Day of Praise

Sat, 09/17/16, "Day of Praise"

"'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the Lord'" - 2 Chronicles 7:21-22

Based on the testimony of God's word and general observation of life, one of the hardest things for people to learn is the place of good works in the life of grace.

After all, if grace is God giving us good things that we don't deserve, then why do we need to do any good works at all? Such is the question in Romans 6 in the Bible.

But the answer to the question of the place of good works in the life of grace is actually very simple. Our good works, or lack thereof, do not change God's heart toward us. God always loves us and wants to be in a relationship with us so that we can have a great life in him now and forever.

However, our good works, though they don't change God's heart toward us, they do impact our heart toward God. As Jesus says in John 15, our good works, works done with faith in God and love for God, are the way to stay in a relationship with God. We get into a relationship with God by his gracious initiative. We stay in the relationship with God by "good works," which, again, are deeds done with faith in God and love for God, as we hear in Romans 14. Jesus says it this way in John 15, if you stay in my love and keep my commands, you will bear much fruit, but apart from [the relationship with] me, you can do nothing [that endures positively with life].

In Hebrews 12, especially, God plainly tells us that God disciplines (that is, acts to teach) us when we don't do good works of faith and love, in order to teach us how good relationships with God and one another work...or don't work.

God is always graciously faithful to the relationship with us. Period. Even when we're not. But God graciously loves us so much that he wants us to know the unmatched joy of actively being in a relationship with him. So he graciously teaches us the place of good works.

Think about it. Please. Because one of the hardest things for us people to learn is the place of good works in the life of grace.

Dear God, please be gracious, according to your will, plainly revealed through your Son, Jesus Christ, and help us to learn and live out the place of good works in the life of grace, so that we trust you alone to create us, give us "daily bread", and save us for eternal and everlasting life. But help us to see the joy of good works, as you have ordained such works to be the way to stay in and enjoy a relationship with you through faith in you and love toward others. 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

Sat, 09/17/16, "Day of Praise"

"'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the Lord'" - 2 Chronicles 7:21-22

Based on the testimony of God's word and general observation of life, one of the hardest things for people to learn is the place of good works in the life of grace.

After all, if grace is God giving us good things that we don't deserve, then why do we need to do any good works at all? Such is the question in Romans 6 in the Bible.

But the answer to the question of the place of good works in the life of grace is actually very simple. Our good works, or lack thereof, do not change God's heart toward us. God always loves us and wants to be in a relationship with us so that we can have a great life in him now and forever.

However, our good works, though they don't change God's heart toward us, they do impact our heart toward God. As Jesus says in John 15, our good works, works done with faith in God and love for God, are the way to stay in a relationship with God. We get into a relationship with God by his gracious initiative. We stay in the relationship with God by "good works," which, again, are deeds done with faith in God and love for God, as we hear in Romans 14. Jesus says it this way in John 15, if you stay in my love and keep my commands, you will bear much fruit, but apart from [the relationship with] me, you can do nothing [that endures positively with life].

In Hebrews 12, especially, God plainly tells us that God disciplines (that is, acts to teach) us when we don't do good works of faith and love, in order to teach us how good relationships with God and one another work...or don't work.

God is always graciously faithful to the relationship with us. Period. Even when we're not. But God graciously loves us so much that he wants us to know the unmatched joy of actively being in a relationship with him. So he graciously teaches us the place of good works.

Think about it. Please. Because one of the hardest things for us people to learn is the place of good works in the life of grace.

Dear God, please be gracious, according to your will, plainly revealed through your Son, Jesus Christ, and help us to learn and live out the place of good works in the life of grace, so that we trust you alone to create us, give us "daily bread", and save us for eternal and everlasting life. But help us to see the joy of good works, as you have ordained such works to be the way to stay in and enjoy a relationship with you through faith in you and love toward others. 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

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

"Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent--the LORD detests them both." - Proverbs 17:15

If you ever want a measure of how much God loves you, just remember Proverbs 17:15. In that verse, God tells us that he detests both the setting free of a guilty person as if he were not guilty and that God also detests the sentencing to death of an innocent man as if he were guilty! 

In the suffering and cross of Jesus, we shared in both those detestable things as humanity asked for Barabbas, the insurrectionist, to go free and asked that Jesus, the innocent, be sentenced to death and crucified.

