Simple Thoughts Devotions

Shush“I shush my mind, because your mind can ruin you if you let it.” Before We Were YoursSo much truth in this statement! There are times I have to “shush” my own mind.I am currently reading the book “Before We Were Yours.” It is a fictional account of a historic event. From the 1920's until about 1950 The Tennessee Children's Home was involved in kidnapping and selling children to the highest bidders for adoption. The book describes in pretty graphic detail the abuse that took place within  this Home once the children arrived there. They were nearly starved, beaten, locked in dark closets, and abused emotionally among many other ways of abuse.In this story I ran across the statement, “I shush my mind, because your mind can ruin you if you let it.” This quote is from one of the young girls who endured the agony and torture of this place. This statement immediately resonated with me. Not because I endured nor do I endure what she did, but because I know that my own mind has to be “shushed” at times.If I'm not careful I will allow thoughts and worries to flood my mind that serve no beneficial purpose. If anything, they pull down and fill me with anxiety. These thoughts come from out of the clear blue for no known reason. I am weighed down by them.I”m a pretty early riser each day even in retirement. Part of the reason is that my mind often kicks into overdrive in the early morning hours. It will find problems that don't exist for me to fret over. It will dredge up the past that cannot be changed. It will lie to me about a little problem being a big problem. Anxiety and dread overtake me. If I stay in bed it only gets worse.Once I'm up with a cup of coffee, some alone time, and devotion time, my mind relaxes and returns to “normal.” In a sense when I get up I'm telling my mind to “shush.”I'm sure that many of you have to also tell your mind to “shush” at some point of the day. The mind is a powerful thing and it can lead us down many dark paths if we allow it. As that begins to happen just tell it to “shush!” Take a deep breath. Remember that God is greater than all that the mind can conjure up. Ask God to renew your mind one thought at a time.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…  Romans 12:2

Christmas Day has come and gone again. What is the Day After For you? Listen for the next 4 minutes as I talk about The Day After.

When you think you have your life planned out, God just may speak and change everything! This is what happened to Mary and Joseph leading up to that first Christmas.

Jesus came to be the Savior of the world, but He also came to be a teacher. His life was full of teaching moments to His disciples and to the masses. I believe that each believer should also be a teacher to those that God brings into their lives.

One of the greatest words in Scripture is the word grace. Today, I want to examine 3 KINDS of Grace...Common Grace, Saving Grace, and Living Grace.

Storms of nature are a part of life. In our area they can come as thunderstorms, tornadoes, or hurricanes, to name just a few. They are often sudden and destructive. Life can be the same way. We often have sudden and destructive storms associated with health, work, family, finances, or a thousand other possibilities. How do we respond to these storms? What gets us through these storms?

One of the greatest inventions of modern society has to be the electric lightbulb. It changed the way we live and work. Try to imagine a world without the lightbulb. Just as we need the electric lightbulb to enjoy modern life, the world needs the light that should emanate from a Believer. We are to let our light shine in a dark world.

We often learn lessons from unpleasant experiences. Such was the case for Rhonda and I several years ago while camping in Saint Augustine, FL. In today's podcast we are able to learn 3 valuable lessons from the death of Lazarus. May these lessons encourage you in your daily life.

Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made according to the Bible. But, there is one shortcoming to all bodies...they all grown old! The only way that doesn't happen is for us to die young. King David is dealing with that reality in our scripture. How does he handle this? Listen to find out.

Have you heard the saying, "Keeping up with the Joneses?" I'm pretty sure you have. After all this phrase goes back several decades. It means that someone is trying to attain the same living status as the more affluent Jones family. Even Christians fall prey to this temptation.

An update concerning me and Facebook and alternatives I'm looking at for sharing the podcast and other ministry related items.

There are basic parenting tips for all parents regardless of their faith life and then there are tips for those parents who are Believers. Today I deal with the latter. I hope these tips will be beneficial.

I think I qualify to do what the title says. After all I am pretty much considered an old man these days and Rhonda and I raised two great children...not perfect children...but great children who are also great adults. Give me a few minutes of your time today and take a listen.

How will you be remembered after death? Will you be remembered as one who Finished Well? Will people talk about how you were faithful to Christ until the very end? That is my desire for myself. I want to leave a legacy of faith for my family and friends that simply says that I Finished Well.

Every church has needs. Many of these needs are similar; money, pastors, facilities, musicians, teachers, etc. But, one of the greatest needs in all churches are members who give Faithful Service. Listen as I share briefly about this subject.

Greetings! This podcast brings you up to date with where I am currently in life. Hopefully, I will now be able to get back to a regular podcast schedule!

Words are powerful. They often change our lives. The 2 little words Follow Me can really impact us, especially when spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ.

As a Believer, who are you investing in? Who are you living life with in order for them to see the love and forgiveness available through Jesus Christ?

