Even When There Was No Reason For Hope, Abraham Kept Hoping – Believing That He Would Become The Father Of Many Nations.

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Romans 1; Romans 2; Romans 3; Romans 4 

Even When There Was No Reason For Hope,

Abraham Kept Hoping –

Believing That He Would Become The Father Of Many Nations. 

Scripture

Romans 4 

¹⁸ Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations.

For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” ¹⁹ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

²⁰ Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

²² And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. ²³ And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded ²⁴ for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Observation

Maybe…

Maybe you are having an Abraham experience and you have come to the point where you have no reason for hope.

• You have lost all reason for hope because of your health is not getting better, in fact maybe it is getting worse.

• Your marriage is still a mess and maybe it is only getting worse.

• You are stuck in a job that to say the least is terrible. Maybe even worse than having a terrible job you have not even been able to find a job of any kind and you are losing everything.

• You are experiencing a parent’s worst nightmare - you have teenage or young adult child that is on the road to self-destruction abusing drugs, alcohol, or/and sex.

If you have no reason for hope today I encourage you to look up. Let me encourage you to never stop believing.

“Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb”

Can I remind you of yesterday’s word from I Thessalonians 5:16-18

• Always be joyful.

• Never stop praying.

• Be thankful in all circumstances.

 Application

 I will continue to hope (and pray) even when there seems no reason for hope!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, the story of Abraham and how You kept Your promise that You made to Him is recorded in the Bible for my benefit. And for the benefit of those reading my blog. It is to show us that we can always put our trust and our hope in You even when things seem totally hopeless. 

I pray today that Your word in this blog would give people hope. I know some that read this blog are struggling with health issues. I know some are looking for jobs. I know that some have marriages that they are just about to give up on. And I know some need a miracle in the lives of their children or grandchildren. I pray for them today. Give them the ability to trust You during this time of hopelessness.

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Always Be Joyful. Never Stop Praying. Be Thankful In All Circumstances, For This Is God’s Will For You Who Belong To Christ Jesus.

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1 Thessalonians 4; 1 Thessalonians 5; 2 Thessalonians 1; 2 Thessalonians 2; 2 Thessalonians 3

Always Be Joyful. Never Stop Praying.

Be Thankful In All Circumstances,

For This Is God’s Will For You Who Belong To Christ Jesus.

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Observation

There are 3 words in this set of verses that makes it very hard to keep them: Always, Never, and All!

I remember putting these 3 verses up last year on our living room wall so I would constantly be reminded that this is what God wants from me!

He expects me to be always joyful. He is counting on me to never stop praying. And He wants me to be thankful in all circumstances!

I think it is time to put these verses back up on the wall again!  

Application

I will print these verses out and place them back up on my living room wall! 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I always want to be joyful. Help me to be able to do that. I don’t ever want to quit praying for people. Don’t let me ever give up and stop praying for them. Give me the ability to be thankful in all circumstances and not just in some of them. I know that all of these are Your will me because I belong to Christ Jesus. 

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What Will Be Our Proud Reward And Crown As We Stand Before Our Lord Jesus When He Returns? It Is You!

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Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 1; 1 Thessalonians 2; 1 Thessalonians 3

What Will Be Our Proud Reward And Crown

As We Stand Before Our Lord Jesus When He Returns?

It Is You!

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 2

¹⁸ We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. ¹⁹ After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you!  

²⁰ Yes, you are our pride and joy.

Observation

There is a very good reason why we should invest our lives in people and help them become like Jesus Christ. 

Why? 

Because one day we will stand before Jesus Christ when He returns and if we have invested in the lives of people then they will be our crown and our reward!

It will be Pay Day one day! You and I will be rewarded for the lives that we have helped change!
So…think about this…who needs you today? Whose life can you and I invest in? 

Our enemy is Satan and he will do everything within his power to keep us from making a difference in someone else’s life. If he can he will cause us to be so inwardly focused that the only person you and I think about is “I”. 

