Put Your I Here

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:22-24 NIV

These are great verses, a great truth. The righteousness of Christ for me by faith. I find it good to put myself in these verses and I suggest you do to and then thank God for his abundant love, mercy and grace. These verses become a declaration of praise.

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to me when I believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile and me, for I have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and I am justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for my redemption! Praise be to you in me today!

Persistent Aim

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 

Romans 2:7 NIV

I don't want to get into the deep theology found here in Romans 2, although I really do love it when I get the opportunity. I just want to note that as Christians we already know we are saved by grace but, we want to enjoy that grace on a daily basis. That's why we read the Bible, go to church and view sites that might encourage us to press on in our faith. 

I think persistence in doing good leads to the fruit of faith. In persistence of faith lived out we can enjoy a foretaste of eternal life in the present. We seek to glorify God. We seek to honor God. We seek immortality found in faith in Christ. 

The great golfer Ben Hogan once said, “Every day that I missed practicing takes me one day longer to be good.” Let's flip that and apply it to us. Every day we seek his kingdom and righteousness we enjoy the fruits of righteousness. 

What are you thankful for today?

Praise God in his glory! God will not share with anyone. But, he will be glorious in our lives. I am thankful that when I acknowledge him as God and Lord of my marriage and family he shines his glory upon us. 

A Good Name and a Good Man

A good name is more desirable than great riches;
   to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Proverbs 22:1 NIV

I want to remember a friend of mine who passed away a week ago. His memorial service was this morning, honoring a good man who served others willing and with joy. Gary was a great guy and a skilled leader. I thank God that I had a chance to know him and serve with him in some small way.

The Word of the Day: Righteousness

Remember, he is our righteousness. It's not something we did or do, it what he did on the cross. May God bless you and keep you in his grace.

God Uses You As You

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Acts 26:28-29 NIV

Wow! What an incredible statement! Paul's passion and commitment are both inspiring and intimidating to me. Inspiring in that I want to have that kind of relationship with Christ that I can tell someone that I want them to become like me. Intimidating because I feel that I so often fall short of that ideal. Do you know what I mean?

The truth is that while we may not be Paul we are who God created us to be. Ourselves. We may not stand before kings but, we stand before our family, co-workers and friends and that is who God has called us to be a witness of his love and forgiveness in Christ. 

My father thought God could not use him when he first gave his life to Christ. He firmly believed he was not worthy and was not good at witnessing and didn't know the Bible well enough and didn't know how to pray and... You get the point. God thought differently. What was funny was there was this string of people who basically asked him, "What must I do to be saved?" I knew some of those men. They would of never listened to a pastor or preacher or set foot in a church. They saw a change in his life and wanted some of whatever had changed him. 

My point is that God calls each of us to be a witness to different people. He calls us first to who he puts before us. So, who is God placing before you? 

What's that to you?

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 

John 21:21-22 NIV

Whatever God is doing with someone else has nothing to do with what He is doing with you. The question is what is God doing with you? 

Bullseye

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 

Acts 24:24-25 NIV

Sometimes you can get involved in a conversation with someone and it works it's way into being an opportunity to share the gospel. A few months ago the family had gotten together for a weekend and someone brought a friend. He was a nice guy who enjoyed talking about just about anything, including politics and religion. 

When I was talking to him we started talking about religions which of course led to Christianity. The thing about intellectual and skeptical people is they tend to assume they speak from the moral high ground. In other words they see themselves outside the argument and therefore above it. 

Christianity is about personally dealing with Jesus. Even discussing the historical accuracy, authority and validity of Christ and the Scripture will naturally become a direct encounter with Jesus Christ. So, the friend suddenly got a bit defensive because it was no longer just an idea we were talking about. When Christianity is seen as what it is, people are confronted with a life changing choice. That makes them afraid. 

Felix the governor had Paul leave when it got a bit real. The friend of the family wanted out of the conversation as soon as Christ was spoken of as real. Bullseye. 