The word IF is only 2 letters long. Don't let its shortness fool you. It is a powerful word. It is almost always used as a conjunction that implies certain conditions being met. Today we examine the word IF in Romans 8:31.

If we aren't careful, we will allow our human intellect and training to overshadow seeking God's will. May we be reminded today of the importance of seeking His will in all areas of life.

The most important part of any house or building is not what you see, but rather what is hidden under the structure...the foundation. Without a proper foundation the structure cannot bear the weight of the structure. Future problems will manifest themselves. Life is the same way...we must have a good foundation.

The InvitationHow many invitations do you receive in a year? Sporting eventsBirthday parties Christmas parties Weddings Baby showers I'm sure you appreciate all of the invitations that you receive. If you were not liked and wanted you would not receive them. But, as good as that is, we both know that each invitation is going to require something from you...time and/or money. There are times that both are in short supply and you would just as soon not to get any invitations.Let me remind you of an invitation that is found in scripture that does not require time nor money.Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)There is no cost It is for the tired and hurting Sweet rest awaits usI appreciate all of the invitations I've received over my many years in ministry, but being an introvert at heart, I was usually exhausted after each one. It is really good to have an invitation that refreshes instead of exhausting. 

BaggageIt's impossible to travel without baggage. We need luggage, bags, boxes, and the like to put all of our stuff in. There has to be one for the toiletry items. Another one may be needed for hair care products. Let's not forget the make up that makes us pretty. Then, there has to be a place for our shoes and clothes. Most likely there will be a bag with some junk food to hold us over as we travel.I wonder what we could find if we were allowed to help TSA check baggage at an airport. I've read of some of the items they find. I imagine for some people it would be rather embarrassing. For others it may even lead to arrest.Baggage. We all have baggage. Not just the kind that we use for traveling, but the kind that becomes a part of us as we live life. The longer I'm in ministry, the more I see the effects of baggage in a person's life. As I counsel pastors, church leaders, troubled spouses, and family members, the more I realize what baggage can do.Baggage can destroy a marriage. It can divide parents and children. A church can become dysfunctional due to baggage. Friendships can be destroyed. Baggage is like a cancer that is secretly eating away at us.For some the baggage comes from a dysfunctional childhood.  Sadly, lots of families don't understand true love and how to show it to others. Baggage may be the result of unconfessed sin. Harsh words from loved ones can weigh us down with baggage. What about that supervisor who tells us how sorry we are at our job? You get the picture? Our baggage knows no end of its source.I wish that I could make every person whom I talk with understand and deal with their baggage. I wish I could help them to deal biblically with what has brought them to where they are. If only I could force spouses to lay aside the baggage that plagues them.How do we handle baggage? How do we move from it? For some the answer is multi-faceted. They may need counseling. There may be a need to confront someone from their past. An understanding of personal accountability goes a long way. And, undergirding all of this, I believe rests the need to place our trust and faith in Jesus Christ and His forgiveness. Once we accept His forgiveness plus understand that His grace is sufficient, I believe that we can move on with our lives.Please, today, unload ALL of your baggage. Leave it all at His feet and start a new journey. Don't be weighed down with the past. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9as far as the east is from the west,     so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

His ReflectionActs 11:26Some years ago I read a story entitled “The Passing Of The Third Floor Back” written by Jerome K. Jerome.  The story is centered in a poor class lodging house in London. It was a place of despair, loneliness, and lowly people.Within this house lived a lowly servant girl. She was ignorant and poor. She was willing to sell her body for a mere trinket.Into this lodging house moved a mysterious man who was different from the others. He was kind and considerate to all. Soothing words came from his lips. The servant girl practically worshipped the kind man.The day came for the man to move from the lodging house. As he was leaving the lowly servant girl slipped up behind him, touched him on the shoulder and asked, “Are you Him?”This is a fictitious story, but we should be such a reflection of Christ that people would ask this question of us!In Acts 11:26 we find these words…and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they [a] met with the church and taught considerable [b]numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.Why were these believers called Christians? Not because of heritage or family name. Not because of the culture. They were called Christians because they were basically “clones” of Jesus. (little Christs or chip off of the block) Basically, they had the same actions and attitudes of Jesus!!! May we live so today. May others see Jesus in us.

