MONDAY MORNING!

"We have been given something"

 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -- Matthew 5:14-16

We have been given something through Jesus Christ.  We are a light -- a beacon -- something that others point to and see -- and that light is the love of God. It is to be seen. Not hidden. You can see a city on a hill from a long way off. A light shining in a house at night can been seen through the windows. It is meant to shine forth for those within and those outside to know someone is there.

Believe me, people notice you. People see your good deeds. They see your goodness. The love of God shines through you and this is the kicker: They are not praising you when they speak to you about the good deed you may have done for them or someone else. They are praising God even if it seems like they are praising you.  How, you may be thinking? Because even if they are praising and thanking you for the good deed -- now get this -- they are thanking Him  because it is not your light, but His light that He has given you. You are just letting His light shine through you. So you see, the praise and glory always goes to Him because it is about Him.

Bottom Line: May the light -- His light -- that you have been given -- shine so that others may see Him through you and praise the Father in heaven. Amen? Amen. 

MONDAY MORNING!

"God Directs"

"Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight." ... Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me." -- Psalm 119:35 & 133

"This is what the LORD says --- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." -- Isaiah 48:17

"I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." -- Jeremiah 10:23

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." -- 2 Thessalonians 3:5

I use to not like asking for directions. I would almost rather stay lost until the last possible moment when at last I would finally (at my wife's consistent and constant insistence I will add) stop and ask how to get from here to there.

Since our birth someone has been giving us directions. "Don't touch that it's hot! Don't run out in the street! Don't stay out late. You are doing a good job of cleaning your room -- keep it up." Coaches give directions to their staff and to their players and you better bet they follow if they want to continue to be part of the team. Directions are necessary in life. They help keep us going down the right path.

However, as we get older, a lot of times we do not want people giving us directions or helping us to make decisions. -- "I am grown now! I can direct myself! Not anybody going to tell me what to do!" But that is contrary to His Word -- Again, Jeremiah 10:23 -- "I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps."

 The thing is -- we all need direction in our life right up to the day we die.

Bottom Line: Who is directing your life? You and you alone? May we decide that we need direction in our life. May we know that His Word is always available to help direct us. Always. Amen? Amen.

MONDAY MORNING!

"His Word"

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." -- Hebrews 4:12

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." -- James 1:22

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." -- Colossians 3:16

"I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. ... I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways." -- Psalm 119:11 & 15

 Question? --- How many of us really spend adequate time in His Word? We read newspapers, magazines, novels -- and for quite a few that is now mostly online. But His Word is online now in any format, language or translation you want.  All at the touch of a few clicks, pushes or swipes.

For me personally, I have read through the Bible several times. I study His Word in preparing for sharing on Sunday mornings, connect group meetings, teaching on the mission field, etc. But, I even find within myself a lacking of really meditating on His Word as I should. The LORD, in speaking to Joshua as he was coming into his leadership role, had this to say to him: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." -- Joshua 1:8

My Webster Dictionary states that "meditate" means ---  to engage in contemplation or reflection. The Hebrew word actually means "to murmur". So, to meditate on His word is more than thinking about it or contemplating it, or reflecting on it.  It is actually saying it over and over and over again until it is in your inmost being. You keep bringing it up over and over again. Just take this small example: Say, "The LORD is my Shepherd." -- Now say it over and over and over and over and over and over. Say it again and again by putting different emphasis on each word.  Believe me -- it will begin to get down in you as never before.

Bottom Line: May we choose to really spend quality time in His Word. May we choose to really spend time meditating on His Word. Amen? Amen. 

