Day of Praise

Fri, 09/30/16, "Day of Praise"

"[Jesus] said to them, 'Come and you will see.'" - John 1:39

Whenever I leave a hospital room, I purt near injure myself. What happens is that I leave the room, find the stairwell door, stand next to the wall, put on my reading glasses, check my phone for various communications, go into the stairwell, start down the stairs, and realize I'm not seeing the stairs clearly because I still have my reading glasses on. My depth perception is totally distorted unless I remove my reading glasses. Only then, can I see clearly.

That's what Jesus is talking about in today's Bible verse. Something's got to happen in every matter of every day in order for us to see clearly. Of course, it's not the removal of reading glasses that Jesus is recommending. What Jesus tells us is that we must come to him. In order for us to clearly see every matter of every day, we must come to Jesus with each and every thing.

Chris Rice captures this truth in his song that I just call "Come to Jesus". I hope you'll take a moment to read through the lyrics and then maybe google it on YouTube to hear him sing the song, which is a simple invitation to see so many matters as clearly  as possible, if we'll simply come to Jesus, our Savior Lord. 

Chris Rice's song goes like this:

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head for love is passing by

Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain

So sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live

And like a new born baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk sometimes we fall

So fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain

Then cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live

Oh, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside

Then dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on glory's side

And fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live

Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live.

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

Fri, 09/30/16, "Day of Praise"

"[Jesus] said to them, 'Come and you will see.'" - John 1:39

Whenever I leave a hospital room, I purt near injure myself. What happens is that I leave the room, find the stairwell door, stand next to the wall, put on my reading glasses, check my phone for various communications, go into the stairwell, start down the stairs, and realize I'm not seeing the stairs clearly because I still have my reading glasses on. My depth perception is totally distorted unless I remove my reading glasses. Only then, can I see clearly.

That's what Jesus is talking about in today's Bible verse. Something's got to happen in every matter of every day in order for us to see clearly. Of course, it's not the removal of reading glasses that Jesus is recommending. What Jesus tells us is that we must come to him. In order for us to clearly see every matter of every day, we must come to Jesus with each and every thing.

Chris Rice captures this truth in his song that I just call "Come to Jesus". I hope you'll take a moment to read through the lyrics and then maybe google it on YouTube to hear him sing the song, which is a simple invitation to see so many matters as clearly  as possible, if we'll simply come to Jesus, our Savior Lord. 

Chris Rice's song goes like this:

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head for love is passing by

Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain

So sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live

And like a new born baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk sometimes we fall

So fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain

Then cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live

Oh, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside

Then dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on glory's side

And fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live

Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live.

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, 09/29/16, "Day of Praise"

"Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers." -- Acts 9:31

The Church
A place to be reminded
What the world will not remind you
That God loves you
And is bigger than anything that comes your way
Which makes a difference
When your chips are down. 

The Church
A place 
Full of imperfect people
Which is the same as the world
And yet different 
Because in the church
Our relationships are built on God's perfection
And not our own perfection
Which makes a difference 
When you're not perfect. 

The Church
A place to learn 
To really learn with some depth
Some roots 
To make strong 
What the world won't teach 
Namely, how to get what will never wear out or run out or blow out or fall out
And in fact, to learn 
That there's no "getting" about it
To learn that there's only receiving
What God freely gives
And gives
And gives
His gracious, never-failing provision
Which makes a difference 
When you wonder how you're going to work things out
And you're reminded
By the church
That God has already worked it out. 

The Church
A place that gathers
To remember 
What the world has long forgotten 
Because it's only remembered through a trusting relationship with Jesus 
So the church then scatters
In the power of the Holy Spirit
To tell the world
And anyone in it who will listen
About Jesus
That God 
Loves 
Imperfect people and
Gives
Never-failing provision
Which makes a difference
In a world
That has long forgotten
That there's a God
Who cares and 
Is bigger
Than anything that comes our way. 

The Church
God working through imperfect people
With a love and 
A message and
A truth
That changes 
The world and especially those 
Who believe the message and
Who work together to spread it around. 

You are always welcome
To get more involved with God's team
The Church.

Praise God!

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, 09/29/16, "Day of Praise"

"Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers." -- Acts 9:31

The Church
A place to be reminded
What the world will not remind you
That God loves you
And is bigger than anything that comes your way
Which makes a difference
When your chips are down. 

