Day of Praise

Fri, 05/13/16, Easter Day #48, "Day of Praise"

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

Memory is a powerful tool in life that God has given us.

The thought of where I group up in Tennessee brings back a flood of memories. Mostly good. But some that I wish were different. Like I have this memory of throwing an ice ball at an unsuspecting friend who really got hurt from my antics. At the time, as teenagers, all of us, except Brad, who got pelted, thought it was hilarious. Now I'm not laughing so much. 

When we remember things that we regret, memory has the power to invoke that wonderful feeling called guilt.

When you remember your past, do you ever have guilt stirred up? Or what about that self-destructive memory that's called a grudge?

Jesus knew the power of memory. That's why in today's verse he calls us to use the best memory. He calls us to remember that He, as the Son of God, has poured His life out for us in order that the most powerful memory might rule in our lives, namely, that God's love and forgiveness have no limit in our lives. Well, actually, our unbelief can keep God's love and forgiveness at arms length in our lives. But when we remember daily, and multiple times through a day, that God sent Jesus to pour out love and forgiveness, then the memory of Jesus trumps all others.

God's love and forgiveness trumps guilt. God's love and forgiveness trumps grudges. God's love and forgiveness trumps regret. God's love and forgiveness is a memory of the past action of Christ that is powerfully present in this very moment because the Christ who died to give that love and forgiveness is with us now, risen from the dead, and dwelling in the hearts and minds of all who will believe that the memory of Jesus's love and forgiveness is greater in lifting us up than any past memory that would pull us down.

Remember Christ today so that your past, present, and future may be filled with positive, life-giving memories!

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

Fri, 05/13/16, Easter Day #48, "Day of Praise"

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

Memory is a powerful tool in life that God has given us.

The thought of where I group up in Tennessee brings back a flood of memories. Mostly good. But some that I wish were different. Like I have this memory of throwing an ice ball at an unsuspecting friend who really got hurt from my antics. At the time, as teenagers, all of us, except Brad, who got pelted, thought it was hilarious. Now I'm not laughing so much. 

When we remember things that we regret, memory has the power to invoke that wonderful feeling called guilt.

When you remember your past, do you ever have guilt stirred up? Or what about that self-destructive memory that's called a grudge?

Jesus knew the power of memory. That's why in today's verse he calls us to use the best memory. He calls us to remember that He, as the Son of God, has poured His life out for us in order that the most powerful memory might rule in our lives, namely, that God's love and forgiveness have no limit in our lives. Well, actually, our unbelief can keep God's love and forgiveness at arms length in our lives. But when we remember daily, and multiple times through a day, that God sent Jesus to pour out love and forgiveness, then the memory of Jesus trumps all others.

God's love and forgiveness trumps guilt. God's love and forgiveness trumps grudges. God's love and forgiveness trumps regret. God's love and forgiveness is a memory of the past action of Christ that is powerfully present in this very moment because the Christ who died to give that love and forgiveness is with us now, risen from the dead, and dwelling in the hearts and minds of all who will believe that the memory of Jesus's love and forgiveness is greater in lifting us up than any past memory that would pull us down.

Remember Christ today so that your past, present, and future may be filled with positive, life-giving memories!

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Th, 05/12/16, Easter Day #47, "Day of Praise"

Right before putting this devotion together, I was on the phone with another one of you who's going through a very hard reality. There's been an extraordinary number of these realities shared in the last few days. What that means, unfortunately, is that today will be an extremely hard day for many of you. The burdens that many of you have shared make me think of my most difficult season in life and the Bible passage from Psalm 71 that someone sent to me during my roughest season. In that season, God spoke to me through Psalm 71 in a way that I felt encouraged to press on even though I was heart-broken and body-weary. 

May God bless you all to press on even in your sorrows and difficulties, as I commend Psalm 71 to you. Trust God himself to speak to you through His Word. Listen for his voice. God himself promises that His voice and His words will comfort you. 

Psalm 71 - In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
    to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
    you are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.
7 I have been as a portent to many,
    but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
    and with your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
    forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
    those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, "God has forsaken him;
    pursue and seize him,
    for there is none to deliver him."
12 O God, be not far from me;
    O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
    who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
    of your deeds of salvation all the day,
    for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
    I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
    will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness
    and comfort me again.
22 I will also praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy,
    when I sing praises to you;
    my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
    who sought to do me hurt.