And he is very good at it!

Application

I will strive to help someone today be more like Jesus. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me a heart like the Apostle Paul’s for the people around me. Don’t let Satan prevent me from doing what You have called me to do. I pray for our Missionaries as they prepare to speak tonight. I pray that the offering we collect for our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering will make You Smile. 

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Just As The Mountains Surround Jerusalem, So The LORD Surrounds His People, Both Now And Forever.

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Psalm 125; Matthew 26; Matthew 27

Just As The Mountains Surround Jerusalem,

So The LORD Surrounds His People, 

Both Now And Forever.

Scripture

Psalm 125

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
    they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
 
² Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.

Observation

I took a minute this morning looking up references to Mount Zion just to get a better idea of what the writer was saying when he said, “as secure as Mount Zion.” I found that Mount Zion is an actual hill or mountain that is close to Jerusalem and the temple on top of Mount Zion was described as the place where God’s presence resided. It was His dwelling place. 

Psalm 135:21 “The Lord be praised from Zion, for he lives here in Jerusalem.”

Bottom line for us is that we are very, very secure in the Lord. We will not be defeated. We will endure forever! The Lord surrounds us, both now and forever!

Wow! Great Psalm for today! 

Application

I am secure in the Lord today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for surrounding me with Your love and Your protection. I am secure in You. Thank You for all Your promises. You are so good. 

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The Good News About The Kingdom Will Be Told In All The World. … And Then The End Will Come.

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Matthew 23; Matthew 24; Matthew 25

The Good News About The Kingdom

Will Be Told In All The World. …

And Then The End Will Come. 

Scripture

Matthew 24

¹⁴ This good news about the kingdom will be told in all the world. The people in all countries must know about it. And then the end will come. (Worldwide English)

Observation

The Gospel, The Good News of Jesus Christ, will be told in all the world. It will happen. It must happen. And then the end will come.

There are still places where the Gospel needs to be proclaimed. I love hearing missionaries share how the Gospel is penetrating and reaching the people of their particular country, their nation where they are serving, or their specific people group.

It is amazing!

I love what is happening this week at Christ Fellowship. We are having a Mission’s conference and our entire church gets to experience what is going on around the world through the testimonies of our missionaries.

Our missionaries – I love it!

It is our responsibility and privilege as a church to hear the reports from our missionaries. It is our privilege and our responsibility to support them. We support them by praying, by giving, and by going to help them reach this world for Christ. It is the task of the local church.

 Application

 I will listen to our missionaries tonight, tomorrow and on Wednesday so I can better pray for them. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for calling out people to go around the world to share the Gospel. Show us how we can better support them. Help us pray for them. Give us the burden and vision to go help them. Thank You for allowing our church this opportunity. Help us to take advantage of every minute!

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“Love Your Neighbors The Same As You Love Yourself.”

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Matthew 20; Matthew 21; Matthew 22

“Love Your Neighbors

The Same

As You Love Yourself.”

Scripture

Matthew 22

³⁷ Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and most important command.
 
³⁹ And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’

⁴⁰ All of the law and the writings of the prophets take their meaning from these two commands.”

Observation

Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself. Do you and I need a definition of who is our neighbor? The story of the Good Samaritan covers that pretty well. Anybody who has a need is considered our neighbor. Just look around and you will quickly see that we have plenty of neighbors.

I am concerned for someone who fits the description of a “neighbor”. How about you?

 Is there someone that you need to help in some way? Maybe they need a meal. Maybe they need a friend. Maybe they are cold and need something as simple as a blanket or a heater.

 Application

I will reach out to this person and see how I can help him/her stay warmer this winter.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me be a good neighbor to someone today.

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You Realize, Don’t You, That Their Personal Angels Are Constantly In Touch With My Father In Heaven?

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Matthew 17; Matthew 18; Matthew 19

You Realize,

Don’t You, That Their Personal Angels Are Constantly In Touch

With My Father In Heaven?

