Fog

In order to know God, we must often think of Him; and when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure.  Nicholas Herman

The kingdom of heaven is worth infinitely more than the cost of discipleship, and those who know where the treasure lies joyfully abandon everything else to secure it.  D.A. Carson

This week it has been rather humid around the Dallas area so on my drive to work there is a lot of open slightly hilly land where the fog will form and hover just above the ground.  I find fog interesting because you can see it obscure trees, cars, buildings and anything it covers.  The thing is if you were to walk across the field where it hovers even though you can’t see past it you can walk through it. 

The fog made me think of God’s wisdom.  Anyone can have knowledge.  It is not so easy to gain wisdom.  Wisdom is like the fog that hovers over the ground obscuring whatever it surrounds.  When you open the Bible there is treasure beyond our comprehension.  Notice I said “beyond our comprehension” not beyond God’s.  God tells us he will give us wisdom if we search for it. 

The problem with our search for wisdom is that we give up too soon and we don’t take the proper tools for our search.  Here is an analogy to put it in perspective.  If you are mining for gold, what tools would you take with you?  You might take a chisel, hammer and a pan to put the pieces of rock in.  But if instead you decided to take duct tape, a string and a lawn chair, you won’t find much gold.  You’ll be able to fix anything, tie it up and have a place to sit while you do it, but you won’t come away with much treasure.

 

God’s Word is as great as He is.  It is a treasure beyond compare to what we have on earth. The smartest scientist, theologian or person with the highest IQ cannot match what is in God’s Word.  When we realize that nothing we do or create will even come close to what God’s Word can do; we are on the path to finding an amazing treasure.  Knowledge is great, money is green, but the treasure in God’s Word: PRICELESS.  

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, as I drove by the fog near the freeway, I thought of You. You give me the book that contains amazing treasure.  If I don’t get past the fog that obscures my vision of You, I will never find the hidden treasure in Your Word.  If I search Your Word diligently, You will reveal great things.  Thank You for giving me the opportunity to have wisdom.  What I do with it can change the world. 

Scripture: The Value of Wisdom

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk uprightly; he guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths; to deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead; none who go to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life—so you may walk in the way of goodness, and keep to the paths of righteousness. For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.  Proverbs 2:1-22

My Grace Is Sufficient

Growth in grace is growth downward. It is the forming of a lower estimate of ourselves. It is a deepening realization of our nothingness. It is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of God's mercies.  A.W. Pink

Have you ever looked back over your life and realized how many times God’s grace was sufficient?  Most of us if we are honest don’t want to go through hardship and trial because it makes us feel weak and vulnerable.  The reality of the situation is that God wants us to feel exactly those things.  Why?  Because when our heart and body is broken and bruised, that is when God’s power is strongest. 

When I read about Paul in 2 Corinthians I often wonder what his weakness was that caused him to ask God three times to remove it.  It doesn’t explain what the thorn in his side was.  Often I think it means that he had an illness or injury because that is when I was at my weakest.

Then I started thinking.  What if Paul’s weakness wasn’t a physical injury but maybe his weakness was because he couldn’t get away from those who reproached and persecuted him.  God knew what was best for Paul.  How easy it would have been for Paul to brag about the accomplishments that God was doing through him.  God wanted Paul to remain grounded, meek and humble in spirit.  You can’t do that if you are going around telling everyone how great you are and how much you have accomplished if you think it was all your own strength that made it happen.

When we start thinking that everything we do for God is through our own power, we have lost God’s strength and power.  If our estimate of our abilities and strengths takes precedence over God’s strength we have lost the true power of what God can do in our weakness. 

As we learned with the story of David and Goliath, David’s strength wasn’t in a slingshot and a stone.  His strength was in the power of God through a slingshot and a stone.  Whose power will you choose?  

   

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I praise You for my weakness.  It helps me to focus on You.  I would rather be meek and humble in spirit and have Your strength than to be mighty and strong by the world’s standards.  Your grace is sufficient for me.