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

Th, 05/12/16, Easter Day #47, "Day of Praise"

Right before putting this devotion together, I was on the phone with another one of you who's going through a very hard reality. There's been an extraordinary number of these realities shared in the last few days. What that means, unfortunately, is that today will be an extremely hard day for many of you. The burdens that many of you have shared make me think of my most difficult season in life and the Bible passage from Psalm 71 that someone sent to me during my roughest season. In that season, God spoke to me through Psalm 71 in a way that I felt encouraged to press on even though I was heart-broken and body-weary. 

May God bless you all to press on even in your sorrows and difficulties, as I commend Psalm 71 to you. Trust God himself to speak to you through His Word. Listen for his voice. God himself promises that His voice and His words will comfort you. 

Psalm 71 - In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
    to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
    you are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.
7 I have been as a portent to many,
    but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
    and with your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
    forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
    those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, "God has forsaken him;
    pursue and seize him,
    for there is none to deliver him."
12 O God, be not far from me;
    O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
    who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
    of your deeds of salvation all the day,
    for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
    I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
    will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness
    and comfort me again.
22 I will also praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy,
    when I sing praises to you;
    my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
    who sought to do me hurt.

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, 05/11/16, Easter Day #46, "Day of Praise"

Matthew 6:8 - "[Jesus said,] 'Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.'"

When Jesus says, "Do not be like them," there are many things that he's referring to. But they're all tied to two fundamentals, namely, being anxious and having peace. Come what may, Jesus is calling us to trust that God knows what we need so we don't need to be anxious, and because God knows what we need, we have the miracle that is peace in the face of storms.

Let me illustrate. I know pastors who serve small churches that have a hard time paying the bills and who've gone to the church mailbox and found an envelope of cash with just enough to cover that month's shortfall. God the Father knew what they needed before they even asked. 

I also remember some years ago a member of our church calling to give an update on their child's overnight hospitalization and release. This young couple had grown in trusting God more and more each day to provide as God promises. However, the cost of their child's ambulance ride, emergency room visit, and overnight hospital stay had the potential to create a great deal of anxiety. Yet, of course, the importance of their child's health was non-negotiable, and they trusted that God valued the same. They had peace in trusting God to provide.

So, when the dad went home from the hospital in the wee hours to get some necessities, he also checked the mail, of course. And what do you know? There was an envelope from some loved ones, who, weeks before these hospital costs came about, had decided to pass on some encouragement in the form of a check that would wind up covering more than their child's ambulance ride, emergency room visit, and overnight hospital stay.

Just as Jesus said in today's Bible verse, "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

So, what's upon you, Dear Friends? What has the potential to stir anxiety in you? Or what has already stirred your pot of concern? Jesus invites you to give it to God and trust God's promise that "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

No, it may not be with a check in the mailbox, but somehow God has a plan to bless you and provide, even before you know the need.

Dear Heavenly Father, we tend to be anxious and wonder how things will work out. But you more than tend to be faithful each day, for faithful in provision you are. Thank you for your promise to have a plan of provision long before we know our need. So move us, Dear Lord, to turn all our cares and concerns over to you. For in your hands, our cares will be blessed, and we ourselves will have peace. In Jesus's name we ask this, Amen.

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

Wed, 05/11/16, Easter Day #46, "Day of Praise"

Matthew 6:8 - "[Jesus said,] 'Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.'"

When Jesus says, "Do not be like them," there are many things that he's referring to. But they're all tied to two fundamentals, namely, being anxious and having peace. Come what may, Jesus is calling us to trust that God knows what we need so we don't need to be anxious, and because God knows what we need, we have the miracle that is peace in the face of storms.

Let me illustrate. I know pastors who serve small churches that have a hard time paying the bills and who've gone to the church mailbox and found an envelope of cash with just enough to cover that month's shortfall. God the Father knew what they needed before they even asked. 

I also remember some years ago a member of our church calling to give an update on their child's overnight hospitalization and release. This young couple had grown in trusting God more and more each day to provide as God promises. However, the cost of their child's ambulance ride, emergency room visit, and overnight hospital stay had the potential to create a great deal of anxiety. Yet, of course, the importance of their child's health was non-negotiable, and they trusted that God valued the same. They had peace in trusting God to provide.

So, when the dad went home from the hospital in the wee hours to get some necessities, he also checked the mail, of course. And what do you know? There was an envelope from some loved ones, who, weeks before these hospital costs came about, had decided to pass on some encouragement in the form of a check that would wind up covering more than their child's ambulance ride, emergency room visit, and overnight hospital stay.

