Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/01/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Day of Praise

Wed, 11/30/16, "Day of Praise"

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

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

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

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

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

Praise God!

Monday, November 28, 2016

Day of Praise

Tues, 11/29/16, "Day of Praise"

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

There it is.

Resurrection.

In the Old Testament of the Holy Bible.

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

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

When I die, it's not the end.

When you die, it's not the end.

Death does not have the final word.

God does.

And as great as that is.

God actually gives us more.

Yes, if there really is resurrection...

Then there is more than resurrection.

Resurrection, until it happens, is a future event.

What about the present?

With resurrection, God covers that too.

With resurrection, God covers the present too.

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

Operative word is "go".

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

As in, "Go! Live with confidence!"

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

That's exciting to me for my life.

That's comforting to me too.

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

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

I think about those words from time to time.

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

I'm not being morbid.

To the contrary, it's empowering.

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

Indeed, life's good.

Now.

And forever.

Because, well, because there's resurrection.

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

Praise God!

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Day of Praise

Mon, 11/28/16, "Day of Praise"

"'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty." - Zechariah 3:10

Bet you haven't done that lately. Ya know, invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree. 

Well, it's best that we all start doin' it on a regular basis.

If you check out the twenty (20) Bible verses where "vine" and "fig tree" are paired, what you discover is that being under a vine and fig tree represents being under God's blessings. Easily understood blessings under the vine and fig tree are prosperity, safety, beauty, hope, and the expulsion of fear. Blessings under the vine and fig tree that require a little more thought (but blessings nonetheless) are peace from a foreign king, a place to repent, a place to reveal faith and joy even in hard times, and a place to look for the fruit of a person's life. 

The point is that a person's heart gets healthy under the vine and the fig tree.

In contrast, within those same twenty (20) Bible verses where "vine" and "fig tree" are paired, what you discover is that the absence of a vine and fig tree (and therefore the absence of blessings to sit under) brings bad news, namely, the bad news of ruin by way of destruction, judgment, plague or drought. 

The point is that the absence of a vine and fig tree represents stepping out from under God's blessings. And taking your life into your own hands. News flash -- that's not a good idea. 

So what then does "'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty" (Zechariah 3:10) mean?

It means we should all regularly "invite a neighbor" to our home to sit under our blessings. 

Talk to them. 

Listen to them. 

Visit together. 

Catch up on one another's lives. 

Be thankful to God and encourage each other. 

And watch what happens to your hearts: prosperity, safety, beauty, hope, and the expulsion of fear. And if you really invest your heart in the visit, maybe you'll see a few of those rarer blessings like repentance, a testimony to faith and joy in hard times, and conversation about the fruit of a person's life. 

My wife and kids and I do this all the time. We sit under the vine and fig tree to talk, listen, visit together, catch up, be thankful to God, and encourage each other. It's a blast. We do it when it's just us. And we also enjoy "inviting people over to sit under our vine and fig tree."

Friends, invite a neighbor over to sit under your vine and fig tree.

And may the prosperity of relationships reign. 

Praise God!

Friday, November 25, 2016

Day of Praise

Sat, 11/26/16, "Day of Praise"

"No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." - Jeremiah 31:34

In today's verse, God foresees a day when all people will know the LORD. It is God's vision. It is what God is working towards. 

A major aspect of people knowing the LORD is that people will know that God "will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." It is God's vision that relationships will truly be healed in a way that only God can heal them. 

This knowing of God by all people and this knowing of God's forgiveness and healing is tied to the Word of God through Jesus in John 17:3, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

In sum, the best life, eternal life, is directly tied to knowing God, to knowing the Son of God who is Jesus, and to knowing God's forgiveness of our sin through Jesus.

This is God's vision. It is God's goal. It is what God is working towards everyday by the person and power of the Holy Spirit because God wants everyone to have the best life, that is, eternal life. 

What about us? What are we working towards everyday? Maybe the weekend is our goal. Maybe a sales record is our goal. Maybe a bigger house. Maybe a new car. Maybe having a child. Or getting the children through college. 

Those things are a part of life in this world to be sure. But there is so much more. So much more.

God wants us to know Him, the LORD, the Master of the Universe, the Sovereign over all Creation, where scientists now think there are over 140 BILLION galaxies, each of which has over 100 BILLION stars. And GOD uses that creation as a footstool!!!

Big Amazing God has a goal, a vision, a desire that He works towards everyday. He wants us to know Him, His Son, His forgiveness, His healing, and the Best Life that He alone has to give. 

Jeremiah, the prophet, worked everyday, in everything he did, he worked with a burden for all people to know God and God's vision. Later St. Paul and many others did the same. Jesus died for the same.