A Rewarded FaitAnd the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. Daniel 1:19 ESVIt's amazing what we will do for a reward. That is why we register with almost every business that we frequent, why we sign up for various newsletters, text messages, and emails, and become friends with them on Facebook. We are looking for rewards. It doesn't matter if we really need what the reward is, we still want it.Reward points have been around for many years. Do you remember S&H Green Stamps? You collected stamps based upon how much you purchased. For a certain number of stamps you would qualify for a reward. Everyone collected the stamps! Everyone wanted a reward.I'm glad to report to you today, that God also gives rewards! No better example can be found than in Daniel 1:19. You know the story. Daniel and his friends have been selected to serve the king. They have asked not to have to eat the king's food and drink his wine. Instead they ask for vegetables and water. Boldly, they asked to be examined in 10 days to see how they are doing. No doubt they knew that severe consequences awaited them if they failed to be in top shape. Still, by faith, they made this request.In Daniel 1:19 is the culmination of their request. At the appointed time the king called all of the young man together to be inspected. He did not find ANY equal to Daniel and his friends. God had honored their faith and given them favor with the king. Not only did God give them favor, but He also placed them in service to the king! The bible says “therefore they stood before the king.” They were highly honored.God has similar rewards for His children today. When we honor Him by faith and allow Him to control our actions, He will bless us in return. We may not stand before a king and we may not be recognized by man for what we have done, but God will be aware of our faith. That should be reward enough…just knowing that God has taken notice of us, but in reality that is only the beginning.

A Determined FaithDetermination makes up for a lot of weaknesses and shortcomings in the arena of sports. Some of the athletes with the best winning records were not the best athletes. Some were considered to small, to slow, and to weak. Often these individuals were looked over and ignored in favor of some other more promising athlete. Yet, these overlooked individuals have ended up setting records and holding multiple titles. How did this happen? Of course there are no simple answers to this question, but I think in all cases one of the main reasons was their determination. They were determined to succeed and to prove others wrong. They were determined to fulfill a dream. Determination can overcome a lot of physical shortcomings.In the matter of our Christian faith determination is also a major ingredient. Often upon salvation friends and family will look at us with disdain, maybe even laughter. They don't think anything really happened to us. They think we are having some kind of mental issue or at best that we are trying to rehabilitate ourselves. It is at this point of laughter and ridicule that we must be determined to live out our faith.We have a great example of determined faith in the book of Daniel, "Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official not to defile himself." Daniel 1:8 HCSB  Daniel had been picked to be a servant in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar. This afforded him food and wine from the King's table. Daniel knew that he would be defiled for partaking in such. Therefore, he DETERMINED that he would not partake. This was a brave move. He was in essence disobeying the king's command. This could have cost him his freedom at the least and his life at the most. Daniel was not willing to compromise his faith though. He stood strong and true.In the current culture in America, Christians must become Daniels. We must also be determined not to partake of what the world has to offer. It is not always easy. We often see our family and friends enjoying the fruits of this present world. We are tempted. We wonder what difference would it make. At these times, may we remember Daniel and may we take a stand.   Even as Daniel,  may we have a Determined Faith.

The Golden RuleMatthew 7:12Intro:The world often strays away from Biblical principles. This seems to be especially true in the way we treat each other. The world's motto is “do unto others before they do unto you.” Simply put, this says to get in the first punch.This motto comes from a Biblical principle that has been twisted and perverted. The Bible teaches us to “do unto others as we would have them do unto us.”So, how do I want others to treat me?FOUR AREAS that we should “do unto others as we would have them do unto us.”LoveMatthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself.Neighbor by virtue ofA. HumanityB. InteractionC. FaithForgivnessLuke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.A. Sometimes people are cluelessB. Sometimes people are blind to the truthHelpGalatians 6:22 Bear ye one another's burden, and so fulfill the law of Christ.A. Listening earB. Helping handC. Praying heartPrayerJames 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.A. This involves confessionB. This involves othersConclusion:If we hope to reach the lost and reclaim those who have dropped out of church, we must live out this sermon daily. We must get serious about how we live.

Watching What We SayWe all become frustrated and angry. When we do there is a real danger we will do something really stupid…like begin to talk about it to others and vent openly on social media. We sometimes deal with tough work situations, dysfunctional families, touchy church situations, spousal problems, financial troubles, etc. Before we ever face these issues we need to think about how we will handle them. For the Christian there needs to be a clear understanding of what scripture has to say about this. A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. (Proverbs 29:11 ESV)A fool lets it all hang out; a sage quietly mulls it over. (Proverbs 29:11 MSG)A [self-confident] fool utters all his anger, but a wise man holds it back and stills it. (Proverbs 29:11 AMP)A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. (Proverbs 29:11 KJV)There is a saying that we need to be familiar with, “It's better to be silent and let people believe you are a fool than it is to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” We all become frustrated and angry, but as Christians let's set a good example of not making a public spectacle of our troubles.I think today's thought is as important as it has ever been. Personally, I think we are living in one of the most volatile times in recent memory that range from the pandemic, to politics, to religion, to race, and to social upheavals of traditional values. At any given moment we may read or hear something that gets us frustrated or angry. When we do…may we remember these wise words from the Bible. 