Scripture: Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Fireflies

Men come and go; leaders, teachers, thinkers speak and work for a season, and then fall silent and impotent. He abides. They die, but He lives. They are lights kindled, and, therefore, sooner or later quenched; but He is the true light from which they draw all their brightness, and He shines for evermore. Alexander MacLaren

I worked in my yard yesterday and cleaned our patio so that we could sit outside and enjoy the cool evening.  As we were watching various birds fly around our back yard I thought about my childhood.

When I was young we lived the country and there was always things going on outside.  One of my favorite things was to catch fireflies.  They fascinated me.  You would see them come out at dusk and their lights would blink on and off.  It always amazed me that this tiny beetle could produce light. 

You guessed it.  I looked up how they produce light.  They take in oxygen and a special cell in their body mixes the oxygen with a chemical in their body called luciferin.  This produces the light they give off with almost no heat.   The flashing patterns are unique to each species.  Sometimes they use the light to attract a mate and other times they use it as a defense mechanism to warn off prey.  I am not sure how scientists figured out this part, but fireflies don’t taste good so other prey normally don’t eat them.  Scientists believe that some fireflies never eat.  Maybe that is because they have such a short life span. 

We are called to be a light to a fallen world.  Just as the firefly gives off light, we are to give off continuous light.  We can be just like the firefly too, in that we sometimes give off intermittent light.  When we sin our light goes out.  When we live in truth our light shines. Our life span on this earth is extremely short.  How will you show others God’s light?

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, there are times in my life when my light has been snuffed out.  I didn’t reflect Your light and others suffered for it.  When I live in truth I move into the light and that light is a reflection of You.  I pray that you will make my light burn brightly for You. 

Scripture: For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."  John 3:20-21

Instant

The process of biblical change, explained in God's Word, begins when you repent of your sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. God has given you everything you need to make the changes in your life that will please Him and will lead to His blessings. As you continue to obey God's Word, biblical change toward maturity will occur in your life until you see Jesus face to face.  John C. Broger

We live in a society and time where we want everything to be instant.  If we have to wait in line for anything we get impatient.  If you live in this day and age most likely on a daily basis there will be times when we want something instantly.

 

We are an impatient people.  This impatience colors everything we do.  So if we practice living in an instant society then we start applying that practice to everything we do.  This includes our spiritual life. 

When we are baptized we start a new life in Christ.  It is like we are on a cross country run without a finish line in sight.  Maturity in Christ is not instant.  Our baptism takes less than a minute but maturing in Christ takes a lifetime.

 

Quite a few years ago my sisters, mom and girlfriends went to climb Enchanted Rock outside of Fredericksburg Texas.  My girlfriend had climbed the rock before so she knew what to expect.  We would climb to a rise and look up and there was still more to climb.  She was ahead of us and would yell back “not much further”.  We would climb some more and then we would look up and she would say “we’re almost there, not much further”.  I never thought I would get to the top.  When we did reach the summit it was breathtaking and worth the climb.  You could see for miles and the sun was setting so the sky was a rainbow of colors.  It was totally silent at the top.  No traffic sounds or street lights. 

Our maturity in Christ is the same.  It is a gradual process that happens over time.  Many years ago when I rededicated my life to Christ it changed me.  I truly understood what it meant to give up my life for the One who gave up His for me.  The problem is it is not instant.  We will go through trials, heartache and pain.  There will be times when we will turn away from the One who saved us and other times when we will cling to Him with everything we have in us.  These are the building blocks of spiritual maturity.

 

One of the things I learned is that we must give up bad habits and replace them with good ones.  I read somewhere that it takes thirty days to create a habit.  If we are unkind we don’t all of a sudden wake up one day and treat everyone around us with kindness.  It has to be practiced day in and day out.  When it becomes a habit we do it without thinking about it.  Spiritual maturity is not instant.  It is necessary to practice the fruits of the spirit every day for our spiritual growth and for us to mature in Christ. 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I am a sinner pursuing maturity in Christ.  I want to be more like Him but I often fail because I want it to be instant.  The one constant is that I know You are always there to catch me, set me back on my feet and nudge me forward.  I pray that you will guide my steps and slow me down long enough to see the value of patience in practicing the fruits of the spirit in my daily life.

Scripture: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.  1 Timothy 4:1-16

Advice

"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't."

