Day of Praise

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Day of Praise

Thur, 08/06/15, "Day of Praise"

Since so many Day of Praisers have been having fun with the "sweet" devotion from a couple days ago. I decided to dig up and repost another sweet devotion from the past. This was from April of 2013.

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." - Philippians 2:1-2

It may have been the sweetest, most innocent, act of love that I've ever seen.

Yesterday, our church had it's annual Dessert Auction. It's a fun fellowship event to raise money for a ministry in the community. This year we actually had an auctioneer.

The auctioneer looked over the dessert table and said something to the effect of, "Okay, it's time for us to take bids on pieing Pastor Scott. Who wants to give a pie to Pastor Scott?"

Everybody cheered, and our Associate Pastor chuckled loudly as he always does because he's just like that, having a fun-loving personality that also taught our Confirmation Class youth on Saturday how to get a noodle up their nostril and out their mouth.

So this fund-raiser was going great, and it was about to get even better because bids were now coming in to give a whipped cream pie to Pastor Scott. Ya know, somebody was gonna give it to him.

So people are waving their whatever-they're-called bidding things made of tongue-depressors glued to a big index card with "Christ the King Lutheran" printed on it, and in one dollar increments, the bids are now over $20 to "give a whipped creme pie to Pastor Scott!!!"

"$21, I have 21. Is there 22. $22. Is there $23. 23. 24. 25. $25. Do I have 26? 26? 26? Going once, twice, three times. Sold to the young man for $25. C'mon up here Pastor Scott. Conner is gonna give you a whipped creme pie."

So Pastor Scott comes up with his big smile and loud chuckles, saying "Ok Conner, give it to me!!!"

Pastor Scott turns and faces everyone. The Dessert Auction leader puts a big towel around Pastor Scott's chest and shoulders so the whipped creme doesn't ruin his pastor shirt...too bad. And everyone's yelling, having a great ol' time. "Give it to him, Conner!!! Give it to Pastor Scott!" And here comes Conner with the pie. Pastor Scott has his eyes closed.

And Conner gives it to him.

It was a sight that many of us will never forget. Here's this kind-hearted, always hugging, 4th grade boy, who's just standing in front of Pastor Scott with a huge smile and two hands under the whipped-creme-filled pie tin, holding it front of Pastor Scott, as if to say, "Here! I'm giving it to you. When are you gonna take it?"

Everybody's yelling, "Give it to him!!! Give it to him!!!" And Conner's smile is just growing as he inches the tin closer to Pastor Scott, waiting for Pastor Scott to take it!

He had no idea that he was supposed to smack Pastor Scott in the face with it. No idea!

Which means that this little boy had spent $25 (which I know is huuuuuge to him) simply to give a pie to his friend, Pastor Scott.

Amazing. Innocence. Fun-loving, kind-hearted, sacrificial love.

We need more of that.

Give it to us, Lord! We'll even take it, right in the face.

Praise God!

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

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Day of Praise

Wed, 08/05/15, "Day of Praise"

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." - Matthew 9:36

There will be lots of opportunity to practice having compassion for others today. Every single one of us needs it.

Let us pray for one another.

And may God, who has compassion for us all, help us all have compassion for one another.

Praise God!

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Day of Praise

Tue, 08/04/15, "Day of Praise"

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." - Proverbs 16:24

As I begin to write this, I wonder if I should because I can hear multiple replies coming back to me, asking me if I'm talking about a revelation in the world of sport, or a court decision on marriage, or about a comment that was made to me recently.

No. I'm not talking to anybody or any situation in the news or any comment in particular. The scriptures I "pick" come from random sources, so I have no idea what scripture is going to pop up.

What popped up is "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24).

And what immediately popped into my mind is that I do not like to be called "sweet," except by my wife and daughters and a very few others.

I have hard conversations with my son from time to time. I try to be calm and clear about my sentiments and what needs to be done. I am calm and clear. Not sweet.

I had a hard conversation with my next door neighbor one time. I was calm and clear about my sentiments and what I hoped would be done. I was calm and clear. Not sweet.