The Cover UpAre you guilty of a "cover up"? I am. Many times throughout my lifetime I have been involved in a "cover up". When I was a young boy I once set off a firecracker in the house while my parents were gone. I had to "cover up" by "cleaning up". I had to clean the residue off of the floor. I have also been involved in a "cover up" by hiding dirty clothes or sweeping some dirt under the rug. It seems like for the last few years I have been involved in a "cover up" in regards to the clothes that I wear. It seems that if I wear loose fitting clothes my chest that is now around my waist is "covered up" and less conspicuous!Today while eating lunch in a local restaurant, I overheard a man say  "love covers a lot of mistakes". Again, I am guilty. I have relied on my wife's love over the years to cover my many mistakes in being a husband and father. I trusted her love to keep me out of the proverbial dog house!But, the biggest "cover up" that I have been involved in is found in 1 Peter 4:8–9 (kjv), “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. How often through the years have my sins and indiscretions been covered by love? I am not just talking about the love of others, but the love of Jesus! For it is through His amazing love that He is able to forgive (cover) my sins when I ask for forgiveness. Isn't it great to know that there is a love that is that great?"The Covered Up"

I Am A Bride!Have you ever been to a wedding? I would guess that most of you have been to at least one. Have you ever noticed how that all weddings are a little different? Though each wedding accomplishes the same thing, each one is unique. Some are elaborate church weddings where the wedding party is dressed to kill and the auditorium is full. Some are home weddings with only the bride and groom present and no expensive dresses or suits are found. I have read of weddings being held on roller coasters. I have even read of weddings being performed while sky-diving and scuba diving. Amazingly with so much variety and uniqueness, there is yet one constant within a traditional wedding; there is ALWAYS a bride. Could you imagine a wedding with no bride? And yet, while every wedding has a bride, every bride is different. Brides come in all shapes and sizes. Some are skinny and short while others are tall and stocky. Some are red heads, while others are blonds, brunettes, or various shades of color. No two brides will have the same hair style. Some will be up while some will be down. Some will be twirled and twisted while some will be straight. As to the way a bride dresses, some will choose a traditional wedding dress while others will choose a theme dress. Some will be wearing a regular Sunday dress while others will be dressed in swim attire.Just as each bride is unique in each wedding, so are we Christians. The Bible paints a picture of Christians as being the "Bride of Christ". As such each believer is married to Christ as a bride is to her groom. Just as each earthly wedding accomplishes the same task while each bride looks and acts differently from others, so it is with we Christians. Though each Christian is married to Christ through salvation, this does not mean that every Christian will look and act exactly the same. Some Christians are outgoing while others are introverts. Some Christians can easily and quickly speak to an audience while others become tongue tied. Some Christians like one style of music while others like another style. Some Christians dress in their Sunday best for church while others dress in casual attire. Some Christians have short well kept hair while others have long unkept hair. Some Christians sport a beard while others are clean shaven.Do you understand what I am trying to say? Though all Christians are a Bride of Christ, not all Christians look and act alike. Does this mean that one is closer to God than the others? Not at all. Remember, God looks at the inward man to determine how close the marriage relationship is. Just like there is a WIDE variety of styles of earthly brides, so there is a wide variety of styles of the Bride of Christ. Just be sure that you are a Bride of Christ by means of biblical salvation. Be sure that as Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3:3 that you have been "Born Again". Once you are sure of this, look in amazement at how varied the Bride of Christ is and rejoice that God has chose YOU to be His bride!

My Best FriendDo you have a favorite old pair of shoes, or, maybe a favorite old pair of blue jeans, or, perhaps a favorite old sweat shirt? You know the kind that I am talking about...those old favorites that just seem to engulf you in a good feeling! Though the shoes may list to one side, or the jeans may have holes in them, or the sweat shirt may be baggy and stained, when you put them on you just feel yourself go "Ahhhh!"  Through the years I have had several such "oldies". Just recently I discarded a ragged pair of old blue jeans. I am sure that I had worn them for the better of part of eight years. They were nothing special. I bought them at the local Sam's Warehouse for about $12.00. They were by no means what would be called designer jeans. As a matter of fact, they were a little to long for me and a little to big in the waist. But, I wore them until the seat had little holes and the color had long since turned from blue to a dirty, semi-white. Yet, when I put them on, I could feel myself go "Ahhhh!"That is kind of the way that I think friends are. They are like our favorite "oldies". Friends just have a way of making us go "Ahhhh!" You know what I mean, don't you? Surely you have that friend that you can talk to and feel comfortable around. Someone you don't have to pretend with. Someone who allows you to be your less than perfect self. When around a true friend you just feel at ease. No longer do you have to be a "designer" type of individual. Through the years God has allowed me to have many such friends. I thank God for each one of them. Some of these friends are now dead, some I have moved away from, and some I see only occassinally. Yet, each one has enriched my life. Each one has had an impact upon me. Each one made me go "Ahhh!".Yet, for all that my friends mean to me and for all of the "Ahhhhs!" that I have felt from being around them, they pale when compared to my "bestest friend", Jesus! The Bible says that there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). I know this verse is dealing with our relationship to others, but I belive that ultimately it is speaking of the great friend of sinners,  Jesus Christ. There have been times that I endured problems and difficulties that my friends around me knew nothing of. Even if they had of, their ability to comfort me would have been limited. But, such was not the case for my "bestest friend". He has always known what I was facing and He has always been able to give me comfort and strength. I guess what I am trying to say is this, "Jesus is my favorite oldie. He is the one Who makes me go Ahhhh! when no one else can!" Indeed, He is a friend Who sticks closer than a brother! I trust that you know Jesus as your friend.Following are the words to a song that my wife, Rhonda, wrote several years ago. The song is entitled "My Best Friend".When I was down in deep despairJesus found me and showed He cared.He held my hand and led me to the light of dayHe took away the dark black nightand showed to me He was the lightif I only let Him lead me in the way. When things just don't seem to go rightAnd you want to give up the fightJust turn to Him and He will give to you the powerTo keep on going to the endAnd show to you that He's your best friendEven when it seems to be your darkest hour.ChorusHe's my best friend. He's my best friend.He's alway there, to see me through.He's my best friend. He's my best friend.And if you will let Him, He'll be yours too.