He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.  Francis Bacon

Have you ever asked for advice from someone or had someone ask for advice from you?  It is an interesting concept.  Advice is when you give an opinion or recommendation as a guide to action or conduct.

I was reading in Daniel when I thought about how many times Daniel gave King Nebuchadnezzar advice about his dreams and the interpretation of them.  We can often be like the King.There are times when we seek advice from others with no intention of taking the advice.  It is kind of an exercise in futility.  We know that something we plan to do is not going to be good for us, but we ask someone else for advice just in case they might agree with us.

We see an example of this in Daniel.  The King asked Daniel to interpret his dream and Daniel was troubled.  Daniel 4:20-22 “The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,  whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home— it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 

The thing about the dream is that the first part wasn’t the end.  Daniel warned the King in Daniel 4:26-27 “And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”  

God had great mercy on the King.  He could have taken his kingdom away from him totally, but instead he left the stump and roots of the tree so that the King had another chance to understand God’s greatness. 

We do the same thing.  We get advice from friends, family, pastors and other God fearing people, but we often discount the advice as not applying to us.  We become like King Nebuchadnezzar.  We look around us and survey our kingdom and say “man I did good.”  In reality it is God who did good.  We allow pride to interfere with God’s blessing on our lives.  Daniel 4:30 The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

When King Nebuchadnezzar realized it was not his strength but God’s that was his source of accomplishment, he realized the error of his ways and praised God.

Daniel 4:34-35 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, too many times we allow pride to rule in our lives.  We start thinking that we know everything and don’t need to seek advice from others.  When that happens sometimes we reject the blessing that You want for us.  Help me Father to trust Your ways, follow Your advice and learn from my mistakes.  You are the best teacher in all the universe and You mean it for my good.  

Scripture:Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!

“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home— it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’; this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

“And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.  At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.  Daniel 4:19-33

Battle Scars

Only good things come from God's hands. He never gives you more than you can bear. Every burden prepares you for eternity.  Basilea Schlink

Have you figured out we are in the biggest battle of our lives and that battle scars will happen in this life?  Jesus came here to save the lost and the scars on his hands and feet will never fade. 

Have you ever had surgery?  I have had one surgery in my life and it left a permanent scar.  It has faded over time but for me it is a constant reminder of what Jesus did for me on the cross.  It is also a constant reminder of what God did for me in healing me from cancer. Any time I see it I am reminded of God grace and mercy.   

Scars are battle wounds.  They are the wounds from conflict.  They can be the wounds from illness, war, and even wounds from verbal abuse.  Because there is conflict in the world we live in, there will be battle scars.  Some people will have more than others.  How we handle the scars of life can draw us closer to God or push us further away.

When Jesus died on the cross he came away from that experience with permanent scars.  He will bear the scars of our sin forever.  Each one of us will face battles in our everyday life.  I have learned to look at my battle scars with thanksgiving.  Each one draws me closer to our Heavenly Father.  They help me to see the profound and amazing gift Jesus gave me; the gift of life through the scars of death.   

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I was thinking about Jesus and His death on the cross.  He fought the most important battle and died for it.  He carries our sin in the scars on his hands and feet.  I praise You Father for loving me enough to send Your Son to die for my sin.

 

Scripture: Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  John 20:24-29

Potential

Has life become so filled with efforts to cover every financial contingency, to realize one's full earthly potential, and finally to retire comfortably, that without realizing it we are finding our hope in this world rather than in God?  Dave Hunt

Each of us has the potential to be great.  By that I don’t mean great in the sense of worldly greatness.  Worldly greatness is fleeting.  It doesn't last long.  If you look at every politician you will often see what the world perceives as greatness.  We often associate our potential by how the world perceives it.  If I can be the best athlete or become President or be the first in my graduation class I will be great.  What I really mean is we can be great for God.

In reality what happens is we mess up.  We fail at something and our perception of the greatness we thought we attained is gone and other people look at us and see us as a failure.  If you think about it, what other people think shouldn't really matter.   What matters is what God thinks. 

If we understand that the power lies in God instead of us we are on the right path.  We have a hard time understanding the meaning of “My strength is made perfect in weakness”.   We question how we can be strong in weakness.  Since these are opposites it doesn't make sense in a world where worldly strength is all important. 