The Church
A place 
Full of imperfect people
Which is the same as the world
And yet different 
Because in the church
Our relationships are built on God's perfection
And not our own perfection
Which makes a difference 
When you're not perfect. 

The Church
A place to learn 
To really learn with some depth
Some roots 
To make strong 
What the world won't teach 
Namely, how to get what will never wear out or run out or blow out or fall out
And in fact, to learn 
That there's no "getting" about it
To learn that there's only receiving
What God freely gives
And gives
And gives
His gracious, never-failing provision
Which makes a difference 
When you wonder how you're going to work things out
And you're reminded
By the church
That God has already worked it out. 

The Church
A place that gathers
To remember 
What the world has long forgotten 
Because it's only remembered through a trusting relationship with Jesus 
So the church then scatters
In the power of the Holy Spirit
To tell the world
And anyone in it who will listen
About Jesus
That God 
Loves 
Imperfect people and
Gives
Never-failing provision
Which makes a difference
In a world
That has long forgotten
That there's a God
Who cares and 
Is bigger
Than anything that comes our way. 

The Church
God working through imperfect people
With a love and 
A message and
A truth
That changes 
The world and especially those 
Who believe the message and
Who work together to spread it around. 

You are always welcome
To get more involved with God's team
The Church.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/28/16, "Day of Praise"

"I have hidden your word in my heart 
    that I might not sin against you." - Psalm 119:11

What's in it for me?

I'm confident that we're all familiar with that phrase. We usually, if not always, use "what's in it for me?" as a way of responding to someone who wants us to do something where they're going to come out ahead and/or there's a risk involved for us.

Throughout Psalm 119 we're called to praise and purity and pursuit of the LORD. I can hear someone, in response to all that we're called to in Psalm 119, asking God, "What's in it for me, God? What's in it for me? You want all this from me, but what's in it for me?"

Of course, God is God. And as God does with so many in the Bible who brazenly ask, "What's in it for me?", God in Psalm 119:11 is implicitly asking, "No, my child, I'm God; you're a mere mortal. I need to ask you, 'What's in it for me?' What's in it, that is, your heart, for me? What's in your heart for me?"

And the Psalmist responds, "Your word, Lord, your word is in my heart. I have hidden your word in my heart. So if the day ever comes when a Bible is nowhere to be found, then I can draw your word from my heart. When my children have a situation, I can draw your word from my heart. When I have reason to praise you, I can draw your word from my heart. When I am discouraged because the world or another sinner (like me) has hurt my heart again, I can draw your word from my heart so that my heart may be hurting but my heart will not fail because your word, O Lord, your word is hidden in my heart."

Not too long ago, there was a boy at church who came up to me every week and beamed like a star in the night as he eagerly told me the Bible verse(s) he had memorized that week. If you could have seen him as he shared the verse(s), you would have known that he knows "What's in it for me?" He knows the light and life and joy that's in a heart that is filled with God's word.

And he inspired me to the same.

Dear Lord, help me, help us all, to spend time with you through your word, that, hiding your word in our hearts, we may taste all that's in it for us and then draw your word from our hearts so we can speak it to others, inspiring them to hide your word in their heart too. 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

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/28/16, "Day of Praise"

"I have hidden your word in my heart 
    that I might not sin against you." - Psalm 119:11

What's in it for me?

I'm confident that we're all familiar with that phrase. We usually, if not always, use "what's in it for me?" as a way of responding to someone who wants us to do something where they're going to come out ahead and/or there's a risk involved for us.

Throughout Psalm 119 we're called to praise and purity and pursuit of the LORD. I can hear someone, in response to all that we're called to in Psalm 119, asking God, "What's in it for me, God? What's in it for me? You want all this from me, but what's in it for me?"

Of course, God is God. And as God does with so many in the Bible who brazenly ask, "What's in it for me?", God in Psalm 119:11 is implicitly asking, "No, my child, I'm God; you're a mere mortal. I need to ask you, 'What's in it for me?' What's in it, that is, your heart, for me? What's in your heart for me?"