Furthermore, the name "Barabbas" means "child or son of God." And his offense of "insurrection" is a fancy way to say "sin or rising up against the ruler [God]". In other words, we, like Barabbas, are children of God who have risen up in sin against God, but we also, like Barabbas the guilty, were set free from the penalty and sentence of death, as Jesus, the innocent, took our place on the cross that we deserved.

We were on both sides of the equation of the two things that God detests.

And yet God, who doubly detests the sentencing that all humanity unjustly laid on his Son, freely sent and gave his Son to die for us so that we might live anew.

And God tells us this in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." So imagine how great is the love when one dies for someone they don't know or dies for someone who has done something they detest. 

Friends, Veterans Day is never too far ahead for us to stop and ponder. It's a time to remember and give thanks for countless people who died or were willing to die for their friends and for strangers and even for people who have done things that they and God detest. But let's not wait until the last minute to remember and give thanks for all who have died for us and/or served us so that we might go free. No, America, let's bless God now and every day, giving thanks for those who served and gave their lives, that, in the strength of Jesus Christ crucified and raised, we would gladly do the same.

Die to self; live in love.

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

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

"Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent--the LORD detests them both." - Proverbs 17:15

If you ever want a measure of how much God loves you, just remember Proverbs 17:15. In that verse, God tells us that he detests both the setting free of a guilty person as if he were not guilty and that God also detests the sentencing to death of an innocent man as if he were guilty! 

In the suffering and cross of Jesus, we shared in both those detestable things as humanity asked for Barabbas, the insurrectionist, to go free and asked that Jesus, the innocent, be sentenced to death and crucified.

Furthermore, the name "Barabbas" means "child or son of God." And his offense of "insurrection" is a fancy way to say "sin or rising up against the ruler [God]". In other words, we, like Barabbas, are children of God who have risen up in sin against God, but we also, like Barabbas the guilty, were set free from the penalty and sentence of death, as Jesus, the innocent, took our place on the cross that we deserved.

We were on both sides of the equation of the two things that God detests.

And yet God, who doubly detests the sentencing that all humanity unjustly laid on his Son, freely sent and gave his Son to die for us so that we might live anew.

And God tells us this in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." So imagine how great is the love when one dies for someone they don't know or dies for someone who has done something they detest. 

Friends, Veterans Day is never too far ahead for us to stop and ponder. It's a time to remember and give thanks for countless people who died or were willing to die for their friends and for strangers and even for people who have done things that they and God detest. But let's not wait until the last minute to remember and give thanks for all who have died for us and/or served us so that we might go free. No, America, let's bless God now and every day, giving thanks for those who served and gave their lives, that, in the strength of Jesus Christ crucified and raised, we would gladly do the same.

Die to self; live in love.

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Thur, 09/15/16, "Day of Praise"

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23

I have known people who have known today's verse for years. And depending on which ones of those people you're talking about, today's verse is either blessedly simple or tragically simple. 

It is blessedly simple for those who know the verse and do it--for those who actually guard what goes in their heart.

And today's verse is tragically simple for those who know the verse and don't do it--for those who do not guard what goes into their heart.

God's appeal to us to guard our heart is simple. But, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, how much such wisdom to "guard our heart" positively impacts your life will totally depend on whether or not you do it.

It's a simple concept. Even children can understand it by way of an all-time favorite children's song.

(VS 1) Oh, be careful little ears what you hear (repeat)
For the Father Up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little ears what you hear.

(VS 2) Oh, be careful little eyes what you see, (repeat)
For the Father up above,
is looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes what you see.

(VS 3) Oh, be careful little mouth what you say, (repeat),
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mouth what you say.

(VS 4) Oh, be careful little hands what you do (repeat),
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little hands what you do.

(VS 5) Oh, be careful little feet where you go (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little feet where you go.

(VS 6) Oh, be careful little mind what you think (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mind what you think.

(VS 7) Oh, be careful little heart what you love (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love, 
So be careful little heart what you love.

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

Thur, 09/15/16, "Day of Praise"

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23

I have known people who have known today's verse for years. And depending on which ones of those people you're talking about, today's verse is either blessedly simple or tragically simple. 

It is blessedly simple for those who know the verse and do it--for those who actually guard what goes in their heart.

