Day of Praise

Fri, 06/30/17, "Day of Praise"

"Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, 'You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.'" - John 11:49-50

Caiaphas has no idea. 

He thinks that by getting rid of Jesus that he's getting rid of a political enemy.

Caiaphas is in his own little world and, therefore, has no idea of the spiritual truth that one man must die for sin so that all people could be saved through faith in the one who dies. 

Caiaphas had no idea of the great sacrifice that was made for him. 

Usually, I don't either. You know what I mean; I don't have any idea of the great sacrifice that was made for me. Oh sure, from time to time, usually in Lent, I'll stop and think about it, especially on days like Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. But there are so many days that I just blow through without considering how much Jesus has done for me so that I can even have that day. 

By God's grace, I woke up and have this day. What that means is that God's given me another chance to consciously live thankfully. To think about and be thankful for the one who died so all the rest of us didn't have to die "permanently." There are even chances for me to worship him today, to worship Jesus, to adore him, to remember him thankfully. Here, where I live, I have at least one chance to worship him today. At 8:30 a.m. each Friday, people gather to read scripture and pray at our church. 

Maybe where you live, you have a chance to worship Jesus also today. No matter, we all can stop today and think deeply, and gratefully, for what it means that one man, Jesus Christ, died, so that the rest of us don't have to die, at least not permanently. But instead of dying forever, we can believe that he took our place in death. And overcame it. So that we could join him in life. True Life. Abundant Life. 

We want to know what he did for us. So we can Live Abundantly today and forever with him. Knowing and believing start by doing what Caiaphas didn't do long, long ago. Knowing and believing in and being thankful for and enjoying that one man died so the rest of us wouldn't perish, it all starts by surrendering to the Holy Spirit, who touches our hearts gently, but clearly, and whispers, "Stop! And think about the gift that is your life. Today. Think about the price that was paid so that you can have the gift."

God help me to do so. 

May God, in grace, help us all. Again. 

"Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, 'You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.'" - John 11:49-50

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 06/29/17, "Day of Praise"

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." - 1 Peter 3:18

When I was a teenager, I slept in a basement room with no windows. Cool. 

When I was a little kid, if I'd had a basement room with no windows, that would not have been cool. I was a scaredy-cat. 

I thought everything that was down low and dark had a monster or a big bad wolf living in it. 

Apparently, that kind of thinking is not too far off. After all, Jesus went into a place that was down low and dark and had the worst monster ever living in it. 

And Jesus went down into that low and dark place for me. And for you. And for all people. (Although tragically, not everyone believes in that place nor believes that Jesus went down there and took care of that big bully monster for us.)

Actually, the big bully monster has a legitimate claim, just as the White Witch does in the Chronicles of Narnia. When we sin, when we rebel against the way that God made things to work, then we have to appear before The Accuser, The Big Bully, and we have to pay the penalty. And you get what you deserve. 

Hmmmm. What's that sound like to you? You must 1) appear before an Accuser, 2) pay a penalty, and 3) get what you deserve. 

Sounds like hell to me. A living hell.

But through the cross and resurrection of Jesus, we celebrate that Jesus 1) took our place, 2) paid our penalty, and 3) taught us about mercy (not getting what you deserve) and grace (getting what you don't deserve).

All this Jesus did when he went into a place that was down low and dark and had the worst monster ever living in it. 

And he did it all for you!

And for me! 

And for us all as God's dearly beloved children, who, if we have any sense about us, might still not want to go to the place that is down low and dark and has the worst monster ever living in it. 

But as we hear in 1 Corinthians 15:57, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

So thanks be to God for the truth of today's verse, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." - 1 Peter 3:18

Praise God!!!

Day of Praise

Wed, 06/28/17, "Day of Praise" 

"Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:11-12 

I laugh now. 

But when I was a kid, it drove me nuts when my classmates called me Chris DeBlue or DeRed or, the worst, DePurple. My name was, is, and always will be Chris DeGREEN!!! 

And therein lies the point: it didn't matter what teasing classmates called me then or anybody calls me now. 

I am who I am. My name is Chris DeGreen. No matter what anyone else calls me or says. 

