The Here and Now

Ecclesiastes is a somber view of life on earth and “the human lot.”  Solomon’s bottom line conclusion was that you should take care of yourself, have a good time, do good work and delight in the bounty and capacity to enjoy what God gives you in the here and now.    

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 (MSG) 18-20 After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live.

11/24/2019

Live at Peace with Everyone

Things can get heated with those around you when it comes to some things, such as money, religion or politics. Believers should heed Paul’s directions: If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Ask God to guide you in this and he will. 

Romans 12:18 (NIV) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

11/20/2019

Love your Enemies

Jesus said to love your enemy is to “let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.” You do this by responding with “the energies of prayer.”  If you start with prayer, you can face anything with grace. Your God-created self is gracious and generous. 

Matthew 5:43-47 (MSG)  43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. 48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

11/17/2019

Positions of Power

In ordinary affairs, those in power are at the top and tend more to their own interests. In God’s plan, those in power look after the interests of those they are over. They serve, giving or sacrificing as necessary for the good of those they serve. 

Mark 10:42-45 (TPT) 42 Jesus gathered them all together and said to them, “Those recognized as rulers of the people and those who are in top leadership positions rule oppressively over their subjects, but this is not the example you are to follow. 43 You are to lead by a different model. If you want to be the greatest one, then live as one called to serve others. 44 The path to promotion and prominence comes by having the heart of a bond-slave who serves everyone. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give his life as the ransom price in exchange for the salvation of many.”

11/13/2019

A Judgmental and Critical Spirit

Judgmental criticism of others is hurtful and actually deception. The one who does it is hiding that they do exactly what they accuse others of doing. If you have this kind of spirit, at some point you will be found out. God holds you to what you’ve done.  

Romans 2:1-2 (MSG) 1 Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. 2 But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done. 

11/10/2019

Praise the Lord No Matter What

When you are down and discouraged, even if all agree you should be, this passage tells you how to deal with it.  “I will praise the Lord no matter what happens.”  This is one of the most difficult disciplines and understandings to develop but one of the most profitable.

Psalm 34:1-10 (TLB) 1 I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace.2 I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. 3 Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.4 For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears. 5 Others too were radiant at what he did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection! 6 This poor man cried to the Lord—and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles. 7 For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence him. 8 Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. 9 If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs. 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.

11/3/2019

Original Sin

You will always be attracted and tempted, consciously or not, to things outside God’s authority.  Jesus was tempted too. He showed that with great focus and prayer you can choose God’s way. The snake is always lurking, trying to make his way more attractive than God’s. 

Genesis 3:1-6 (TLB)  1 The serpent was the craftiest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. So the serpent came to the woman. “Really?” he asked. “None of the fruit in the garden? God says you mustn’t eat any of it?” 2-3 “Of course we may eat it,” the woman told him. “It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not to eat. God says we mustn’t eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” 4 “That’s a lie!” the serpent hissed. “You’ll not die! 5 God knows very well that the instant you eat it you will become like him, for your eyes will be opened—you will be able to distinguish good from evil!” 6 The woman was convinced. How lovely and fresh looking it was! And it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit and gave some to her husband, and he ate it too. 

10/27/2019

A Cranky Quarrelsome Woman

A wife who rides her husband, nags or is constantly cranky is detrimental to him and the relationship. Men are more affected by habitual derision than they may show. Before speaking, ask if you are trying to build him up or if your intent is to tear him down.

Proverbs 12:4 (TLB) 4 A worthy wife is her husband’s joy and crown; the other kind corrodes his strength and tears down everything he does. 

Proverbs 25:24 (TLB) 24 It is better to live in a corner of an attic than in a beautiful home with a cranky, quarrelsome woman.

10/20/2019

Following Christ

Following Christ should bring noticeable changes in you. This passage says you become more helpful and positive to others and more refined in your speech.   Dishonesty, habitual anger and harsh words yield to kindness as you learn how to be tenderhearted and forgiving of others.

Ephesians 4:28-32 (TLB) 28 If anyone is stealing he must stop it and begin using those hands of his for honest work so he can give to others in need. 29 Don’t use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing. 30  Don’t cause the Holy Spirit sorrow by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who marks you to be present on that day when salvation from sin will be complete. 31 Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, 

10/16/2019

The People Wanted a King

The people of Israel wanted a king. Samuel told them they had God, but that wasn’t good enough - they wanted to be like other countries and have a human king lead them. God will let you place other humans or “kings” before him but eventually you won’t like it at all. 

1 Samuel 8:9 (NIV)9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

10/13/2019

Slow to Speak and Slow to Anger

It is common to think of what you want to say while the other person is speaking, especially if there is contention or misunderstanding. Everyone wants to be heard and understood. To be your best, James 1:19-20 says to listen more than you speak and keep your anger in check.

James 1:19-20 (NIV) 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

10/9/2019

Lying about Another

There are few things as wounding as someone speaking lies about you. The power of deceit is the same as aiming a weapon and using it. You can be blameless and experience this evil but you aren’t blameless if you do it. 

