Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. Psalm 116:2

 You see it all the time on social media, someone posts about a need and the replies are “praying for you”. If that’s your response, do you actually pray for them? Is God still waiting to hear your prayer for Him to provide the proper response of healing, wisdom, or blessing for that person you promised to pray for? I think we are quick to use the “praying for you” response to let that person know we care, but the truth is we are quick to go onto the next posts and soon forget to pray.

 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

 Prior to Jesus Christs visit on earth, only the High Priest could go into the inner area of the temple to commune with God. When Jesus died on the cross, that veil was torn in two, signifying God’s graciousness, allowing us to come to Him in person to pray. Jesus Christ didn’t die on the cross to let us flippantly use prayer as a response to people’s need. It’s a privilege and honor to come to the God of this universe.

 God doesn’t take prayer lightly and neither should you. If you make a commitment to pray for someone, don’t delay. Pray right at that moment so you don’t forget or lose sight of the need that’s been presented. God will honor your commitment to pray, seeking His help, and will respond accordingly.

 Finally, Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17, encourages believers to stay in a continual state of prayer. When you commit to pray, you keep an open line of communication with God, and those special prayer request can easily slip into your current dialog. It’s not a complicated process and can be easily accomplished with your commitment to stay in tune with God throughout the day. Keep your commitments to pray for others!

 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

 In my house are things of family members who have passed: pictures, an old wallet, a sword used in WW2, a metal match holder, recipe books, and many more things. Although useful to them during their lifetime, they serve as reminders of their life.

 Today, the cross is used on home décor, jewelry, tattoos, books, pictures, and so forth. For Christians, the cross serves as a reminder of the death of Jesus Christ, and His resurrection for payment of mankind’s sins. To those outside the faith, it is simply a symbol and they have no true understanding of its power.

 Years ago, when I went through one of the most trying times of my life, I made the decision to purchase a silver ring with crosses on it as a reminder of my faith. I still wear it today on my right hand and every time I look at it, I’m reminded of who I am in Christ. A sinner, forgiven, by the grace, mercy and love of God.

 What does the cross mean to you? My hope and prayer is you’ll truly understand its purpose and if you have the symbolic cross on something or somewhere displayed, that every time you look at it, you’ll be reminded of the life of Jesus Christ and His great sacrifice for you to have a One to One relationship with Him. God bless!

 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (patience); bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3:12-14

 If there is one thing I’ve learned in life, people are going to offend you either by the words they say, actions they take, or speak negatively about you behind your back. When these things come to your awareness, how do you respond?

 Today’s verses encourage you to freely forgive those offenders. That might sound like a tall order, given some of the evilest things you’ve experienced from another human. So how can you develop an attitude of forgiveness? Scripture above addresses that as well; having the following characteristics of tender mercies, humility, meekness, longsuffering, and bearing with one another. These character traits don’t come easy, they take time, maybe years to develop, but are necessary if you are to develop an attitude of forgiveness. As traits come naturally, those things that used to raise your blood pressure become opportunities to show them how powerful the love of God is through your forgiveness.

 Love is the next step; as God directs us to “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). If this seems impossible, ask God to give you a heart after Jesus Christ. He never deserved death on a cross, but He willingly paid your sin debt to free you from Hell and the chains that keep you bound up from enjoying the fruitful life He promises. Let me leave you with three words to use next time you are offended, Forgive, Forget, and Love. Do these three and you’ll change the world around you! God bless!

 Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just like churches back in biblical times, there were faithful members and some who were not so faithful. It's said 20 percent of the workforce does 80 percent of the work. If that statistic is true for church members, we are going to have a hard time reaching the lost with few devout members.

In Paul's letter to the church, he directed it to all the members, but specifically pointed out those who were faithful to Christ. He encouraged them to sustain their faith and be careful for those who tried to promote false doctrine. Satan tries to target God's faithful followers, so they will believe things not true about living for Christ. That's why it's so important to study God's word and rely on His Holy Spirit to provide wisdom as you navigate verse by verse. 

Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

If Paul were to write a letter to your church, could you say you are one of the “faithful” members and closely followed biblical standards for living? It's an honor and blessing to be found faithful to Christ. Ask God to help you in your faith and keep you from believing false doctrine. The truth of God's word will keep your life grounded and your faithful service going until you meet Him in Heaven, greeted with, “well done my good and faithful servant”. 

 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

 When I’m not watching Fox news (which is probably a mistake), I might catch an episode on HGTV where designers completely remodel someone’s home. From the floor to the ceiling and everything in between, it all gets replaced with updated and modern materials and décor.  Anything that was old is thrown out, so the new items can make the home beautiful and attractive for the homeowners.

 Today’s verse aligns with a home designer’s thought process, to put out the old stuff and bring in the new. As Christians, old patterns of sinful living should be replaced with a life led by the Holy Spirit, which yields fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, Galatians 5:22-23. These character traits might already be present in one’s life before coming to Christ, but after the conversion, they become more meaningful and without conditions.

 Re-read those fruits again and ask yourself, are they present in my life? No one is perfect and quite frankly, I have a lot of work to do with some of them myself, and that’s ok. Transforming your life after Christ doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, years of learning God’s ways, experiencing the value of trusting in God when your faith waivers, and most importantly building a love relationship with your Savior to the point that nothing else in life matters but Jesus Christ. Time spent with God in prayer, bible study, and communal worship will help in your transformation process.

 God loves you and wants complete surrender so He can make something beautiful in your life, that will bring Him glory, bless others, and strengthen the bond between you and Him. What part of your life can you start remodeling today?

 Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

When I began working with the Federal government as a civilian in the Army, I was trained to perform my job duties in a certain manner. Policies and regulations guided my daily duties. At first it was very overwhelming as things are done differently than in the private sector. I was exposed to rigid guidelines that kept my daily routines structured and with purpose. Even in retirement, my daily actions and my code of ethics represents who I became in the federal workforce. 

Today's scripture instructs God's followers to follow His life instructions, not to place a burden on His children, but to represent God's Holiness so others can see the kind of life He can give to those who chose to follow His way. It's a life that goes against the world’s grain, reflecting His character, through love, grace, and mercy to those outside the faith. 

If you are a Christian, you have to ask yourself, do I stand out amongst peers, family, and your enemies, as a follower of Jesus Christ or do you resemble the ways of the world? A true follower will be seen in a different light, not to be better than others, but humbly represent the character of Christ. Jesus said you will face criticism, even persecution for following Christ, but that's ok, God's blessings will be poured out on those who suffer for the cause. Take time to truly evaluate your life to make sure it aligns with Romans 12:2. Your life will lead others to Christ. 

 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” Mark 4:40

 Several years ago, while on one of my motorcycle rides, I found myself on the North side of Atlanta, 75 miles from home and it was raining and getting dark. I knew if I went the backroads my trip would take 2 hours to get home, but if I took the interstate, I’d be home quicker. I chose the interstate. If you’ve ever had to drive through Atlanta, you know it can be a harrowing experience. With a prayer and rain gear, I started my drive home. When I finally pulled into my driveway, I thought, wow, that was an easy ride with no issues.

 Today’s verse comes from the story of Jesus with His disciples in a boat that encountered a great wind storm, big waves, and they were fearful (Mark 4:35-41). Meanwhile, Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. When they woke Jesus, He quieted the storm and asked them why they had little faith or doubted that Jesus would protect them. That could have been my fear when deciding to ride home through Atlanta, but I knew from past experiences, when I put my faith in God, He always comes through.

 Maybe you are heading towards a harrowing experience; a health crisis, a marital problem, financial burden, or simply a drive in rough conditions. Have faith that God is always with you, watching over and protecting you from disaster. As a child of God, His Holy Spirit goes with you, just like Jesus was with His disciples. Yeah, you might encounter something unexpected along the journey, just believe that it’s there to bring you closer to God, and will strengthen your faith when you think something is beyond His capability. He’s got you covered, so trust Him as you begin your journey into the unknown. On the other side you’ll say to yourself, thank you God for bringing me through it unscathed! God bless!