I was encouraging to a sister in Christ recently. I was calm and clear about God's sentiments toward an injustice done to her...an injustice done to her in the name of Jesus, no less. I was calm and clear and encouraging. Not sweet.

I don't take myself too seriously though, so I laugh, as I know at least four people who are going to read this and then come to me today and call me "sweet." Just to get under my skin. We'll laugh. And I'll poke some fun back at them. But that's fun, not sweet.

But as much I don't like to be called "sweet," it is just that much that I do like to speak sweet words. Gracious words. Healing words. After all, like God says, "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24).

I know from experience how sweet words, gracious words, healing words are game changers. Life changers.

Now, don't get me wrong. My flesh doesn't always like to hear these sweet, gracious, healing, and life changing words. I mean, who wants to be told they're a sinner, even if you tell me in a sweet way?!?!?!?

I've stopped counting how many times I've talked to someone and said, "God says that what you're doing doesn't work. And as such, it's sin."

What I've stopped counting is how many times a person responds with, "I'm not a bad person."

So I have to say, "I didn't say you were bad. I said you're sinning. And you're not going to see all the awesome things that God has prepared for you unless you repent and ask God to keep sending His Holy Spirit to change your heart and your ways."

I mean, who likes to hear that, no matter how sweet you say it to me or me to you?

And yet, I am so thankful for people who were in my life (God, give rest to their souls) and people who are in my life who, well...who were calm and clear and spoke to me. Words that, ironically, I didn't want to hear. Because they were hard to hear. Because they went against the grain of what the world might accept and support.

They were words that went against what, on the one hand, are actions that may seem harmless to me, but, on the other hand, are actions that God says plainly are the ruin of my soul.

And when those hard words, God's words, were spoken calmly and clearly to me, they became sweet words, gracious words, healing words. Game changers. Life changers.

So ya see, because sweet words have been spoken to me, I am, like you are, honored to have the opportunity to calmly and clearly speak sweet words to somebody else.

Just, please, please, don't call me sweet.

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." - Proverbs 16:24

Praise God!

Monday, August 3, 2015

Day of Praise

Mon, 08/03/15, "Day of Praise"

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." - John 4:34-35

I want to eat the same good food as Jesus. I bet you do too.

What is his good food? In today's verses, Jesus makes it plain. His good food is to do the will of Father God who sent him. And the will of the Father is gathering the harvest, which is bringing people to a saving, life-changing, eternal relationship with the Lord through Jesus.

In sum, we'd say, if we want to eat Jesus' food, then we must bring people to Christ.

Now, don't get scared. All we need to do is make another list like we did a couple years ago. On this new list, we're simply going to put the 75-100 things that would be worse about our lives without Christ, such as "without Jesus I wouldn't have forgiveness" or "I wouldn't have hope" or "I wouldn't have a reason to live."

Seriously, let's make one more list this week. Right now. Hit "reply", and send in one thing that would be worse about your life without Christ, or make it positive with one thing that is better in your life because Jesus is in it.

And then, sometime this week, we'll send out your 75-100 reasons why people need Jesus, which will be the same 75-100 reasons why we're compelled to share Jesus with the world, one person at a time.

I look forward to hearing one thing from you. This will be fun and encouraging to us all so that we'll be a team in sharing Jesus with all people.

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." - John 4:34-35

Praise God!

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Day of Praise

Sat, 08/01/15, "Day of Praise"

"...and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." - 1 Corinthians 10:4

Some of you really need this verse from God's word today. All of God's word is useful (2 Timothy 3:16), but I just know many of you need this because you've kindly shared, and I pray for the hard spots that are before you today. I suppose it's kinda poetic, but it's straight from scripture. So call it what you will.

Ok, here's the deal. This is what today's verse means for your day.

Picture this. You're walking in a wilderness. A very big, dry, hot wilderness. You've been walking in that very big, dry, hot wilderness for quite a while.

You're thirsty.

Very thirsty.

God says, "Hey, there's a rock. Speak to it, and it will pour forth all the sweet, cool, satisfying water that you could ever dream of."