And the Psalmist responds, "Your word, Lord, your word is in my heart. I have hidden your word in my heart. So if the day ever comes when a Bible is nowhere to be found, then I can draw your word from my heart. When my children have a situation, I can draw your word from my heart. When I have reason to praise you, I can draw your word from my heart. When I am discouraged because the world or another sinner (like me) has hurt my heart again, I can draw your word from my heart so that my heart may be hurting but my heart will not fail because your word, O Lord, your word is hidden in my heart."

Not too long ago, there was a boy at church who came up to me every week and beamed like a star in the night as he eagerly told me the Bible verse(s) he had memorized that week. If you could have seen him as he shared the verse(s), you would have known that he knows "What's in it for me?" He knows the light and life and joy that's in a heart that is filled with God's word.

And he inspired me to the same.

Dear Lord, help me, help us all, to spend time with you through your word, that, hiding your word in our hearts, we may taste all that's in it for us and then draw your word from our hearts so we can speak it to others, inspiring them to hide your word in their heart too. Amen.

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Tues, 09/26/16, "Day of Praise"

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1

I am the richest man in the world. And I'd like nothing more than to share my riches with you.

Ya see, I have a great brother. Really. He's a couple years older than me. His name is Ben, which is short, of course, for Benjamin, which, in Hebrew, literally means "son of the right hand." "Son of the right hand," scripturally speaking, means "one who pours out blessing."

And that's what my brother does.

With only one very small exception (when we were teenagers) that I can remember in 50+ years, my brother, Ben, constantly "pours out blessing" on me.

The chief blessing that he has poured on me all these years is that he believes in me. No matter what anyone else says, no matter what I do, my brother believes in me.

And by believing in me, my brother helps me to see Jesus.

Because that's what Jesus does for us all; he constantly pours out blessing on us all.

And the chief blessing that Jesus pours on us is that he believes in us. No matter what anyone else says, no matter what we do, our brother, Jesus, believes in us.

Jesus, who is God the Son, believes in us so much that while we were enemies with God he poured out blessing, poured out his life, poured out his blood, every drop of it, to wipe away the sin and guilt of all people who would believe in him, who believes in us, so that we can be in unity with God and with one another, pouring out our lives with blessing for each other in the strength of our brother, Jesus the Son of God, and to the glory of God the Father.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1

Praise God!


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

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, 09/26/16, "Day of Praise"

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1

I am the richest man in the world. And I'd like nothing more than to share my riches with you.

Ya see, I have a great brother. Really. He's a couple years older than me. His name is Ben, which is short, of course, for Benjamin, which, in Hebrew, literally means "son of the right hand." "Son of the right hand," scripturally speaking, means "one who pours out blessing."

And that's what my brother does.

With only one very small exception (when we were teenagers) that I can remember in 50+ years, my brother, Ben, constantly "pours out blessing" on me.

The chief blessing that he has poured on me all these years is that he believes in me. No matter what anyone else says, no matter what I do, my brother believes in me.

And by believing in me, my brother helps me to see Jesus.

Because that's what Jesus does for us all; he constantly pours out blessing on us all.

And the chief blessing that Jesus pours on us is that he believes in us. No matter what anyone else says, no matter what we do, our brother, Jesus, believes in us.

Jesus, who is God the Son, believes in us so much that while we were enemies with God he poured out blessing, poured out his life, poured out his blood, every drop of it, to wipe away the sin and guilt of all people who would believe in him, who believes in us, so that we can be in unity with God and with one another, pouring out our lives with blessing for each other in the strength of our brother, Jesus the Son of God, and to the glory of God the Father.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

Mon, 09/26/16, "Day of Praise"

He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." - Acts 19:2

So I'm walking across a parking lot, and I hear someone calling out. I wasn't wearing pastor clothes, so I didn't think they were calling to me about a pastoral matter, if they were even calling to me at all. They weren't calling me by name, but I hear them call out again, so I turned to look who it might be. 

I saw this guy walking from an 18-wheeler, and he asks me if I know my way around this area. I said I did, so he asks me about an address as he pulls out a wad of paper with some scribbled directions. 

I asked him if he had a gps. He said no. I might as well have said what I thought, which was something along the lines of "Are you kidding? In this day and age?" 

But the Holy Spirit zapped me, so instead I said, "Let me buy you a biscuit, and then I'll lead you there."

