The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."

Let me ask a silly-serious question: "Have you ever felt 'down' before?" It's a silly question because I'd dare say that almost everybody has been. I know a very few people who might honestly say they've never, ever felt down. 

There are all sorts of reasons why we might feel down. But instead of listing some of those reasons, God put it on my heart last night to remind all of us what God wants all of us to do when we do feel down. 

What God wants all of us to do when we feel down is to Praise Him! 

I believe that the two main reasons that so many of you respond to this devotional, saying that it encourages you, are that 1) you're reading a scripture passage that starts all these devotions and 2) you're reading a "Praise God!" that ends all these devotions.

Whenever we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, God has ordained that three things happen, all of which we can see, at least in part, in today's Bible verse from Exodus 15:2.

First, when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are claiming in faith that God is sovereign. In other words, we are declaring to whoever will listen that God is in charge. We are telling our circumstances and our adversaries that God is in charge of our life instead of anybody or anything else. And through faith in Jesus Christ, we know with utmost certainty that the God who's in charge of our life is for us. And if God is for us, who can be against us and prevail? No one! If God is for us, no one can be against us and prevail. That doesn't mean that somebody has to lose in every situation. It means that God has the power to work things out in a way that everybody wins! When we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are claiming in faith that God is sovereign. So, "Praise God!"

Second, when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are surrendering to God's promise to lift us up above our circumstances. So when we "Praise God," whatever situation is causing us to feel down, God lifts us up above it so we can see it more clearly and see it for what it is, namely, it's not in charge of our life, but instead it's under God's sovereign rule. When we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are surrendering to God's promise to lift us up above our circumstances. So "Praise God!"

And finally, when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are using our God-given spiritual weapon against Satan and all Satan's cronies. Satan is a deceiver. He wants to deceive us into believing things about God that are simply not true. But he woos us into believing wrong things about God because he knows that faith believes in things that can't be seen except in faith. So Satan lies to us and whispers to us that since we can't see what we want to see, then apparently God does not exist or God is not sovereign or God is not for us. To say, "Praise God!" is to say, "Satan you're a liar, and though, at the moment, I can't see what I want to see in the material realm, I know it's all there in the spiritual realm: God is, and God's sovereign, and God's for me and for all people, and my 'down' circumstances have already been defeated. God's just waiting for the right time to show me as he strengthens my faith until he does! So get behind me, Satan!" When we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are using our God-given spiritual weapon against Satan and all Satan's cronies. So, "Praise God!"

As a closing note about these three things that happen when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, none of them are based on how we feel. So even if we're feeling down, if we'll just trust and obey God by praising him aloud, then all three of these truths become ours, and they not only battle against our "downness" but immediately stand in God's victory over our downness so that we're all the more eager to "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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Th, 07/21/16, "Day of Praise"

It's really late here at camp, so here's one from a couple years ago that is also in the "Day of Praise" book. Many of you who are new to this devotion may not know there is a book "60 Days of Praise" of which all the proceeds go to support our missionaries in Mexico (building homes to keep families together) and Niger (which is less than 1/2 percent Christian). Just hit reply if you'd like to buy one and tell me how many you want at $20 each, including shipping, and I'll get it in the mail to you. Thanks!

Exodus 15:2 - "The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."

Let me ask a silly-serious question: "Have you ever felt 'down' before?" It's a silly question because I'd dare say that almost everybody has been. I know a very few people who might honestly say they've never, ever felt down. 

There are all sorts of reasons why we might feel down. But instead of listing some of those reasons, God put it on my heart last night to remind all of us what God wants all of us to do when we do feel down. 

What God wants all of us to do when we feel down is to Praise Him! 

I believe that the two main reasons that so many of you respond to this devotional, saying that it encourages you, are that 1) you're reading a scripture passage that starts all these devotions and 2) you're reading a "Praise God!" that ends all these devotions.

Whenever we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, God has ordained that three things happen, all of which we can see, at least in part, in today's Bible verse from Exodus 15:2.

First, when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are claiming in faith that God is sovereign. In other words, we are declaring to whoever will listen that God is in charge. We are telling our circumstances and our adversaries that God is in charge of our life instead of anybody or anything else. And through faith in Jesus Christ, we know with utmost certainty that the God who's in charge of our life is for us. And if God is for us, who can be against us and prevail? No one! If God is for us, no one can be against us and prevail. That doesn't mean that somebody has to lose in every situation. It means that God has the power to work things out in a way that everybody wins! When we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are claiming in faith that God is sovereign. So, "Praise God!"

Second, when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are surrendering to God's promise to lift us up above our circumstances. So when we "Praise God," whatever situation is causing us to feel down, God lifts us up above it so we can see it more clearly and see it for what it is, namely, it's not in charge of our life, but instead it's under God's sovereign rule. When we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are surrendering to God's promise to lift us up above our circumstances. So "Praise God!"