And today's verse is tragically simple for those who know the verse and don't do it--for those who do not guard what goes into their heart.

God's appeal to us to guard our heart is simple. But, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, how much such wisdom to "guard our heart" positively impacts your life will totally depend on whether or not you do it.

It's a simple concept. Even children can understand it by way of an all-time favorite children's song.

(VS 1) Oh, be careful little ears what you hear (repeat)
For the Father Up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little ears what you hear.

(VS 2) Oh, be careful little eyes what you see, (repeat)
For the Father up above,
is looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes what you see.

(VS 3) Oh, be careful little mouth what you say, (repeat),
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mouth what you say.

(VS 4) Oh, be careful little hands what you do (repeat),
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little hands what you do.

(VS 5) Oh, be careful little feet where you go (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little feet where you go.

(VS 6) Oh, be careful little mind what you think (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
So be careful little mind what you think.

(VS 7) Oh, be careful little heart what you love (repeat)
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love, 
So be careful little heart what you love.

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/14/16, "Day of Praise"

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21

Don't ya just love our life in the LORD through Christ? Seriously! I love it and pray that you do too.

One of the top things I love is that Almighty and Sovereign God wants to be, and is, involved in our lives in a myriad of ways.

One of the greatest ways that God is involved with us is that God works to "guide us into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79) so that, as in today's verse from Proverbs, God says that we might have plans, but the Lord's purpose prevails.

The thing I love about this is that we don't have to worry about making a mistake because, whenever we make a decision and go with it, God will do one of two things: either affirm the decision or work to get us back on track.

God does this because "God is for us" (Romans 8:31), God has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and God wants us "to have life to the full!" (John 10:10)

So, let's get busy living!

And we do that by trusting God's repeated promise (from Exodus 15:13 to John 16:13) to guide us, by the Holy Spirit, into all the blessings that God has prepared for us.

So, have a great day! Live, believing that "many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21).

Praise God!


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

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

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/14/16, "Day of Praise"

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21

Don't ya just love our life in the LORD through Christ? Seriously! I love it and pray that you do too.

One of the top things I love is that Almighty and Sovereign God wants to be, and is, involved in our lives in a myriad of ways.

One of the greatest ways that God is involved with us is that God works to "guide us into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79) so that, as in today's verse from Proverbs, God says that we might have plans, but the Lord's purpose prevails.

The thing I love about this is that we don't have to worry about making a mistake because, whenever we make a decision and go with it, God will do one of two things: either affirm the decision or work to get us back on track.

God does this because "God is for us" (Romans 8:31), God has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and God wants us "to have life to the full!" (John 10:10)

So, let's get busy living!

And we do that by trusting God's repeated promise (from Exodus 15:13 to John 16:13) to guide us, by the Holy Spirit, into all the blessings that God has prepared for us.

So, have a great day! Live, believing that "many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21).

Praise God!


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

Day of Praise

Tues, 09/13/16, "Day of Praise"

"Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." - Proverbs 10:17

Little in life is harder...

Than the giving...

And receiving...

Of rebuke, counsel, and discipline.

But little in life is more important.

This is not some obscure teaching. Instead, in the Bible, God repeatedly speaks of the love, life, and wisdom that are gained and imparted from the receiving and giving of rebuke, counsel, and discipline.

It is hard to receive rebuke, counsel, and discipline because we don't want anymore "bosses" than are required to get our paycheck.

It is hard to give rebuke, counsel, and discipline because we don't want conflict as much as we want "friends," that is, people who like us.

But, praise God, there is more to life than paychecks and people liking us.

In today's verse, God calls us to value two things: 1) "the way to life" as greater than a paycheck and 2) not "leading others astray" as greater than people liking us.

As with all these Days of Praise, there is so much more we could say, but the bottom line is this: God's word plainly and repeatedly tells us that no man or woman is wise about the truly good life in and of themselves.

God himself made us this way, that is, God made us to need one another for the giving and receiving of God's word.

So today, as you interact with others, listen humbly and intently for God's rebuke, counsel, and discipline. And when it's your turn to speak, do so boldly, with confidence in the Lord and love for the person.

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Tues, 09/13/16, "Day of Praise"

"Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." - Proverbs 10:17

Little in life is harder...

Than the giving...

And receiving...

Of rebuke, counsel, and discipline.

But little in life is more important.