 

 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said “It is enough!” Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” 1 Kings 19:4

 Elijah was one of the most important prophets in the Hebrew bible. He faced many challenges and threat against his life, yet He continued to be faithful. At one point, he was ready to give up. He had enough of the threats, the challenges, and now the princess Jezebel had her eye on killing Eligjah. As many of us would, he ran from the threats and prayed that God would take his life. As we read on in the same passage, God sent an Angel to wake him up and provided food and drink. He encouraged Elijah to seek after God’s direction. Elijah remained faithful to God and was swept up and taken into Heaven without experiencing the pain of death.

 How many times have you been ready to give up? Maybe a failed relationship, loss of employment, the battle of addictions, a devastating health diagnosis, so many things in life can bring you to a point you are willing to give up. Friend, I encourage you to continue on with life. God created you in His image, He loves you, and He has a special plan for your life, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. Don’t let the weight of your circumstances rob you of God’s greatest blessings.  

 Whatever is facing you right now, God already knows about it and has allowed it in your life to draw you closer to Him. Let this time of trial, suffering, and pain, take you to a deeper level of relationship with your Creator. His plan will never fail when you stay the course and remain faithful to Him. Seek Him in prayer for encouragement, wisdom, and healing as you move from day to day through this dark cloud that has overshadowed you. God will break through those clouds with His mighty power and bring you through it. It might take a long period of time, but God is in no hurry to teach you a lesson about His love, comfort, and inner peace He provides in the darkest moments. Seek Him today! God bless!

 

 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20

 At the end of this month, thousands of children (and some adults) will be knocking on the doors of people’s homes with expectations of receiving candy for Halloween. Some neighborhoods welcome these youngsters and freely give out candy, while other neighborhoods shun this activity and keep their lights off and doors locked. I’m sure those closed doors will be a reminder for them not to go by their house ever again.

 Luke 10:1-12 gives an account of Jesus who sent out 70 people into neighboring cities to heal the sick and proclaim “The kingdom of God has come near to you” (Luke 10:9). His instructions were for them to carry nothing, but the clothes on their backs and the people who receive them will furnish food, drink, and fellowship. But for those who didn’t receive them, they were to wipe the dust off their feet and leave the city with the message, “Nevertheless, know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you”.

 But I say to you, that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. Luke 10:12

 Sodom was a city of people who lived in purposeful sin and ignored God’s call to obedience. God destroyed that city with fire and brimstone, taking the lives of every resident. In Jesus’ own words in Luke 10:12, He described how awful it will be for those residents who rejected Jesus Christ.

 Jesus Christ is still knocking on the hearts of people today, seeking forgiveness of sins, sharing His love for all creation, and most of all desiring to have a personal relationship with everyone. Have you been rejecting God’s call to surrender the locked door of your heart to God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross? He is knocking and at some point, He will stop. Don’t delay his call. Receive Him today through this prayer of faith:

 Dear God, I am a sinner. I believe in Jesus Christ, that He made payment for my sins and rose back to life 3 days later. I ask Jesus to come into my heart, forgive my sins and save my soul. I commit my life to you now and every day. In Jesus name, Amen!

 

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

 As a Christian, when you do something for God, are you doing it for Him or yourself? Many people would quickly answer that they are serving God, but when you peel back the layers of intention, is your acts of service true worship?

 We can easily mess up our service with other intentions. Let me explain. Maybe you haven’t been living in obedience to God, like you should, so you think in your mind if I serve God, it will right my wrongs. Possibly you are trying to “fit in” with the active member’s club at church and feel this is your doorway to acceptance. And then there is always the prideful approach, where you believe your acts of service to the Lord will make you look good in front of other people, giving you a certain status amongst your peers. There are other intentions that can drive you to serve that only serve yourself and not truly God.