Scripture

Matthew 18

At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?”

^2-5 For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.

¹⁰ “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?

Observation

We better be careful how you and I treat people because they have angels watching over them. I didn’t say it - Jesus did.

When we look down on other believers, when we leave them out, when we think we are better than they are then we better remember the words of Jesus when He tells us that we better watch out!

Jesus was constantly working on the attitude of His disciples just as He is always working on our attitudes.

Application

I will think of a “childlike believer” in our congregation that needs my help and I will try to encourage them.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You know the childlike in our congregation. Help me to love them. Give me Your heart for them. I know that they have angels in Heaven watching over them. 

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“Don’t You Understand Yet?” Jesus Asked. “…The Words You Speak Come From The Heart.”

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Matthew 14; Matthew 15; Matthew 16


“Don’t You Understand Yet?” Jesus Asked.

“…The Words You Speak 

Come From The Heart.”

Scripture

Matthew 15

 

¹⁶ “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked.
 
¹⁷ “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. ¹⁸ But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. ¹⁹ For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. ²⁰ These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

Observation

Listen to what comes out of your mouth …it comes from your heart!

I am shocked at some of the things I say … how about you? I am not talking about profanity.  I am talking about mean words, hateful words, and cutting words that come out of my mouth. I can’t believe it sometimes – how mean I can be.

Oh … you are not like that?

    "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9

Your heart is also worse than you may think!

What comes out of our mouths is just a reflection of what is in our heart!

Oh … he or she didn’t really mean to say that. Or have you heard someone say this when someone says something really ugly, “Don’t worry about what they said, they are not really like that.” Oh really? Yes, they are!

You and I are a mess.

We have hearts that need to be completely filled with Jesus/Holy Spirit. When are hearts aren’t filled with Jesus then our hearts are filled with us and outflows mean and ugly stuff! Everyday we must be filled with Jesus. You may ask, “Why do we need to be filled by Jesus daily.” The answer, simple, because we leak!

Application

I am asking Jesus to totally fill my heart/life today. I am asking Him to show me any sin in my life and to convict me when my words reflect an ugly heart. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I need Jesus to totally fill me today. Show me anything in my life that doesn’t please You. Help me as I go through this day not to be mean with the words I say or harsh with the tone I use. When I reveal an ugly heart with the words that come out of my mouth I pray that You bring correction to my life. Show me quickly so I can ask You for forgiveness and so I can ask the person to forgive me who received those ugly/sharp/cutting remarks. 

    When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16


   
   


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“Come To Me All Of You Who Are Tired From The Heavy Burden You Have Been Forced To Carry. I Will Give You Rest.”

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Matthew 11; Matthew 12; Matthew 13

“Come To Me All Of You Who Are Tired

From The Heavy Burden You Have Been Forced To Carry.

I Will Give You Rest.”

Scripture

Matthew 11

²⁸ “Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.
 
²⁹ Accept my teaching. 

Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. 

And you will be able to get some rest. ³⁰ Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy.
The load I give you to carry is light.”

Observation

Thanksgiving Day is here. Black Friday has now pushed into what used to be a day to give thanks! Hopefully you and I will resist the urge to change of day of giving thanks, a day to be with family, to a day of shopping craziness!

Aren’t you tired enough?

Jesus is calling out to us today. His call is to all of us tired people. His promise is to give us rest.

What is our part?

We must accept His teaching. We must learn from Him. His teaching is easy and the load that He will give you and me to carry is light.

Stop right now…and…let’s talk to Him. He will give us rest! 

Application

I will rest today. It is a day to give thanks. It is a day for my family and my friends. I will not say, “yes” to all the stores begging for my business! It is Thanksgiving!

Prayer

Psalm 100:1-5 

A psalm of thanksgiving.

    Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

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Jesus Answered, ”Why Are You Afraid? You Don’t Have Enough Faith.”