Just as Jesus said in today's Bible verse, "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

So, what's upon you, Dear Friends? What has the potential to stir anxiety in you? Or what has already stirred your pot of concern? Jesus invites you to give it to God and trust God's promise that "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

No, it may not be with a check in the mailbox, but somehow God has a plan to bless you and provide, even before you know the need.

Dear Heavenly Father, we tend to be anxious and wonder how things will work out. But you more than tend to be faithful each day, for faithful in provision you are. Thank you for your promise to have a plan of provision long before we know our need. So move us, Dear Lord, to turn all our cares and concerns over to you. For in your hands, our cares will be blessed, and we ourselves will have peace. In Jesus's name we ask this, Amen.

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Tues, 05/10/16, Easter Day #45, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 77:1 - "I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me."

God is amazing. The things he sees. The things he hears. They're often invisible to the rest of us. But God is always focused on the heart, which is plainly seen through the eyes and body language, if someone will just look. 

God is looking.

And therefore sees and hears our cries. 

He sees us in a vast humanity, suffering, silently pleading for someone to come sit at our booth of life and look us in the eye and take our hand and pray with us.

I've cried out that way. Stood in my office. Sat in the sanctuary. Or my car. Countless times. Heavy-hearted with my own or someone else's brokenness. Looking up toward God. Tears rolling. Begging for some help. 

And you have too. In your own places. With your own or someone else's brokenness.

And God saw. And God heard.

And God did something about it. With his presence. With his hands. Reaching to us in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sitting down in our booth of life. Taking our hands. Bowing his head to say, "Pray with me. I hear you. I see you. I know your pains and your sorrow."

It is given to us only to believe. 

And to look for hearts.

And to sit down next to someone and pray as in Psalm 77:1, "I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me."

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

Tues, 05/10/16, Easter Day #45, "Day of Praise"

Psalm 77:1 - "I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me."

God is amazing. The things he sees. The things he hears. They're often invisible to the rest of us. But God is always focused on the heart, which is plainly seen through the eyes and body language, if someone will just look. 

God is looking.

And therefore sees and hears our cries. 

He sees us in a vast humanity, suffering, silently pleading for someone to come sit at our booth of life and look us in the eye and take our hand and pray with us.

I've cried out that way. Stood in my office. Sat in the sanctuary. Or my car. Countless times. Heavy-hearted with my own or someone else's brokenness. Looking up toward God. Tears rolling. Begging for some help. 

And you have too. In your own places. With your own or someone else's brokenness.

And God saw. And God heard.

And God did something about it. With his presence. With his hands. Reaching to us in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sitting down in our booth of life. Taking our hands. Bowing his head to say, "Pray with me. I hear you. I see you. I know your pains and your sorrow."

It is given to us only to believe. 

And to look for hearts.

And to sit down next to someone and pray as in Psalm 77:1, "I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me."

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

Mo, 05/09/16, Easter Day #44, "Day of Praise"

2 Thessalonians 3:1 - "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you."

Long ago, St. Paul, asked others to pray for him and his partners in spreading the Word of God. Today, I have a similar prayer request. Would you all please pray for a young lady at our church whose name is Sydney Estill?

Sydney will be leaving to volunteer abroad on May 14th. She is going to India to teach English in the slums, Morocco to work in an orphanage, and Zimbabwe to work on a wildlife nature preserve. She will be back on July 29. God will protect her and use her to His glory. Would you please add her to your prayer list and join me in praying for her daily? You can read about her adventures on her blog: www.residentoftheroad.com as she goes out to do various service projects so she can meet the needs of people and also offer the good news of Jesus Christ.

Here's a prayer you could pray to God for Sydney, or, of course, you could lift up other prayers from your heart.

Dear Heavenly Father,
So that the good news of your Son may spread to others, watch over, surround, protect, empower, and loosen the tongues of Sydney and the teams she'll be serving with. Help them all to know your presence in their unique ways of serving the people who permanently live in those communities over the next two and a half months so that those people are changed forever with the good news of the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. I ask this in Jesus's name, Amen.

Thank you for praying for my dear friend!

How can I pray for you today? Please reply.

Praise God!


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

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

Day of Praise

Mo, 05/09/16, Easter Day #44, "Day of Praise"

2 Thessalonians 3:1 - "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you."

Long ago, St. Paul, asked others to pray for him and his partners in spreading the Word of God. Today, I have a similar prayer request. Would you all please pray for a young lady at our church whose name is Sydney Estill?