That's what happened in today's Bible verse. Paul asked, "Do you have a gps?" And the people said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a gps." Then Paul almost said, "Are you kidding? In this day and age?" But the Holy Spirit zapped him, so instead he said, "Let me buy you a biscuit, and then I'll lead you there."

Well, that's not exactly what happened, but I'm sure that, to some extent, Saint Paul was surprised that they'd never heard of the Holy Spirit. But in actuality what he did was that he realized they needed what they didn't know about, so he just asked them another question, and then he took action to give them what they were missing out on. 

That's what God wants us to do. 

God wants us to recognize that we may, to some extent, be surprised by what people don't know in this day and age. Most importantly, I know for a fact that there are many Christians who don't know that we have peace with God through a simple trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself, in Luke 16:14-18, says that there are people trying to get in good with God by trusting in their own goodness. Furthermore, the Bible recounts this mistaken trust in oneself or money or power or position or association with "the right people." God says that right trust is placed in God and God almighty alone through Jesus.

But when we discover that someone has misplaced trust (or has no real understanding of the blessings available to us from God through the Holy Spirit) instead of saying, "Are you kidding me?" God wants us to do what Paul did. God wants us to realize they need what they don't know about, and then take action to give them what they're missing out on. 

Don't assume that everyone knows about God's goodness and Jesus and mercy and grace and forgiveness and peace and the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Instead, let's meet people today as God has always met us and all people, namely, with the eagerness to make sure that people know about and claim all the blessings that God has lovingly prepared and freely offered to us, his children, who sorely need them in order for us to have the abundant life that God desires for all his children! 

Praise God!

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, 09/26/16, "Day of Praise"

He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." - Acts 19:2

So I'm walking across a parking lot, and I hear someone calling out. I wasn't wearing pastor clothes, so I didn't think they were calling to me about a pastoral matter, if they were even calling to me at all. They weren't calling me by name, but I hear them call out again, so I turned to look who it might be. 

I saw this guy walking from an 18-wheeler, and he asks me if I know my way around this area. I said I did, so he asks me about an address as he pulls out a wad of paper with some scribbled directions. 

I asked him if he had a gps. He said no. I might as well have said what I thought, which was something along the lines of "Are you kidding? In this day and age?" 

But the Holy Spirit zapped me, so instead I said, "Let me buy you a biscuit, and then I'll lead you there."

That's what happened in today's Bible verse. Paul asked, "Do you have a gps?" And the people said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a gps." Then Paul almost said, "Are you kidding? In this day and age?" But the Holy Spirit zapped him, so instead he said, "Let me buy you a biscuit, and then I'll lead you there."

Well, that's not exactly what happened, but I'm sure that, to some extent, Saint Paul was surprised that they'd never heard of the Holy Spirit. But in actuality what he did was that he realized they needed what they didn't know about, so he just asked them another question, and then he took action to give them what they were missing out on. 

That's what God wants us to do. 

God wants us to recognize that we may, to some extent, be surprised by what people don't know in this day and age. Most importantly, I know for a fact that there are many Christians who don't know that we have peace with God through a simple trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself, in Luke 16:14-18, says that there are people trying to get in good with God by trusting in their own goodness. Furthermore, the Bible recounts this mistaken trust in oneself or money or power or position or association with "the right people." God says that right trust is placed in God and God almighty alone through Jesus.

But when we discover that someone has misplaced trust (or has no real understanding of the blessings available to us from God through the Holy Spirit) instead of saying, "Are you kidding me?" God wants us to do what Paul did. God wants us to realize they need what they don't know about, and then take action to give them what they're missing out on. 

Don't assume that everyone knows about God's goodness and Jesus and mercy and grace and forgiveness and peace and the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Instead, let's meet people today as God has always met us and all people, namely, with the eagerness to make sure that people know about and claim all the blessings that God has lovingly prepared and freely offered to us, his children, who sorely need them in order for us to have the abundant life that God desires for all his children! 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 09/23/16, "Day of Praise"

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" - Psalm 42:1-2

Apparently, they were everywhere. That's why they had hunting season. But when I was a kid, I thought that deer were only on my Pap Yost's farm in central Pennsylvania.

I don't think I ever told anybody, but I thought the deer lived just inside the woods. At the top of the big hill, that was not quite a mountain.