Don't Be A FoolHave you ever done anything foolish? I have…more than once! One of the times that stand out in my mind was the summer of 1977. Rhonda and I were invited to go camping with some of our friends at Myrtle Beach. Rhonda was about six months pregnant with our first child at the time. We managed to get our hands on a tent to use for the trip and loaded up our 1970 Pinto with all of our supplies. Off we went to Myrtle Beach for a weekend of camping.We had a ball sitting around the campfire at night, playing card games, and eating. I remember well having hot breakfast that consisted of scrambled eggs, grits, toast and Beverly breakfast sausage. Boy was it good! We also had some time on the beach. This is where the foolish part comes in. Rhonda and I spent several hours on a couple of different days playing in the water and walking the beach. But, we failed to use any suntan lotion! By Sunday morning our legs and feet were as red as cherries.Time came for us to break camp, load the Pinto, and head for home.  It wasn't long into the trip before we found out just how foolish we had been on the beach. The windshield on a Pinto was a huge piece of glass. This huge piece of glass was magnifying the sun right onto our already cherry red legs and feet! We had to pull over beside the road and pull out a couple of beach towels to cover our legs and feet with. It seemed like an eternity before we made it home. Boy, were we foolish!As foolish as our actions were on that trip, they pale when compared to the foolish action of people in regards to God. The Bible says “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…Psalm 14:1 (KJV). The sad truth is that it seems that more and more people are making this statement. Some of them have not verbalized this belief, but their lifestyle shouts this truth loudly.I pray that today, you do not fall into the category of a “foolish man/woman”. Look around you and see  that even nature itself speaks of God. Look at the smile on a baby's face and see that there is a God. Listen to the cry of your heart for companionship with God and know that there is a God. Don't play the fool with your life and do your best to keep others from playing the fool with theirs. May God give you understanding in this vital matter. The end result of being this kind of fool is far worse than sun burned legs and feet. The end result of this life is eternal torment. May God make this truth real in our hearts today.

Our WarfareWarfare! What do you think about when you hear this word? In our day, I am sure that you begin to think about the thousands of young men and women who are deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq doing battle with terrorists. You are probably visualizing them hunkered down in foxholes or shielding themselves behind bullet-riddled buildings. You may even remember the vivid images that were shown on your television as the first bombs were dropped in these two countries.No doubt, as you think about warfare, you think about death. Over these last several months we have heard and read the names of hundreds of young men and women who have given their lives for freedom. We have seen the pictures of grieving wives, husbands, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers.  We have watched as they tried to share with the world who their sons and daughters were. We have watched as they cried one minute and laughed the next. And all of this is because of warfare.Friends, just like there is a struggle and warfare in promotion of personal freedoms and peace, there is also a spiritual warfare taking place to promote spiritual freedom and peace. This freedom and peace is in regards to the souls of men, women, boys and girls. Humanity is in spiritual bondage to sin and Satan and in general has little or no peace. In this warfare there is also a great need for soldiers who are willing to go to battle! These soldiers are the born again Christians who have a personal faith in Jesus Christ. These soldiers are also willing to give their lives for the freedom of others.As Christians fight in this warfare, they MUST remember who the enemy is. The enemy is not the drug addict, nor the prostitute. It is not even the despised dictators of the world. The enemy is Satan!  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:12 (KJV)  Far to often we go after those involved in sin as if they were Satan himself. Let us always remember that they are under bondage and need to be liberated to a life of freedom and peace in Christ Jesus. May we go forth and do battle with Satan!