You are who you are. 

And Jesus is who he is. 

He is Jesus. His name literally means "The One who Saves." 

And that is who he is. Jesus is "The One who Saves." 

And there is no other. 

No matter what anybody else says or mocks or doesn't believe. Jesus is "The One who Saves." 

That's why God's word says plainly, "Jesus...there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:11-12). 

Put your faith in Jesus, all your faith, for everything on your heart, for everything you need, for everybody on your heart, for everything they need, for all the things and people in front of you today. Put your faith and prayers in Jesus. He will not fail you or them. For he is the one, the ONLY One, who saves. 

Trust him, call on him, look for him. All day. Everyday. And you'll see!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 06/27/17, "Day of Praise" 

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3 

I commit to the Lord that any explanation of today's Bible verse is going to be kept very simple. 

Hooray! Success! 

Next item?!?! 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Mon, 06/26/17, "Day of Praise" 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

It's a simple yet profound word from God. 

First, we praise God because God comforts us in all our troubles. 

Second, we praise God because we're able to comfort others with the comfort that God gave us in our troubles. 

I know that some might say, "Well, why doesn't God just keep all the troubles away to begin with?" 

Well, think about it. When's the last time you reached out to serve someone for whom everything was going well? Really? Ya need a minute to think? Oh, rarely? Maybe never? 

Let's face it. God is quite wise in permitting troubling things to come our way that remind us of our need for God and our need for one another. 

As a long-time friend said to my family yesterday, "Wow--lots going on with your family! Calling on God through prayer is crucial and asking friends for help is justified. Let us know if you need help with anything!" 

Indeed. Let's praise God for God-With-Us (Jesus) and God's gift of friends to whom we reach out in comforting love. 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Sat, 06/24/17, "Day of Praise" 

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." - Proverbs 3:11-12 

When things get tough today and with whomever things get tough today, remember how God the Father was and is ever faithful to God's Son, Jesus. The fruit of Jesus's hard times included amazement, authority, power, healing, miracles, perseverance in suffering, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that empowers us to live abundant lives. 

God the Father will work the same through your hard times too. 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Fri, 06/23/17, "Day of Praise"

"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." - John 1:16

From where I sit, my parents have always been very generous. Christmas and every possible chance for gift-giving has always been exciting. 

But the best blessings from my parents have always been the stories. True stories from their upbringing about modest clothes and dangerous roads. About fireworks on the old lady next door's porch when dad was a kid and baseball games at the school that's now torn down. My dad wrote down a lot of his stories in the years before he died. I really appreciate that, just as I appreciate my mom's story telling too.

Stories are blessings that help us to know someone's heart and their life and their treasures. 

When, in today's Bible verse, we hear that "we have all received one blessing after another" from the fullness of God's grace, the greatest blessing that God has given us is God's stories. Ya know, the ones in the Bible. The stories are blessings that help us to know God and God's heart and God's life and God's treasures. They also help us to see God wondrously at work in the story of our lives today. 

If you're reading this devotion, thank you. I'm honored. But please remember two things in no particular order: 1) almost all of you who reply to me always thank me for sending God's word to you because it's God's stories that touch our hearts like no other story can, and 2) I started this devotion to pass God's stories to my kids as I tried to speak God's stories into the story of their own lives. 

I ask you to remember those two things because I want you to remember that all those blessings from God's grace (John 1:16) are most vibrant when you are, what the great modern-day radio-preacher, Alistair Begg, calls, a self-feeder. A self-feeder is someone who certainly reads devotions like this, but they also go directly to the Bible for themselves and then look for God in their own lives so they can tell others their personal story, which is otherwise known as their witness or their testimony. 

Hey, I hope I can write this thing for many years and that you keep reading it and passing it along to others. But rest assured that I have failed and that you will spiritually starve if our original source and ultimate end for strength and hope and inspiration is not the living God himself, who wants to work most of all through his stories in his Bible and through the story of your life. 

Read your Bibles; look for God; receive his grace; tell your stories; pass it on. 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 06/22/17, "Day of Praise"

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 
1 Corinthians 10:13

It's very easy to get down on yourself. It's very easy to get down on life. 