When we stop trying to obtain worldly strength and start depending on God’s strength there is nothing we can’t do.  Our potential is fully fulfilled when we depend on God for our strength instead of ourselves.  Every one of us has the potential to be great for God.  All He asks is that we place our trust in Him every day.  His strength is unending and will sustain us even in our weakest moments.  Let go and let Him. 

     

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, sometimes it is hard for me to understand that when I am at my weakest that is when your strength is manifested in me.  The irony is that when I am at my weakest I will often turn to You.  Unfortunately, sometimes pride takes over and I think I can do it better on my own.  When that happens my potential for greatness for God is lost.  Help me to keep my focus on You so that I am able to reach my full potential through You and for Your glory.    

Scripture: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Compensation

Do something for somebody every day for which you do not get paid.  Albert Schweitzer

I read this quote and I started thinking about how this one statement could change a person’s life for eternity.  What would happen if each one of us did something for somebody each day and didn’t get paid for it?

 

In a world where money has become an obsession, we are always asking ourselves, “What’s in it for me?”  “If I do this what will I get in return?” 

If you look at this from a heavenly perspective, Jesus is the best example of someone doing for others and getting death on a cross in return.  This was the worst return on investment that ever occurred in the world.  In His time on earth what did He really get out of doing things for others without getting paid for it? 

So if I list the things he received for his investment of love what would it look like?

1.     He was spit on

2.     Ridiculed

3.     His character was defamed

4.     Beaten

5.     Mocked

6.     Condemned

7.     Nailed to a cross

So if the Son of God gave His all for us and this is what he received in return, it is kind of discouraging; or is it?  In the short time Jesus was on the earth He saved, and not money but lives for eternity.  By giving of himself without getting paid, He offered you and me the opportunity of a lifetime; to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father.  Today Jesus sits at the right hand of God.  That is better than any paycheck as far as I am concerned. 

We come from the ultimate broken family, Adam and Eve.  We can blame them and say that it is their fault for our circumstances, but in reality we play just as big a part in the way this world will turn out for eternity.  Do you want to be compensated now or in heaven?  We each have the freedom to choose.  When we choose to help others we are storing up treasure in heaven.  Money can be taken away but heaven’s treasure is eternal and everlasting.  Which will you choose?

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I am guilty of depending on money more than I should.  My time on earth is not meant to be spent acquiring.  If I do for others without expecting something in return, my life will reflect why Jesus died on the cross.  He gave His all for an ungrateful people so that we could have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him.  Help me to focus on the sacrifice that was made for me and not what I can get out of this world.  It is temporary at best and I want eternal. 

Scripture: Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.  Mark 16:14-20

The Love of a Mom

Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children. Billy Graham

Yesterday was Mother’s Day and I had the opportunity to spend part of the day with my Mom.  We went to lunch and as I was watching her laugh and talk several things came to mind and I would like to share those with you.

When I think of my Mom it brings back many memories.  In my mind, there wasn’t anything my Mom couldn’t do.  She was just that type of person.  I don’t think “can’t” was a word in her vocabulary.  She was very creative and when I was a senior in high school, she and my dad created a set for me for the Mardi Gras Ball.  My Dad built the frame and covered it with cardboard and she hand painted it to look like stone on a castle.  It even had a moat.

 

She was an excellent seamstress so anytime we needed costumes she could take a newspaper, make a pattern and sew it together.  My Mom saw me through broken hearts and bad dates and she sacrificed her time and energy for her children. 

When I was diagnosed with cancer I saw such strength in this beautiful woman.  She would drive me from her home to downtown Dallas for my chemo treatments.  Since I was in the middle of this cancer fight I didn’t see some of the things that I see looking back now.  She would bring snacks and drinks for me in a bag because she knew I had no appetite, but she also knew that I needed to keep up my strength for the next round.  She would sit for five hours while an IV ran chemicals into my system.  In my first treatment when the medication gave me restless leg syndrome she would patiently replace the blanket around my feet when my legs wouldn’t stop moving. She sat and crocheted scarves for me and my sisters while she waited. 