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Matthew 8; Matthew 9; Matthew 10

Jesus Answered, 

”Why Are You Afraid?

You Don’t Have Enough Faith.”

Scripture

Matthew 8

²³ Jesus got into a boat, and his followers went with him. ²⁴ After the boat left the shore, a very bad storm began on the lake. The waves covered the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The followers went to him and woke him. They said, “Lord, save us! We will drown!”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Why are you afraid? You don’t have enough faith.” Then he stood up and gave a command to the wind and the water. The wind stopped, and the lake became very calm.
²⁷ The men were amazed. They said, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the water obey him!”

Observation

Fear! It comes in all shapes and sizes.

What brings fear to your life? What puts fear in your heart?

For the disciples that night it was being caught in a storm with waves coming into the boat. Most of these guys were fisherman so if they were terrified then they were in a very bad storm.

Each one of us has our own areas where fear creeps in; maybe it is flying on an airplane, maybe our teenage child out on a Friday night with friends, it could be our finances or our lack of finances, maybe our health or the health of a loved one, what about a fragile relationship, our future, the holidays, our job or not being able to find a job, the list could go on and on. 

Oh, did I mention “the dark”!

All fear … All fear … All fear … is a lack of faith. Did you get that? Do I need to repeat it one more time? All fear is a lack of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Application

 The next time fear creeps into my life I will remember the words of Jesus, “Don’t you have enough faith?” And I will trust Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I have to admit that there are times in my life when fear creeps in. It usually is over things that are in the future. Things that are totally out of my control. Help me to trust You when those thoughts creep in. You are All-Powerful. Nothing is too hard for You. You are the One who will calm the storms. You alone. You are enough. 

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“If You Look At People And Want To Help Them, You Will Be Full Of Light.”

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Matthew 5; Matthew 6; Matthew 7

“If You Look At People

And Want To Help Them,

You Will Be Full Of Light.”

Scripture

Matthew 6

²² “The only source of light for the body is the eye. If you look at people and want to help them, you will be full of light. ²³ But if you look at people in a selfish way, you will be full of darkness. And if the only light you have is really darkness, you have the worst kind of darkness.

Observation

We look at people all the time don’t we?

When we look at them what is going on in our minds and in our hearts? Do we judge them by their appearance? Do we quickly turn away from them because they are not like us? Do we steer clear of them because we would rather not be bothered?

We are selfish aren’t we?

Maybe we look at someone that is obviously very successful and want to hang with him or her because it makes us look good. What bad toads we are!

We tend to be self-centered don’t we? It is our default position.

Unless we surrender our lives daily to the Lord Jesus Christ we can expect our selfish nature to dominate and be in control.

Here is a good test to see if you and I are full of the Holy Spirit.

When you and I look at people and want to help them then we are full God’s Holy ___________!

When you and I look at people in a selfish way, you and I are full of __________________________.

Application

When I see people today, when I think about them, and when I pray for them I want God to give me the desire to help them.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me want to help the people I see. Give me Your Eyes. Give me Your Heart. Give me the desire to help the people that You bring into my life. Be in control of my life today so that I might bring You glory and honor. 

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“Come, Follow Me, And I Will Make You A Different Kind Of Fisherman. You Will Bring In People, Not Fish.”

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Matthew 1; Matthew 2; Matthew 3; Matthew 4 

“Come, Follow Me, 

And I Will Make You A Different Kind Of Fisherman.

You Will Bring In People, Not Fish.”

Scripture

Matthew 4 

¹⁹ Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish.”

Observation

Since Jesus said it I believe it! Our main task on planet earth is to bring in people, not fish. Our job to pay the bills and keep the lights on in our homes may be selling cars, teaching school, construction, or working in an office somewhere, etc., but our calling from God is to bring people to Jesus! 

It is what we do – or at least it is what we should do.

I don’t know about you, but I need to re-focus on the task of bringing people to Jesus. It is easy to get off task. There are lots of substitutes that easily get us off target.  