Sydney will be leaving to volunteer abroad on May 14th. She is going to India to teach English in the slums, Morocco to work in an orphanage, and Zimbabwe to work on a wildlife nature preserve. She will be back on July 29. God will protect her and use her to His glory. Would you please add her to your prayer list and join me in praying for her daily? You can read about her adventures on her blog: www.residentoftheroad.com as she goes out to do various service projects so she can meet the needs of people and also offer the good news of Jesus Christ.

Here's a prayer you could pray to God for Sydney, or, of course, you could lift up other prayers from your heart.

Dear Heavenly Father,
So that the good news of your Son may spread to others, watch over, surround, protect, empower, and loosen the tongues of Sydney and the teams she'll be serving with. Help them all to know your presence in their unique ways of serving the people who permanently live in those communities over the next two and a half months so that those people are changed forever with the good news of the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. I ask this in Jesus's name, Amen.

Thank you for praying for my dear friend!

How can I pray for you today? Please reply.

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

Sa, 05/07/16, Easter Day #42, "Day of Praise"

Leviticus 26:34 - "Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths."

God made all recreation, including the land, to have a rest and enjoy it!

I pray that you're able to join in the restful enjoyment today!

Praise God!


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

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

Day of Praise

Sa, 05/07/16, Easter Day #42, "Day of Praise"

Leviticus 26:34 - "Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths."

God made all recreation, including the land, to have a rest and enjoy it!

I pray that you're able to join in the restful enjoyment today!

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

Fr, 05/06/16, Easter Day #41. "Day of Praise"

John 21:17 - "[Jesus] said to [Simon Peter] the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'"

Even beyond the simple fact that Simon Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times, there's a reason why Jesus asked Simon three times if Simon loved Jesus, namely, we tend to forget what it is to love Jesus. 

Jesus makes it clear for us, who tend to forget, that to love Jesus is to feed his sheep.

And what does loving Jesus by feeding his sheep look like? There was a time in an amusement park when I went to buy our girls' dinner. They wanted to share a turkey leg meal. So I walked to the place, ordered, and paid. The guy then gave me the bottled water, the bag of chips, and the cookie, and then said, "There you go!" I stood there literally for a minute, smiling, and finally his coworker said, "He doesn't have the turkey leg." Ya see, it's so easy to give some food to eat but forget to give the best food, the most important food. When Jesus said, "Feed my sheep," to Simon Peter, Jesus told Simon three times because we tend to get caught up in giving the lesser food, the least important food to our dependent sheep and forget about the best stuff altogether. It happens to all of us!!!

I distinctly remember a couple years ago when it happened to our family. We were leaving a Disney park in late morning and found ourselves to be the only ones at the bus stop until a short, quiet, young lady joined us. We started talking to her and discovered she was a Disney employee, so we started asking her about the realities of working at Disney. Then we realized we hadn't asked her the usual stuff, ya know, where you were born and reared, if you have siblings, etc. Then, noticing how shy she was, I guess my daughter Cassidy's and my entertainer gene kicked in and we started to sing a song to which we didn't know all the words, but the young lady knew some more of the words. At this point the bus came, and we continued singing and having fun with this quiet young lady with only one more passenger on the bus.

As we neared our destination, it dawned on us to ask her name as we introduced ourselves. We arrived, said goodbye, went our merry almost-at-the-end-of-our-vacation-way, and all of a sudden the kids and I simultaneously heard Jesus say, "Do y'all love me?" "Well, yes, Lord, you know we love you," we said. And Jesus replied, "Then why didn't you feed my sheep?"

We all felt horrible because we realized that Jesus was right. We'd given Hilary the bottled water, the bag of chips, and the cookie, and then said, "There you go!" But we too had gotten so caught up in the lesser food of getting to know her and her workplace and singing earthly songs with her that we totally forgot to feed her the best food and make sure she knew Jesus and his love.

Yes, friends, everybody makes mistakes, and God is forgiving. But some mistakes are bigger than others. And we found ourselves, during our prayers that night, asking God again for forgiveness for not sharing Christ and the Gospel with the quiet young lady, who God had clearly orchestrated sending our way at a lonely bus stop. I can remember all this like it was yesterday. 

So, what are you feeding your sheep? Is it the best food or something less? Children hunger for the best food from the time they're conceived. Are you feeding them by talking to them about Jesus? Spouses long for a word of hope and encouragement and power which God's word alone can truly provide. Are you speaking God's word into your spouse's heart? Coworkers are real people who hunger for the best food. Are we ever feeding them with more than the daily diet of "what have you done for the company lately?" And on and on and on.

There are so many sheep. They're all hungry. And Jesus is asking if we love him. We're eager to tell him, "Absolutely, Lord!" And he's eager to reply, "Then don't forget to feed my sheep!"