Thinking back on it now, I see where her heart was probably breaking.  She had no guarantees that her child would survive this disease.  One of the things I remember most is her strength.  She never fell apart or threw up her hands and gave up.  I never saw her break down.  When her mother and my grandmother died in the middle of my treatments, she held it together.  I am sure when she saw me as a pallbearer at my grandmother’s funeral it probably crossed her mind that I might not survive. 

My Mom is the strongest woman I know.  She taught me what it means to press on and not give up.  When she told me stories of when she was a little girl and how she would walk to church for Sunday School, she taught me by example to love the Lord and that prayer is the most important thing in your life because many other things will fail in this life but God is not one of them.  So this is to my Mom who taught me how to live life and to be strong when it knocks you down and to press on.  Thank you Mom and I love you.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, my Mom is such a blessing in my life.  She has been with me through some of the most trying times of my life and I can never thank You enough for her.  I pray that you will bless her life and help me to be a daughter of character and strength and to show her daily how much she means to me.  Thank you for the blessing of my Mom.  

           

Scripture: Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.  She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar.  She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.  She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet.  She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.  She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.  Proverbs 31:10-31

Fishers of Men

Our Lord said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." It is evident, then, that a true disciple is a soul-winner. It is possible to sit on the shore discussing the signs of the times when we ought to be driven by the signs of the times to launch out into the deep and let down our nets for a draught.  Vance Havner

Summertime always brings back memories for me of fishing with my grandpa or family outings.  Those are special memories for me because of the time I was able to spend with family and the great outdoors. 

When my grandpa taught me how to fish part of the lesson was how to bait your hook and remove the fish from the line.  If you are a non-fisherman, you may not know that a fish will raise its fins and flop around a lot when it is taken out of the water.  I guess if I was a fish that lived in water and someone dangled a worm in front of me for dinner and I took the bait; it would be kind of startling to be jerked out of the water.  I’m thinking I would flop around a lot too. 

Anyway, there is a technique to taking the fish off the hook.  You hold the fish up and gently slide your hand over its head and then slide your hand over its fins to keep the fin from sticking into your hand.  Sometimes the fish would flop and wiggle so much that it would come off the hook on its own and then you were left trying to catch a flopping fish in the bottom of the boat. 

Sometimes we are very much like the flopping fish in the bottom of the boat.  We often don’t want to change our life or be different for God so we fight it just like the fish.  The same thing happens when we cast out to be a soul winner.  You try to show others why coming to know Christ is important.  You cast your line and pray for a bite.  Fishing is the sport of patience.  If you have ever sat for several hours watching a cork, you know what I am talking about.  It is the same with being a fisher of men.  If we get distracted or impatient we will never draw anyone to the Lord. 

My husband is a different type of fisherman.  He is a catch and release fisherman.  You patiently flip a fake bait into the water and slowly real it in.  In his type of fishing you don’t have a cork to watch to see if a fish is on the line; you feel the line for vibration.

It doesn’t matter what type of fisherman you are, God can use both and make them fishers of men.  Both will require patience, wisdom, knowledge, skill and most of all God’s presence. 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I love to fish. There is a certain peacefulness about the process of fishing.  I can have the same peacefulness in the pursuit of others for Christ.  You are the one who gives me the strength and perseverance to patiently wait for the right opportunity and when it comes You will give me the words to say.  Help me to not hesitate when those opportunities come along. 

Scripture: Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:2-6

Decrepitude

The only way the corporate Body of Christ will fulfill the mission Christ has given it is for individual Christians to have a vision for fulfilling that mission personally.  David Meremiah

de·crep·i·tude – decrepit condition; dilapidated state; feebleness, especially from old age.

I must admit I really like this word.  It really sounds great rolling off my tongue.  The problem is I am getting closer and closer to being in this state.  The state of decrepitude.  You know how they used to say you needed an attitude adjustment.  I may soon need a decrepitude adjustment.

The world offers me all kinds of things to fix my “decrepitudeness” (I don’t think this word is in the dictionary so maybe it will be added next year).  I can get Botox, fillers, new teeth in two days or pull out all the old ones if I prefer, then there are collagen injections to give me smooth skin and a permanent surprised look on my face.  I can get gel nails, hair extensions and hair removal. The interesting thing is; that is not going to change the fact that I will eventually fall into decrepitudeness.  

When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden decrepitudeness didn’t exist; until a snake in the grass offered them an apple they couldn’t refuse.  When that happened we started the downhill slide into decrepitudeness.  They could have lived in a perfect garden forever walking with God.  

One of the most amazing things to me is that it doesn’t matter how decrepit we get, we can still be used by God to further his kingdom.  God didn’t give up on a fallen world.  He still gives each of us the opportunity to be redeemed.  There will come a day when the sorrows, pain and suffering of this world will come to an end.  I look forward to that day, but until then I think I will let nature take its course and let decrepitudeness in.  It is an inevitable fact of life and all the chemicals of today that are used to make me look younger will eventually move somewhere I don’t want them to, so I will refrain from denying my decrepitudeness and press on.

 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, as I get older and my body sometimes fails me it reminds me that I am still useful to You.  As long as there is another person on earth that needs a Savior, there will always be a need for me to pursue them for You.  I am Your feet and hands and even though they may get slower with time, I can still be used for Your purpose.

Scripture: The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.  They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:12-15

The Ability to Forget

The most vital question to ask about all who claim to be Christian is this: Have they a soul thirst for God? Do they long for this? Is there something about them that tells you that they are always waiting for His next manifestation of Himself? Is their life centered on Him? Can they say with Paul that they forget everything in the past? Do they press forward more and more that they might know Him and that the knowledge might increase, until eventually beyond death and the grave they may bask eternally in 'the sunshine of His face?' That I might know him! Martyn Lloyd-Jones

In the past I have watched the Olympics and marathons.  One of the things that stands out is that the majority of runners don’t ever look behind them.  Why is that?  It is because when they turn to look behind them they lose the race.

In the Christian race there are several things we need to learn to forget.  The first is to not look behind us at our past accomplishments.  The most important thing we will ever do in this life is to follow Jesus Christ.  In Philippians Paul talks about his gains being loss for the sake of Christ. He talks about having not arrived at his goal yet but pressing on to take hold of that which Christ took hold of me.  If we forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead we will be in this race our entire lifetime on earth.  The finish line is ahead but we won’t see it here.  That is why he says he presses on toward the goal.  Our goal here on earth shouldn’t be passing the finish line; it should be getting to it.

   

The next thing we need to forget is our past failures.  When Peter was washing his nets and Jesus approached him and told him to go back out and throw out his nets again, Peter responded by telling him he had been fishing all night and came up empty.  Peter was using his past failure at catching fish to determine what he would do in the future.  Remember how Peter caught so many fish that they had to call to another boat to help them bring in the catch.  If we rely on our past failures to determine our next steps, we will fail again. 

The final thing we need to do is to forgive past damages.  Every person on earth has been hurt by someone they care about.  It is an inevitable fact of life that people are going to cause harm, betray us and hurt us.  The other fact is we are going to do the same to others.  Satan loves to have us remember all the pain that others have caused us and he enjoys seeing us cause each other pain.  If we are continually holding on to the damages from the past Satan is celebrating. 

Forget your past mistakes and failures.  You have things to accomplish for God so your past accomplishments are just that, the past.  Strive toward the goal God has set before you.  Take up your cross and follow him. 

   

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I am guilty of relying on my past accomplishments instead of relying on You.  I have a race to run and if I keep looking back I will never accomplish what You intended.  Give me a soul thirst for You and remind me that I am not in this alone.  There are other racers just like me who are striving for the same goal.  It is not a matter of winning it is a matter of finishing the race.  Help me to help others finish the race.

Scripture: But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.  Philippians 3:7-11

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:17-21

A Living Sacrifice

Discipline, for the Christian, begins with the body. We have only one. It is this body that is the primary material given to us for sacrifice. We cannot give our hearts to God and keep our bodies for ourselves.  Elisabeth Elliot

What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?  When I think of the word sacrifice my thoughts turn to the Old Testament.  The people of that time offered animal sacrifices for the atonement of sin.  How then does one become a living sacrifice?