Life and the world can come at you and weigh on you from all angles. 

Be encouraged. God promises to provide a way for you to stand up under the onslaughts of the world. 

God will provide a way out. 

Your job is to believe that God's promise is true and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus makes that plain in John 6:28-9 when the disciples asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 

Putting the proverbial two and two together, Jesus is The Way out that God provides. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is with each one of us. And when temptation assaults us, Jesus says, "This way. Come. Follow me!"

I personally give praise to God for the truth that I can consciously remember since the time I was 15. When I was a kid and even now as an adult, God is constantly faithful in pouring out his Holy Spirit to prepare my heart to hear the voice of Jesus, leading me out of temptation and delivering me from the evil that I would bring upon myself. 

Some of you might think I'm talking foolishly that Jesus would speak to us today. Unfortunately, many people are thinking foolishly when they think that Jesus cannot speak to us today. 

Haven't you ever noticed that your mind can get lured into something that's altogether unhealthy like bitterness for the past, grumbling about the present, or some other sin of the flesh? And then haven't you ever noticed how the phone rings or you bump into someone or some other distraction occurs?

Some call it coincidence. 

I call it a way out of my bitterness or grumbling or whatever sin is stirring in me. And I refuse to credit the great not-a-god "coincidence" with the blessing of my way out. Instead, the Holy Spirit prompts me. Just like the Holy Spirit prompts us all, if we'll listen, to credit the great only true-God, Jehovah-jireh (or more accurately Yahweh-yireh, which means "The LORD will provide"). 

Yes, He will. 

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 
1 Corinthians 10:13

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 06/21/17, "Day of Praise" 

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8)

Anyone who has faith in Jesus is someone who has meaning and purpose in life forever. We are needed. We have something of eternal importance to share. And people are counting on us to share it. In fact, Jesus is counting on us to share with others that it means the world to us that Jesus died for our sins. Jesus is counting on us "to be his witnesses." (Acts 1:8)

Now if we could just convince ourselves...that witnessing is not hard and embarrassing. Instead witnessing, according to God in today's verse, is fueled by the Holy Spirit. And witnessing to Christ is the greatest glory that one can be associated with. 

Anyone who has faith in Jesus is someone who has meaning and purpose in life forever. We are needed. We have something of eternal importance to share. And people are counting on us to share it. In fact, Jesus is counting on us to share with others that it means the world to us that Jesus died for our sins. 

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8)

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Tues, 06/20/17, "Day of Praise" 

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." - Psalm 145:18 

I remember the first time I tried to use a telephone to call a girl that I liked. Fortunately, no one was looking. 

I suppose it didn't matter though because the mess wasn't on the outside of me. It was on the inside. I was a nervous wreck! 

I never made that call. At least, not for a long time. So the girl might as well have been a million miles away. 

Good thing it's not that way with God. God is never a million miles away. Even when we're nervous to call on him. 

In fact, I'd dare say that God is even glad when we're a little nervous when we call on him. It probably means that we're praying really big and really real. Ya know, like really honest, like really in tune with our feelings, like Nathanael, who was the "Israelite in whom there is no guile" or "a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false" (John 1:46). Can you even begin to possibly imagine Nathanael's prayers? 

Nathanael's prayers needed to be heard. Because they were true. There was nothing false about them. They were honest and real and raw. And when Nathanael prayed, God did not get impatient or angry or defensive or accusatory...but God let Nathanael feel. There was no "now, now Nathanael, it will be fine, now just go on, and get over it." 

To the contrary, when Nathanael prayed, God said, "Bring it on Nathanael. Let it all out. I'm right here with you!" 

In fact, God says the same thing to you, "Bring it on. Let it all out. I'm right here with you!" 

How do I know? 

Because God says so in today's verse. "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." - Psalm 145:18 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Mon, 06/19/17, "Day of Praise"

"The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." - John 1:9

I think I was 11. It was my first time to Boy Scout Camp Davy Crockett. I think it was in Rogersville, TN. I'm not sure though. I was 11. And what 11 year old pays attention to where you're going or how you get there? 