Application

I will make a list of the men that I need to contact and I will begin to meet with them one on one.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to bring men to Jesus. Don’t let me miss out on the blessing of seeing men’s lives transformed by Your Power. Give me the ability to move guys closer to You. You are an Awesome God. Worthy of All Praise! 

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I Quit Focusing On The Handicap And Began Appreciating The Gift

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Psalm 124; 2 Corinthians 11; 2 Corinthians 12; 2 Corinthians 13

I Quit Focusing On The Handicap

And 

Began Appreciating The Gift

Scripture

2 Corinthians 12

^7-10 … what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

Observation

Since July 30^th I have not been able to drive a car! I can’t drive anymore because of my wacky heart. It has been proven to be too unreliable, so putting me behind the wheel endangers everybody not just me!

We just had the opportunity to drive up to Tennessee and North Carolina and Kathy had to do all the driving – all 2160 miles! For a man, or at least for this man, having to have your wife do all the driving is humbling. I had been doing most of the driving for the past 43 years of our marriage. At least when I was in the car with Kathy I almost always was the one that was driving.

To be honest I am not at the same point that the Apostle Paul was when he wrote this part of his letter to the church at Corinth. We don’t know what Paul’s physical handicap was but by this time in his life he was handling it pretty well.

I want to get to where I can say like the Apostle Paul said, “I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift.”

Maybe I am almost there. It is easier for me to ride in the passenger seat every day we go somewhere now than it was 3 months ago. Oh, I meant to say, “lt is a little bit easier”!

In a few minutes I am going to walk up to church for worship. I am looking forward to it! 

The Apostle Paul had to walk everywhere. He never had the luxury of riding in a car, bus, plane or even on a bicycle like I get to do. 

Shame on us - I mean shame on me for ever feeling bad about my situation! I never experienced anything like the Apostle Paul did: 

2 Corinthians 11

²⁴ Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of 39 lashes with a whip. ²⁵ Three different times I was beaten with rods. One time I was almost killed with rocks. Three times I was in ships that were wrecked, and one of those times I spent the night and the next day in the sea. ²⁶ In my constant traveling I have been in danger from rivers, from thieves, from my own people, and from people who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities, in places where no one lives, and on the sea. And I have been in danger from people who pretend to be believers but are not.
²⁷ I have done hard and tiring work, and many times I did not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Many times I have been without food. I have been cold and without clothes. ²⁸ And there are many other problems. One of these is the care I have for all the churches. 

Application

I will focus on looking at my little handicap as a gift today!  How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I look forward to what You are going to do today. You are so powerful. I pray that You do a Mighty Work in the lives of all of us that attend church today. I pray for those that need to be saved. I pray that today they will open up their hearts. I pray for others who are struggling with problems right now. I pray that they will give those problems over completely to You. Set them free! Help us appreciate this day that You have given us to live and help us live it to its fullest! Help us enjoy the people that You bring across our path. Be glorified today in Your church. 

Use Pastor Bruce to encourage Your people through Your Word. You are Worthy of Praise!

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God Loves A Man Who Gives Because He Wants To Give. God Can Give You All You Need. He Will Give You More Than Enough.

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2 Corinthians 7; 2 Corinthians 8; 2 Corinthians 9; 2 Corinthians 10

God Loves A Man Who Gives Because He Wants To Give. 

God Can Give You All You Need. 

He Will Give You More Than Enough.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 9

⁶ Remember, the man who plants only a few seeds will not have much grain to gather. The man who plants many seeds will have much grain to gather. ⁷ Each man should give as he has decided in his heart. He should not give, wishing he could keep it. Or he should not give if he feels he has to give. God loves a man who gives because he wants to give. ⁸ God can give you all you need. He will give you more than enough. You will have everything you need for yourselves. And you will have enough left over to give when there is a need.

Observation

Christmas! It is a time to GIVE!