Is there room in our day for God's vision? Is there room in our day for God? If the best life is knowing God and all His benefits, what is the life that barely thinks of Him? What is the life that rarely worships Him? What is the life that cares not to serve Him by sharing His vision with all people in the things we say and do to others everyday? 

God wants so much for us. God wants us to know Him and the best life, eternal life, and God works everyday to that end.

What do you want? What are you working for? Think about it. There's probably more waiting for you than what you're claiming. 

Praise God!


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

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Day of Praise

Fri, 11/25/16, "Day of Praise"

"[God] said to me, 'Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.' As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." -- Ezekiel 2:1-2

There is a person in our church who, every week, every Sunday, says, "I almost didn't come today, but I'm glad I did because now I feel better."

Simple question, Why? Why do they feel better? How does that work?

Simple answer, God's Word is God's way to fill us with His Spirit and raise us up. That's what is plainly said in today's Bible verses through Ezekiel.

If you don't want to feel empty and down, go to church and do other things like read your Bible and talk to others about Jesus and tell others how Jesus died for them and whatever it takes to hang out with God and His Word.

God's Word is God's way to fill us with His Spirit and raise us up.

Everyday.

"[God] said to me, 'Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.' As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." -- Ezekiel 2:1-2

Praise God!


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

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Day of Praise

Thur, 11/24/16, "Day of Praise"

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. - Psalm 106:1

Happy Thanksgiving!

Praise God!




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

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Day of Praise

Wed, 11/23/16, "Day of Praise"

"The LORD said to Moses,..'A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son...must wait thirty-three days to be purified...If she gives birth to a daughter...sixty-six days'" -
Leviticus 12:1-5

I know that people are different, but sometimes they're tragically different. As in today's verses.

I know a pastor who used today's verses to tell his congregation that the Bible was archaic, antiquated, and anachronistic. So, he said, you don't have to take it seriously, let alone believe it. He left behind an F-5 sized path of destruction of people's faith.

But praise God that people are different, sometimes refreshingly different. As in today's verses.

I know a pastor who used today's verses to tell his congregation that the Bible was inspired by the One True Living God over 2,500 years in multiple languages on multiple continents through multiple authors about multiple topics to multiple audiences and through all that pointed to one man, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son, the Living Word of the Living God, which must be a divine pointing to one man because the odds of such are like one-in-an-inconceivable-number that is illustrated in Josh McDowell's book, "More Than a Carpenter." This pastor, as God's word says, also needed Jesus to die for his sin, but, upon his death, he left behind a legacy of numerous believers who endured difficulty with confidence in God because, though God's word may seem archaic, antiquated, and anachronistic to begin with, if you'll "wrestle with it" (the literal meaning of "Israel") and live it, so it can prove itself, then you'll see not only its relevance to today but also its life-giving power.

Kinda like Jesus of Nazareth, the One to whom all scripture miraculously points, "wrestling with" the word of the Father in Gethsemane, living it all the way to the cross, letting it prove itself, prove its relevance to today, and its life-giving power, which raised him from the dead. (Check out Lee Strobel's book, "The Case for Christ.")

Oh, by the way, today's verses are health laws to be sure, but they are reminders to moms and families when a child is born that the first 33 days for a boy and 66 days for a girl are critical for bonding with mom.

Don't make scripture hard. Read it. Believe it. And (drum roll) you'll see how wonderfully true and relevant and powerful and life-giving it 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

Monday, November 21, 2016

Day of Praise

Tues, 11/22/16, "Day of Praise"

"'they could save only themselves by their righteousness,' declares the Sovereign LORD." - Ezekiel 14:14

Today is a simple, straightforward teaching, calling each person to surrender to the work of God's Holy Spirit in your heart. 

For the Holy Spirit of the Living God wills to work a faith in you that believes that God loves you and makes the way for you to have peace both with God and also with all people who believe.

Such belief, such faith, that yields to God's work in us and trusts God's work for us, is one of the most critical teachings of the Judeo-Christian heritage.

Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-10). Faith is not our own work.

Faith does not save us. Faith instead receives the God who, through Christ Jesus, saves us.

God saves. God works faith in us, in other words, God works a simple trust in us that God saves. God calls us to surrender to God's work and believe that God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, namely, makes us right with God. This is called the "right"eousness of faith.

Here are some Bible passages to consider on this critical teaching. Meditate on one of them, and let God's word bless you today and forever.

Romans 1:17 --
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Romans 3:21 --
[ Righteousness Through Faith ] But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

Romans 3:22 --
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

Romans 3:25 --
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-

Romans 3:26 --
he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Romans 4:5 --
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

Romans 4:9 --
Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:11 --
And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

Romans 4:13 --
It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Romans 9:30 --
[Israel's Unbelief ] What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

Romans 10:6 --
But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)

Galatians 5:5 --
For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

Philippians 3:9 --
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

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, 11/21/16, "Day of Praise"

"The word of the LORD came to [Ezekiel]: 'Therefore say: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again."'" - Ezekiel 11:14,17

Have you ever done something where the next thing you said was, "Oops, I'm dead"?