Dear Lord, pleeeeeease help us all to remember and care and feed all your sheep with the best food of your word.

And He who feeds us faithfully will!

Praise God!

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

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Day of Praise

Fr, 05/06/16, Easter Day #41. "Day of Praise"

John 21:17 - "[Jesus] said to [Simon Peter] the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'"

Even beyond the simple fact that Simon Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times, there's a reason why Jesus asked Simon three times if Simon loved Jesus, namely, we tend to forget what it is to love Jesus. 

Jesus makes it clear for us, who tend to forget, that to love Jesus is to feed his sheep.

And what does loving Jesus by feeding his sheep look like? There was a time in an amusement park when I went to buy our girls' dinner. They wanted to share a turkey leg meal. So I walked to the place, ordered, and paid. The guy then gave me the bottled water, the bag of chips, and the cookie, and then said, "There you go!" I stood there literally for a minute, smiling, and finally his coworker said, "He doesn't have the turkey leg." Ya see, it's so easy to give some food to eat but forget to give the best food, the most important food. When Jesus said, "Feed my sheep," to Simon Peter, Jesus told Simon three times because we tend to get caught up in giving the lesser food, the least important food to our dependent sheep and forget about the best stuff altogether. It happens to all of us!!!

I distinctly remember a couple years ago when it happened to our family. We were leaving a Disney park in late morning and found ourselves to be the only ones at the bus stop until a short, quiet, young lady joined us. We started talking to her and discovered she was a Disney employee, so we started asking her about the realities of working at Disney. Then we realized we hadn't asked her the usual stuff, ya know, where you were born and reared, if you have siblings, etc. Then, noticing how shy she was, I guess my daughter Cassidy's and my entertainer gene kicked in and we started to sing a song to which we didn't know all the words, but the young lady knew some more of the words. At this point the bus came, and we continued singing and having fun with this quiet young lady with only one more passenger on the bus.

As we neared our destination, it dawned on us to ask her name as we introduced ourselves. We arrived, said goodbye, went our merry almost-at-the-end-of-our-vacation-way, and all of a sudden the kids and I simultaneously heard Jesus say, "Do y'all love me?" "Well, yes, Lord, you know we love you," we said. And Jesus replied, "Then why didn't you feed my sheep?"

We all felt horrible because we realized that Jesus was right. We'd given Hilary the bottled water, the bag of chips, and the cookie, and then said, "There you go!" But we too had gotten so caught up in the lesser food of getting to know her and her workplace and singing earthly songs with her that we totally forgot to feed her the best food and make sure she knew Jesus and his love.

Yes, friends, everybody makes mistakes, and God is forgiving. But some mistakes are bigger than others. And we found ourselves, during our prayers that night, asking God again for forgiveness for not sharing Christ and the Gospel with the quiet young lady, who God had clearly orchestrated sending our way at a lonely bus stop. I can remember all this like it was yesterday. 

So, what are you feeding your sheep? Is it the best food or something less? Children hunger for the best food from the time they're conceived. Are you feeding them by talking to them about Jesus? Spouses long for a word of hope and encouragement and power which God's word alone can truly provide. Are you speaking God's word into your spouse's heart? Coworkers are real people who hunger for the best food. Are we ever feeding them with more than the daily diet of "what have you done for the company lately?" And on and on and on.

There are so many sheep. They're all hungry. And Jesus is asking if we love him. We're eager to tell him, "Absolutely, Lord!" And he's eager to reply, "Then don't forget to feed my sheep!"

Dear Lord, pleeeeeease help us all to remember and care and feed all your sheep with the best food of your word.

And He who feeds us faithfully will!

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Thur, 05/05/16, Easter Day #40, Ascension Day, "Day of Praise"

Ephesians 4:32 - "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

So our youngest child, son Caden, loves to poke fun at his sisters, especially the one right next to him in age, Cassidy. 

So one time, when I saw an amusement park wheelchair rental station with a very young man and woman pull up in their wheelchair and the guy says, "Get up!" and she replied, "Will ya give me just a minute!!!" and he replied, "Ge-e-e-et UUUUUp!", then I just assumed they were brother and sister. 

And so I said, "Are y'all brother and sister too?!?!" 

And she replied, "No!" 

And I said, "Well, y'all just sounded like my teenage son, pokin' at his sister." 

And she replied, "No, we're on our honeymoon!"

And then Caden, who's standing right there, says, "Nice start!"