I came to be really glad though that somebody paid attention to directions. 

I think his name was Mr. Caffey. He was the guy in charge of waking up all the first year campers in our troop at about 4:30 a.m. so we could get to this big field and do our sunrise observations for our Environmental Science merit badge. 

If you're observant like my 18 year old son, then you're recognizing that the timing of waking up and getting someplace before sunrise at a Boy Scout camp in the mid-'70's means that we were walking in the dark. 

Total dark. 

No flashlights. No nothin'. 

(I'm sure I remember this correctly.)

But somehow, Mr. Caffey knew the way. And, if we stayed close to him, like he told us to, then we not only got where we were supposed to go, but it was kinda fun and kinda adventurous getting there. 

This is how we're supposed to see Jesus. Everyday is a new adventure with the potential for us to wind up someplace where we have no idea how we got there to begin with. And then Jesus comes along, like Mr Caffey, and kinda jiggles us, telling us to get up and follow him to some big open field to observe birds and all sorts of critters. 

"But it's dark in this world, Jesus!," we say. "We can't see. And we have no idea how to get where you're describing."

Jesus replies, "That's good, if you stay close to me, like I'm asking you to, then we not only will get where we're supposed to go, but it will be kinda fun and kinda adventurous getting there."

In sum, whatever way you think you're heading today, Jesus wants to be the light on your path and make it far more fun and adventurous. 

All you have to do is say, "Ok, Jesus! It's dark in this world, but here I am. Jesus lead the way."

"The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." - John 1:9

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 06/16/17, "Day of Praise"

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." - Proverbs 3:3

When I had just turned 16, (don't you love it when a story starts like that?), I ran my parents' new car into a parked car.

Somebody out there has done the same. C'mon, 'fess up!

The rest of you are saying, "How do you do that?"

In my case, I was nervously looking at street numbers on the houses at dark-dusk, trying to find the house of the girl I was going to a school dance with.

In sum, I wasn't watching where I was going.

People do that all the time. They don't watch where they're going...spiritually speaking especially.

Ya see, here's the deal, Jesus is the Way. Period. He leads us on the Way. Period. He is faithful in leading us on the Way. Period. His "love and faithfulness never leave" us (Proverbs 3:3). Period.

So why do we keep running into things spiritually...at least? Because we're not watching where we're going. We're not watching the Way. We're not watching Jesus.

So, since so many of you have responded to Biblical meditation encouragements in the past, here's the meditation for today: "Lord, you're always faithful." "Lord, you're always faithful." "Lord, you're always faithful, and help me keep my eyes on you!"

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you..." - Proverbs 3:3

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 06/15/17, "Day of Praise" 

"for the battle is the LORD's" - 

1 Samuel 17:47 

Little David knew it and shouted it for all to hear, as huge Goliath stood before him in today's verse. Whatever is before you today, God is on top of it, ahead of it, bigger than it, LORD over it!

So give it to God! For the battle is the LORD's! He will conquer the matter and lead you through!

Trust him. Look for him. And you will see! 

So have a great day! 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 06/14/17, "Day of Praise" 

"A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?" - Proverbs 20:24 

We don't need to understand. We only need to believe what God has made plain through His Son, namely, Almighty God is for us.

To say that Almighty God is for us is to say that God is good. All the time, God is good. 

God is good, directing our steps, leading us to doors and windows of blessing. Sure, we can do what we want. But what God wants is always better. And we know this through the undeserved initiative of God to create us and daily provide for us and through the sin-forgiving cross and the life-giving resurrection of God's Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And then God tops it all off by sending us Holy Spirit who is our calm and counsel, our guide and our strength to live the New Life of following Jesus into Abundant Life, both now and forever, along with the unmatched joy of inviting others to know these same incomparable treasures with our God...who is good...all the time!

Enjoy! It's gonna be a great day! God is planning on it! 

"A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?" - Proverbs 20:24 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 06/13/17, "Day of Praise" 

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." - Proverbs 17:17 

When I was in high school, my two best friends were Barry and Lisa. They wound up marrying each other and are still happily married to this day. I'm happy for them; after all, they were my best friends, and they still are very dear to me. 