I was about seven and, on this particular day, bored. So I went to the garage, got a wiffle ball and bat, and went to the front yard.

My older brother, Ben, for whatever reason being unavailable, was not there to throw me the ball. So I threw the ball to myself, which obviously means I tossed it straight up. When the ball came down I swung, and it went right back where it came from, that is, straight up...and, well, back.

Ya see, if ya don't know, wiffle balls can spin like crazy and curve in all sorts of directions...like straight towards your parents' large bedroom window.

And when wiffle balls start spinning, they can continue to spin like there's no tomorrow, even when they meet an object...like your parents' large bedroom window.

A wiffle ball!?!? It shattered that window like the old "is it live or is it Memorex?" glass.

Oops, I'm dead.

Remember, there is no older brother around, so there's no older brother to blame. No sirree; it's all on me.

I was so traumatized at my impending death, (I mean it was a window, that to a seven year old seemed like it would surely cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars to repair) that I don't even remember how my parents found out. I don't know maybe it was unusually cold in their bedroom that night and they followed the icicles.

But, however they found out, something tells me that they knew who (me) and what (wiffle ball) before I stopped cryin' and wonderin' how much longer I had to live.

All I know is I paid nothing for the window. No money. No spankin'. Not even a line-up and questioning of all four kids.

My parents paid the whole price. And gave me back my life again. (Not that they themselves ever took it away.)

I think I do remember them asking me to find a spot in our nice-sized yard that was a little farther from the windows whenever I had an inkling to play wiffle ball by myself, but otherwise, they never took an ounce of life or even pride away from me.

It's kind of like God to His children in today's Bible verse. We get bored. Do something stupid. Break something (like a relationship). Say, "Oops, I'm dead."

And God pays the whole price, as the Son of God loses his life on the cross and gives us our life back again through the forgiveness of sins.

Hopefully, we remember God asking us to play differently the next time, but otherwise, God really doesn't want to take an ounce of life or even pride away from us.

Huh, interesting...the things we can learn about God from a wiffle ball and a big dose of loving parents, family, or friends.

Something's gonna break today. Spread the love, people. Spread the love.

Praise God!


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







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

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Day of Praise

Mon, 11/21/16, "Day of Praise"

"The word of the LORD came to [Ezekiel]: 'Therefore say: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again."'" - Ezekiel 11:14,17

Have you ever done something where the next thing you said was, "Oops, I'm dead"?

I was about seven and, on this particular day, bored. So I went to the garage, got a wiffle ball and bat, and went to the front yard.

My older brother, Ben, for whatever reason being unavailable, was not there to throw me the ball. So I threw the ball to myself, which obviously means I tossed it straight up. When the ball came down I swung, and it went right back where it came from, that is, straight up...and, well, back.

Ya see, if ya don't know, wiffle balls can spin like crazy and curve in all sorts of directions...like straight towards your parents' large bedroom window.

And when wiffle balls start spinning, they can continue to spin like there's no tomorrow, even when they meet an object...like your parents' large bedroom window.

A wiffle ball!?!? It shattered that window like the old "is it live or is it Memorex?" glass.

Oops, I'm dead.

Remember, there is no older brother around, so there's no older brother to blame. No sirree; it's all on me.

I was so traumatized at my impending death, (I mean it was a window, that to a seven year old seemed like it would surely cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars to repair) that I don't even remember how my parents found out. I don't know maybe it was unusually cold in their bedroom that night and they followed the icicles.

But, however they found out, something tells me that they knew who (me) and what (wiffle ball) before I stopped cryin' and wonderin' how much longer I had to live.

All I know is I paid nothing for the window. No money. No spankin'. Not even a line-up and questioning of all four kids.

My parents paid the whole price. And gave me back my life again. (Not that they themselves ever took it away.)

I think I do remember them asking me to find a spot in our nice-sized yard that was a little farther from the windows whenever I had an inkling to play wiffle ball by myself, but otherwise, they never took an ounce of life or even pride away from me.

It's kind of like God to His children in today's Bible verse. We get bored. Do something stupid. Break something (like a relationship). Say, "Oops, I'm dead."

And God pays the whole price, as the Son of God loses his life on the cross and gives us our life back again through the forgiveness of sins.

Hopefully, we remember God asking us to play differently the next time, but otherwise, God really doesn't want to take an ounce of life or even pride away from us.

Huh, interesting...the things we can learn about God from a wiffle ball and a big dose of loving parents, family, or friends.