God's GraceIf you were given a visible, physical audience with God today and He were to ask you what one thing He could do for you, what would be your answer? Would you ask God to heal you from some awful disease such as cancer, AIDS, heart disease, or an organ failure? Would you ask God to mend broken relationships within you family such as a rebellious child, an angry spirit between you and your spouse, or hard feelings with in-laws? Would you ask God to give you the financial means for taking care of your debts and your family obligations by means of a better paying job or an unexpected cash flow? Maybe you would ask God to give peace: peace to a bloody world and peace to a troubled and anxious soul. Personally, I think that I would ask God for GRACE! Not that there is anything wrong with asking for any of the above needs. As a matter of fact I have prayed for many of those items myself. But, if I could only ask for ONE thing, then I would ask for GRACE. Why is that so? First of all, because of the little definition of grace...God's riches at Christ's expense. God's riches far exceeds anything that we can conceive of. There is nothing that He does not own! He owns not only the world, but all that makes up the world. Therefore, grace would give us access to these riches. Also, the little phrase at Christ's expense encompasses all that Christ was, is, and will be. It encompasses all that was involved in Him coming to this world to die for sinners!Secondly, I would ask for Grace because of its supply. It is a personal supply. In other words, the grace that God has for me is mine and you can't have it. Likewise, the grace that God has for you is yours and I can't have it. It is also a perpetual grace. The Scriptures speak of "grace for grace" in the KJV Bible. That simply means that God will substitute grace for grace. The grace that I need for tomorrow will most likely be different than the grace I need today. God will simply substitute a new grace for the old grace when that time comes. His grace will never be outdated nor out of stock. Thirdly, I would ask for grace because of the power that grace gives. By the grace of God I can forgive those who have hurt me, I can survive the death of a dear friend or family member, I can preach when I don't feel like preaching, I can sing when I don't feel like singing, I can face that dreaded disease, and I can sleep when hell is roaring! Grace gives the power to continue on with God no matter what.Remember, the grace of God is SUFFICIENT!

Who Cares?WHO CARES!?!? This seems to be the cry of many today. Who cares that....my bills are unpaid,my child is sick,my family is falling apart,my job has been lost,my son is on drugs,my daughter is unwed and pregnant,my parents are in a nursing home,my medicine is more than I can afford,my child is in the military in some distant land.my heart is heavy from worrying?Truthfully, there are probably very few people who care. It seems that each person is so wrapped up in their own concerns, problems, and worries that they don't have time for anyone else. By and large our neighbors are consumed with their own needs. Sadly, this often is true in the Christian community as well as within the world at large. Christians are often wrapped up in their own little world to the extent that they don't see anyone else who is suffering. Sure sounds bleak and lonely doesn't it? When looked at from the above perspective it does. But, if we will just take a moment to consider the Word of God, we will find another picture - a picture that is bright and beautiful. In 1 Peter 5:7 we find these words of comfort...Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. This is a picture of someone casting their burdens and anxieties much like a fishermen would a net. This is someone who has placed all of their concerns into one big pile and taken aim at a specific target they wish to hit. The target is the Lord Himself. Jesus is speaking in this verse of scripture to a group of first century Christians who are facing persecutions on every hand. He says to them that His Father is ready, willing, and able to take ALL of their cares upon Him. Amazingly, Jesus says that the reason His Father is willing to do this, is because that He cares for them. Though our friends and family may be to busy to care about our concerns, the Father above still cares for us.Read the words of this beautiful old hymn. They describe what I am trying to say...No One Ever Cared For Me Like JesusWords and Music: C.F. WeigleThis song by Charles Weigle is the product of one of the darkest periods of his life. He spent most of his life as an itinerant evangelist and gospel songwriter. One day after returning home from an evangelistic crusade, he found a note left by his wife of many years. The note said she had had enough of an evangelist's life. She was leaving him. Weigle became so despondent during the next several years that there even times when he contemplated suicide. There was the terrible despair that no one really cared for him anymore. Gradually his spiritual faith was restored, and he once again became active in the Christian ministry. Soon he felt compelled to write this song. I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus,Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true;I would tell you how He changed my life completely,He did something that no other friend could do.No one ever cared for me like Jesus,There's no other friend so kind as He;No one else could take the sin and darkness from me,O how much He cared for me.All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me,All my heart was full of misery and woe;Jesus placed His strong and loving arms about me,And He led me in the way I ought to go.No one ever cared for me like Jesus,There's no other friend so kind as He;No one else could take the sin and darkness from me,O how much He cared for me.Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance,More and more I understand His words of love;But I'll never know just why He came to save me,Till some day I see His blessed face above.No one ever cared for me like Jesus,There's no other friend so kind as He;No one else could take the sin and darkness from me,O how much He cared for me.He really does CARE ABOUT YOU!