That's the way it is with friends. Ya love each other at all times. 

Barry doesn't remember it. But he kinda bullied me before we knew each other. We were in elementary school, and our respective schools were participating in a city-wide celebration of our nation's bicentennial. Our schools sat next to each other, and he and I sat close to each other. He didn't want anyone around him to sing, but I wanted to sing. We tangled. 

A couple years later, we both tried out for the 7th grade football team. He had never played. I got some revenge when we lined up against each other. So our first two encounters weren't very friendly. 

But one day, he got a bloody nose after school, and all his friends abandoned him. I had a chance to be a friend. And for the next six years, Barry and I were inseparable. 

And even though we live a six-hour drive apart, when, by whatever means, we get to chat, it's as if we were never apart. That's the way it is with friends. 

And that's the way God is with us. The Lord is always near us, but sometimes we stray. Yet when, by whatever means, we get to chat, it's as if we were never apart. Because, through Jesus, God is a friend who loves at all times. 

So, delight in God's friendship today. And reach out to an old friend that you haven't talked to in a while. And celebrate again the good things, namely friendships, that God has given us by his grace. 

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." - Proverbs 17:17 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Mon, 06/12/17, "Day of Praise" 

"Son, your sins are forgiven." - Mark 2:5 

Is there any sweeter sound than the words "I forgive you"? Especially when, as in today's Bible verse, Jesus the Son of God is speaking those words to us, is there any sweeter sound than "I forgive you"? 

I'm guessing that "I love you" and "Thank you" are up there too. 

Whatever the sweet sounds are to you, have a great Monday by speaking some of that sweetness today to the people around you. And I pray you'll read your Bible everyday and worship on Sunday so you can hear more about God's sweet word, which he himself says is "sweeter than honey." (Psalm 19:10 & 119:103)

Mmm, mmm, good livin'!!!

"Son, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Sat, 06/10/17, "Day of Praise" 

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." - Proverbs 15:13 

In the 12th Century, Bernard of Clairvaux wrote some words that would become the lyrics to one of the greatest hymns ever. It goes like this: 

"Jesus, the very thought of you 
fills us with sweet delight; 
But sweeter far your face to view, 
And rest within your light." 

If, as in today's verse, a cheerful face is the result of a happy heart, then we're blessed to know from one of God's faithful, Bernard, how to have a happy heart: 
1) Stop and think of Jesus, 
2) Picture the face of Jesus, which was one of our Days of Praise, where we encouraged seeing him Shepherding and his face shining radiantly from within, and 
3) Rest in Jesus. 

Try those three things today, multiple times, especially when you realize that you're not as happy as you want to be. Think of Jesus. Picture Jesus. Rest in Jesus. 

In closing, I commend to you the wonderful, practical, thankful and happy heart song from the children's videos Veggie Tales episode with Madam Blueberry: 

I thank God for this day, 
For the sun in the sky, 
For my mom and my dad, 
For my piece of apple pie! 
For our home on the ground, 
For His love that's all around, 
That's why I say thanks every day! 
Because a thankful heart is a happy heart! 
I'm glad for what I have, 
That's an easy way to start! 
For the love that He shares, 
'Cause He listens to my prayers, 
That's why I say thanks every day! 

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." - Proverbs 15:13 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Fri, 06/09/17, "Day of Praise" 

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." - Psalm 30:11-12 

Claim the promise, Friends. Please, don't give up. Claim the promise. 

Might you join me in the following prayer?

Dear Lord, You know the burdens that have created anxiety or tears or wailing in my soul. But I am claiming your promise because you never break a promise. You promise to turn my wailing into dancing; you promise to remove my sackcloth and clothe me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. 

Now, Friends, as you go through your day. Meditate on the promise, think about it, claim it all day with the simple phrase from today's verses, "Wailing into Dancing. Wailing into Dancing. Wailing into Dancing." 

Then, believing and claiming God's promise, look for God. Listen for him. 

He will bless you. 

And each time he does, simply look up and pray the simple prayer from today's verses, "O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Thur, 06/08/17, "Day of Praise" 

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." - 1 John 4:11 

Love CARES. 