This is not some obscure teaching. Instead, in the Bible, God repeatedly speaks of the love, life, and wisdom that are gained and imparted from the receiving and giving of rebuke, counsel, and discipline.

It is hard to receive rebuke, counsel, and discipline because we don't want anymore "bosses" than are required to get our paycheck.

It is hard to give rebuke, counsel, and discipline because we don't want conflict as much as we want "friends," that is, people who like us.

But, praise God, there is more to life than paychecks and people liking us.

In today's verse, God calls us to value two things: 1) "the way to life" as greater than a paycheck and 2) not "leading others astray" as greater than people liking us.

As with all these Days of Praise, there is so much more we could say, but the bottom line is this: God's word plainly and repeatedly tells us that no man or woman is wise about the truly good life in and of themselves.

God himself made us this way, that is, God made us to need one another for the giving and receiving of God's word.

So today, as you interact with others, listen humbly and intently for God's rebuke, counsel, and discipline. And when it's your turn to speak, do so boldly, with confidence in the Lord and love for the person.

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 09/12/16, "Day of Praise"

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." - Proverbs 3:9-10

So add today's verses to the list. Genesis 14, Malachi 3, Matthew 23, Hebrews 7, and today's verses from Proverbs 3:9-10. Through all of these, God speaks plainly of Biblical tithing, which is the promise of God to bless those who bring the "firstfruits" of our labor, the first 10%, to the LORD so as to honor, exalt, and share him with the world.

My own simple testimony is this: since I was a junior in High School, when God moved me to read the Bible from cover to cover for the first time, I have seen that tithing "works." 

I know that giving 10% of income, as a starting point for giving to God's work, seems like a lot, but I've found that God is always true to his promise. In sum, you can't outgive God!

And ya know, there's so much more that I could say with conviction about this tithing thing, about giving the first 10% of your income to the work of the LORD, but it's on my heart just to stop today. And here's why.

You're either going to believe what is God's promise, not mine, or you're not going to believe the promise.

And upon, hopefully, believing, you're either going to act on the promise and (continue to) bring the tithe or not.

It's your choice.

Christ's saving work has both set you free (John 8:33) from being a slave to thinking like the world thinks, and Christ's saving work has also set you free to choose and to be a servant of thinking and acting like God counsels and models.

I'm not trying to make anybody feel guilty. That's not what Day of Praise is all about.

I'm just trying to tell you that God wants you to taste (Psalm 34) some blessings that only God has to offer.

So in a simple prayer, I pray you'll (continue to) give tithing a try, giving 10% both to God and also to the spread of his word.

You won't regret it.

It is God who promises you won't.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." - Proverbs 3:9-10

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

Mon, 09/12/16, "Day of Praise"

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." - Proverbs 3:9-10

So add today's verses to the list. Genesis 14, Malachi 3, Matthew 23, Hebrews 7, and today's verses from Proverbs 3:9-10. Through all of these, God speaks plainly of Biblical tithing, which is the promise of God to bless those who bring the "firstfruits" of our labor, the first 10%, to the LORD so as to honor, exalt, and share him with the world.

My own simple testimony is this: since I was a junior in High School, when God moved me to read the Bible from cover to cover for the first time, I have seen that tithing "works." 

I know that giving 10% of income, as a starting point for giving to God's work, seems like a lot, but I've found that God is always true to his promise. In sum, you can't outgive God!

And ya know, there's so much more that I could say with conviction about this tithing thing, about giving the first 10% of your income to the work of the LORD, but it's on my heart just to stop today. And here's why.

You're either going to believe what is God's promise, not mine, or you're not going to believe the promise.

And upon, hopefully, believing, you're either going to act on the promise and (continue to) bring the tithe or not.

It's your choice.

Christ's saving work has both set you free (John 8:33) from being a slave to thinking like the world thinks, and Christ's saving work has also set you free to choose and to be a servant of thinking and acting like God counsels and models.

I'm not trying to make anybody feel guilty. That's not what Day of Praise is all about.

I'm just trying to tell you that God wants you to taste (Psalm 34) some blessings that only God has to offer.

So in a simple prayer, I pray you'll (continue to) give tithing a try, giving 10% both to God and also to the spread of his word.

You won't regret it.