Something's gonna break today. Spread the love, people. Spread the love.

Praise God!


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

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Day of Praise

Sat, 11/19/16, "Day of Praise"

"'I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the LORD." - Jeremiah 9:24

Happy Saturday! For many of you, today is a day for "exercise." A day for getting active with a jog around the neighborhood or getting things done around the house.

God likes to "exercise" and get active too. Actually, in today's verse, God says he "delights" in exercise.

And it's a good thing.

Because, according to God in all the other verses in today's Bible reading, God has lots of chances to exercise. Lots of chances to exercise "kindness, justice and righteousness on earth."

Just yesterday, God exercised kindness on a woman who is grieving, a dad who had been in a car accident, a woman with upcoming back surgery, a man in the hospital, and a woman with medical tests. God exercised justice on a situation that brought peace to a family. And God exercised righteousness, well, in more souls than there is room here to list.

That's a lot of exercising in one day...and that's just through the lens of one man in one place. How much more throughout your life and all the world? Day after day, season after season, year after year.

But God is up to it.

Actually, no, we must say more because God says more.

God delights in all that exercise.

Because God delights in you.

So, today, as you jog around the neighborhood or get things done around the house...

Remember, the LORD is with you. He is your help and strength. And he loves every minute of it.

I pray you will too.

Praise God!


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






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

Friday, November 18, 2016

Day of Praise

Sat, 11/19/16, "Day of Praise"

"'I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the LORD." - Jeremiah 9:24

Happy Saturday! For many of you, today is a day for "exercise." A day for getting active with a jog around the neighborhood or getting things done around the house.

God likes to "exercise" and get active too. Actually, in today's verse, God says he "delights" in exercise.

And it's a good thing.

Because, according to God in all the other verses in today's Bible reading, God has lots of chances to exercise. Lots of chances to exercise "kindness, justice and righteousness on earth."

Just yesterday, God exercised kindness on a woman who is grieving, a dad who had been in a car accident, a woman with upcoming back surgery, a man in the hospital, and a woman with medical tests. God exercised justice on a situation that brought peace to a family. And God exercised righteousness, well, in more souls than there is room here to list.

That's a lot of exercising in one day...and that's just through the lens of one man in one place. How much more throughout your life and all the world? Day after day, season after season, year after year.

But God is up to it.

Actually, no, we must say more because God says more.

God delights in all that exercise.

Because God delights in you.

So, today, as you jog around the neighborhood or get things done around the house...

Remember, the LORD is with you. He is your help and strength. And he loves every minute of it.

I pray you will too.

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

Fri, 11/18/16, "Day of Praise"

I just like this one, so here it is again. :-)

"I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me." - Jeremiah 22:21

There is a young boy, not my son, whose father is not around. Even when the father was physically present, his heart and mind were elsewhere.

This boy, whose physical father has been distant at best, comes to our 5pm Sunday worship. He likes to sit next to me in worship. And whatever I do in worship, he does.

If I stand in worship to sing, he stands. If I lean forward to listen more intently, he leans. If I bow my head in prayer, he bows.

Though children do indeed sometimes act like children because after all they are children, God made children to want to learn of God from parents and parent-like adults. God made children to want to learn from their parents how to worship and pray and live in the Lord.

In today's Bible verse, God makes a direct connection between what Jehoiakim does now (i.e. not listen) and what he did as a "youth".

God makes this direct connection with the training of youth and their practices as adults.

What will they know of God? It depends on what they were trained as youth.

Will they value worship? It depends on what priorities they were trained with as youth.

Will they have a daily relationship with the everlasting God or be like the guy who once told me that he might think of God once every two or three weeks? It depends on what a child is trained to set his/her heart on daily when they're young.

I'll say it again, though children do indeed sometimes act like children because after all they are children, God made children to want to learn of God from parents and parent-like adults. God made children to want to learn from their parents how to worship and pray and live in the Lord.

Look at your child, if you have one. Today's Friday, what you teach them about the presence of God today is at least as important as also going to worship with them this Sunday.

If you do not have your own child or maybe they're grown, be like Jim who has been Leonard's Big Brother for years. Leonard was born very different from Jim. But when you're around Leonard, it feels like you're around Jim. Leonard is learning about a daily relationship with God from Jim. It shows.

God makes a direct connection with the training of youth and their practices as adults.

This is why God speaks to youth in Ecclesiastes 12:1, saying, "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.'"