Word of the Day: Faithfulness

I will praise you with the harp

   for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
   Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy
   when I sing praise to you—
   I whom you have delivered.

Psalms 71:22-23 NIV

I started reading through the Psalms on a daily when I was in college. I did it with the purpose of finding attributes of God to meditate on and remember throughout the day to help me to not be anxious. Every time I would start to feel anxious I would just repeat to myself the word/attribute of the day. 

Each season of my life has brought on new challenges to my faith. Each time I must seek God anew and learn to trust him. The difference is now, I look back and even though I didn't see how God could bring me through, I remember the times he did. His faithfulness is new everyday. 

Father, thank you for your faithfulness! Thank you that even if we are faithless, you remain faithful (2 Timothy 2:13)! Help us to rest in you today, knowing that even though we can't see how we know who will bring us through. Praise be to you in us today!

What are you thankful for, this Sunday?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

I Corinthians 13:4

I am thankful for God's patience with me. Much more patient with me than I am with others. God is patient with me when I make the same mistake over and over again, when I struggle with the same temptation again, when I sin, again. He does not condone, his Spirit convicts me, but, does not condemn me. This patience is his love for me. I am thankful for his patient love for me. 

Be Built Up

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 

Acts 20:32 NIV

I have connections to a couple of churches that are in the process of finding new lead pastors. It is interesting and very telling to see how the leadership of each church goes about the process. One church rushed and one has taken their time to communicate with the body and seek God's will. 

One church took the time to communicate with the body asked everyone what they were looking for in a head pastor. They also gave them ample time and provided many opportunities to share their answers and concerns. 

In Acts 20:32 we see Paul's heart as a shepherd. He committed them to God and the word of his grace. Why? Because Paul's desire was to see the disciples built up, enjoying the inheritance of being a child of God and knowing the solace of sanctification. That's a shepherd. 

Aim to Finish

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:24 NIV

I teach middle school and sometimes I need to remind some students why they are in school. They often act as if it's just a social gathering where they can hang out with their friends. I remind them that the real reason they go to school is to get an education.

If you notice I didn't write receive because that's passive. To truly learn students need to actively participate in the process. Isn't that like our Christian experience? To truly know Christ we need to be actively involved in knowing Christ. Like Paul we need to aim to finish the task the Lord Jesus has given us. Run the race today. Be godly at home. Be godly at work. Work hard and give the glory to God. If any opportunity opens up to share anything about Jesus, take it. You don't have to have an altar call, just share what is fitting. 

Word of the Day: Sovereign Lord

For you have been my hope, 
   O Sovereign Lord,
   my confidence since my youth.
From birth I have relied on you;
   you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
I have become a sign to many;
   you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
   declaring your splendor all day long.

Psalms 71:5-8 NIV

Remember, whatever you are going through today, wherever you are at, God is Sovereign Lord. He knows the end from the beginning and nothing can stop him from completing what he began in you. He is faithful and will complete you. 

Wait for it...

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:7-8

God Wants You to Find Him.

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 

Acts 17:27 NIV

You want to know what God's plan is? Do you want to know what God really desires? He wants us to seek him, to reach out to him and to find him. It's like a parent playing hide and seek with their little child and hiding in such a way that they'll be found. That's what God has set up this world to be like. 

The good news is that he is not far from any one of us. How far away is he? He is a seek away. What's a seek? It's the time, it's the effort involved in turning to him. Again, the good news is that if you seek him, he will find you. 

So, where are you? Or maybe we should ask, what are you seeking? Do you need to turn, to repent, from what you are seeking and seek God? Seek God. He wants you to find him. 

Come...help us.

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Acts 16:9-10 NIV

Paul knew he was sent, so he went. The Spirit was keeping from entering Asia but then gave him a vision of a man of Macedonia begging for help.

Yesterday, I read a post from Anand V at Mamre Gospel Ministries  ( https://plus.google.com/u/0/+anandvmamre/posts )in India. I prayed for them and commented in the post that I was praying for them. He responded by asking for prayer that God would supply their minimum needs. Pray with me that God will supply all their needs in Christ Jesus.