Love...

C - Love Costs...Cost Jesus his life to love us. It costs us our lives to love him and others too! 

A - Love Answers...Answers the Father's call to serve. Jesus answered the Father's call so that we can too!

R - Love Reaps...Reaps rewards. God's word says that as we sow, so shall we reap. Sow love! 

E - Love Expresses... Expressions of love flow naturally, like Jesus washing the disciples feet. So we can too. 

S - Love Sees...Seeing with the eyes of the heart, love responds to countless opportunities to help others see God's love too. 

Love CARES. 

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." - 1 John 4:11 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 06/07/17, "Day of Praise"

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." - Psalm 4:8

Kisses on the cheek. A blessing on the forehead. Praying together. The magic words, "Sweet Dreams."

All of these (and more) are treasured bedtime rituals. 

But they're all vain and meaningless and empty, even the prayers, if they're not coupled with 1) a personal relationship with the Lord, 2) calling on the name of the Lord, and 3) claiming the promises of God. All 3 of those elements (relationship, calling, claiming) are implied or explicit in today's verse from Psalm 4:8. 

I remember going through a season of my life (years actually) where I couldn't sleep. Some may call it insomnia, but it wasn't a condition of my body. It was a condition of my mind. I couldn't shut the crazy thing off. 

And then one day, God spoke some ancient and everlasting truth to me, saying, "Hey big guy, ya think you're so smart and strong, but all you're getting is exhausted. How 'bout you let me do the heavy lifting? I know you hold onto all that stuff in your mind because you're worried that it won't get done or it won't get done well enough or it's the wrong thing to be getting done. But holding onto it through the night isn't getting it done. To the contrary, holding onto all that stuff through the night is making you your own worst enemy. And that's the threat to you that I want to defeat. Indeed, I promise, that's the threat to you that I will defeat; namely the threat that you pose to yourself when you think that you can do a better job of bringing peace to projects or conflicts or bedtime than I can. So give it all to me. Put your mind and your fears to rest. I've got you covered. Go 'lie down and sleep in peace'. And oh, don't forget...Sweet dreams."

So now, waking or sleeping, that's what my life is by God's grace and what God wants all our lives to be...a dream, a beautiful unending dream, that just keeps getting better everyday. 

A Sweet Dream indeed. 

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." - Psalm 4:8

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 06/06/17, "Day of Praise"

"But you are a shield around me, O LORD." - Psalm 3:3

One of my all-time favorite movies is "Gladiator." I honestly do not think it's because of the violence. Instead, "Gladiator" is one of my all-time favorite movies because of the themes of hope and perseverance by the protagonist, Maximus. 

I also love how Maximus never meets a stranger when it comes to those who are willing to work together with him for the sake of both surviving and also defeating the enemy. 

In one scene, Maximus, and many others who've been enslaved, are about to be thrown to the "lions" of the gladiators for the sheer sport of it in the 2nd century. 
The following is the dialogue as Maximus and the slaves are in an arena, waiting for some gates to open and release vicious and overpowering animals or men, which will mark the death of most of the slaves but also becomes a ray of hope and perseverance for the slaves who will stick together. 

Maximus: [while Cassius continues his introduction] Anyone here been in the army?
[an unknown slave responds yes and tells Maximus he served under his command at Vindobona]
Maximus: You can help me. Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together we survive.

Basically, what they do, in working together, is they form "a shield around" each other, which is the image of what God does for us in today's verse from Psalm 3:3.

It's an image of daily life for believers as we walk by faith in a fallen world. Each day and each moment, we never know what's going to be thrown at us by life, but if we stick with God and one another, we find that God is eager to be "a shield around me, O LORD" (Psalm 3:3). We also discover the power of believers who will work together in the face of overwhelming odds, and in so doing, we learn again the power of friendship and the power of the Body of Christ, when what binds us together is love for one another and honor of what is right and faith in the living, mighty God. 

So, as life comes at you and throws all sorts of arrows and animals and gladiators at you, stick with God and stick with others who are committed to God and God's Word. And, with those other believers and the one true God in whom you believe, you'll discover again and again the power of strength and honor. 

