Blog
When Whims Aren’t Good
Can you imagine if God ruled by whim, by ever-changing emotions and laws? What if on a whim, He decided to not be forgiving? Or, to forgive one person, but not another? What if God’s standard of holiness changed year by year? But, thank goodness, that is not who our God is. Psalm 99:4 says He loves justice. He has ESTABLISHED EQUITY. That is why the psalmist says, “Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He.” (Psalm 99:3) Yes, that is why we praise our great and awesome God. He is not a God of whim, but rather, a God of equity.
Heavenly Father, thank You that You don’t rule by whim, but rather with equity. We love and praise You!
Dear friends, God connected us through our 365 Days of Praise, Beyond Ourselves podcasts, Bible studies, and conferences. Now, we have 3 new venues for spreading God’s Word and Love: “Something to Think About” Instagram stories, UpLIFT radio, and a Prayer Wall. We’re excited to invite you to join us in what God is doing through your generous donation of any amount.
GIFT IT FORWARD – “SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT”
Instagram stories are reaching people in innovative ways. We’re dedicated to using it as a platform for Christ. “Something to Think About” are 60 second videos that invite people to think about Biblical truth as it relates to their daily life.
GIFT IT FORWARD – UpLIFT RADIO
People listen to the radio in their cars and homes. Our new 60 second UpLIFT Radio spots being developed are designed to encourage and inspire listeners with Biblical truth and God’s love. With your gift, we’ll be able to expand our reach to new listeners.
GIFT IT FORWARD – PRAYER WALL
If there was ever a time people need prayer, it’s now. But not everyone is plugged into a prayer group or has someone they can call for prayer. Our new Prayer Wall that we want to add to our website will allow people to post a prayer and know that someone is praying for them.
Are You Spiritually Dry
Have you ever tried to get something to work to no avail? Recently, I experienced that while trying to get an old Palm Printer to work. I did various things to get it to print and finally decided the roller must be out of ink. However, when I took it out to replace it, I noticed ink all over my fingers. The problem wasn’t a lack of ink. The problem was it was dry due to lack of use. You know, sometimes we can become spiritually dry due to a lack of reading our Bible and praying. What can we do if that happens? We can go to Christ who describes His Spirit in John 7:37-39 as living water that flows in believers. If you’re a Christian, but feel spiritually dry, go to Jesus. Repent of sin that may be blocking the flow of Christ’s Spirit in you. Ask Jesus to fill you with His Spirit. Pour over the words of the Bible and let them pour through you.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the flow of Your Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Fill us with a fresh supply of Your presence so when we’re squeezed, You come out.
I Did it Again: Failed
I did it again: failed. I failed to pay attention to my thoughts. I failed to check them against God’s Word. I failed to return Jesus’s love by loving Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I failed to honor Him with my lips. Have you ever been there, done that? What happens when a Christian sins? Is God done with us? No.First Chronicles 16:34 and 1 Peter 1:25 tell us, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” and “His Word endures forever.” Every day God loves us. Every day, we can turn to His Word, the truth, and learn how to walk by it. If you, like me, did it again and failed God in some way, look to Him. He may not be smiling, but we have the opportunity to repent and see His smile again.
Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for Your enduring love and Word. Help us live it out in a reciprocal way with You and others.
Show Me that You Love Me
Have you ever wished someone would do more than tell they love you; they would SHOW you? Romans 5:8 explains that is what God did when He sent Jesus to earth. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Then, Jesus SHOWed us how much He loves us laying down on the cross to die for our sins. He showed the greatest love, as He explained in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” God the Father and Son proved their love. They DEMONSTRATED their love. If you think you’re unloved, think again! They’ve shown you.
Thank You, Lord, for DEMONSTRATING Your love by saving us. Now demonstrate Your love through us to others.