This is why God speaks to adults in Proverbs 22:6, saying, "Train up a child in (or as one translation has it "Start children off on") the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

Dear God, you have made the connections clear between what we teach and train the children in our world to value and to practice and what they will do as adults. You are present every single day, offering life, worship, forgiveness, guidance, and conversation with you. Help us as adults to joyfully learn to walk with you daily and to boldly invite the children in our homes and communities to do the same. 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







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

Day of Praise

Fri, 11/18/16, "Day of Praise"

I just like this one, so here it is again. :-)

"I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me." - Jeremiah 22:21

There is a young boy, not my son, whose father is not around. Even when the father was physically present, his heart and mind were elsewhere.

This boy, whose physical father has been distant at best, comes to our 5pm Sunday worship. He likes to sit next to me in worship. And whatever I do in worship, he does.

If I stand in worship to sing, he stands. If I lean forward to listen more intently, he leans. If I bow my head in prayer, he bows.

Though children do indeed sometimes act like children because after all they are children, God made children to want to learn of God from parents and parent-like adults. God made children to want to learn from their parents how to worship and pray and live in the Lord.

In today's Bible verse, God makes a direct connection between what Jehoiakim does now (i.e. not listen) and what he did as a "youth".

God makes this direct connection with the training of youth and their practices as adults.

What will they know of God? It depends on what they were trained as youth.

Will they value worship? It depends on what priorities they were trained with as youth.

Will they have a daily relationship with the everlasting God or be like the guy who once told me that he might think of God once every two or three weeks? It depends on what a child is trained to set his/her heart on daily when they're young.

I'll say it again, though children do indeed sometimes act like children because after all they are children, God made children to want to learn of God from parents and parent-like adults. God made children to want to learn from their parents how to worship and pray and live in the Lord.

Look at your child, if you have one. Today's Friday, what you teach them about the presence of God today is at least as important as also going to worship with them this Sunday.

If you do not have your own child or maybe they're grown, be like Jim who has been Leonard's Big Brother for years. Leonard was born very different from Jim. But when you're around Leonard, it feels like you're around Jim. Leonard is learning about a daily relationship with God from Jim. It shows.

God makes a direct connection with the training of youth and their practices as adults.

This is why God speaks to youth in Ecclesiastes 12:1, saying, "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.'"

This is why God speaks to adults in Proverbs 22:6, saying, "Train up a child in (or as one translation has it "Start children off on") the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

Dear God, you have made the connections clear between what we teach and train the children in our world to value and to practice and what they will do as adults. You are present every single day, offering life, worship, forgiveness, guidance, and conversation with you. Help us as adults to joyfully learn to walk with you daily and to boldly invite the children in our homes and communities to do the same. 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

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Day of Praise

Thur, 11/17/16, "Day of Praise"

"Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: 'He will have no one to sit on the throne of David...because they have not listened.'" - Jeremiah 36:30-31

Listening is critical in every relationship, but listening is most critical in our relationship with God.

It works like this.

To listen is for one party to receive a word or words from another party. So to listen is to receive a word.

In the beginning of the Gospel of John, chapter 1, if we listen, God tells us that His Word is His Son. Jesus is the Living Word of God.

So, to listen to God, to receive God's Word, is to receive Jesus Christ.

Listening to God and therefore receiving Christ is critical because through Christ alone can we have a right relationship with God. Through Christ alone can we have peace with God. This is true because Christ alone took on human flesh and had no sin. NONE! So Christ's death on the cross was not for his sin, but his death was for our sin.

So when we listen to God, we are listening to God's Word. When we listen to God's Word, we are listening to Christ. When we listen to Christ, we are receiving Christ into our being. When we receive Christ, we are receiving all of Christ, including his work. When we receive Christ's work, it includes his saving work on the cross, where he pays the penalty for our sin because he himself had no sin to pay for.

In sum, to listen to God is to receive and be filled with God's Word, who is Jesus Christ. You are filled with both the person of Jesus and also the saving work of Jesus. God fills us with Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. A Spirit-filled life is a life filled with Jesus, who in turn pours the person and power of the Holy Spirit into us!

This also explains why you feel empty when you don't listen to God's word by not worshiping God and not spending time with God in the reading and study of His word and not living with God by not living according to His word.

It all fits together.

And this is very simply why, in today's verse, God says what God says. When you listen to God, you receive His Son, Jesus Christ, and all his benefits. When you don't listen to God...well, you don't receive His Son, Jesus Christ, so it's impossible to receive his benefits, like forgiveness, peace, courage, wisdom, and everlasting life. God's trying to give his word and its benefits to everyone, but tragically, not everyone is receiving them because not everyone is listening.

This is why some people are so passionate about telling God's Word to others. In sum, lives are at stake. And because lives are at stake, some people are so passionate about telling God's Word to others that they're willing to lose a lot, maybe even everything, for telling it.

Please, please, please...receive God by listening to God's Word; worship God; live in God. And encourage others to do the same.

We will be blessed in listening, so may God be praised for speaking His Word of Life!

Praise God!