So, other than a giggle, what are we to take from this? Simply this: relationships work when we are kind to one another.

Specifically, in today's Bible verse, God is telling us to be kind to one another as God, in Christ, has been kind to us. And what does God's kindness in Christ look like? Well, Jesus came down from heaven to lift us up. Specifically, Jesus stooped down and took on the form of a servant, even unto death on a cross, in order to lift us up from the weight and penalty and power of sin and death. He forgave us!

And his forgiveness becomes ours when we believe in him. And his forgiveness is offered to others when we are kind to them.

Furthermore, one of the messages specific to today, Easter Day #40, which is the celebration of the Ascension of our Lord, is that when we are kind to others in God's ways then we ourselves are lifted up by God just as Jesus was lifted up when he finished his ministry of kindness and forgiveness to us.

So! Are you feeling down? Be kind to someone else. And God will lift you up!

Are you feeling a weight on your soul in a relationship? Maybe you need to forgive someone. And God will lift you up!

Are you feeling like God is far away? Remember and believe that Christ who stooped down in kindness on the cross is the same Christ who stoops down to you now by the power of the Holy Spirit. And God will lift you up!

So, Happy Happy Happy Ascension Day, celebrating both the lifting up to heaven of Christ and all who believe in him and also celebrating his kindness and forgiveness as he was lifted up on a cross for us!

And may God grant you the fruit of lifting up others as God invites us in Ephesians 4:32, saying, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

Thur, 05/05/16, Easter Day #40, Ascension Day, "Day of Praise"

Ephesians 4:32 - "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

So our youngest child, son Caden, loves to poke fun at his sisters, especially the one right next to him in age, Cassidy. 

So one time, when I saw an amusement park wheelchair rental station with a very young man and woman pull up in their wheelchair and the guy says, "Get up!" and she replied, "Will ya give me just a minute!!!" and he replied, "Ge-e-e-et UUUUUp!", then I just assumed they were brother and sister. 

And so I said, "Are y'all brother and sister too?!?!" 

And she replied, "No!" 

And I said, "Well, y'all just sounded like my teenage son, pokin' at his sister." 

And she replied, "No, we're on our honeymoon!"

And then Caden, who's standing right there, says, "Nice start!"

So, other than a giggle, what are we to take from this? Simply this: relationships work when we are kind to one another.

Specifically, in today's Bible verse, God is telling us to be kind to one another as God, in Christ, has been kind to us. And what does God's kindness in Christ look like? Well, Jesus came down from heaven to lift us up. Specifically, Jesus stooped down and took on the form of a servant, even unto death on a cross, in order to lift us up from the weight and penalty and power of sin and death. He forgave us!

And his forgiveness becomes ours when we believe in him. And his forgiveness is offered to others when we are kind to them.

Furthermore, one of the messages specific to today, Easter Day #40, which is the celebration of the Ascension of our Lord, is that when we are kind to others in God's ways then we ourselves are lifted up by God just as Jesus was lifted up when he finished his ministry of kindness and forgiveness to us.

So! Are you feeling down? Be kind to someone else. And God will lift you up!

Are you feeling a weight on your soul in a relationship? Maybe you need to forgive someone. And God will lift you up!

Are you feeling like God is far away? Remember and believe that Christ who stooped down in kindness on the cross is the same Christ who stoops down to you now by the power of the Holy Spirit. And God will lift you up!

So, Happy Happy Happy Ascension Day, celebrating both the lifting up to heaven of Christ and all who believe in him and also celebrating his kindness and forgiveness as he was lifted up on a cross for us!

And may God grant you the fruit of lifting up others as God invites us in Ephesians 4:32, saying, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

We, 05/04/16, Easter Day #39, "Day of Praise"

Luke 9:62 - "Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'"

Backwards is a fascinating phenomenon to me. 

A couple times through the years, I've seen this car show with our kids that's really fascinating and action-packed! Part of the fascination was watching this one driver do chases and spins and jumps driving backwards that most people can't do driving forwards. But then they reveal that the car is specially set up so that it looks like he's going backwards, but the driver is actually facing forwards. So in the end, backwards isn't such a great thing.

The same is true with some guys I played football with in college. They could run as fast backwards as most people can forwards. But they were still faster going forward than back.

Or take time travel. Many people think that's so cool. But nobody ever does it (even in the make-believe world) without messing something up.

In sum, backwards is never as good as forwards, which is what Jesus is talking about in today's Bible verse. Basically, we're all tempted to spend a lot of time looking backwards and wondering about this and worrying about that and regretting things we wish we'd done differently. When we do that, when we're preoccupied with the past and looking backwards, Jesus is saying that we're missing out on the kingdom of God.