But you're so thirsty and sweaty hot and tired and frustrated and irritated that your will asserts itself over God's word. So you strike the rock instead of speaking to it. Yes, water comes out, but it's bitter instead of sweet. It's hot instead of cool. And it's less than satisfying instead of totally satisfying as God had promised.

This really happened with Moses and Aaron long ago, as recorded in Numbers 20.

And this is what it means for you.

Sometime today, maybe at the start of your day, you're going to reach your limit. Frustrated. Irritable. You'll be in the spot between the proverbial rock and the hard place. The hard place is, well, a hard place. The rock is Christ; (remember today's verse from 1 Corinthians 10:4, "that rock was Christ.")

God's going to say to you, "Hey, there's a rock. Speak to it, and it will pour forth all the sweet, cool, satisfying water that you could ever dream of."

What God means is this. Look at your hard place. Smile. Then look at Jesus, your rock, and then speak to him, (you don't have to yell at Jesus, which is tantamount to striking the rock). You calmly say, "Lord, you're the Lord. Please do something about this."

And he will.

Your job is to believe that he will, to watch him do something about it (in his time!!!), and to chuckle, saying, "Cooooool!"

As in "sweet, cool, satisfying water" like you never could imagine or dream of.

Because it came from a rock.

"...and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." - 1 Corinthians 10:4

Praise God!

Friday, July 31, 2015

Day of Praise

Fri, 07/31/15, "Day of Praise"

"[Jesus said,] Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." - John 14:1

I loved being a kid. Everyday, for the most part, was fun. I really don't remember ever planning anything. I just woke up, and then I either played or did what I was told to do. Of course, when I finished what I was told to do, then I could go back to playing.

What a wonderful life--being a kid and all.

And then one day, (I don't quite remember when), I grew up.

Every single day had a plan. I had to do this. I had to study for that. I couldn't forget that one thing. And I had to help out with the other thing.

Now life was filled with things that others told me to do. And then when I was done with their things, I didn't go back to playing. I needed to do my things.

I was a grown up.

There was one thing, though, that I didn't ever plan for, but it seemed to always find it's way into my schedule, namely, trouble. Heart trouble. No, not physical heart trouble, though in October 1999, I flat-lined twice, but that's a story for another day.

No, the heart trouble that found its way into my schedule was not physical. It was spiritual, relational-to-God heart trouble.

The reason the heart trouble would find its way into my schedule is because I would pretty much leave the Lord out of my schedule.

Unless, of course, the Lord was scheduled into my schedule.

Ya know, like "I gotta go to church." Or "I gotta go to Bible study." Or "I gotta...". You get the point.

But here's God's point in today's verse: God doesn't want to be scheduled into our life. He wants to be our life. He doesn't want to be, "If all else fails, then I'll try God." He wants to be our Plan!!! As in "Here's the way my day's gonna go; it's gonna go God's Way." That's why Jesus said (shortly after today's verse), "I am the Way!"

And if God is my plan for the day, if God is my Way through Christ, then when something tries to find it's way into my schedule that's not planned, namely, trouble, then guess what? I'm not gonna let it in. I'm not gonna let my heart be troubled because if God is leading my schedule, then trouble's gonna have to get through The Scheduler. And if The Scheduler lets something in, then he will also put boundaries on whatever he lets in because God is in charge of trouble and anything else that might come our way.

We need only to believe.

"[Jesus said,] Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." - John 14:1

Praise God!

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Day of Praise

Thur, 07/30/15, "Day of Praise"

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22

Whenever you face trials...
When your faith is being tested...
Whenever you need faith...
When you have to persevere...
Whenever you're being pushed to mature...
When you're lacking...
Whenever you need wisdom...
When you feel unstable...
Whenever you find yourself in humble circumstances...
When you feel humiliated...
Whenever you feel "under the heat"....
When you're under trial...
Whenever temptation comes...
When anger is welling up...
Whenever evil is lurking near...
In sum, when the next round of dIfficulty and trouble come...

I have never heard anyone cry out...
Oh, I just want to study.
And I've never heard...
Oh, I just want to think.
And I've not heard...
Oh, I just want more information.
And I don't hear anyone say...
Oh, I just want to listen.