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







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

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Day of Praise

Thur, 11/17/16, "Day of Praise"

"Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: 'He will have no one to sit on the throne of David...because they have not listened.'" - Jeremiah 36:30-31

Listening is critical in every relationship, but listening is most critical in our relationship with God.

It works like this.

To listen is for one party to receive a word or words from another party. So to listen is to receive a word.

In the beginning of the Gospel of John, chapter 1, if we listen, God tells us that His Word is His Son. Jesus is the Living Word of God.

So, to listen to God, to receive God's Word, is to receive Jesus Christ.

Listening to God and therefore receiving Christ is critical because through Christ alone can we have a right relationship with God. Through Christ alone can we have peace with God. This is true because Christ alone took on human flesh and had no sin. NONE! So Christ's death on the cross was not for his sin, but his death was for our sin.

So when we listen to God, we are listening to God's Word. When we listen to God's Word, we are listening to Christ. When we listen to Christ, we are receiving Christ into our being. When we receive Christ, we are receiving all of Christ, including his work. When we receive Christ's work, it includes his saving work on the cross, where he pays the penalty for our sin because he himself had no sin to pay for.

In sum, to listen to God is to receive and be filled with God's Word, who is Jesus Christ. You are filled with both the person of Jesus and also the saving work of Jesus. God fills us with Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. A Spirit-filled life is a life filled with Jesus, who in turn pours the person and power of the Holy Spirit into us!

This also explains why you feel empty when you don't listen to God's word by not worshiping God and not spending time with God in the reading and study of His word and not living with God by not living according to His word.

It all fits together.

And this is very simply why, in today's verse, God says what God says. When you listen to God, you receive His Son, Jesus Christ, and all his benefits. When you don't listen to God...well, you don't receive His Son, Jesus Christ, so it's impossible to receive his benefits, like forgiveness, peace, courage, wisdom, and everlasting life. God's trying to give his word and its benefits to everyone, but tragically, not everyone is receiving them because not everyone is listening.

This is why some people are so passionate about telling God's Word to others. In sum, lives are at stake. And because lives are at stake, some people are so passionate about telling God's Word to others that they're willing to lose a lot, maybe even everything, for telling it.

Please, please, please...receive God by listening to God's Word; worship God; live in God. And encourage others to do the same.

We will be blessed in listening, so may God be praised for speaking His Word of Life!

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, 11/16/16, "Day of Praise"

"Josiah however would not turn away from [Neco king of Egypt]...[Josiah was] badly wounded...and he died." - 2 Chronicles 35:20-25

Josiah's kingship, leadership, courage, resolve, and premature death are about much more than a timid resignation to each person's life having only a certain number of days (Psalm 90) and having boundaries of time set in "pleasant places" (Psalm 16).

Josiah was a human being with a mission. He had what every person, being made in the image of God, longs for. He had a reason to live for which he was willing and unafraid to die.

His mission was to know the LORD and to walk in his mighty power. Not recklessly. But purposefully. To be in a relationship with God that was at the top of his list and at the center of everything else on the list.

Josiah determined to live, possibly, even probably, fewer days in the LORD and the LORD's mighty power, instead of more days in his own strength where he had no need for the LORD's strength and therefore no need for the LORD.

This is the life for which all of us are made and to which all of us are called, that is, in a relationship with God where God's at the top of our list and at the center of everything else on our list, where we're determined to live, possibly, even probably, fewer days in the LORD and the LORD's mighty power, instead of more days in our own strength where we have no need for the LORD's strength and therefore no need for the LORD.

For who or what are you living? The house payment? Retirement? Get the kids through college? Those will never satisfy. Josiah learned that at a very, very, very young age. That's why he lived for the longing of his heart, the longing of every man's heart, the longing of every human being's heart.

Josiah lived and died for God! And in so doing, blessed us all by calling us all to live for more than the world is and more than the world could ever offer.

And we will live well, doing the same.

Praise God!



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






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

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Day of Praise

Wed, 11/16/16, "Day of Praise"

"Josiah however would not turn away from [Neco king of Egypt]...[Josiah was] badly wounded...and he died." - 2 Chronicles 35:20-25

Josiah's kingship, leadership, courage, resolve, and premature death are about much more than a timid resignation to each person's life having only a certain number of days (Psalm 90) and having boundaries of time set in "pleasant places" (Psalm 16).

Josiah was a human being with a mission. He had what every person, being made in the image of God, longs for. He had a reason to live for which he was willing and unafraid to die.

His mission was to know the LORD and to walk in his mighty power. Not recklessly. But purposefully. To be in a relationship with God that was at the top of his list and at the center of everything else on the list.

Josiah determined to live, possibly, even probably, fewer days in the LORD and the LORD's mighty power, instead of more days in his own strength where he had no need for the LORD's strength and therefore no need for the LORD.