It is God who promises you won't.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." - Proverbs 3:9-10

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

Sat, 09/10/16, "Day of Praise"

"Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness." -
Proverbs 25:4-5

When I was a kid in the 70's, I remember listening to and talking to my father about cars. Specifically, I remember wondering why so many Japanese-made cars, like Hondas, rusted so badly. As I understand it, the reason they rusted so badly is that they were made of lesser-quality metals.

Too many impurities.

Too many impurities create a product that can't withstand the weather and time. At least nowhere near as long as higher quality materials.

God made us all to love to praise the Lord. God made us to love to bring glory to his name. This is our true self.

But in today's Bible verses, God says that it's really hard to praise the Lord and bring glory to his name if our lives are filled with too many impurities, too much dross, too much "wickedness," which God tells us in Romans 14 is anything we do apart from faith in God and his word.

To be sure "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), but God calls us to be who God made us to be and to care whether or not God can build, not Japanese-made cars out of us, but his kingdom!

Yes, we fall short, and God is gracious! But do we want, in our heart of hearts, to be high quality "material" with which God can build his kingdom? Or are we apathetic to the whole endeavor?

In Mark 9:24, we hear a father cry out, "I believe, Lord; help my unbelief." In a similar fashion, God would have us cry out, "I want to be a great servant of your kingdom, Lord; please help me where I fall short!"

Dear God, please, help us! Refine us and purify us by your grace and teaching and discipline to be fine material for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus and the advancement of your kingdom in the hearts of all people. 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

Sat, 09/10/16, "Day of Praise"

"Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness." -
Proverbs 25:4-5

When I was a kid in the 70's, I remember listening to and talking to my father about cars. Specifically, I remember wondering why so many Japanese-made cars, like Hondas, rusted so badly. As I understand it, the reason they rusted so badly is that they were made of lesser-quality metals.

Too many impurities.

Too many impurities create a product that can't withstand the weather and time. At least nowhere near as long as higher quality materials.

God made us all to love to praise the Lord. God made us to love to bring glory to his name. This is our true self.

But in today's Bible verses, God says that it's really hard to praise the Lord and bring glory to his name if our lives are filled with too many impurities, too much dross, too much "wickedness," which God tells us in Romans 14 is anything we do apart from faith in God and his word.

To be sure "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), but God calls us to be who God made us to be and to care whether or not God can build, not Japanese-made cars out of us, but his kingdom!

Yes, we fall short, and God is gracious! But do we want, in our heart of hearts, to be high quality "material" with which God can build his kingdom? Or are we apathetic to the whole endeavor?

In Mark 9:24, we hear a father cry out, "I believe, Lord; help my unbelief." In a similar fashion, God would have us cry out, "I want to be a great servant of your kingdom, Lord; please help me where I fall short!"

Dear God, please, help us! Refine us and purify us by your grace and teaching and discipline to be fine material for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus and the advancement of your kingdom in the hearts of all people. 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

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

"Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt." - Proverbs 27:11

I was 16. I had just gotten back from Black Mountain, North Carolina and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes National Conference. It had been a mountaintop experience on a mountaintop. I was spiritually higher than ever before.

And I was probably too zealous.

I had never really talked about Jesus to other people. So, like a teenage boy calling a girl on the phone for the first few times, sharing Jesus the first few times was filled with awkwardness and butterflies.

My football teammates were less than impressed.

In fact some, were downright mean.

I was crushed.

I went to our head football coach, Fred Walton, not because he was the head football coach, but because I knew his heart. It was strong and, at the same time, gentle.

Somehow in my spirit I knew that, in the words of today's verse, Coach Walton could "bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt." (Proverbs 27:11)

He and I sat together, just the two of us, at the top of our very large gym. It was like we returned to the mountaintop, which both lifts up your heart and also from which you can gain perspective.

Coach Walton gave me strength and renewed my joy. I came to realize that, of course, it wasn't him, but it was the Holy Spirit of the Living God working through him and through the faith that God had worked in him.

I would need every ounce of it because a couple months later, I broke my ankle at the start of the 2nd game of my senior year. Once again, some of my teammates ridiculed me, my abilities, my previous football awards, and my faith.

I was depressed.

But Coach Walton, physics professor Wally Owens, and Coach John Brooks were all men of God's Spirit in Christ, who daily encouraged me and were God's instruments for restoring some semblance of joy.