The reason that looking backwards causes us to miss God's kingdom is because the God in Jesus, who says, "Follow me," is calling us forward. Forward is where God is leading us. Forward is where God shows us how he takes our past and uses our past regrets with all things together for good. Forward is where God casts a vision. Forward is where God works out our wonders and deals with our worries. But we'll never see all these works of God if we're always looking back.

So, as one cartoon character says, "Put your behind in the past!" And better yet, as God often says plainly, "Onward, ho!", because forward is where God, God's blessings, and God's kingdom are found!

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

We, 05/04/16, Easter Day #39, "Day of Praise"

Luke 9:62 - "Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'"

Backwards is a fascinating phenomenon to me. 

A couple times through the years, I've seen this car show with our kids that's really fascinating and action-packed! Part of the fascination was watching this one driver do chases and spins and jumps driving backwards that most people can't do driving forwards. But then they reveal that the car is specially set up so that it looks like he's going backwards, but the driver is actually facing forwards. So in the end, backwards isn't such a great thing.

The same is true with some guys I played football with in college. They could run as fast backwards as most people can forwards. But they were still faster going forward than back.

Or take time travel. Many people think that's so cool. But nobody ever does it (even in the make-believe world) without messing something up.

In sum, backwards is never as good as forwards, which is what Jesus is talking about in today's Bible verse. Basically, we're all tempted to spend a lot of time looking backwards and wondering about this and worrying about that and regretting things we wish we'd done differently. When we do that, when we're preoccupied with the past and looking backwards, Jesus is saying that we're missing out on the kingdom of God.

The reason that looking backwards causes us to miss God's kingdom is because the God in Jesus, who says, "Follow me," is calling us forward. Forward is where God is leading us. Forward is where God shows us how he takes our past and uses our past regrets with all things together for good. Forward is where God casts a vision. Forward is where God works out our wonders and deals with our worries. But we'll never see all these works of God if we're always looking back.

So, as one cartoon character says, "Put your behind in the past!" And better yet, as God often says plainly, "Onward, ho!", because forward is where God, God's blessings, and God's kingdom are found!

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

Tu, 05/03/16, Easter Day #38, "Day of Praise"

Isaiah 53:6 - "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

So vacation talk is picking up steam as May has coming roaring in with warm temperatures, all of which makes me think of people at Disney World. It is really quite impossible for anyone there to watch where they're going. It's true that there are some, in fact, many, who clearly aren't paying attention to anything at all and, therefore, are just plain old wandering aimlessly. But even for those who are seemingly paying attention, there are just too many directions; in other words, people are flying at you from every conceivable direction, which makes it impossible to not get into someone's way. 

In sum, if you want to get angry because somebody's not watching where they're going, then you could be angry all the time!

It's the same in today's Bible verse, if God wanted to be angry because somebody's not watching where they're going, then God would be angry all the time! After all, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way." (Isaiah 53:6)

But instead of being angry all the time, God chooses to do something about the problem, namely, "the Lord has laid on [Jesus] the iniquity of us all."

Praise God that God is not like a negative person who has a problem for every solution! Instead, God has a solution for every problem!!!

What this means is that God chooses to do something that makes a difference to the spirit of the world instead of promoting the spirit of irritation and anger amongst people who are constantly getting into each other's way. 

And God created us through Christ and redeemed us by Christ to do the same.

For example, today, someone will not pay attention to where they're going, and they'll bump into you. You have two choices: 1) get all bent out of shape, or 2) say, "No prob!" 

Or someone today will mindlessly wander directly into your path, literally or figuratively, and you could plow right over them. Or you could calmly slow down, give them a moment to come to their senses, and just smile at them as they move on. You might even pour yourself out and say to them, "God bless you!"

In sum, people in this world, generally speaking, wander like they're lost. And we can get angry about it, and therefore stay perpetually angry. Or we can be world changers, where, in the strength of Christ, we meet people with God's calm and mercy and grace, and, in so doing, offer some direction to a world that sorely needs it, so that, one person at a time, the whole world is transformed to find it's Way in Jesus Christ. 

As the great preacher, Steve Brown, says, "Now you think about that!"