No.

Whenever you feel "under the heat"....
When you're under trial...
Whenever temptation comes...
When anger is welling up...
Whenever evil is lurking near...
In sum, when the next round of dIfficulty and trouble comes...

I always hear people say...
In some way, shape, or form...
I want to live.

That's why, God, in today's verse, says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22)

So you can.

Live, that is.

Because to live is to live God's word.

Not just study it, think about it, get more information about it, or listen to it.

To live, when it's good times or bad, is to believe God at his word and then to, the proverbial, put your money where your mouth is and live what you say you believe.

I'm not making this stuff up. Read the Bible for yourself, specifically the whole of the book of James, chapter 1.

And there you'll see, in sum, whether it's hard times or good, if you want to live and live well, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22)

Dear God, please help us to do so today.

Praise God!

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Day of Praise

Wed, 07/29/15, "Day of Praise"

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." - 1 John 2:1

Whew! Now we can enjoy our day, knowing that if we mess up, then Jesus has got us covered!

Happy Day!

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." - 1 John 2:1

Praise God!

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Day of Praise

Tu, 07/28/15, "Day of Praise"

Thinking about my daughter Cassidy's mouth surgery yesterday/Monday, here's a replay of one of my favorites.

"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" - Mark 2:17

When I was a kid, I liked going to the doctor and the dentist. Dr. White and Dr. Montgomery apparently were great at their trades. All I knew was they were nice. They never made me feel bad when something needed healing or fixing, even if it was my fault for its condition. But the bottom line, they made sure I knew if something was out of whack, and they took care of it.

Jesus does the same thing. Tell your unbelieving friends that there's no need to run from Jesus. Jesus doesn't make us feel bad when something needs healing or fixing, even if it is our fault for its condition. He makes sure we know if something is out of whack, and he takes care of it.

In sum, there's no need to act like we've got it all together, when we don't. God (in Romans 3:10) makes it clear, "There is no one righteous, not even one." We all need a doctor, the Great Physician.

I know from experience, and I hope you do too, that Jesus can make things a whole lot better. So bring him your messes, your wounds, your mistakes, your broken hearts. The Great Doctor is here for you!

Praise God!

Monday, July 27, 2015

Day of Praise

Mon, 07/27/15, "Day of Praise"

"[The father said,] 'But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.'
'"If you can"?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who believes.'
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" - Mark 9:22b-24

When I was a kid, a very little kid, I was in love with Hayley Mills. Ya know, Disney, Pollyanna, Parent Trap. That Hayley Mills. (If you still don't know her, Google her.)

Anyway, never mind that she was eighteen years older than me, and I was like six years old, I thought Hayley Mills was the best.

So I asked God to do something about it. I believed that God could.

God didn't.

And I got over it.

Because God did do something. God made sure I didn't wind up with Hayley Mills.

I know this all sounds crazy.

It's supposed to.

Ya see, what God wants from us is a radical faith that God hears our every prayer. And moreso, God wants us to have a radical faith that God knows every movement of our heart.

And God wants us to have a radical faith that God wants what is best for our heart. And God wants us to have a radical faith that God will use God's almighty power to do or not to do whatever God chooses because whatever God chooses to do or not to do is best for me and my heart.

And for everybody I care about and their hearts. And for everybody God cares about and their hearts.

Which is everybody. God cares about everybody.

And it's a good thing that God cares about everybody because caring about everybody is far more than I myself can keep up with because I miss out on way too many things to be able to keep up with everybody because (yes, I'm human, but) I'm too busy in some silly daydream about Hayley Mills. Well, at least when I was six. I think it was some actress out of Doctor Zhivago (Google it) when I was seven.

But God can.

Care about everybody, that is.

He showed it, the proverbial plain as day, when he died for everybody on a cross through Jesus. And then raised Jesus from the dead so that we'd all know that God's even got all the yucky stuff (sin, death, despair, difficulty, disappointment, dumb decisions, ridiculous day dreaming about Disney actresses, and on and on and on) in his care.

And that's all I need to know.

God can.

And God does.

Care.

Praise God!