I am forever grateful.

And I want to thank God for them by doing for others what they did for me.

Indeed, for all of us who will believe that Christ is truly alive and wants to work powerfully in us and through us by His Spirit, we can be world-changers and heart-restorers for others in the name of the LORD.

"Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt." - Proverbs 27:11

Praise God!

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

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

Day of Praise

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

"Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt." - Proverbs 27:11

I was 16. I had just gotten back from Black Mountain, North Carolina and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes National Conference. It had been a mountaintop experience on a mountaintop. I was spiritually higher than ever before.

And I was probably too zealous.

I had never really talked about Jesus to other people. So, like a teenage boy calling a girl on the phone for the first few times, sharing Jesus the first few times was filled with awkwardness and butterflies.

My football teammates were less than impressed.

In fact some, were downright mean.

I was crushed.

I went to our head football coach, Fred Walton, not because he was the head football coach, but because I knew his heart. It was strong and, at the same time, gentle.

Somehow in my spirit I knew that, in the words of today's verse, Coach Walton could "bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt." (Proverbs 27:11)

He and I sat together, just the two of us, at the top of our very large gym. It was like we returned to the mountaintop, which both lifts up your heart and also from which you can gain perspective.

Coach Walton gave me strength and renewed my joy. I came to realize that, of course, it wasn't him, but it was the Holy Spirit of the Living God working through him and through the faith that God had worked in him.

I would need every ounce of it because a couple months later, I broke my ankle at the start of the 2nd game of my senior year. Once again, some of my teammates ridiculed me, my abilities, my previous football awards, and my faith.

I was depressed.

But Coach Walton, physics professor Wally Owens, and Coach John Brooks were all men of God's Spirit in Christ, who daily encouraged me and were God's instruments for restoring some semblance of joy.

I am forever grateful.

And I want to thank God for them by doing for others what they did for me.

Indeed, for all of us who will believe that Christ is truly alive and wants to work powerfully in us and through us by His Spirit, we can be world-changers and heart-restorers for others in the name of the LORD.

"Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt." - Proverbs 27:11

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Thur, 09/08/16, "Day of Praise"

"But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin." - Micah 3:8

Notice, in today's verse, that Micah is inspired by God to:

1) celebrate who he is and what he has in the LORD, as he says, "I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might" and

2) recognize, (because of who he is and what he has in the LORD), what he must do for the LORD, as he says his work is "to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin."

In sum, 1) Micah has an identity in the LORD and 2) he has a job to do for the LORD.

These two principles, that Micah knows, stand in contrast to "the prophets who lead [God's] people astray" (Micah 3:5). "As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim 'peace' if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them."

Notice the "principles" of these horrible prophets! 
1) They have peace with people who feed/serve them.
2) They are at war with people who do not feed/serve them.

Micah listens to God and makes the connection between being and doing. The bad prophets do not. Micah wants to serve because of who he is. The bad prophets want to be served. (Cf. Jesus' words in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45)

And who has a book of the Bible named after them? Micah or the bad prophets? Micah!

And so it is with every book of the Bible. If they're named after a person, it's a person who made the connection between being and doing. They were all sinners, to be sure, for whom Jesus died, but they listened to God and made the connection.

There's no book of the Bible named, "The dude who expected everybody to serve him."

I will never forget the church secretary who quit after two weeks on the job, saying, "I thought this would be church work, but this is work!"

I don't remember her name.

No one else will ever have a book of the Bible named after them. But, being made in the image of God, we all long to leave our mark in the world. We long to have our name carved into the Tree of Life. We long to be remembered, as Abraham Lincoln said, as someone who did something for God.

For this to happen, like Micah, we are called to celebrate our identity and gifts in the LORD and then to do something with God's gifts and in God's strength for the LORD.

In so doing, we thank God for his goodness, we encourage others to do the same, and we sleep well at night, knowing our little ol' life made a difference in a great big world.

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, 09/08/16, "Day of Praise"

"But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin." - Micah 3:8

Notice, in today's verse, that Micah is inspired by God to:

1) celebrate who he is and what he has in the LORD, as he says, "I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might" and

2) recognize, (because of who he is and what he has in the LORD), what he must do for the LORD, as he says his work is "to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin."

In sum, 1) Micah has an identity in the LORD and 2) he has a job to do for the LORD.