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

Tu, 05/03/16, Easter Day #38, "Day of Praise"

Isaiah 53:6 - "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

So vacation talk is picking up steam as May has coming roaring in with warm temperatures, all of which makes me think of people at Disney World. It is really quite impossible for anyone there to watch where they're going. It's true that there are some, in fact, many, who clearly aren't paying attention to anything at all and, therefore, are just plain old wandering aimlessly. But even for those who are seemingly paying attention, there are just too many directions; in other words, people are flying at you from every conceivable direction, which makes it impossible to not get into someone's way. 

In sum, if you want to get angry because somebody's not watching where they're going, then you could be angry all the time!

It's the same in today's Bible verse, if God wanted to be angry because somebody's not watching where they're going, then God would be angry all the time! After all, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way." (Isaiah 53:6)

But instead of being angry all the time, God chooses to do something about the problem, namely, "the Lord has laid on [Jesus] the iniquity of us all."

Praise God that God is not like a negative person who has a problem for every solution! Instead, God has a solution for every problem!!!

What this means is that God chooses to do something that makes a difference to the spirit of the world instead of promoting the spirit of irritation and anger amongst people who are constantly getting into each other's way. 

And God created us through Christ and redeemed us by Christ to do the same.

For example, today, someone will not pay attention to where they're going, and they'll bump into you. You have two choices: 1) get all bent out of shape, or 2) say, "No prob!" 

Or someone today will mindlessly wander directly into your path, literally or figuratively, and you could plow right over them. Or you could calmly slow down, give them a moment to come to their senses, and just smile at them as they move on. You might even pour yourself out and say to them, "God bless you!"

In sum, people in this world, generally speaking, wander like they're lost. And we can get angry about it, and therefore stay perpetually angry. Or we can be world changers, where, in the strength of Christ, we meet people with God's calm and mercy and grace, and, in so doing, offer some direction to a world that sorely needs it, so that, one person at a time, the whole world is transformed to find it's Way in Jesus Christ. 

As the great preacher, Steve Brown, says, "Now you think about that!"

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

Mo, 05/02/16, Easter Day #37, "Day of Praise"

Matthew 19:14 - "But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'" 

To hear Jesus talk about children, you realize that God must have infinite love and a gigantic sense of humor. So, in the bounds of God's word, my kids and I try to make people laugh. 

We'll go through the Taco Bell drive-thru, and we start by complimenting them on their menu board and the landscaping they've planted around it. After a momentary silence from shock, you usually hear a chuckle, and then they thank you for your kindness. Then we pull up to the window and as payment we'll hand 'em some Chik-Fil-A gift certificates, maybe a BoJangles, which they'll look at, read, and say, "Are you for real?" 

Or maybe we make a trek to a fancy sit down eatery, like for one of our Baptism Birthdays. And we'll pull out my wife Amanda's phone and show our waiter some crazy pictures of us, and we'll tell him from the git-go what we'd like him to give us for free. We tell him that if he gives us some stuff, then we'll give him a nice tip, like "don't serve banana pudding to a monkey." And we laugh all through dinner and talk about memories and make some new memories too. And our waiter smiles a lot while other tables ask him if they can order whatever we're eating. And then we tell him Jesus loves him, invite him to church, and leave him a nice tip (and this time it's money). 

In the bounds of God's word, make someone laugh today. After all, Jesus says heaven belongs to children of God, no matter what your age may be. 

Praise God! 


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

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

Day of Praise

Mo, 05/02/16, Easter Day #37, "Day of Praise"

Matthew 19:14 - "But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'" 

To hear Jesus talk about children, you realize that God must have infinite love and a gigantic sense of humor. So, in the bounds of God's word, my kids and I try to make people laugh. 

We'll go through the Taco Bell drive-thru, and we start by complimenting them on their menu board and the landscaping they've planted around it. After a momentary silence from shock, you usually hear a chuckle, and then they thank you for your kindness. Then we pull up to the window and as payment we'll hand 'em some Chik-Fil-A gift certificates, maybe a BoJangles, which they'll look at, read, and say, "Are you for real?" 

Or maybe we make a trek to a fancy sit down eatery, like for one of our Baptism Birthdays. And we'll pull out my wife Amanda's phone and show our waiter some crazy pictures of us, and we'll tell him from the git-go what we'd like him to give us for free. We tell him that if he gives us some stuff, then we'll give him a nice tip, like "don't serve banana pudding to a monkey." And we laugh all through dinner and talk about memories and make some new memories too. And our waiter smiles a lot while other tables ask him if they can order whatever we're eating. And then we tell him Jesus loves him, invite him to church, and leave him a nice tip (and this time it's money). 

In the bounds of God's word, make someone laugh today. After all, Jesus says heaven belongs to children of God, no matter what your age may be. 

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