Correct me if i'm wrong

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

– Proverbs 12:1

The test of true humility is how people respond to correction.

Do we constantly blame our surroundings or others for our situation in life?

I could talk for hours on this – I know many people that feel that nothing is ever their fault, they complain constantly about their life, but they do nothing to correct it or make it better and when you question them on their decisions, they get defensive.

At one time that may have been the reality – environmental situations caused our difficulties, but if we are honest - - - - -  we keep doing things that reinforce our bad decisions.

That is why we need others who love us enough to correct us.

Breakthrough is never done in isolation; it happens when we are bold enough to let others tell us the truth (and to listen!) about our circumstances and ourselves.

Have a blessed day!

Jesus, friend of sinners

On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."

—Matthew 9:12

Why did Jesus associate with sinners?

Because we need Him to associate with us!

The most crucial part of that is not Jesus' desire for our recognition of our sinfulness, but it is Jesus' desire to save - because without Him, recognizing our sinfulness would only lead to despair.

But without recognizing our need for His grace, His sacrifice for us is lost.

So let's praise Jesus as our loving and sacrificial Savior, but let's also acknowledge our need for His merciful and mighty grace!

Have a blessed day! 

Unity

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.

– Psalm 133:1-2

Unity has a high value in Scripture.

The analogy used here is oil, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible.

In other words, when God’s people are united, the Holy Spirit begins to flow from the head to the feet.

A friend of mine recently wrote to me “I wish we would live like Jesus lived.  Families lived together.  Everyone in Nazareth knew each other, everyone knew who was a good person and who could not be trusted and they all encouraged each other to live their lives in peace. 

There were no phones, no TV, no PCs, no one really travelled far away to work and live… that was the exception and not the rule.   

These close personal relationships bound people together. I know we would not have all these luxuries, but then God never gave all those things to Adam and Eve and He loved them with all His being.  He didn’t even build them a home, He made a garden for them.   It wasn’t until after the flood that the scriptures speak of rain or cold …the need for shelter.”

How I wish we would live like Jesus lived.

That is pretty profound, isn’t it?

Do you want more of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your community?

Learn to live together in unity. (see you at the pole in a little while!)

It may cause a revolution!

Have a blessed day! 

I miss him.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

– Romans 12:15

Today would have been my brother’s 56th birthday.  Unfortunately, God took him home 25 years ago.

Life is a gift from God.

Our children, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers are all gifts to be savored.

Although some days may be full of hardship and sadness, each breath, heartbeat, and thought illustrates the beautiful gift of life.

When a loved one is lost, try to avoid the feeling of being robbed or wronged, keep the positive memories alive and thank God for the blessings in your past, present, and future.

Sometimes we experience sadness, guilt, despair, anxiety, fear, hopelessness, longing, anger, and frustration.

These feelings need to be expressed, but always remember that they are “at this moment”.

Knowing that it is temporary gives hope and permission to have different feelings at a later time.

The “why” and “what-if” questions will be asked over and over and at some point, we will realize that we cannot understand the divine nature of birth or death.

Embrace living without an answer by trusting and embracing the mysteries of God.

It is human to cry. Crying helps you to heal. Cry with friends, family, and alone.

Don’t be surprised when the grief “freight train” runs over you.

Just be in the moment, and it will pass.

Struggle through your emotions and you will find relief as your reward.

I will never forget my brother and I miss him every day, but I know he is with the Father and I will see him again someday.

Have a blessed day! 

I'm a brand new me!

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

– Ephesians 4:22-24

Notice the terms: “put off the old self” and “put on the new self”.

We are prone to be ruled by desires, but that is not who we really are.

Jesus Christ rips the veil off of our hearts to reveal our true self, but we have to change our mindset.

How do you see yourself today?

Put on a new reality, which God is ready to place on you the way a tailor fits a person with beautiful clothes.

Don’t let your current circumstances dictate the reality that God proclaims over you through the cross of Christ.

OOOOO – that needs to be repeated  -

Don’t let your current circumstances dictate the reality that God proclaims over you through the cross of Christ.

Have a blessed day! 

Peace be with you

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

– 2 Corinthians 13:11

We really should see our world marked by healthy relationships, friendships rooted in Him.

Sadly, it is not like that.

Obviously no relationship is perfect, but God’s glory is definitely displayed when people restore and encourage each other.

Take a chance and pass the peace to a brother or sister today.

Have a blessed day! 

Trials

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

– James 1:12

So many trials!

Sometimes, it feels like it never ends, but we must remember that there is a reward for those who are willing to endure.

The gospel is so radical to our human experience that it turns our way of living upside down, it causes the rich to humble themselves and exalts the poor; it offers eternal life to the outcasts and the powerless.

The way that we live should draw attention to God, even if that attention is adversarial – because if people notice us, they notice God. 

And in the face of adversity, do not fear for God has a crown for those who stay true to what they believe.

I try to live everyday so people see Him in me.

I hope you do as well.

Have a blessed day! 

100th post of God's love

This is my 100th blog post. 
I hope that it has made a difference in someone's life. 
God loves you. 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

– Psalm 28:7

Music has always been a major part of the Christian tradition, and you all know it is really big in my life.

Did you know that singing in harmony and written music came directly out of the church?

The catalyst for this explosion of musical creativity was in response to God, with a joy that was so full that the only way to respond was in song.