Yet A SinnerAgain this morning I did what I have done practically every morning of my life since the age of sixteen. I stood in front of a mirror and removed the beard stubble from my face. As I looked into the mirror I noticed that what I see today is not exactly what I saw some thirty years ago. What once was a head full of hair is now quite like an onion. The hair that was once a dark brown is now salt and pepper with very little pepper and a whole lot of salt. It seems that the face is not quite as thin as it used to be...it appears that gravity has pulled down upon it so that it is now a lot wider (if the mirror was full length, it would reveal that gravity has done the same thing to my waist line!). And, of all things, I do believe that I noticed some fine wrinkles beginning to form around my eyes! I am sure that what I saw this morning is what many of you see each day as well. Even the ladies as they stand in front of the mirror to do their hair and apply their makeup see similar changes slipping up on them.But, as I stared into the mirror and it reflected back to me all of the changes that had taken place in my life, there was a deeper truth that it reflected back to me. The mirror caused me to think about the fact that though much had changed about me outwardly, there was still a central truth about me inwardly that had not changed. That truth was this...I am yet a SINNER. And, yes, I have been saved. There was that day and time that I called upon Jesus Christ to save me and He did. But, that does not change the fact that I am a sinner. I am now a saved sinner headed for heaven instead of a lost sinner headed for hell, but I am still a sinner.I know that you may find it hard to believe, but I can actually place all of my sins into two categories. They are  two categories that I grew up hearing my Dad pray about. Many a time I heard him ask God to forgive him for the sin of omission and the sin of commission. As a child I had no clue as to what he was talking about. As I grew in my understanding of Scripture I began to learn. It is really very simple; the sin of omission occurs when we know to do what is right and we don't do it, while the sin of commission is doing that which we know is wrong to do. Sadly, there is not a day that goes by but what I commit a sin(s) that fit into these two categories.Understanding that I am a lowly sinner who commits these sins as I do and being reminded of it while looking into the mirror each morning, keeps me from becoming puffed up with pride. It keeps me from becoming self righteous and looking down upon everyone else. It also gives me a greater appreciation for Grace (God's riches at Christ's expense)...that unmerited favor that God showers me with. Oh friend, the day that we lose sight of the fact that we are sinners, even though we are saved sinners, is the day that we lose sight of the majesty and greatness of Holy God. He is a God who can love us who are unlovable! I pray that as you read this short devotion God will reveal to you again this fact in your life. When He does, don't revel in the fact that you are a sinner, but rather revel in the fact that He yet loves you and grants grace to you daily! Then, ask Him to help you become more Christ like and less sinner like!

Marriage is under attack in modern society. It is often scorned as being old fashioned and out of touch. Many couples have opted NOT to get married. Many couples have gotten married only to end the marriage in short order. Today I want to share my thoughts on marriage.Rhonda and I both come from families with long lasting marriages. My parents were married for 72 years before Dad died. Rhonda's parents were married for 57 years before her Mom died. Rhonda's grandparents were married for 70 years before Granddaddy died. That is a total of 199 years with an average of 66 years and 3 months!I don't know about you, but looking at those numbers are a blessing and encouragement to me. I know for a fact that all three couples went through periods of tough finances, major family sickness, the stress of raising children, job changes, etc. I also know that in spite of the fact that all three couples loved each other they still had disagreements and arguments. This is encouraging to me and Rhonda as we are heading towards our 47th wedding anniversary. For you see, we also have had tough financial times, major family sickness, the stress of raising children, job changes, etc. And, yes, we have loved each other and still love each other and yet we have had disagreements and arguments. There have been days when the going was TOUGH! But, as I look at a combined total of 199 years of marriage for three couples, I am given hope that if God grants Rhonda and me continued years of life, that the day will come when we also will reach these milestones. And we will reach them in spite of all of the hardships that we have experienced over the years.In a society where marriage is under attack and where marriage is often viewed as nothing more than an inconvenience to happiness, I want to remind you that marriage is one of the greatest gifts that God has given to us. I want to remind you that though times can be tough in a marriage, the marriage can continue to live and flourish!Encourage some young couple that you know to stick it out when their marriage is less than ideal. Encourage them to hang tough and trust the grace of God to get them through. After all…marriage is of God's own design and that in and of itself makes marriage worthwhile.Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The Certainty of UncertaintyProverbs 27:1Don't brag about tomorrow,since you don't know what the day will bring. NLTHumans like and want certainty…In financesIn medicineIn relationshipsIn predictions (weather especially!) In healthIn itinerariesWe believe that with all of our modern technology, we can predict practically anything with confidence that it will happen exactly as planned.Here is the truth as I learned it back home in the Sandhills, “There are only two things certain in life…taxes and death.” That saying simply meant don't count on it! Whatever, the IT may be. Little has changed in my 65 years of life concerning this. In the year 2020 I find life is still just as uncertain as it was 55 years ago.As far as the world goes, I will add one other certainty…UNCERTAINTY! Nothing is more certain than uncertainty. Another old saying is “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”I think anyone alive during the year 2020 can attest to how certain uncertainty is. No matter your news source, your political stance, or even your view on the virus, uncertainty is at the forefront. This uncertainty has led to a LOT of anxiety around the world.For those who are Christ followers, I don't know why they are surprised with the uncertainty. Scripture tells you quickly that NOTHING is certain in this world system. Why Believers are surprised really surprises me. Our scripture passage reminds us of this great truth.So, what do do we do when uncertainty is certain? For the Believer, it is a matter of going back to the basic teaching of scripture…God is sovereign! Due to the constant debates over predestination and Calvinism, many have lost sight of the biblical truth that God is sovereign. This simply means His divine plan will not be aborted nor subverted. Uncertainty in our world system has no bearing on the certainty of His system, His plans, and His sovereignty. “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. Job 42:2 NLTI know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Job 42:2 KJVTherefore, dear Believer…lift up your head, your God is still  CERTAINLY in charge!