These two principles, that Micah knows, stand in contrast to "the prophets who lead [God's] people astray" (Micah 3:5). "As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim 'peace' if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them."

Notice the "principles" of these horrible prophets! 
1) They have peace with people who feed/serve them.
2) They are at war with people who do not feed/serve them.

Micah listens to God and makes the connection between being and doing. The bad prophets do not. Micah wants to serve because of who he is. The bad prophets want to be served. (Cf. Jesus' words in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45)

And who has a book of the Bible named after them? Micah or the bad prophets? Micah!

And so it is with every book of the Bible. If they're named after a person, it's a person who made the connection between being and doing. They were all sinners, to be sure, for whom Jesus died, but they listened to God and made the connection.

There's no book of the Bible named, "The dude who expected everybody to serve him."

I will never forget the church secretary who quit after two weeks on the job, saying, "I thought this would be church work, but this is work!"

I don't remember her name.

No one else will ever have a book of the Bible named after them. But, being made in the image of God, we all long to leave our mark in the world. We long to have our name carved into the Tree of Life. We long to be remembered, as Abraham Lincoln said, as someone who did something for God.

For this to happen, like Micah, we are called to celebrate our identity and gifts in the LORD and then to do something with God's gifts and in God's strength for the LORD.

In so doing, we thank God for his goodness, we encourage others to do the same, and we sleep well at night, knowing our little ol' life made a difference in a great big world.

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/07/16, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus said, 'I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But cheer up; I have overcome the world!'" -- John 16:33

Another workday is before us. They call it work because, well, it's work. We spend time. We spend energy. On things that need doing. Some of which are troubling. Others, well, they'll become trouble if we don't get 'em done.

It's a workday!

But there's good news in the face of any trouble and/or work that's before us! Jesus says, "Cheer up; I have overcome the world!"

Hey, y'all! When Jesus says he's overcome the world, he means the WORLD!!! He means that if it's in the world, then he's overcome it, which means that work is overcome and trouble is overcome and any combination of the above is overcome!!!

Jesus's declaration of truth and victory makes me want to sing! Maybe you know the song, "Look up and cheer up, that's the only way" with the Lyrics & tune by Harry Dixon Loes © Singspiration, 1953.

"Look up and cheer up, that's the only way.
Look up and cheer up, bright will be your day.
Just keep your eyes on Jesus, don't mind what people say.
Just look up and cheer up, that's the only way!"

Indeed, eyes on Jesus! And cheery and bright will be your day!

Try it! Really! Heartfelt eyes on Jesus, and you'll see!

"Jesus said, 'I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But cheer up; I have overcome the world!'" -- John 16:33

Praise God!

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

Day of Praise

Wed, 09/07/16, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus said, 'I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But cheer up; I have overcome the world!'" -- John 16:33

Another workday is before us. They call it work because, well, it's work. We spend time. We spend energy. On things that need doing. Some of which are troubling. Others, well, they'll become trouble if we don't get 'em done.

It's a workday!

But there's good news in the face of any trouble and/or work that's before us! Jesus says, "Cheer up; I have overcome the world!"

Hey, y'all! When Jesus says he's overcome the world, he means the WORLD!!! He means that if it's in the world, then he's overcome it, which means that work is overcome and trouble is overcome and any combination of the above is overcome!!!

Jesus's declaration of truth and victory makes me want to sing! Maybe you know the song, "Look up and cheer up, that's the only way" with the Lyrics & tune by Harry Dixon Loes © Singspiration, 1953.

"Look up and cheer up, that's the only way.
Look up and cheer up, bright will be your day.
Just keep your eyes on Jesus, don't mind what people say.
Just look up and cheer up, that's the only way!"

Indeed, eyes on Jesus! And cheery and bright will be your day!

Try it! Really! Heartfelt eyes on Jesus, and you'll see!

"Jesus said, 'I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But cheer up; I have overcome the world!'" -- John 16:33

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 09/06/16, "Day of Praise"

"[King of Assyria,] nothing can heal you; your wound is fatal. All who hear the news about you clap their hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?" - Nahum 3:19

So, I was at a ChikFilA drive thru. I have a coupon for a kid's meal and ask if I can use it. They say what they always say, "No problem!" So I look at the menu and order grilled (instead of fried) chicken nuggets with a fruit cup (instead of waffle fries), a cone (instead of a toy), and diet lemonade (instead of soda). They say what they always say, "No problem!" 