Problem is you and I may give a lot during this time of year and if we aren’t careful we will miss out on giving where we will get the greatest return.

Grandparents (I is one J) can lavish lots of gifts and lots of toys on their grandchildren many of which will break within the first 24 hours of use or abuse. We grandparents can spend lots of money on our kids and on our grandkids and on each other – on grandma or grandpa, but is it the best place to spend or use our “Christmas” money?

 Now I am not saying that you don’t buy your spouse a nice present, or buy your kids something good, or even those precious grandchildren a very special gift, but what I am getting ready to suggest is something far better!

This year, why don’t you and your spouse talk about giving your largest gift, your most special gift to the “The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering”? If your church doesn’t have one – no problem we will let you give through our church J! The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is an offering named after a missionary named Lottie Moon who died for the cause of Christ in China in the early 1900’s. 

It provides more than half of all the support for our 5,000+ missionaries around the world.

Our kids know (unless they have forgotten) that our biggest Christmas gift is to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. Kathy and I decided a long time along that we would rather give to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering than to buy each other stuff at Christmas. It also means that we have less to spend on our kids and grandkids at Christmas. 

Sorry kids. Sorry grandkids. Jesus comes first! Not a bad thing to teach your kids, your grandkids and to remind each other!

You can’t out give God. What we give to the “Lottie Moon Christmas Offering” will be returned back to us many times over. You can’t out give God. Remember God always gives us more than we need so that we can give to help others in need.

He also gives us more than we need so we can give to help support our missionaries around the world!

Application

I will pray with Kathy and we will decide how much to give to the “Lottie Moon Christmas Offering”. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, put on our hearts how much to give this year! We know that You love cheerful givers. I pray for those that might read this blog today. I pray that they also will be led to give sacrificially this Christmas Season! You are such a Generous God. Help us to be more like You. 

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That Is Why We Never Give Up. Our Physical Body Is Becoming Older And Weaker, But Our Spirit Inside Us Is Made New Every Day.

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2 Corinthians 3; 2 Corinthians 4; 2 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 6

That Is Why We Never Give Up.

Our Physical Body Is Becoming Older And Weaker,

But Our Spirit Inside Us Is Made New Every Day.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 4 – Easy To Read Version & The Message Version

¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day. ¹⁷ We have small troubles for a while now, but these troubles are helping us gain an eternal glory. That eternal glory is much greater than our troubles. ¹⁸ So we think about what we cannot see, not what we see. What we see lasts only a short time, and what we cannot see will last forever. (ERV)

16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. 

These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. (Message)

Observation

Having the right perspective is huge! It will get you through difficult times.

While we were traveling a few weeks ago we went to Maryville, Tennessee to visit some very close missionary friends of ours. Kathy and I had the opportunity to have lunch with retired missionary and great friend Edith Kennedy and her sister-in-law Reba. 

Both of these ladies have gone through incredible health issues and they both have mighty testimonies of how our God has worked and is continuing to work in their lives.

Edith underwent a 14-hour plus surgery to remove a benign brain tumor a little over a year ago. It was a super dangerous surgery that could have had all kinds of bad side effects and death was just one of them. She is doing great today!

 Reba shared with us that over the past 7 years has encountered breast cancer, lung cancer and I believe bone cancer. She has had multiple surgeries and has dealt and lived with tremendous pain. They have removed sections of one of her lungs during different surgeries and they have removed several ribs during other surgeries. Besides all of the previously mentioned problems Reba has also had Crohn’s disease that she had to deal with even before all of the cancer.

Sitting with both of these ladies and looking at them you would have never known all that they had gone through. As we talked and as we swapped our God stories my story seemed to shrink in significance as they shared what God had done in their lives.

 My wife Kathy shared at the table that day all that God had done in her life as she went through her experience of having a husband (me) at the point of death and how so many people came and surrounded her and how God showed up to answer their prayers.  My part of that story is just small potatoes compared to what God has allowed these ladies to experience and what God has allowed them to learn! I have definitely been on the receiving end of the goodness of God.

God got a lot of glory that day! These two ladies, Kathy and myself are all testimonies to the goodness and the power of God. He is Healer. As I walked out of that restaurant I felt like I was on holy ground!

Let me add one more twist to this story.

While Edith was recovering from this brain tumor surgery her husband and my very good friend Don had previous prostate cancer return and pay him a visit. So he had to begin treatment for prostate cancer! Don is doing well today also. He was in Mexico on a mission trip when we went to visit them in October. We talked to him at his house via Skype while he was in Puebla, Mexico.

God is so good!

Application

I will visit someone today who is going through difficult health problems.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, our stories should bring You glory. You are mighty in power. You are Healer. You love to heal. You love us. You care about us. Help us to trust You today with every one of our hurts. Help us to be Your Hands and Your Feet and help us as we comfort others that need encouragement.

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And You Can Help Us With Your Prayers…

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Job 41; Job 42; 2 Corinthians 1; 2 Corinthians 2 

And You 

Can Help Us

With Your Prayers…

Scripture

2 Corinthians 1

¹¹ And you can help us with your prayers. Then many people will give thanks for us—that God blessed us because of their many prayers.

Observation

Do you want to help me? How about praying for me! Paul shares with those at the church in Corinth how important it was for them to pray for him. He knew that God had blessed he and his co-workers because of the prayers that had been prayed on their behalf. 

When I pray for people it makes a difference in their lives. God answers my prayers that I pray for other people. It is amazing, but when we pray we are very powerful. Why? Because God loves to answer our prayers!

So how can you help me? You can pray for me. How can I help you? I can pray for you?
God works in the lives of people when we pray for them. Don’t ever give up. Don’t ever stop praying for them. God is working. 

I pray for people that need the Lord. I pray for people that have strayed off the path and are not walking close to the Lord. I pray for people that are sick. I pray for people that are in ministry or that are in leadership positions in our church. I pray for missionaries. I pray for lots of people that are in all kinds of different situations and circumstances. God answers my prayers. 

I have had a ton of people praying for me and for Kathy. God has blessed us because of their prayers! I am still alive to enjoy another day because of the prayers of people like you. 

Application 

Today, I will pray for the people that God puts on my heart because I know that God hears my prayers and I know that He loves to answer me.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I don’t understand why You let us be a part of Your ministry here on this earth but You do. We pray to You for others and You are faithful to work in their lives in answer to our prayers. We are not worthy of this privilege. We don’t deserve this kind of power. You are the All-Powerful One! Nothing is too hard for You. I will pray today for You to work miracles in the lives of those who are on my heart. Their situations seem impossible to me, but I know that for You nothing is impossible. So I put my faith and my trust in You. 

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Don’t Let Anything Change You. Always Give Yourselves Fully To The Work Of The Lord. You Know That Your Work In The Lord Is Never Wasted.

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Psalm 149; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Corinthians 16

Don’t Let Anything Change You.

Always Give Yourselves Fully To The Work Of The Lord.

You Know That Your Work In The Lord Is Never Wasted.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 16

⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.

Observation

Finishing Well! 

We read in the newspapers and we are hearing on Television that decorated Generals that have served our country well in the past are now being accused of not “finishing well”. What a shame! This year we have heard of a famous and well thought of college football coach that at the end of an unbelievable career left a legacy of not finishing well. 

It is even more important for you and I to finish well. 

Here is what Paul says to us today. He says, “Stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.” Then he adds, “You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.” 

Sin that is allowed to go unchecked and hidden, sin that is allowed to remain un-confessed and un-forgiven can wreck our lives just when our lives need to count the most for God’s kingdom.
Paul is pleading with you and me today for us to finish well. 

It is our choice.