My Pap had a big cornfield that ran from the top of the big hill, down the hill, and then across the flat to the farm house and buildings. In my mind there was a beautiful brook that ran between the bottom of the hill and the flat.

In my mind, one of the beautiful things about the brook was that it was a place for the deer to drink. I could see the deer coming down the big hill and drinking from the brook.

But I never saw them do that. I never saw them drink from the brook because, in my mind, they were afraid. They were afraid it was hunting season.

So they thirsted. The deer panted for streams of water, but stayed away because of their fears.

In today's verse, God says that we're like the deer. God says that as the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God, so much so that we ask ourselves, "When can I go and meet with God?"

And God would know because God made the deer...and us.

God knows that fear keeps deer and us away from life-giving water. So God sent Jesus to wipe away fear and everything else that keeps us from God.

And Jesus wiped away fear and everything else that keeps us from God so that your soul that thirsts for God would know the answer to the question in today's verse.

"When can I go and meet with God?"

Anytime you want.

Christ is risen. To be with you. And quench the fears and thirst of your soul.

Drink of him today, and be blessed.

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

Fri, 09/23/16, "Day of Praise"

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" - Psalm 42:1-2

Apparently, they were everywhere. That's why they had hunting season. But when I was a kid, I thought that deer were only on my Pap Yost's farm in central Pennsylvania.

I don't think I ever told anybody, but I thought the deer lived just inside the woods. At the top of the big hill, that was not quite a mountain.

My Pap had a big cornfield that ran from the top of the big hill, down the hill, and then across the flat to the farm house and buildings. In my mind there was a beautiful brook that ran between the bottom of the hill and the flat.

In my mind, one of the beautiful things about the brook was that it was a place for the deer to drink. I could see the deer coming down the big hill and drinking from the brook.

But I never saw them do that. I never saw them drink from the brook because, in my mind, they were afraid. They were afraid it was hunting season.

So they thirsted. The deer panted for streams of water, but stayed away because of their fears.

In today's verse, God says that we're like the deer. God says that as the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God, so much so that we ask ourselves, "When can I go and meet with God?"

And God would know because God made the deer...and us.

God knows that fear keeps deer and us away from life-giving water. So God sent Jesus to wipe away fear and everything else that keeps us from God.

And Jesus wiped away fear and everything else that keeps us from God so that your soul that thirsts for God would know the answer to the question in today's verse.

"When can I go and meet with God?"

Anytime you want.

Christ is risen. To be with you. And quench the fears and thirst of your soul.

Drink of him today, and be blessed.

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, 09/22/16, "Day of Praise"

"The Lord is my light" - Psalm 27:1

When I was a teen, a pastor told me that the life of faith, in response to God's love, includes three things: 1) love God, 2) love people, and 3) love puzzles.

The puzzles part, he told me, is where a Christian always tries to listen to others and get to know them. It's what Jesus called "seeking and saving." As you listen to more and more people and get to know them, you try to fit the pieces of people's lives together with others, like a puzzle, helping people work together with their commonalities and various God-given gifts so that they can encourage each other in Christ and reach out to the surrounding community, inviting others to Christ.

It's the Biblical picture of the "Body of Christ" where different parts of the body fit together into one body, like puzzle pieces fitting together into one picture.

It's a great image. But there's one major requirement for doing puzzles--light.

I've never been able to do a puzzle in the dark, especially the puzzle of working together as the Body of Christ. And praise God that we don't have to.

In today's verse, we hear that the Lord is our light so that we don't have to put energy into our fears or anything else that would prevent us from listening to one another, working together, and bringing lives together, like puzzle pieces, in Jesus Christ.

In John 8:12, Jesus reiterates how he shines as light so we can see what we're doing. He says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Ultimately, what Jesus helps us to see is God and the people in our lives and how, in following Jesus, our lives can come together in mutual encouragement and loving service to other people around us so that they can see and serve God too.

As you go about your day today, look at the people (family, friends, and even strangers), believing that Jesus is shining as light for the world so that we can see plainly how our lives can fit together as one...

Namely, like a puzzle, which when finished, shows one picture, namely, God's light and love for us all in 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

Thur, 09/22/16, "Day of Praise"

"The Lord is my light" - Psalm 27:1

When I was a teen, a pastor told me that the life of faith, in response to God's love, includes three things: 1) love God, 2) love people, and 3) love puzzles.