And finally, when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are using our God-given spiritual weapon against Satan and all Satan's cronies. Satan is a deceiver. He wants to deceive us into believing things about God that are simply not true. But he woos us into believing wrong things about God because he knows that faith believes in things that can't be seen except in faith. So Satan lies to us and whispers to us that since we can't see what we want to see, then apparently God does not exist or God is not sovereign or God is not for us. To say, "Praise God!" is to say, "Satan you're a liar, and though, at the moment, I can't see what I want to see in the material realm, I know it's all there in the spiritual realm: God is, and God's sovereign, and God's for me and for all people, and my 'down' circumstances have already been defeated. God's just waiting for the right time to show me as he strengthens my faith until he does! So get behind me, Satan!" When we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, we are using our God-given spiritual weapon against Satan and all Satan's cronies. So, "Praise God!"

As a closing note about these three things that happen when we praise God by specifically saying "Praise God!" aloud, none of them are based on how we feel. So even if we're feeling down, if we'll just trust and obey God by praising him aloud, then all three of these truths become ours, and they not only battle against our "downness" but immediately stand in God's victory over our downness so that we're all the more eager to "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

Wed, 07/20/16, "Day of Praise"

1 Corinthians 13 - "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

It's just Tuesday-night/Wednesday-morning here at Special Camp. But there's already been enough heat and upset stomachs and messes to clean up and misunderstandings and mishaps and comedy of errors that it just seemed appropriate that we'd take a lesson on love from God himself through his word. Surely, all of us can gladly learn to love like Jesus more each day from the Master himself!

So, spread the love! And Happy Day!

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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Day of Praise

Wed, 07/20/16, "Day of Praise"

1 Corinthians 13 - "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

It's just Tuesday-night/Wednesday-morning here at Special Camp. But there's already been enough heat and upset stomachs and messes to clean up and misunderstandings and mishaps and comedy of errors that it just seemed appropriate that we'd take a lesson on love from God himself through his word. Surely, all of us can gladly learn to love like Jesus more each day from the Master himself!

So, spread the love! And Happy Day!

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

Tues, 07/19/16, "Day of Praise"

Mark 1:10 - "Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove."

Well, we had one kind of fireworks here at Special Camp last night with our middle child Cassidy's 21st birthday and the Cupcake Piñata bust that we shared, as the piñata was filled with sugar free candy. Happy Birthday, Cassidy!

We also have a regular fireworks night coming up here at Special Camp when all the campers and counselors alike will lean back and ouuuuh and awwwww at one of the best fireworks displays you'll ever see. The regular fireworks are an annual reminder for our family of our oldest child, Calley, (who's now 23 AND DID GREAT ON THE MCAT with the help of so many of your prayers), ouuuuuhing and awwwing at her first fireworks when she was two years and eight months. As a little child, Calley watched the fireworks and said, "It's just like being baptized!" That was a two year old! Remembering her baptism! From when she was two months and twenty days old!

It still makes me wonder what spiritual fireworks infants see when they're baptized. But I'd guess they probably see a lot like Jesus saw in today's Bible verse from Mark 1:10 when he was baptized, and, being in tune with the Father, "Just as [he] was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove."

I wonder if the Special Campers see the same. Like infants. Like the Son of God, Jesus. 

Like God wants all of us to see. Before we get into earthly adult mode. And we stop believing that God wants to show us amazing things. Like "heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on us like a dove."

But it's never too late to start seeing the things of heaven like God wants to show you. All it takes is a child-like, "I-don't-care-if-the-world-thinks-I'm-a-fool" faith in Jesus. Really!

Consider this. The Greek word that we translate "torn" in today's Bible verse from Mark 1:10 is only used in one other place in the whole Bible, Matthew 27:51, which is when Jesus dies on the cross and the curtain around the most holy place in the temple is "torn" in two, from top to bottom, from heaven to earth. 

This tearing open of heaven and seeing spiritual things come to us from God is significant!

God made the first man and woman to be able to see God and the spiritual things of heaven. It wasn't until they zoned in on eating material fruit from God's "Don't-Eat-This-One-Thing-and-You've-Got-to-Trust-Me" tree that they became blind to seeing God and his heaven.

But what the first people, who after sinning were named Adam and Eve, messed up, Jesus the Son of God, the new Adam, came to fix. Magi and shepherds come to see the infant Jesus. Simeon says he's seen salvation when he sees the young Jesus at his Presentation. Mary sees Jesus when he calls her name Easter morning. Later that day, the disciples tell Thomas, "We have seen the Lord." Stephen sees heaven opened up and Jesus standing to honor him at the right hand of the Father. And Saul, who'd be renamed Paul, sees a vision of Jesus that turns him from persecutor of Christians to persecuted Christian. 

All these people and many others saw God because they had a child-like faith, taking God at his word, as when Jesus said in Matthew 5, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." How do you get to be pure in heart? By putting a radical-trusting, childlike faith in Jesus and his saving work!

In the end, Jesus was baptized, not because he had any sin to be forgiven or a confession of faith to make in himself. Jesus was baptized for the same reason he died on that cross, namely, to testify to us all that God is eager to tear heaven open and pour out the incomparable power and authority of the Holy Spirit on all who believe. Jesus humbly stands with us (in his baptism) and pours out his infinite love (on his cross) so that his love will be as clear to us as adults as an amazing fireworks display on a beautiful starry night at Special Camp!

Dear God, help all of us to believe as purely as infants in our arms and Special Campers in a field, receiving in awe the wonder and display of the fireworks of your love! 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

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA