Isaiah 6:2-3 NKJV

[2] Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. [3] And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

When you see someone dressed nicely, it's complimentary to tell them you are impressed by their appearance. I often tell my wife how nice she looks when all dressed up, even at times when she's without makeup and in her pajamas. It's because of my love for her, no matter what she's wearing, she's beautiful to me. 

In Heaven there are seraphims (or Angels), who are constantly praising God and recognizing His holiness. As humans it might be difficult to understand how worshipping God 24/7 can happen, but I believe once in the presence of God, we all will recognize His beauty, His holiness, and His love for each of us. 

Until that time, I think we all need to feed our minds with scriptures that reflect His character so we can be prepared to worship Him, alongside the Angels who reside by His side throughout eternity. As you come to know Him more, give Him the praise and recognition He rightly deserves. God is good, all the time! What more reason do you need to give Him praise? 

 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Ephesians 1:4

 Just imagine for a moment that you were chosen to receive a lifetime of money where you’d never have to work or ever be in need of anything. What would you do with all that money? For the average person, it would be spent on big purchases, maybe a new home, a new vehicle, and an assortment of toys that will occupy your newly found “free time”. This actually happens to people who win the lottery, and they go wild on spending. Statistics say that 33% of those winners will declare bankruptcy within 3-5 years. It boils down to how you chose to live. If you live for the moment, you’ll find yourself in that 33%, but if you chose to spend wisely and invest, you’ll be secure for a lifetime.

 If you are a child of God, you too are blessed with something even greater than an abundance of money; your eternal future in Heaven. But, you have a choice of how you live here on earth as it will be revealed on the day of judgment. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 says: each one’s work will become clear for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which has been built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved yet so as through the fire.

 Take time today, maybe even this week to evaluate your life. Are you investing in your eternal future, or pleasures of the world? If you are truly a child of God, your spiritual compass will always align with the will of God as you live for His purpose in bringing you into this world. Saved is saved, but how you use that blessing will result in eternal rewards or nothing but a smoke covered soul. Invest your security in eternal rewards.

 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

 When life goes sideways, who do you call upon for help? Maybe a friend, co-worker, family member, or maybe a professional counselor. Any one of these might be a great resource for help, but how quickly do they respond when help is needed? We all live busy lives and the response time can be hours, day’s, maybe even weeks. Let me share with you someone who is always available at a moment’s notice.

 Psalm 46:1 clearly states that God is our refuge and strength. Those two things are usually critical in times of need. But the last part of this verse tells just how available God is, “a very PRESENT help in trouble”. He’s always present, always available to give you strength when you are weak, shelter in times of complete chaos, and provides wisdom when your situation has more questions than answers. I can tell you after 60 years of life He’s always been there to guide me through some of life’s most difficult moments, and He can do the same for you when you seek Him out in your time of need.

 When trouble comes your way, don’t delay your call upon the Lord to help you. His response is immediate and always the right answer for your situation. Trust me (and trust God), He will see you through every situation you when give Him the reigns. God bless!

 And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord and holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine. Leviticus 20:26

 When I began my career with the US government, I had to swear an oath to the United States constitution. At that point I knew things were serious and my loyalty to the government was paramount if I was to succeed in my chosen path. All throughout my career I was loyal to the government. Every day was full of tasks to be accomplished and I can say that I tried to do my best with each responsibility assigned to me. Today I am enjoying the fruits of my commitment to the government.

 As Christians, we are supposed to be holy to God in our actions, thoughts, and words that proceed from our mouth. Why? Because we are to represent God to those outside the faith. If you are familiar with scriptures in the bible, you know that His ways are counter to the ways of the world. Living a holy life takes dedication and effort to keep yourself unspotted from the world. Living a holy life, as hard as it might be, is a continual sacrifice to God, giving Him your best, by living a life surrendered to His will. The blessings that come with a committed life to God are tremendous and will help you sustain your faith each and every day.

 Are you a child of God? If so, take inventory of your life. Do your actions, thoughts, and words resemble holiness? If so, continue on and grow in your faith and commitment. If you struggle to live a holy life, draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to help you change your ways, even cutting out things, people, and places that yield anything but holiness in your life. It’s a two way street, and expecting God’s blessings will only come when you make a true choice to live a holy life. God bless!

 Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. 

“The Real McCoy” was a statement used to describe someone authentic, true to their word, and someone you could trust. This common expression has been used in many business dealings throughout history. 

Today's verse encourages Christians to walk worthy of the light of Christ. By doing so, you reflect the heart of Christ to those outside the faith. Are you the real McCoy? Can people see Christ in your life by how you act, and the words that proceed from your mouth? 

Many people claim to know Christ and put on their best to resemble a child of God, yet inside their soul is a darkness that has never truly been exposed to the eternal light. If you could see through the imitations, you'd see a lost soul headed for a Hell meant for deceivers of the spirit. 

Come to your Savior with a repentant heart, surrender your ways for the Lord's will. He will fill you with an eternal light that won't dim, even in the darkest moments of life. You will be the “real McCoy” for others to see their way to Christ. 

 Colossians 3:23-24 [23] And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 

While ordering breakfast at McDonald's this morning the cashier appeared agitated and I asked how her day was going. That opened the door for her to share her frustration with her coworkers not doing their fair share and how the manager isn't on top of her game. I told her all she could do was her best and not worry about how her fellow coworkers acted. 

I can't tell you how many times I had to fall back on today's verses during my career. There were times when I felt like no one else was invested in “the job”, putting more work on me. It got bad at one point until I adopted the attitude that I'm working for the Lord, no matter who is beside me or ruled over my position. It really helped me keep my head up and maintain a positive attitude. 

Maybe you are currently experiencing the same frustrations or will one day. Let today's verses remind you that your job is a blessing by God and you should do your very best when others fall short. Your outlook will be positive and possibly land you a better job or position in the workplace. God bless. 

 I Corinthians 3:16-17 NKJV

[16] Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? [17] If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

I recall, in my younger years, living on a farm, Mom would fuss at Dad for tracking in dirt from his work boots, bring in a watering hose (a long hard black hose covered in dirt) to thaw out, and a few times we'd have a newly born baby calf in the laundry room to warm up. Yeah, messes were made, but that's life living on a farm. 

As children of God, we have to always keep today's scripture in mind and filter out those things, people, even places we go that will bring the dirtiness of the world into our lives. You are a temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore you should always keep it as pure and holy as possible. Satan tries to convince you that bringing the world into your spiritual temple is acceptable, reasonable, and worth it. The equation he uses will always benefit YOU, but not God. 

Let that thought sink in for a few minutes. Is there anything in your life that is pleasing to you, but not God? 

If you've identified some things, people, or places unacceptable to God, make every effort to remove them before they become a permanent stain on your soul. God will bless your obedience for putting Him first and keeping His home pure and undefiled. 

Matthew 24:42  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.