This is the life for which all of us are made and to which all of us are called, that is, in a relationship with God where God's at the top of our list and at the center of everything else on our list, where we're determined to live, possibly, even probably, fewer days in the LORD and the LORD's mighty power, instead of more days in our own strength where we have no need for the LORD's strength and therefore no need for the LORD.

For who or what are you living? The house payment? Retirement? Get the kids through college? Those will never satisfy. Josiah learned that at a very, very, very young age. That's why he lived for the longing of his heart, the longing of every man's heart, the longing of every human being's heart.

Josiah lived and died for God! And in so doing, blessed us all by calling us all to live for more than the world is and more than the world could ever offer.

And we will live well, doing the same.

Praise God!



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

Day of Praise

Tues, 11/15/16, "Day of Praise"

"Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor." - Jeremiah 5:27-28

The Bible prophet Jeremiah preached for years and didn't have a single convert. Almost 3,000 years later, has anything changed?

Three times in chapter 31 alone, Jeremiah speaks of new things that God promises to do in people's lives. So why didn't everyone come running and listen to all the prophet was sent to say?

Well, that's just it. People don't want to hear "all that a prophet was sent to say."

Jesus died for our sin. Part of our sin is believing that "I'm doing the best I can, and that should be enough."

But in today's verses, Jeremiah is God's instrument to say that our "evil deeds have no limit" because it includes the things we don't do, like "they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor."

Nobody wants to hear this because we're all pushing back and saying, "Hey! I'm doing the best I can!"

But there are two things that we really need to take away from these verses.

First, we need the reminder that we can never do enough to be pleasing in God's sight. Martin Luther asked, "When have I done enough?" The only answer that he found in the Bible and that also gave peace to his soul was this--"Only Jesus, like us in every way, except he had no sin, can do enough. And what Jesus has done gets credited to us when we put our faith in him."

God calls this the righteousness of faith. It's peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

The other thing that we really need to take away from today's verses is that, having peace with God through faith in Jesus, we are called to stop and not push back long enough to ask, "Is there something more I could be doing to 'seek justice, promote the case of the fatherless, defend the just cause of the poor'?"

Do we even care?

Care. That would be a good start, knowing that's what God, through Jesus, has done for us.

Praise God!


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







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

Monday, November 14, 2016

Day of Praise

Tues, 11/15/16, "Day of Praise"

"Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor." - Jeremiah 5:27-28

The Bible prophet Jeremiah preached for years and didn't have a single convert. Almost 3,000 years later, has anything changed?

Three times in chapter 31 alone, Jeremiah speaks of new things that God promises to do in people's lives. So why didn't everyone come running and listen to all the prophet was sent to say?

Well, that's just it. People don't want to hear "all that a prophet was sent to say."

Jesus died for our sin. Part of our sin is believing that "I'm doing the best I can, and that should be enough."

But in today's verses, Jeremiah is God's instrument to say that our "evil deeds have no limit" because it includes the things we don't do, like "they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor."

Nobody wants to hear this because we're all pushing back and saying, "Hey! I'm doing the best I can!"

But there are two things that we really need to take away from these verses.

First, we need the reminder that we can never do enough to be pleasing in God's sight. Martin Luther asked, "When have I done enough?" The only answer that he found in the Bible and that also gave peace to his soul was this--"Only Jesus, like us in every way, except he had no sin, can do enough. And what Jesus has done gets credited to us when we put our faith in him."

God calls this the righteousness of faith. It's peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

The other thing that we really need to take away from today's verses is that, having peace with God through faith in Jesus, we are called to stop and not push back long enough to ask, "Is there something more I could be doing to 'seek justice, promote the case of the fatherless, defend the just cause of the poor'?"

Do we even care?

Care. That would be a good start, knowing that's what God, through Jesus, has done for us.

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, 11/14/16, "Day of Praise"

"In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the Lord, "people will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made." - Jeremiah 3:16

Let's play the association game. Ya know. I say a word, and you respond with a word that comes to mind. Ready? Santa _______. Barack _________. Hillary __________. Donald _________. Harrison _______.  Ark of the ______________.

I assume you all responded in unison with "Claus, Obama, Clinton, Trump, Ford, Covenant." I also assume if I'd said, "Indiana ______" then you would've said, "Jones." Congratulations!

Or maybe not.

As it pertains to Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones, and the Ark of the Covenant, our culture gives folklore hero status to movies that celebrate the search for famous Biblical artifacts such as the Ark of the Covenant.

On the other hand, God says, "Let it go!" Or in the words of today's Bible verse, God says, "people will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made." (Jeremiah 3:16)

The reason is simple.

