PRAISE GOD FOR...

Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;

   praise your God, Zion. 

He strengthens the bars of your gates

  and blesses your people within you.

He grants peace to your borders

   and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

Psalms 147:12-14 (NIV)

What can we be thankful for today? 

He strengthens us!

He just plain blesses us!

He blesses us with peace (with him and others)!

He satisfies us with all we need!

Father, thank you for all these blessings! Praise be to you in us today!

TAKE THE HOPE!

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,

   nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;

the Lord delights in those who fear him, 

   who put their hope in his unfailing love.

       Psalms 147:10-11 (NIV)

My youngest son has been watching King of the Nerds lately. They start out by picking teams. It's sort ironic because even the "nerds" try to pick the strongest person each time. That is the way of the world. 

But God does not need our strength.  He is not impressed with our abilities or attributes. What he does delight in is those who fear him and put their hope in his unfailing love. 

So if you are busy trying to be good enough, stop. Having devotions, praying, helping at church, volunteering for local events and trying not to do anything wrong are all good, but not impressive to God. God is not waiting for you to accomplish anything before he will accept you. Christ accomplished it all upon the cross. 

The good news is that God just wants to put your hope in his unfailing love. Our love will fail. His love will not fail. Whenever we need his love, his love is unfailing. 

Father, thank you for your unfailing love. Open our eyes to see your unfailing love in our lives. Praise be to you in us today! 

GO AHEAD, ENJOY THE GIFTS!

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-14 (NIV)

As a parent one of the great joys is watching your children open a present you know they will really appreciate. This last year my wife had the idea to get our daughter a Kindle because she loves to read. Now, she had asked for some other things but, we got her the Kindle instead. My daughter was very happy.

Some of the gifts of God are not what we ask for, but they are what God knows we will truly enjoy. I think sometimes we forget that we can enjoy the life God has given us. It is very good to just take in the view at the beach with my wife. Sometimes I really enjoy my job. Volunteering for my son's Scout troop is rewarding for me. This past year I have been able to golf with some great guys. These are gifts from God. 

Father, thank you for the gifts you give us every day. Open our eyes to see all that you have given us. Thank you, Lord. Praise be to you in us today!

IT'S NOT ABOUT MANAGING SIN

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 

1 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)

One of the books I am currently reading is Sticky Faith by Dr. Kara E. Powell & Dr. Chap Clark. One of the topics it discusses is sin management. Quite often we tend to just manage our sin rather than truly seeking to know God. The point is that Christ already dealt with our sin. All our sin. Past, present and future sins. 

Of course I don't want to sin. Of course I want to do what is right. But the issue is knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection. Many moons ago I attended a small Bible college named Columbia Bible College, in Columbia, South Carolina (it is now named Columbia International University). It's motto is, "To Know Him and Make Him Known". At the time I thought it was a bit hokey. But, as I have matured I have come to understand its simple depth. 

Christ, the righteous, died for me, the unrighteous, to bring me to God. He did not do this to give me a second chance at being perfect. He died to bring me to God. 

In Genesis chapter three the story of the fall of man is told. In verse 9 it says, "But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"" In Christ we, without fear, say, "Here I am" and enjoy the very presence of God. Think about that...

Father, help us to enjoy your presence. Praise be to you in us today!

DOES YOUR ANSWER OPEN A DOOR?

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 

I Peter 3:15-16

Up against the fear of suffering for doing what is right Peter tells us to set apart Christ as Lord. That means trusting him with the outcome of our faith. If you chose to act in accordance with the love of Christ, you will find yourself on a different path than those around you. Some people will be really bothered by that. Be ready to gently explain why your faith in Christ leads you to chose to do some things and not others. 

I have been asked to go places and do things that I know would not honor God or my wife. So, I have to say no. Sometimes people want to know why. There is a difference between answering with gentleness and respect while telling the truth (calling sin sin) and condemning people without the offer of hope. If I respond in gentleness and respect a door is opened that the Holy Spirit uses. I guess you might say it leads to a redemptive conversation and there is nothing like seeing someone open up to Christ. The opportunity to see someone come to Christ is truly awesome. 

Father, help us to live by faith and respond in gentleness and respect to those who need you. Provide a redemptive conversation today! Praise be to you in us today!

ARE YOU AFRAID OF DOING GOOD?

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." I Peter 3:13-15a

Sometimes we are afraid to live by faith. Afraid of what people might think. Afraid of having to explain ourselves. Afraid of being different. Afraid of failing. Afraid that God might let us down. 

Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15a). Sometimes faith seem foolish. Sometimes doing what we know is right in Christ may seem odd to those around us. It may even seem odd to us! But what others may think is not what is most important. Knowing that we are doing what God says is right is most important. How God views us is what counts and he sees us through the righteousness of Christ. That is why we should seek to please Christ, as our Lord. 

The wonderful truth is if we do what is right we will be blessed. even if we suffer for doing what is right, we will be blessed. 

Father, thank you for being Sovereign over all. Thank you that if we seek to live by faith and do what is right, in the end you will work all things for our good. Praise be to you in us today!

Psalm of the Day...What attribute sticks out to you?

Psalm 146 

Praise the Lord. 
Praise the Lord, my soul. 
   I will praise the Lord all my life;
   I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes,
   in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
   on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the Lord their God. 
He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
   the sea, and everything in them—
   he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed 
   and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
   the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
   the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner 
   and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
   but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 
The Lord reigns forever,
   your God, O Zion, for all generations. 
Praise the Lord.

Psalms 146:1-10 (NIV)

Thank you, Lord, that you are faithful, even when we are not (II Timothy 2:13).