Now, the cool thing is that I can reach out to someone on the other side of the world and in some small way try to help. 

What Are You Thankful For?

My mouth is filled with your praise,

declaring your splendor all day long.

Psalms 71:8 NIV

I am thankful for a good day with my son. 

The Encouragement of Hardships

Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 

Acts 14:22 NIV

This is not what some seem to preach these days. I hear a lot about asking for what I want, not what God wants. I see much about Christianity for success and prosperity, rather than righteousness and being a servant. 

According to Paul and Barnabas we need to be concerned about being true to the faith and hardships will be the tests that lead us to the kingdom of God.  I know this is true, yet I am often caught off guard when I encounter hardship, as if it was unexpected. This verse reminds me that hardships are part of the process. I need to be faithful and remain true to the faith. 

Lord, help me to remember that hardships are neither punishment or failure, rather, they are pathways to the kingdom of God. Strengthen me that I may remain true to the faith, true to you. Praise be to you in us today!

Righteousness and Restoration

I stand, by and in your righteousness. Your righteousness restores me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, reign in me and my family today.

God Rescues: a Psalm and a Prayer

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
   let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
   turn your ear to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
   to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
   for you are my rock and my fortress.
Deliver me, my God,  
   from the hand of the wicked,
   from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

Psalms 71:1-4 NIV

Lord, you are our refuge, we look to you in times of trouble. It is not by our righteousness that we seek victory, but by yours. Rescue us and deliver us from the evil that seeks to destroy us. Give us wisdom and discernment to deal with those who seek only to satisfy their desires. Praise be to you in us today!

Word of the Day: Deliverer

But may all who seek you
   rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
   “The Lord is great!”
But as for me, I am poor and needy;
   come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
   Lord, do not delay.

Psalms 70:4 | NIV

May God deliver you from all harm and strengthen you to stand in him. Remember: God is your deliverer!

My Prayer for You

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11 NIV

God Hears

The poor will see and be glad—

   you who seek God, may your hearts live! 

The Lord hears the needy

   and does not despise his captive people.

Psalms 69:32-33 NIV

I've heard politicians tell us that they hear the needy. They don't care about anything besides getting re-elected. They promise everything, but deliver little, if anything. 

God is not like that. God hears. He does not need your vote. He does not need your money. He does not need your affirmation. He just needs your trust. 

He will not despise your prayer for help or ignore your cry for release from captivity. Call upon him. He will answer you in the day of trouble. 

Spread

May the word of God spread from me today. May my life be full of God's grace and power. And from all who read this...

In a Nutshell

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 5:29-32 NIV

Peter tells it like it is and quite succinctly too. The bottom line is we must obey God first. Jesus was raised from the dead by God. We killed him. God exalted Christ as Prince and Savior so that we might repent and be forgiven of our sins. If we obey him we will be given the Holy Spirit. 

That's the gospel in a nutshell and if you're questioned about your faith it's good to start.  

Where Are You?

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 

James 5:13 NIV

What We Have to Give

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 

Acts 3:6-9 NIV

The crippled beggar was hoping for money. Peter, didn't have money, but, what he did have was far better. What Jesus gave Peter, and I believe Jesus gives us, is the authority to restore people in His Name! II Corinthians 5:18 tells us that, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Chris and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." When you see someone in need, you give them, in Jesus' Name, what you have. 

One time, I was walking down town when a homeless man came up to me and asked for some money. I didn't have any on me. I asked him if he new who Jesus Christ was and immediately his eyes cleared up and he told me that he used to walk with Jesus but he had chose to do some bad things and he ended up there on the streets. I happened to have a little copy of the New Testament and Psalm in my back pocket. It actually was a pretty nice leather bound one that I received when in college, so it had a sentimental value to me. I ended giving it to him and praying with him right there in the middle of downtown LA. 

The point is that just at the mention of Jesus' Name the mans complete countenance changed. I am not sure what happened to him, but I know he remembered how much God loved him and wanted to restore him.