As much as we love to touch and see amazing relics of Biblical proportion, you can't have a relationship with the Ark of the Covenant, the wood of Noah's Ark, or even the wood of the cross of Jesus Christ. The list of course could go on and on with water from the Jordan River and even the Bible itself. You can't have a relationship with any of these things.

But you can have, indeed your heart yearns to have a relationship with the God who revealed himself through the Ark of the Covenant, the wood of Noah's Ark, the wood of the cross of Jesus Christ, the water of the Jordan, and the ink and paper of the Bible.

Call on the name of the Lord, and find peace and calm and power and courage and direction in life and salvation from sin. 

In contrast, call on the Ark or the wood or the water, and hear..., well, you might as well be calling out, "Bueller..., Bueller..., Bueller..." because Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller) has not only taken a day off but is permanently on leave from call.

So, when you have that biopsy today or that surgery tomorrow or that meeting this morning, as much as we are grateful for people that touch us and things that comfort us, please remember that it's the God of the people and the God of the things in whom we find what our hearts desire.

Call on the Lord. Call on His Holy Name. He loves you and is with you without fail.

Praise God!


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







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

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Day of Praise

Mon, 11/14/16, "Day of Praise"

"In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the Lord, "people will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made." - Jeremiah 3:16

Let's play the association game. Ya know. I say a word, and you respond with a word that comes to mind. Ready? Santa _______. Barack _________. Hillary __________. Donald _________. Harrison _______.  Ark of the ______________.

I assume you all responded in unison with "Claus, Obama, Clinton, Trump, Ford, Covenant." I also assume if I'd said, "Indiana ______" then you would've said, "Jones." Congratulations!

Or maybe not.

As it pertains to Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones, and the Ark of the Covenant, our culture gives folklore hero status to movies that celebrate the search for famous Biblical artifacts such as the Ark of the Covenant.

On the other hand, God says, "Let it go!" Or in the words of today's Bible verse, God says, "people will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made." (Jeremiah 3:16)

The reason is simple.

As much as we love to touch and see amazing relics of Biblical proportion, you can't have a relationship with the Ark of the Covenant, the wood of Noah's Ark, or even the wood of the cross of Jesus Christ. The list of course could go on and on with water from the Jordan River and even the Bible itself. You can't have a relationship with any of these things.

But you can have, indeed your heart yearns to have a relationship with the God who revealed himself through the Ark of the Covenant, the wood of Noah's Ark, the wood of the cross of Jesus Christ, the water of the Jordan, and the ink and paper of the Bible.

Call on the name of the Lord, and find peace and calm and power and courage and direction in life and salvation from sin. 

In contrast, call on the Ark or the wood or the water, and hear..., well, you might as well be calling out, "Bueller..., Bueller..., Bueller..." because Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller) has not only taken a day off but is permanently on leave from call.

So, when you have that biopsy today or that surgery tomorrow or that meeting this morning, as much as we are grateful for people that touch us and things that comfort us, please remember that it's the God of the people and the God of the things in whom we find what our hearts desire.

Call on the Lord. Call on His Holy Name. He loves you and is with you without fail.

Praise God!


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

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Day of Praise

Sat, 11/12/16, "Day of Praise"

"While he was still young, [Josiah] began to seek the God of his father David." - 2 Chronicles 34:3

King Josiah was in love. So he pursued the love of his life. He pursued God.

John Eldredge, in his best-selling book, "Wild at Heart," says that part of pursuing the love of your life includes showing the love of your life that they're the only love of your life. So you need to send the other competitors for your heart packing.

So that's what young King Josiah did. Since God was the love of his life, Josiah sent the other competitors for his heart packing.

God's Word in the Bible describes Josiah's casting out of the competition in this way. "[Josiah] began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols... The altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars...and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols... He burned the bones of the priests on their altars... He tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 34:3-7

So, what are the competitors for your heart? They're probably not "high places, Asherah poles and idols, altars of the Baals, incense altars, and Asherah poles and idols." But whatever the competitors for your heart may be, do the following:

Send them packing.

"Why?," you ask, "And what do you mean?"

In Matthew 22:37-39, we hear Jesus say: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself."

Note, in quoting the Hebrew Bible, Jesus does say "As your first love, God is to be loved "with all your heart," that is your whole heart.

So send the competitors packing. For it is only by completely loving God, who first loved us, that we find that God then gives back to us enough love and wisdom to rightly love the people in our lives and enough wisdom to rightly oversee the things in our lives.

The way it shakes down is this: 1) pursue the love of your life, God, with all you've got and 2) keep everybody and everything else in perspective!

So, "While he was still young, [Josiah] began to seek the God of his father David." - 2 Chronicles 34:3

God will surely provide, as we seek to do the same.

Praise God!


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







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