The puzzles part, he told me, is where a Christian always tries to listen to others and get to know them. It's what Jesus called "seeking and saving." As you listen to more and more people and get to know them, you try to fit the pieces of people's lives together with others, like a puzzle, helping people work together with their commonalities and various God-given gifts so that they can encourage each other in Christ and reach out to the surrounding community, inviting others to Christ.

It's the Biblical picture of the "Body of Christ" where different parts of the body fit together into one body, like puzzle pieces fitting together into one picture.

It's a great image. But there's one major requirement for doing puzzles--light.

I've never been able to do a puzzle in the dark, especially the puzzle of working together as the Body of Christ. And praise God that we don't have to.

In today's verse, we hear that the Lord is our light so that we don't have to put energy into our fears or anything else that would prevent us from listening to one another, working together, and bringing lives together, like puzzle pieces, in Jesus Christ.

In John 8:12, Jesus reiterates how he shines as light so we can see what we're doing. He says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Ultimately, what Jesus helps us to see is God and the people in our lives and how, in following Jesus, our lives can come together in mutual encouragement and loving service to other people around us so that they can see and serve God too.

As you go about your day today, look at the people (family, friends, and even strangers), believing that Jesus is shining as light for the world so that we can see plainly how our lives can fit together as one...

Namely, like a puzzle, which when finished, shows one picture, namely, God's light and love for us all in 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

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/21/16, "Day of Praise"

"When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, 'Woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." - John 19:26-27

It's a simple model. Jesus didn't let anythIng get in the way of making sure that his mother was cared for, not even his work, not even his work of saving the whole world, not even his work of savIng the whole world while he was in immeasurable pain on the cross.

Jesus loved his mother and made sure that she was provided for.

Jesus, who is God the Son, is our model.

Celebrate all the great things about your mother today and everyday, not just next year when Mother's Day rolls around again. Pray for your mother's needs each day. If possible, call your mom and chat and tell her you love her! And let's do our very best to make sure that the needs of our mothers are taken care of, just like Jesus did with Mary.

Hi, Mom, I love 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

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, 09/21/16, "Day of Praise"

"When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, 'Woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." - John 19:26-27

It's a simple model. Jesus didn't let anythIng get in the way of making sure that his mother was cared for, not even his work, not even his work of saving the whole world, not even his work of savIng the whole world while he was in immeasurable pain on the cross.

Jesus loved his mother and made sure that she was provided for.

Jesus, who is God the Son, is our model.

Celebrate all the great things about your mother today and everyday, not just next year when Mother's Day rolls around again. Pray for your mother's needs each day. If possible, call your mom and chat and tell her you love her! And let's do our very best to make sure that the needs of our mothers are taken care of, just like Jesus did with Mary.

Hi, Mom, I love 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

Tues, 09/20/16, "Day of Praise"

"[Solomon prayed] 'When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the Lord...then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.'" - 1 Kings 8:44-45

When I was in college, I was blessed to have Christian fellowship on campus with a man named Bob Schindler. Bob was with the Navigators ministry on college campuses and also worked a full-time engineering job, in addition to being a great husband and father.

Bob loved the Lord.

Bob loved the Lord so much that trust in the Lord was a natural fruit. Bob asked his engineering company if he could work half-time because that would still provide adequate income for his family and he could devote more time to Jesus through campus ministry. His company said, "No!"

Bob decided to trust the Lord's calling. After explaining to his company his burden to have more time for ministry as he had requested from them, he left his engineering job. It was a hardship and a battle in many ways on Bob and his family.

It would be wrong to say, "They prayed." No, instead, they continued to pray. The emphasis is on "continued," because, in the spirit of today's Bible verse, Bob saw the life of faith as full of little wars that constantly try to destroy our faith. As should we all.

As it turned out, when the Schindlers prayed to the Lord, God heard "from heaven their prayer and their plea, and upheld their cause." (1 Kings 8:45) As it turned out, months after Bob left his engineering job because of his dedication to campus ministry, his company came back to him, recognizing his immeasurable value to their company, and they worked out a plan to bring him back to their company in a way that still freed him for campus ministry, just as Bob had asked for to begin with.

Today's a work day. Give your employer an honest day's work. But work to the glory of the Lord so that you and yours and your company will all see the blessings of God for those who love him and trust him and pray.