So, I get my food, and I'm driving away and look in my bag. I have fried (instead of grilled) chicken nuggets with waffle fries (instead of a fruit cup), a toy (in addition to a cone), and, I think, my diet lemonade (but who knows cause it tasted mighty sweet). So, at least half my order was wrong, but I chuckled and said to God what ChikFilA always says to everyone else, "No problem!"

Friends, it's a work day. Things are going to go wrong today (like they do everyday). In reply to what goes wrong, we have some choices. We can get all bent out of shape about the problem. Or we can recognize, as in today's Bible verse from Nahum 3:19, that all sources of evil are doomed to defeat by the Sovereign God through Jesus Christ, so being victorious over the problem, we can say to the problem, "No problem!"

But we can also do more. Let's keep envisioning and praying for a world where all people know that every problem to God is "No problem" at all so that people can't help but worship and praise him!!!

Happy work day!

Praise God!!!

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

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

Day of Praise

Tues, 09/06/16, "Day of Praise"

"[King of Assyria,] nothing can heal you; your wound is fatal. All who hear the news about you clap their hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?" - Nahum 3:19

So, I was at a ChikFilA drive thru. I have a coupon for a kid's meal and ask if I can use it. They say what they always say, "No problem!" So I look at the menu and order grilled (instead of fried) chicken nuggets with a fruit cup (instead of waffle fries), a cone (instead of a toy), and diet lemonade (instead of soda). They say what they always say, "No problem!" 

So, I get my food, and I'm driving away and look in my bag. I have fried (instead of grilled) chicken nuggets with waffle fries (instead of a fruit cup), a toy (in addition to a cone), and, I think, my diet lemonade (but who knows cause it tasted mighty sweet). So, at least half my order was wrong, but I chuckled and said to God what ChikFilA always says to everyone else, "No problem!"

Friends, it's a work day. Things are going to go wrong today (like they do everyday). In reply to what goes wrong, we have some choices. We can get all bent out of shape about the problem. Or we can recognize, as in today's Bible verse from Nahum 3:19, that all sources of evil are doomed to defeat by the Sovereign God through Jesus Christ, so being victorious over the problem, we can say to the problem, "No problem!"

But we can also do more. Let's keep envisioning and praying for a world where all people know that every problem to God is "No problem" at all so that people can't help but worship and praise him!!!

Happy work day!

Praise God!!!

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

Day of Praise

Mon, 09/05/16, "Day of Praise"

Hebrews 4:14 - "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess."

When I was a kid, not quite a teen, I went to my first Boy Scout Summer Camp at Camp Davy Crockett. At one of the late night, all-camp bonfires, a group of older boys appeared out of the darkness, dressed as Native Americans. They made their way through the crowd, identified some of the middle-aged boys, literally picked them up off their seat, firmly pounded each boy's chest, and said, "You, go join your chief!" I remember the deep thud I heard when they firmly and rhythmically pounded each boy's chest. It was so loud that I thought the older boys were going to put a hole in the chest of the initiates. As it turned out, and as I myself experienced as both initiate and initiator in coming years, the "Tapping Ceremony" of the Order of the Arrow wasn't hurting anyone, instead it used the firm pounding as a way of calling new initiates to a deeper strength and wisdom and resolve as each boy was beginning an extended initiation, inviting them to grow deeper and stronger as a young man. Firmness communicated strength!

Such is the invitation in today's Bible verse from Hebrews 4:14, "let us hold firmly to the faith we profess." God is inviting us, even calling us, to become more firm, to grow deeper and stronger as people of faith in Jesus Christ. Firmness is strength!

Friends, all sorts of matters will arise today. Yes, as Christians, we are called to be kind. But we are also called to be firm. We are called to believe firmly and speak firmly and act firmly, all the while standing on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. I know that firmness from others moves me to hear more clearly and think more deeply and act more confidently about the things that are said to me. 

"Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess" in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 4:14) and bless one another by calling each other, and even new "initiates" to the faith, to the same firmness in Christ Jesus. For in so doing, we all will be blessed with a deeper strength and wisdom from the Holy Spirit, along with a strength and resolve in Christ!

Praise God!

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

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