This is the last of the Christmas devotions. I hope they have been an encouragement to you this season. Christians often talk about the Apostle Paul and his great mission works. No doubt he did great and mighty deeds. He carried the gospel into the world. Without his passion and energy the gospel may still be hidden to the world. We owe much to the Apostle Paul.But, as great as Paul was, he is not the greatest missionary of all time. There is One Who is even greater. His name is Jesus. As we close out Christmas 2014 we have to examine this role of Jesus. If we don't we will shortchange the whole reason for Christmas.Jesus was not born so that the world could have a party. He did not come so we can give and receive gifts. He did not come so we can gather with family. He did not come so there could be a Santa. Jesus came to do the work of a missionary. He came to seek and to save the lost. He came to do the will of His Father. He came looking for the sick, the outcast, the hurting, the lonely, the unwanted. Jesus came to do the work of a missionary.Just like modern day missionaries, Jesus left the comforts of home. He left heaven to live in a world that really did not want what He had to offer. He came to a world that had a totally different culture than heaven. He came to a world that was needy but did not know it was needy. He was willing to be a part of this culture and to live among the needy. He did not set himself apart from those He came to serve, but rather lived among them. He ate as they ate. He learned their language. He suffered with them. Jesus came to offer everlasting life and eternal blessings. He came as a missionary.I was a Southern Baptist before I was a Christian. My parents raised me in a Southern Baptist Church. This does not make me good nor bad. No denomination can do that. But, one of the benefits of being raised as a Southern Baptist (and still one today) was my exposure to missions. My Mom served as Women's Missionary Union director for many years. She saved her coins each week to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. She prayed for missionaries. Though my Mom never set foot overseas, she still had an impact on international missions.As I close out this series of Christmas devotions I want to do so with a challenge. Here is the challenge…make a decision to give to missions…both at home and abroad. We can't separate the two. Jesus came for all. Give according to how you and your church/denomination gives. For us Southern Baptists we give annually by means of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This money is used to support some 4,000 missionaries serving around the world. Your church may use Faith Offering Pledges. If so, make plans now to set aside money for this offering. Maybe your church has its own missionaries. If so, give faithfully to them. However you do missions in your church… DO MISSIONS! Jesus came as a missionary so that all may hear. My friends, this is the reason that Jesus came. May we never lose sight of this great truth.And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40

How many gifts have you had to return after Christmas? I imagine a few at least. I'm glad that that first Christmas gift, the birth of Christ, does not need to be returned! There is no fault in Him.

What is the greatest gift you have ever received for Christmas? Was it big and flashy, or just a common, run of the mill gift? Whatever the gift was, it will pale in comparison to the gift of God's Son to the world.

Hey fellow introvert! Does Christmas stress you out? Trust me, I understand. Take a lesson to this podcast and be encouraged.

Has your Christmas ever been delayed? Was it delayed due to a sick baby as ours was? Or maybe due to travel logistics, or someone being away in the military. Many families have a delayed Christmas each year.

Do you find yourself struggling with what I call the evil twins of Christmas? Do you find that stress and depressions begins to consume you during this supposedly joyous time of the year? If you do, just know you are not alone. Today I examine briefly how to defeat these evil twins.

Is your Christmas a Simple Christmas, or one full of big, elaborate, and time consuming events? May we be able to return to A Simple Christmas this season.

For many, Christmas will be different this year. Life will have changed and caused this difference. Today I share how Christmas was different for me a few years back.

What was your favorite gift(s) as a child? What is the greatest gift ever given?

Christmas seems to sneak up on me every year! Does it for you? I'm glad that first Christmas did not sneak up on God.

Life often throws us a curve ball. We talk about how tough life is. And, it is! But, the Believer can still rejoice!

God often reveals His greatness to us in unexpected places and in unexpected ways. May our eyes always be open to His greatness.

God blesses us daily with what many would call small blessings. The blessings that come our way daily. May you reflect upon those this week.