MONDAY MORNING

"God Forgives"

". . . Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. -- Psalm 19:12-13

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners --- of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life." -- I Timothy 1:15-16

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. -- I John 1:9

How many are thankful that God forgives? My hand is up first! How many are grateful that He sent His One and Only Son to die for our sin? Yep, my hand is up first again!  Just think of this: When we ask, as believers, for God to forgive us -- Guess what? He forgives us! Amen?
Now does that mean we are okay to keep on sinning? Listen to this: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" -- Romans 6:1-2 

Are we ever going to be perfect and not sin?  Not in this world we have now and not in this temporary earthen jar we call our body. But we can be thankful for a loving God that always forgives. Have you ever washed a bunch of dirty dishes? They may have food caked on them, some greasy, some just really sticky and messy. But you take warm water, dish liquid and a little scrubbing and they are all clean --- just to get messed up again. That's us -- we get messed up again and again but guess what? God is in the dish cleaning business (if I may put it that way). He is --- "The Mr. Clean".  No matter how big the mess --- He is faithful to forgive every time we ask.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." -- Psalm 103:11-12

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Can you hear me praising God? -- I said -- HALLELUJAH! 

Bottom Line: May we come to know that we have a loving Father who always forgives whenever we ask.  Amen? Amen!
   

MONDAY MORNING

"... for I am with you ..."

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. --- For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." --- Is. 41:10 & 13

Sometimes, in certain given situations and circumstances, we may be tempted to think that God has forgotten about us. That He is nowhere to be found. Believe me -- things could be a lot worse if He were not around. But, sometimes I still think my situation or circumstances are at the absolute lowest. Then -- then I remember. YES! The tomb is empty and Jesus is still on His throne. Ephesians 1:20 tells us that God has "seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, for above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in this present age but also in the one to come." And, Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus, "... is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

And! And! Get a hold of this one down in your inmost being: "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," -- Ephesians 2:6.

Listen very carefully. We are not ever below or under our circumstances or situations. We are above them. Above them! We are the head not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). Yes, I may be or you may be struggling financially, or spiritually, or physically, emotionally or some other area. But listen up! The victory is already His and ours because we are His! And, we are seated with Him!

Bottom Line: May we not fear, may we not be dismayed. May we know He is with us and that we are with Him.  And, may we know that He will strengthen and help us in all situations and circumstances. Amen? Amen.

MONDAY MORNING
God Delivers

"From the LORD comes deliverance." -- Psalm 3:8
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;" -- Psalm 18:2
"A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save." -- Ps. 33:17
"...He delivered me from all my fears." -- Psalm 34:4
 "O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, ..." -- Psalm 140:7

The Lord Jesus Christ is our deliverer, if we choose to let Him be so. That's why we call Him, Savior.
He is able to deliver us from bondage, from sickness, from demons, from troubles, from hurts, from sin that entangles us and from an eternity of damnation. As a matter of fact, that and so much more was all done for us and for all mankind when Jesus said, "It is finished." All of our deliverance was delivered to us at that moment. We just need to call upon His name and believe and know it has been done. 

Bottom Line: May our hope and trust always be in the One who paid it all for us and finished it all for us and delivered it all for us. Amen? Amen.

  

MONDAY MORNING

"Be Still"

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." -- Psalm 46:10

 As a kid, one of the hardest things for me to do was to "be still".  When my dad or mom gave those instructions to me -- "sit down and be still," it was like I had been lock up in jail. However, they knew there was a time to "be still."

Even now for us there is a time to "be still" -- to know God. On May 19, 2010 I received a voice mail on my cell phone from my daughter, Aimee. I still have it saved. Here is the written transcript:

Hey, Dad. It's Aimee. It is Wednesday at 3:10 in the afternoon and I usually spend the time in my car praying and today is the nineteenth and I felt like the Lord said to tell you, "Be still and know that I am God." And then I started like really thinking about each word because its like we hear that all the time and --- I don't know --- it was just pretty powerful to me --- that you've got to know. You need to say it and know in your knower and then again in your knower and your knower and your knower. To be still and know that He is God. --- All powerful. --- Love you."

Yes, we need to be still and know Him. Really know Him.

To know and reflect on who He is.

To know and reflect on His love.

To know and reflect on His mercy and grace over us.

To know and reflect on how mighty and powerful He is.

To know and reflect on the salvation he brought to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

To know --- To know --- To know --- To know.

Bottom Line: We all need to find time to be still and know in our knower that He is God. Amen? Amen.