When we become a living sacrifice we turn away from worldly things that can distract us from our heavenly Father.  If we are to be a living sacrifice we must not be conformed to the world.  It means just because the world says something is ok, we often must refuse the very thing the world offers.  This is not an easy thing to do.  How many times have you watched something on TV or watched a movie knowing that it is not beneficial to the renewing of your mind?  

When I think of Jesus’ time on earth His whole purpose was to be a living sacrifice.  He didn’t turn away from the sinners of the world.  He continuously turned to God for the renewing of His mind.  When He was tempted by Satan in the desert He fought back with scripture.  His final purpose was to be a dying sacrifice so that we might live. 

The scripture tells us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  What does it mean by “your reasonable service”?  When we fully understand what Jesus sacrifice means, it is not unreasonable to think that we would give our bodies as a living sacrifice in service to God during our time on earth for the extreme sacrifice He gave by sending His son to die on a cross for our sins. 

Spend time renewing your mind in God’s Word and you will be transformed. 

    

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I want to be a living sacrifice.  If I am too busy chasing after things of this world, I will not have time to focus on what is of great importance to You.  When I spend time in Your Word renewing my mind, I will be transformed. Help me to mediate on You when things of this world distract me.

Scripture: Living Sacrifices to God

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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.  Romans 12:1-2

Food for Thought

Today’s devotional is a little different.  I was reading proverbs from around the world and I thought it would be helpful to share some of these thought provoking words with you.  Some are funny but others ring with truth.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. 

Zambian Proverbs

You learn a lot about a man by his behavior when hungry

You have to look after wealth, but knowledge looks after you.

Lies have short legs.

One who enters a forest does not listen to the breaking of the twigs in the brush.

To get rid of anger, first weed out the bitter roots.

He who paddles two canoes, sinks.

Belgian Proverbs

Don't make use of another's mouth unless it has been leant to you.

Truth seldom finds a home.
We have quite enough to do weeding our own garden.

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, he world cries and you rejoice.

Egyptian Proverbs

A camel does not tease another camel about his humps.

A monkey is a gazelle in its mother's eyes.

Be patient with a bad neighbor. Maybe he'll leave or a disaster will take him out.

Education is what you know, not what's in the book.

He who knows not shame does whatever he likes.

Honorable is the person who is aware of his power, yet refrains from inflicting bad things onto others.

I believe what you say, I'm only surprised at what you do.

If there were no wrongdoing, there would be no forgiveness.

If you marry a monkey for his wealth, the money goes and the monkey remains as is.

Learn politeness from the impolite.

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Gaelic Proverbs

Do not judge by appearances; a rich heart may be under a poor coat.

If the best man's faults were written on his forehead, it would make him pull his hat over his eyes.

The bitter cup we strive to remove from us holds the medicine we are most in need of.

Who God does not teach, man cannot.

Omani Proverbs

Every village has certain drawbacks to it.

Pennsylvania Dutch Proverbs

Our faults irritate us most when we see them in others.

Persian Proverbs

A bad wound heals, but a bad word doesn't.

An arrow can be pulled out of a wound, but a hurtful word stays forever in your heart.

Do not let the cat watch over the bacon.

Don't be afraid of he who's loud and noisy, be afraid of he who's head is down.

Doubt makes the mountain which faith can move.

Every man goes down to his death bearing in his hands only that which he has given away.

Forgiveness hides a pleasure that you can't get back from revenge.

From you motion, from God blessing.

God gives to us according to the measure of our hearts.

Samoan Proverbs

You shake in vain the branch that bears no fruit.

Texan Proverbs

Always ride your horse in the direction it's going.

When you throw dirt, you lose ground.

Don't worry about biting off more than you can chew. Your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger'n you think.

If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.

It's better when people wonder why you didn't say something than why you did.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I enjoy reading the Book of Proverbs in the Bible.  There are so many nuggets of wisdom found in those pages.  Help me to apply the knowledge I get from Proverbs to my life.  I want to bring You glory and honor by the way I live my life, but to do that I must exercise Your wisdom.  I praise You today and every day.   

Scripture: To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:2-7