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, 09/20/16, "Day of Praise"

"[Solomon prayed] 'When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the Lord...then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.'" - 1 Kings 8:44-45

When I was in college, I was blessed to have Christian fellowship on campus with a man named Bob Schindler. Bob was with the Navigators ministry on college campuses and also worked a full-time engineering job, in addition to being a great husband and father.

Bob loved the Lord.

Bob loved the Lord so much that trust in the Lord was a natural fruit. Bob asked his engineering company if he could work half-time because that would still provide adequate income for his family and he could devote more time to Jesus through campus ministry. His company said, "No!"

Bob decided to trust the Lord's calling. After explaining to his company his burden to have more time for ministry as he had requested from them, he left his engineering job. It was a hardship and a battle in many ways on Bob and his family.

It would be wrong to say, "They prayed." No, instead, they continued to pray. The emphasis is on "continued," because, in the spirit of today's Bible verse, Bob saw the life of faith as full of little wars that constantly try to destroy our faith. As should we all.

As it turned out, when the Schindlers prayed to the Lord, God heard "from heaven their prayer and their plea, and upheld their cause." (1 Kings 8:45) As it turned out, months after Bob left his engineering job because of his dedication to campus ministry, his company came back to him, recognizing his immeasurable value to their company, and they worked out a plan to bring him back to their company in a way that still freed him for campus ministry, just as Bob had asked for to begin with.

Today's a work day. Give your employer an honest day's work. But work to the glory of the Lord so that you and yours and your company will all see the blessings of God for those who love him and trust him and pray.

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, 09/19/16, "Day of Praise"

[And Samuel said to the people,] "Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." - 1 Samuel 12:20b-21

Amanda and I have our anniversary quickly approaching. One of my reminders is the box her wedding ring was in. The box is in our clothes closet, right as you walk in. 

The ring box with "Diamonds Direct" clearly printed on the top is there for all the world to see. Well, not all the world is coming into our clothes closet, but oftentimes I think how sad it would be if a burglar got in our house and made off with the ring box. I think how sad that would be because of what's actually in the box. 

Namely, nothing. 

There's nothing in the box. Oh sure, it's a nice enough box, and it says "Diamonds Direct" on the outside, but there's absolutely nothing on the inside.

The nice box is empty. 

Just like a lot of stuff that people chase in this world.

Today is a workday. What are you chasing after with your work today? In today's Bible verses, God clearly says through Samuel, "And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." (1 Samuel 12:21 (ESV))

So what should we chase after with our work? God gives that answer too in today's Bible verses, "Serve the Lord with all your heart."

Passage after passage in the Holy Bible says that if we'll just trust God at the center of all things (Genesis 2), love God above all things (Matthew 22), and seek God first before all things (Matthew 6), then we'll be given everything else that we need and more!

So, have a great day with Jesus!

And remember to "not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." (1 Samuel 12:20b-21 - ESV)

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, 09/19/16, "Day of Praise"

[And Samuel said to the people,] "Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." - 1 Samuel 12:20b-21

Amanda and I have our anniversary quickly approaching. One of my reminders is the box her wedding ring was in. The box is in our clothes closet, right as you walk in. 

The ring box with "Diamonds Direct" clearly printed on the top is there for all the world to see. Well, not all the world is coming into our clothes closet, but oftentimes I think how sad it would be if a burglar got in our house and made off with the ring box. I think how sad that would be because of what's actually in the box. 

Namely, nothing. 

There's nothing in the box. Oh sure, it's a nice enough box, and it says "Diamonds Direct" on the outside, but there's absolutely nothing on the inside.

The nice box is empty. 

Just like a lot of stuff that people chase in this world.

Today is a workday. What are you chasing after with your work today? In today's Bible verses, God clearly says through Samuel, "And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." (1 Samuel 12:21 (ESV))

So what should we chase after with our work? God gives that answer too in today's Bible verses, "Serve the Lord with all your heart."

Passage after passage in the Holy Bible says that if we'll just trust God at the center of all things (Genesis 2), love God above all things (Matthew 22), and seek God first before all things (Matthew 6), then we'll be given everything else that we need and more!

So, have a great day with Jesus!

And remember to "not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty." (1 Samuel 12:20b-21 - ESV)

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