This is not a reaction of fear, but of incredible freedom.

Our heart can leap for joy because in His presence is fullness of joy.

This is the nature of God, and all of mankind has been blessed because of it.

So what are you waiting for? SING!!

Have a blessed day! 

Through the eyes of Jesus

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

—John 9:3

So many times we hear about bad things happening to good people and we ask why. 

One of my favorite movie quotes (and I have mentioned it before) is from Soul Surfer. 

Bethany is talking with her youth pastor trying to find a reason – any reason for why she lost her arm. She said, “You know how you said it's hard to see things clearly sometimes, when you're too close? Well, I've been trying to get some perspective, I'm literally trying. Sarah... how could this be God's plan for me? I don't understand.”   

The youth pastor replied, “I don't know why terrible things happen to us sometimes. But I have to believe that something good is going to come out of this.”  

Sometimes I guess we need help to view events through the eyes of Jesus so that we will see them as events in which the work of God needs to be done.

And just what is this work of God?

To believe in the One He has sent!

Have a blessed day! 

Finding comfort

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoints my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

-Psalm 23

I saw a post on Facebook the other day that said “the Lord is not my shepherd, I’m not a _________ sheep”

This really bothered me.

I know that the person that posted it is not a believer, but this is an example of not understanding (or wanting to understand) the way things are written.

It is the job of the shepherd to encourage – or instill courage – into the sheep to go down paths that seem treacherous.

Unlike the cattle driver, the shepherd leads from the front, going before his flock to assure them that they can make it. This is the type of leadership that inspires people and even empowers them to go places they would not go to on their own.

The imagery of God’s leadership contains green pastures and quiet waters.

Even if those pastures are located in the shadow of the valley of death, true leadership can give peace even in overwhelming circumstances.

The stunning language of Psalm twenty-three resonates with all of us.

We have all known the place of despair; the place where we wonder how will survive another day.

Notice the mention of the rod and the staff. This continues the imagery of the Lord as our shepherd, but the rod and staff were tools to keep the sheep in the fold and the common result of their use was pain.

Yet even the pain of God’s guidance gives us comfort in the place of despair, for it is a reminder that God is with us.

He is present in the midst of our darkest hours and is active in bringing us through the valleys of our soul.

When we are under the guidance of God, we can be at peace and eat even when our enemies are around us.

There is no situation that God’s goodness and love is not able to guide us.

This is a perspective that will restore our souls.

God offers us a refuge in this world.

David, the person who wrote this Psalm, would become the future king of Israel, but the story of David’s life is not one of ease. He is persecuted, hunted like an animal, and even betrayed by his own son, but David does not just see his physical circumstances. He sees God’s presence to guide and comfort him in a world of pain.

May we be able to say with David that goodness and love will follow us all the days of our lives—even when those days can be hard.

Have a blessed day!

I am NOT ashamed!

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

—Romans 1:16

Something is telling me that this message needs to get out. 

Don’t be ashamed of your faith!

For the rich and poor, young and old, weak and strong, thin and heavy, there is still just one message and one name and one story that makes the eternal difference.

That one message, story, and name are announced in the gospel — God's good news to the world in Jesus Christ.

God's good news of life in the story of Jesus Christ is The Story and The Message and The Hope for all.

Have a blessed day! 

Who is in control?

Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to His anointed. He answers him from His heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

– Psalm 20:6-7

As much as we pledge our trust in the LORD, it often takes challenging events to take our trust off of our abilities and put them upon God.

This is extremely uncomfortable for those of us who live under the myth of that we can control our circumstances, but God is faithful to shake off our self-sustaining illusions to a place of beautiful surrender.

Note to self: stop being a control freak!

Have a blessed day! 

no worries!

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

– Matthew 6:25-27 

Yes, this is a repeat, but when it pops up on my feed I feel that God is telling me “Don’t worry child, I got this.”

God will provide for us; we are valuable to Him.

So we need to stop worrying.

Our Heavenly Father has promised to watch over us in all situations.

Have a blessed day! 

Tell everyone!

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

—Psalm 9:1

Song reference!! 

This one is an oldie but goodie . . . “Will you not tell it today?”

The words of Jessie Brown Pound's old hymn say it best: "If the light of his presence has brightened your way, O will you not tell it today?"

I don’t hide my faith nor do I hide behind it.

There is always, ALWAYS someone who needs to know of the goodness and graciousness of God.

And that, my friends, is why you get these daily emails or read this daily blog.

A heart filled with praise to God will not only praise Him, but will lead others to do so as well!

Have a blessed day! 

The Simple Truth

He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."

—Luke 8:21

I love the simple truth that Jesus taught His first disciples. 

You want to be recognized as a part of Jesus' family? 

Obey His Father's word and live His Father's will!

Have a blessed day! 

Faithfulness

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

—Romans 8:28

The real issue in our lives is not God's faithfulness, but ours - it isn't God who turns away from us. 

The whole history of God's faithfulness to Israel and to His promises is found in the Bible. 

We truly can depend and rely on Him to do what He promises, despite the apparent circumstances of our lives. 

Now, whether or not we choose to truly love Him and live for His purposes when life becomes unbearable and faith becomes hard - that is the question. 

we need hope  and faith and we need to choose to persevere when there is no easy reason for doing so. 

Faith is rooted in a Savior who triumphed over death.

Have a blessed day!