 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

 So, how can you make sure that you are serving God and not for other reasons?  Prayer is essential for any act of service. Prayer opens the line of communication with God and He speaks through His Holy Spirit, directing your service. In your prayer, you ask God to empty anything in you that might take away from the purity of service, such as pride, deceit, even jealousy. Train your mind to understand that the only reason you are serving Him is because He so graciously served you through His Son’s sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of your soul, and you are serving Him out of thankfulness. Finally, realize that you are the hands, feet, and mouthpiece of Jesus Christ in your service and everything you do should be a reflection of Him. Any service that doesn’t reflect Christ’s character should be purged and reset your heart.

Consider it a blessing to serve God, by returning a very small portion of His blessings back to Him for what He has done and will continue to do in your life. Serve Him with a pure heart! Blessings!  

 

 

 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

 One of my favorite videos to watch is pilots, inside the cockpit of jets, while they take off. One thing I notice every time, the pilot always has his/her eyes on the instruments as they lift off the ground and continue to watch them until they reach their proper altitude. Why? Because the instruments don’t lie, they tell the truth about the performance of the plane and watching those instruments ensures the plane is at the right speed, right angle for lift, and is moving away from earth and not headed towards it. Left to visual flying, the pilot might get confused by what he sees and crash.

 For the Christian, today’s verse gives encouragement to live your life by faith and not sight. Many times in life, you’ll encounter things that can generate anxiety, fear, sadness, even failure, leading you on an emotional rollercoaster. God never intended for His children to live that way. He wants you to feel the security of His presence, His control over your situations, and most of all embrace you with His love, forgiveness, and hope. In the process, your flight through life goes much smoother and avoids the pitfalls that many outside the faith find themselves battling, like addictions, destructive behaviors, even suicide.

 Your life as a child of God can ONLY be lived out by faith, not by the sight of your circumstances. No matter what comes your way, God allows it to draw you closer to Him for faith building and learning to let go and let God handle the crisis. He will do it, if you simply allow Him to take control as you carry on in faith. Look towards Jesus Christ and you’ll fly high and straight every time! God bless!

 “Come to Me, all you 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

 Several years ago, we had to put my wife’s mother in an assisted living facility as she was not able to properly care for her basic and medical needs at home. The first year there, I recall she was always worried about her bank account, her bills, and living expenses. All of that was being handled by my wife; all she had to do was live and enjoy the last few years of her life with other people in similar situations. The benefits of assisted living far outweighed the burden put on my mother-in-law.

 If there is a group of verses that clearly represent a life with Jesus Christ, it’s found in Matthew 11:28-30. No doubt, living the Christian life in this world is not easy and the struggles to maintain faith can be put to the test by the trials we face, the heartaches we encounter, and living opposite of how everyone else is living. But Jesus says to come to Him with our heavy burdens and He will lighten our load. His way is not burdensome, but light when we connect with Him. I can tell you from personal experience, I’ve learned over the years that giving God my struggles, my worries, and disappointments has released its weight, allowing me to have an inner peace and assurance that God has it all under His control. Let me repeat that….GOD HAS IT UNDER HIS CONTROL. 

 Like me, you might not be old enough or disabled enough to enter an assisted living facility, but you can enjoy the benefits of having God assist your living by giving Him all your worries and struggles. He will help you navigate through them with an inner peace like no other. Put your trust in Him today and you too will see God’s assisted living facility is the perfect fit for your life! God bless!  

 

 

 Jesus said, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

 As a child growing up, you might have heard your parents say phrases such as: “I’m not going to tell you gain”, “this is your last chance”, or “when I get to 3, you’d better do what I say”. If the parent was true to his word, they’d apply discipline to you for not obeying. If you are like me, you took advantage of that grace period to correct your behavior and avoid the pain of their punishment.

 Today’s scripture quotes the words of Jesus; He came to seek and save the lost. His saving grace still applies to everyone today, as He freely welcomes everyone (His creation) to come to Him seeking forgiveness of sins and living a life of obedience by His standards found in the bible. By believing that Jesus Christ (God’s Son) came to earth, died on a cross for mankind’s sins, and rose to life 3 days later, and receiving Him as your Lord and Savior, you can be assured of God’s forgiveness and have a personal relationship with Him while here on earth (and into eternity).