  

Application

 I will stand strong today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that Satan would love to destroy my family and me. He would love to destroy our church. Help me to stand strong. Help me to fully give myself to serving You with all of my heart. Don’t let me mess up. Help me to finish well.

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Love Never Gives Up On People. It Never Stops Trusting, Never Loses Hope, And Never Quits.

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Job 39; Job 40; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Corinthians 14

Love Never Gives Up On People.

It Never Stops Trusting, Never Loses Hope,

And Never Quits.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 13

⁷ Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.

Observation

This verse is a reminder to think about someone … someone that maybe you or I have given up on. 

Okay, if we have that person in mind let’s finish the verse … love never stops trusting. 

We never stop trusting that God can do a miracle in this person’s life. 

We never lose hope in God All-Powerful that this miracle can happen. 

And finally we never quit calling on God in this person’s behalf. 

Who are you thinking of right now?

Application 

I have someone in mind. I am going to pray for him today. I am going to try to call him. I am going to write him a card. I am not going to quit praying for a turn around in his life. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You know who is on my heart. He needs a miracle. He is on the road to destruction. I pray that You work a miracle in his life. You are God All-Powerful. Nothing is too hard for You. 

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If One Part Of The Body Suffers, Then All The Other Parts Suffer With It.

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Job 37; Job 38; 1 Corinthians 12 


If 

One Part Of The Body Suffers,

Then All The Other Parts Suffer With It.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12 

²⁶ If one part of the body suffers, then all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part is honored, then all the other parts share its honor.

Observation

Right now I have several friends at church that are suffering either with physical sicknesses or that have relationships that have gone south. I don’t know about you, but I hurt because they are hurting.

The reason I feel this way is because I belong to the body of Christ and when person is hurting it affects everybody. If you don’t ever feel this way then you better check and see if you are part of the body.

I also take pride in the leadership of our church. When they do something special and one of them or the entire team is honored then I share in their honor. When someone in our congregation brings someone to Christ and that person becomes part of our church I get to share in that person’s joy.

We weep with those that weep and we rejoice with those that are rejoicing!

Application

 I will visit someone this week that is going through a tough time and I will write some cards this week to congratulate some of my friends who are celebrating victories!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am part of the body of Christ. I wouldn’t trade my position in Your body for anything. I pray for my friends that are dealing with sickness. I pray that You give them strength and I pray that You heal their bodies. I also pray for those that are celebrating victories this week. I rejoice with them. You are so good. 

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I Was Glad When They Said To Me, “Let Us Go To The House Of The Lord.”

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Psalm 122; 1 Corinthians 9; 1 Corinthians 10; 1 Corinthians 11 

I Was Glad

When They Said To Me,

“Let Us Go To The House Of The Lord.”

Scripture

Psalm 122

¹ I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Observation

Did you get a chance to go to church today? Maybe you couldn’t go because you had to work or maybe you were sick or had a child or some other loved one at home sick. Maybe you chose to stay home just to do other stuff.

I was so glad to be able to go to our church today! Kathy and I have traveled for the past two Sundays and we have been in churches where we were just visitors. It is so good to be home! There is no place like Christ Fellowship Church!

Something we call “Feed The City” happened today at Christ Fellowship! Kathy and I went out with a new friend named Becky and her little granddaughter Alyssa! Our only regret was that we didn’t take enough lunches with us because we gave them out so fast! It was fun!

 I heard that 1,000 meals were prepared for us to take out this afternoon. Our team came back to the church as other teams did also looking for meals to take out to more people! But they had already been taken out!

Christ Fellowship is an exciting place to serve the Lord!

Big Shout Out to Becca Sandison, Jeannie Donahey, Cheryl King, Jose Crespo and everyone else that helped them with all the preparations for Feed The City!

Application

I gladly look forward to next Sunday! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for all the people we came in contact with today. I pray that You work in their hearts. I pray for all of our people that went out in Your name. Give us boldness as a church to try even bigger things in Your Name. So that Your Name will be glorified and lifted up all over this city!

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