OCCUPIED?

"On my bed I remember you;
     I think of you through the watches of the night. 
 Because you are my help,
     I sing in the shadow of your wings. 
 I cling to you;
     your right hand upholds me."
Psalms 63:6-8 (NIV)

Our minds, our hearts, what we allow ourselves to think about is really what is our hearts desire. With David, it is very apparent what occupied his inner being. It's really who David's inner being was occupied by and that was God. 

David was a very human person. He had very human desires. He sinned like everyone else. Not everyone has committed adultery and murder like David, but we all have sinned. The thing about David that we all should learn from is that David turned to God. After victories, after defeats, in the desert as a shepherd and in the palace as a king, David sought God. 

This is the lesson of David we all should learn: seek God. Seek God where you are at and where you will be. Seek God in victory, defeat, loneliness and satisfaction. Seek God and praise him because he is your Help. 

Father, help us to seek you and praise you. Thank you for being our help and upholding us in the shadow of your wings. Praise be to you in us today!

BETTER THAN LIFE

Because your love is better than life,my lips will glorify you. 
Psalms 63:3 (NIV)

Think of this verse as truth more than just an ideal. The truth is: God's love is better than life. Whether you feel like that or not, it is true. God's love is better than life.

Truth is what we use to correctly understand reality. In & Out Burgers is pretty popular. They also have a "secret" menu that includes animal fries and burgers and even a mustard grilled patty. They're not on the "menu" but they really are available. If you know the truth you can enjoy the whole menu.

God's love is the totality of completeness and fulfillment given to us through Christ Jesus. We begin to experience God's love in part now and will know it wholly for eternity. Knowing God is to know his love.

To the world, people who don't know God, the truth of God is like a secret. We have the Bible to tell us he truth about God, his Sovereignty and unfailing love, his justice and mercy and his forgiveness and faithfulness. By faith we take hold of the truth that God's love is better than life and praise him foe his loving kindness.

Father, help us to live in this truth that your love is better than life. Praise be to you in us today!

ALL YOU NEED

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back form the dead our Lord Jesus , that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21

I guess when you think about the book of Hebrews it's all about God giving us everything we need to do his will and live lives of faith that glorify him. Christ is our faithful High Priest who makes us holy and keeps us holy in him. 

Father, thank you for our faithful High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ! Help us to live by faith and glorify you. Praise be to you in us today!

I ALL NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FAITH

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:15-16

You may have seen the book by Robert Fulgham All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. These verses have that same sort of tone. Your saved, be thankful. That is the basis of our faith. Do good to others and share. Be nice and don't hog all the toys. 

Yes, sometimes we don't feel like praising God. Sometimes we may not be in the mood to think of others before ourselves. Sometimes we may not want to share what God has given us. But, this is really where Christianity meets real life. Our real lives. 

Understanding that God is Sovereign even when we can't see it, and acting upon that truth rather than our feelings, that is faith. That is Christianity. Doing what is right, what is good, no matter what the circumstances are is what we are called to do. That is faith. Giving what we have to someone else in need, even if it means less for us Christianity. That is faith. 

When I think back to when I first gave my life to Christ, that is pretty much what it was all about. Just praise God. Just do what is good. Just share with others. 

Father, thank you for Jesus and salvation. Help us to do good to others and share what you have provided. Praise be to you in us today!

A FEW GODLY MEN

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:7-8 (NIV)

I have been very blessed to have had some godly men in my life. My youth pastors were both great guys who gave me time and we're great examples of real men living lives for Jesus. Both worked full time jobs while volunteering as youth pastors. How these men treated their wives and children influenced how I would be a husband and father.

When I attended Bible school in England the schools' principal befriended me. I learned that being a leader doesn't mean that you go it alone. His honesty, humility and openness taught me how to love others in a truly Christlike manner.

I thank God for these men and the example they set for me. I saw the love of Christ lived out in these men and their lives. Their lives were real. Their faith was real. The love of Christ was real. 

Father, thank you that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever and his love for us never ceases or changes. Help us to love as he has loved us. Praise be to you in us today!

THE GOD OF I GOT TO HAVE IT NOW

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
     "Never will I leave you;
          never will I forsake you."
 So we say with confidence,
     "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
     What can man do to me?"" 
 Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

We pay our bills with money. So, we have to have some. Wanting to have enough to pay your bills is not greed. Wanting to have enough so you are not worried about living paycheck to paycheck is not greed. Learning to live within your means is where faith meets reality. 

The love of money is not the same as just wanting to not be a slave to your bills. I am not sure but sometimes I think there is a fine line where wanting stuff now and loving money are the same thing because it involves covetousness. I call it the god of "I got to have it now". It usually manifests itself in maxed out credit cards. Sound familiar?

Someone once said that prosperity is having a little more than what you need. Faith is trusting that if you can't pay cash now than maybe God wants you to at least wait until you do. Faith is being able to wait upon God to provide the cash or learning to be content with what we have. Faith allows us to live prosperous lives. 

God won't leave you and God is your helper. 

Father, help us to remember to trust you with our finances. Help us to live by faith knowing that you will provide fro all our needs in Christ Jesus. Thank you for providing and that my family and I have what we need today. Praise be to you in us today!

JUST LIKE A BROTHER

"Keep on loving each other as brothers." Hebrews 13:1 

The thing about close families is that even though they do fight sometimes, they still love each other and pity the fool that tries to get between them. Brothers (and sisters) can argue and mess with each other and yet, will defend each other to the end. 

As Christians there will be times when it is not easy to love each other. That's all right. Think about Christ's love for us. He loves us when we don't love him. He just keeps loving us. His forgiveness just keeps washing us clean. 

I had this student once who just couldn't get with the program. He kept disciplined and finally with just a few weeks left he got it together. He finally realized I wasn't trying to punish him, I was trying to teach him. That's God's love sometimes. We reap what we have sown and it's not good. Christ faithfully forgives and the Spirit teaches and we learn that his love is eternal. He just keeps loving us. 

That's what are love should be for each other. We just keep loving. Our brothers (and sisters), like us, struggle along and we just keep loving each other in Christ.

Father, thank you that you first loved us and continue to love us. Help us to love each other. Praise be to you in us today!