 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom HE has ordained, HE has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31

 Just like the parent who gives the child a chance to turn from their wrongdoing, so does God give you the chance to turn from sin and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and security in Heaven’s home. The time to commit to Jesus Christ is today, for tomorrow might be too late. Don’t delay, because when Jesus comes back to judge the world, you will face the punishment of God (eternal Hell) and miss the opportunity for eternal paradise with your Creator. Come to Jesus Christ today!

 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 2 Corinthians 5:14

 It’s been reported that Charlie Kirk had numerous death threats made against his life, yet he continued to stand before crowds, that often mocked him, to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. His hope was to change the minds of young people who’ve been filled with the world’s belief system, just the opposite of God’s standards. Knowing this, he was compelled to bring a turning point into the lives of our next generation of leaders.

 The Bible’s New Testament records many stories of ordinary people who proclaimed Jesus Christ’s saving grace and died for the cause. They didn’t do it because they knew their reward would be heaven, they did it because they were compelled by what they believed to be true and through personal experiences with Jesus Christ when He was living amongst them. Christ’s love touched their lives and nothing of the world caused them to retreat, from horrible beatings and even death.

 If you are a child of God, what compels you to live each day for Jesus Christ? What compels you to share the good news of Jesus saving grace to a lost and dying world? If you struggle with those answers, maybe you need to double check your standing with Christ. Jesus didn’t die on the cross for you to live an idle life and hold back the special grace and mercy He’s shown you. He commanded us to share Jesus with everyone and in every place on this planet.

 We need more Charlie Kirks in this world to touch the lives of others, to dispel the lies the prince of this world is trying to infiltrate the minds of our youth. YOU can make a difference in your corner of this world. You don’t need to stand in front of thousands to proclaim Christ, but you can live out your faith in what you say, and act, and sharing your faith with individuals who are searching for light amongst the darkness. What compels you? Ask God to give you the heart to share what you know to be true! God bless!

 Joshua 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 

Airline pilots have a thorough checklist they go through to ensure the plane is prepared for a safe flight. Many accidents have happened when the checklist wasn't followed closely. 

God gave His people, the Israelites, a set of rules to follow to ensure an obedient life that aligned with God's plan for that nation. Over the course of time, they failed to follow God's commands and felt the pain of his wrath. His commands weren't complicated or burdensome, but the people chose to walk in their own way until God got their attention. 

Today we have God's word as a checklist for us to follow to ensure a life that is pleasing to God and many times yields His abundant blessings. Sadly some choose a different path and miss out on what could be a near perfect life. If that's you, I encourage you to come back to the book for wisdom and guidance as you navigate through this life. It may seem long, but eternity can't be measured, it goes on forever. Why not stay true to God and live in obedience. God blesses those who walk in His way. Start 

 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment. Psalm 66:10-12

 God has a plan for your life. Many times, He blesses you with financial comfort, good health, and ease of life. But did you know that He also uses trials and difficulties as part of His plan to grow and strengthen your faith?  

 I recall during my last 14 years of employment as a supervisor, I was faced, almost daily, with situations that put me to the test mentally, emotionally, and at times physically. The pressure to perform in my role was very heavy on my heart, mind, and soul. I learned pretty quickly to turn over the challenges I faced to God for wisdom and direction. In the process, I developed a stronger relationship with God, learned to trust Him more, and witnessed God’s hand working in ways I could never have imagined. Without those difficulties, I’d probably stay stagnant in my faith. And beyond my growth, my testimony of trusting God has helped others in their walk with the Lord.

 Maybe you are undergoing a time of God’s testing. An unwelcomed health diagnosis, a financial burden that exceeds your budget, an enemy who seems to relentlessly pursue your happiness and joy, and the list goes on and on. Re-read today’s scripture right now.

 Your firestorm is just what God has planned to grow your faith, increase time with Him through prayer and bible reading, and show you who is really in control. Don’t fight against God, work with Him during this refining process and see your outcome yield rich fulfillment of Godly character develop in your life! God bless!