If You’re Down
Are you down or discouraged? Do you feel the heaviness of oppression? Are you down on yourself or disappointed in someone? Do you feel betrayed? The apostle Paul, whom God used mightily, had ample opportunity to be discouraged. Lonely nights. Conflicting opinions among believers. Physical sufferings. Wrongful imprisonments. Yet, in Romans 15:5-6, he writes, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul got his encouragement from God. He got his encouragement from singing praises to Him. If we’re down, what can we do? Turn off the TV. Go to God in prayer. Open our Bibles. Receive His encouragement.
Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for ENCOURAGING us deep down, in our innermost beings. Help us persevere by keeping our minds on You.
Ho Hum or DIVINE
DIVINE. We often use the word casually. “This cake is divine!” Or, “It was a divine vacation.” However, 2 Peter 1:3-4 uses the word “divine” in relation to God’s power and nature. “His DIVINE power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the DIVINE nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” These are incredible truths for us to grasp! Christ’s DIVINE power has granted to us EVERYTHING pertaining to life and godliness! Christ has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises so that by them we may become partakers of the DIVINE NATURE. It isn’t God intention that we live a ho-hum or defeated life. Far from it. He’s GIVEN US His DIVINE NATURE, POWER, and PROMISES. Are we living by His Divine power?
Lord Jesus, You are DIVINE power and life. Thank You for Your precious and magnificent promises by which we become partakers of Your divine nature. We worship and adore You!
If You’re Looking for Supreme
When we go to the beginning, to Genesis 1:1,the first way the ONE we worship is identified, is as God. “In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth.” GOD: Elohim. Scholar Charles Ryrie explains that Elohim is “a generic term for deity as well as a proper name for the true god. Its basic meaning is ‘strong one, mighty leader, supreme Deity.’ The form of the word is plural, indicating plentitude of power and majesty and allowing for the NT revelation of the triunity of the Godhead.” That is the scholarly definition of the GOD we love and worship. But how would you explain to someone who God is to you?
GOD, ELOHIM, we bow in worship and praise of You, for how You have revealed Your majesty to us; for how You’ve reached down and saved us; for how You will raise us up to be in Your presence one day. It is with unspeakable reverence we praise You!
Where to “Hang Out”
Where is home to you; in other words, the place you hang out, the place where you find comfort, love, and security? If it’s not God, you’re missing out on the ultimate DWELLING PLACE: God Himself! Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” When you’re tired and want to rest, when you’re excited and want to share good news, when you’ve messed up and need someone to confess to, when you’re stumped and need advice, go to God. He is a dwelling place; a place where we can hang out; the best place of all.
Eternal God, You are our DWELLING PLACE. Please help us mindfully “hang out” with You as we would our closest family member or friend.
Take Your Wife and Flee
A young child, Ben, was listening to his dad read in Genesis 19:15 where an angel told Lot to take his wife and flee out of the city, but that his wife looked back and turned into salt.” Little Ben was concerned and asked, “What happened to Lot’s flea?” Yes, Ben didn’t understand the word being used was FLEE, not FLEA. Although humorous, it’s a good reminder to us to verify teachings we hear with what the Bible says. Why? Because we, too, can be mistaken about what we hear or stances we take. Jesus gives a warning about this in Matthew 22:29. He says, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Jesus’s words are a good reminder for us to study the Bible to know what it says.
Knock Knock
How would you describe yourself? Would you use “DOOR” to communicate to others who you are? I certainly wouldn’t. But, Jesus did. In John 10:9 He said, “I am the DOOR; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved,…” Why would Jesus describe Himself as a door? He wants us to know that there is an “outside” of heaven and an “inside” of heaven. Heaven is a place and we are “outside” until we go “into” heaven through Jesus. Make no mistake. Everyone will not live eternally “in” heaven. Only those who enter through Jesus will be in heaven. Our Heavenly Father sends a personal invitation to you to enter eternal life in heaven through the forgiveness of your sins Jesus paid on the cross. No knocking required. Just a prayer. Acknowledge your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you. Receive the gift of His forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. Learn more at Meet Jesus.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for opening the DOOR to heaven through Your sacrifice on the cross.
“Door” is one of God’s 26 character traits in my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion. Learn more HERE.