Proverbs 25:18 (TLB) 18 Telling lies about someone is as harmful as hitting him with an axe, or wounding him with a sword, or shooting him with a sharp arrow. 

10/6/2019

Your Own Worst Enemies

Your worst enemies will be right in your own home, meaning in your own mind. Family members may be a problem to you, yes, but your own mind and outlook is YOUR biggest challenge. God will give peace to you, and thereby others, as you depend upon and trust him.

Matthew 10:36 (TLB) 36 a man’s worst enemies will be right in his own home!

9/29/2019

Teaching Each Generation

All have intrinsic awareness of God but his ways must be taught to each generation. Judges 2:10-14 says if you abandon God, he will leave you to the mercy of your enemies. Enemies are internal and personal as well as geographical and political. 

Judges 2:10-14 (TLB) 10 But finally all that generation died; and the next generation did not worship Jehovah as their God and did not care about the mighty miracles he had done for Israel. 11 They did many things that the Lord had expressly forbidden, including the worshiping of heathen gods. 12-14 They abandoned Jehovah, the God loved and worshiped by their ancestors—the God who had brought them out of Egypt. Instead, they were worshiping and bowing low before the idols of the neighboring nations. So the anger of the Lord flamed out against all Israel. He left them to the mercy of their enemies, for they had departed from Jehovah and were worshiping Baal and the Ashtaroth idols.

9/22/2019

The Suffering of Job

Why would God collude with Satan to ruin Job, a holy man?  Wrong question. This is a teaching story.  Others may cause you to suffer but God always has your solution. One lesson is to show that true faith in his goodness (not that of your wife or friends) will restore all loss.

Job 1:8-12 (MSG) 8 God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.” 9-10 Satan retorted, “So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can’t lose! 11 “But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He’d curse you right to your face, that’s what.” 12 God replied, “We’ll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don’t hurt him.” Then Satan left the presence of God.

9/18/2019

The Great Physician

Chronic medical problems and economic loss have been and still are with the world! This woman did all she could to be healed with conventional methods.  Upon hearing about Jesus, she was strongly drawn to the Great Physician. Jesus healed her and said, “Live well, live blessed!"

Mark 5:25-34 (MSG)  25-29 A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years—a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before—had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, “If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well.” The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change and knew her plague was over and done with. 30 At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” 31 His disciples said, “What are you talking about? With this crowd pushing and jostling you, you’re asking, ‘Who touched me?’ Dozens have touched you!” 32-33 But he went on asking, looking around to see who had done it. The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story. 34 Jesus said to her, “Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague.”

9/15/2019

You Can't be Anything You Want to be

“You can be anything you want to be.” Children are told this and aspire to it. Actually, you can be anything God created you to be. God knows what you are best at and knows how you will flourish. If you are floundering, ask God if you are where it is best for you to be. 

Romans 14:7 (TLB) 7 We are not our own bosses to live or die as we ourselves might choose.

9/8/2029

Heroes of the Bible

In the Bible everyone who had favor with God also failed God. Heroes held up as good examples were also poor examples - liars, schemers, murderers, adulterers.  Each blossomed while in God-confidence. Their problems always came from their self-confidence. 

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (MSG) 11-12 These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. 

9/1/2019

Self-Control

Many troubles in life can be traced to a lack of self-control. It exists in all people and cultures and in big and small matters. Having self-control is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:23). It is one of the most powerful and beneficial attributes you can develop. 

Proverbs 16:32 (TLB) 32 …..it is better to have self-control than to control an army.

8/25/2019

What is Concealed

Jesus is referring to the Pharisees and their hypocrisy in Luke 12:2-3 but hypocrisy and self righteousness is no respecter of time or persons.  Be grateful to face your weaknesses. Ask God to help you become more honest and genuine so you have nothing to hide.

Luke 12:2-3 (NIV) 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

8/21/2019

Praise and Worship

If asked, most say praise and worship is the music at church on Sunday. The actual definition is gratefulness before God. Praise and worship is a necessary attitude of life. Paul said that if you don’t glorify or thank God, you will place your faith in lesser things. 

Romans 1:21-23 (NIV) 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

8/18/2019

Stories Jesus Told

Much of Jesus’ message is delivered through counter-intuitive stories. Mark said your understanding will match your experience and maturity. As you spend more time with Christ and scripture, the more your earlier questions are answered and your understanding deepens.

Mark 4:33-34 (MSG) 33-34 With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots. 

8/14/2019

Regeneration, Cleansing and Renewing of Life

Ezekiel 47:8-10 is a vision of water flowing forth from a temple. The water represents regeneration, cleansing and renewing of life that comes when God lives in you. This living water regenerates more than just you; things around you are enhanced and renewed also.   

Ezekiel 47:8-10 (NIV)  8...“This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets.The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.

8/11/2019