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Day of Praise

Sat, 07/25/15, "Day of Praise"

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Galatians 1:3

Now that my second oldest is twenty, I can say that, for decades, I've been asking my kids "Who's with you all day (night) long?" They reply, "Jesus!"

However, if I ask the same question to a group of preschoolers at our church, then they will say, "God and Jesus."

It's okay, and it's good. After all, Jesus is "Emmanuel" which means "God with us." And God is with us, (God makes himself known to us), through God's Son, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This may all seem like a bunch of intellectual gobbledygook. But let's remember that Jesus, in John 17:3, says that eternal life is "knowing the one true God and His Son, Jesus Christ, whom He has sent."

So, may God help us to have a full and abundant life, indeed an eternal life, by continuing to help us understand and know God personally so that we can personally help others to know Him just the same.

Think about it!

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Galatians 1:3

Praise God!

Friday, July 24, 2015

Day of Praise

Fri, 07/24/15, "Day of Praise"

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." - Ephesians 6:10-11

A popular ad campaign asks if we've got milk. Ya know, to be strong. For the day.

A popular Bible verse (today's) asks if we have true strength. Ya know, God's strength. For the day. And for all that the world and the evil one will throw at us.

Look to the Lord. Constantly. He'll be your strength.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." - Ephesians 6:10-11

Praise God!

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Day of Praise

Thur, 07/23/15, "Day of Praise"

"'"If you can"?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who believes.'" - Mark 9:23

I will never forget when I was driving on a major road with a friend when my friend told me to turn. It was the small short road to The Red Barn. (You have got to check out www.theredbarn.org but even better is to go there.) All of a sudden, I felt this spiritual power sweep over me and through me. I slammed on the brakes and backed up the car. When I stopped, I said, "This is where the anointing of this land began." My friend said, "Well, look here to the right; it's the property line."

The testimony in this is that, as God says in the Bible, land and buildings and homes can retain a spiritual power (something like a battery). So pray for God to bless your material property so that it will be blessed and not defiled. Also pray for your material property so that it will draw people to ministry and refuge that's offered in Jesus's name.

Do you believe? "'"If you can"?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who believes.'" (Mark 9:23)

May your day be filled with anticipation as you look in faith for what God has in store for you and also for those that you yourself call to believe.

Praise God!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Day of Praise

Wed, 07/22/15, "Day of Praise"

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

The story goes something like this. I have liked sweets (a whole lot) since I was a little kid. The pediatrician said it was because my mom gave me baby food fruits before she gave me baby food vegetables.

When I got past baby food the trend continued. I liked my mom's fruit salad a whole lot more than any vegetable salad she could make. I especially came to like my mom's fruit kind-of-salad called Watergate Salad, which has pineapple (fruit!), pistachio pudding (sweet!), cool whip (suuuuweeeeeeet!), and cottage cheese (so it qualifies as a salad!).

But my favorite of all that's named above would have to be my mom's Holiday Fruit Salad. It may be exactly the same in content as her Non-Holiday Fruit Salad, but it just has to be different because it just seems tastier (sweeter) and more colorful during the holidays. There's black-red stuff and yellow-red stuff and green stuff and light purple stuff and dark purple stuff and yellow stuff and white stuff and orange stuff. Aaaah, sweeeeeet fruuuuuit salad.

I trust you get the idea that I like my mom's sweet fruit salad.

But as much as I obviously like my mom's sweet fruit salad, it cannot even begin to compare to God's sweet fruit salad, which is made up of nine sweet fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Mmmmm good! Pull out the serving spoons. Let's dig in and share the heavenly feast!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

Praise God!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Day of Praise

Tue, 07/21/15, "Day of Praise"

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2

Is there anyone who knows all that Jesus has done for us who doesn't want to make him happy?

In our heart of hearts, we all want to make Jesus happy. As a way of saying thank you.

In today's verse, God tells us how to make Jesus happy, which is tantamount to "fulfilling the law of Christ."

All you have to do is do something for somebody that they can't do for themselves. Or help them to do something that is more than they can do by themselves. That's what it means in today's verse to "Carry each other's burdens."