"But you are a shield around me, O LORD." - Psalm 3:3

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 06/05/17, "Day of Praise" 

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." - 1 John 4:10 

When I was in seminary, I had a professor who used to say the same thing all the time -- so much so that many students made fun of him. 

But he was right. 

What he said all the time was "grace, recipiency, thanksgiving." 

"Grace" is undeserved love, namely, God's love for us. "Recipiency" is simply the reception of God's grace. And "thanksgiving" is the response to God's grace; we say, "Thank you, God!" 

That's what God's getting at in today's verse, namely, that God loves us, and all we can really do is receive it and say, "Thank you!" 

Some friends of mine had grandparents who would wake up each morning, and the first thing they'd do was shout to God, "Thanks, God!" 

And that's a good game plan for us all, namely, wake up, and then let everything we do through the day be a great big "Thanks, God!" for all his great love for us. 

Have a great day! 

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." - 1 John 4:10 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Sat, 06/03/17, 49th of 50 Days of Easter, "Day of Praise" 

"To this John replied, 'A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, "I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him." The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.'" - John 3:27-30 

It has nothing to do with my being a preacher. But I must say that, without exception, the happiest people I know are the ones who admit that Jesus is greatest, who praise Him, who speak of Him to others, and who show them His love. 

In today's verses, when John the Baptist says that Jesus must become greater and he himself (John) must become less, it's not because John has low self-esteem. To the contrary, John the Baptist loved himself enough to "receive [what was] given him from heaven," namely the unmatched joy of being the "friend who attends the bridegroom," getting the groom ready to be joined to his bride. 

Okay, I know this is heavy stuff this early in the morning. So let's boil it down. 

1) John is glad for Jesus to be greater than John is. 

2) John sees that it's a joy and a gift from God that John gets to serve Jesus because Jesus is indeed greater. 

3) John also sees that the greatest way to serve Jesus is by helping him to connect with his bride, the Church, which is made up of many people/members. 

4) Finally, John sees that the greatest way to serve Jesus so that he can connect with his bride, the Church, is by listening for Jesus, listening to Jesus, and speaking of Jesus to others. 

So, what does this mean for us today? 

In sum, if you listen for Jesus and to His word, then you'll have the God-given joy of knowing how to bring others to Christ. 

Admit that Jesus is greatest. Praise him. Speak of Him to others. Show them his love. 

Joy awaits you. 

And who doesn't want more joy? 

Have a great day sharing Jesus. 

Praise God! 

Day of Praise

Fri, 06/02/17, "Day of Praise" 

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." - Psalm 103:8 

Have you ever met a hot-head? Someone who got mad at the drop of a hat? 

I myself have been given the Romans 12:8 spiritual gift of "Exhortation," ya know, exhorting people, cheering people on. But my son, Caden, now 18, has said to me when I've coached him in multiple sports through the years, "Dad, you're yelling at us." And I'd say, "I'm not yelling; I'm exhorting."  "Dad, you're yelling."

I don't know, maybe I am a hot-head. I do know, though, that if I've ever hurt you with my "exhorting," then I'm very sorry, truly very sorry. Please accept my sincere apology. 

But I'm not here today to tell you about me. I'm here to tell you today that the good news of Jesus Christ includes the good news that the Almighty God of Creation, the Sovereign Lord of the Universe, the only true God, who has revealed himself perfectly through Jesus, is not a hot-head. 

Repeat, Almighty God is absolutely not and never will be a hot-head. As today's Bible verse says, "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." (Psalm 103:8) 

Now, let's be clear, "slow to anger" does not mean "never gets angry." But "slow to anger" is very different from a hot-head. 

You feel safe around "slow to anger." On the other hand, you walk on eggshells with a hot-head. 

You are safe with God. Always safe. So, live in him. Rest in him. Share your heart with him. Your fears. Your frustrations. Your disappointments. Your worries. Your joys. Your victories. 

Trust him. 

God is here. 

For you. 

We know this through Jesus Christ. 

May your day be filled with his peace. 

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." - Psalm 103:8 

Praise God!