A "load" is what someone can carry by him/herself. A "burden" is too much.

That's what Jesus does for us. He helps us where it's more than we can do by ourselves, like giving us a way out of temptation. And he does for us what we can't do for ourselves, like paying for our sins.

So make Jesus happy; carry somebody's burden today. Maybe two people's. There's easy ones like, if somebody lost their house in a fire, help 'em. And there's more creative ones like, if somebody's having trouble smiling, then help 'em out--maybe say a word of encouragement or act like a fool and dance like Elaine on Seinfeld.

And just imagine if every person just did one thing a day to help somebody else with a burden. Wow!

Now that would really make Jesus happy!

Praise God!

Monday, July 20, 2015

Day of Praise

Mon, 07/20/15, "Day of Praise"

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." - Ecclesiastes 9:10

My 16 year-old son and I have a running joke -- I scored 28 points in a basketball game once.

I really did score 28 in a basketball game once. But we laugh about it because I'm not very good at basketball. My dad used to say that I played with brute strength and awkwardness. In other words, I tried hard, but I wasn't smooth and talented.

This is what I understand God to mean in today's verse, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

God knows that we're not going to be smooth and talented at everything we do. But, for heaven's sake, if you're going to do something, at least try hard. And give it the best that you've got, believing that effort really does mean something to God.

So today, if you're at work, do your job with all your might. But also if someone needs a word of encouragement, even if you're shy, then at least try. When you're out and about, try with all your might to do things in a way that's pleasing to God with kindness and honesty and cheerfulness. If your church meets on Wednesday, as ours does, then try with all your might to get there, and then try with all your might to participate and speak up in the fellowship time and in the Bible study. And sing with all your might in worship. (Please do not do like somebody I used to know who used their might to tell the people around them not to sing so loud!)

In sum, you may not be very good at some of the things you have to do, but give God a chance to work through you. And "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Who knows? Maybe, as with my 28-point basketball game, you'll have one of the greatest times of your life. But you'll never know, unless you try.

Praise God!

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Day of Praise

Sat, 07/18/15, "Day of Praise"

"Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up." - Proverbs 12:25

Father in heaven, for Jesus's sake, give us glad and cheerful hearts this day so that we can enjoy sweet fellowship with you and your people. And yet we also pray for those whose hearts are weighed down and who need your strong and gracious hand. Grant to us, O Lord, a depth of compassion and a heart overflowing with cheer and kindness so that we may be eager and able to speak in love and lighten the load for those people whose hearts are weighed down. All this we ask in the name of your dear Son, Jesus, whose death on the cross made a way for all our hearts to be gladdened and renewed. So please, Lord, stir our hearts to receive your Son in faith anew this day so that Jesus would be our strength, our cheer, and our guide, always leading us to you and your people in need. Amen.

May God bless you all to have and to share a day full of cheer and gladness with the Lord.

Praise God!

Friday, July 17, 2015

Day of Praise

Fri, 07/17/15, "Day of Praise"

[Jesus said,] "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." - John 9:4

When I was a kid, I didn't like to sit on the bench for any team for any sport for any game. Game time was precious, and I wanted to experience all of the game time that I could.

Jesus says that it should be the same for us as adults.

The clock is ticking on the game of life, so game time is extremely precious.

Jesus surely would've known Psalm 90, verse 12, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

We do not have an infinite number of days, so God wants us to number our days. For where we know that the clock is ticking, we want to experience and to live each possible moment, with wisdom, not foolishness, guiding the way.

And it is wise for us to recognize that we don't have infinite days, so we'd best be making the most of the ones that we're blessed by God's grace to have.

So walk with God. Worship him daily. Honor his word. Love yourself as one who is loved by God. Love your neighbor as yourself. Encourage goodness. Be courageous to speak when goodness can't be found. Give your boss an honest day's work. Look for windows to invite others to Christ. Feel the rain instead of just getting wet. And add to this list as you are compelled, but add to this list within the bounds of God's word, as one with a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

For remember, the clock is ticking. As Jesus himself clearly said, "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work" (John 9:4).

Praise God!