Saturday, April 1, 2017

April 1

Football is such a grueling sport. The players punish their bodies through the tireless training, practices, and workouts. Their goal is to achieve victory when they meet their opponent. Day after day we are assailed by a relentless enemy who only gives up when we fall into sin. Let me take that back, he never gives up! Once we fall into sin, he keeps reminding us of how worthless we are for having fallen. The truth is, we try to meet our opponent without being prepared. We enter a fight without ever having trained! What happens when you're not prepared? You lose. In a game, even though there can only be one winner, the training will make you fierce! You would never step onto a football field as a player without the proper training, so why would you engage the enemy of this world without being properly equipped. Ready yourself for battle, study God's Word, pray, and worship Him.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Friday, March 31, 2017

March 31

To the followers of Christ: It is human nature to protect those you love. I have been in situations where I had to choose between those I love and someone that I saw trying to hurt them. Even though that person hadn't harmed me and I still love them, my loyalty stayed with my friend because they are a part of the body of Christ. If I had to choose between Judas and John, I would choose John every time. Loyal friendship is sometimes hard to find, so when you find that beautiful gem, you want to protect it from the enemy's snare. Jesus is that kind of friend to us. In this world where the enemy rules, we have a beautiful friend in Jesus. He is so full of love for us that He laid down His life because of that love and to protect us from the enemy. Death is what we faced until Jesus conquered it through His resurrection, and now because of that, we too will overcome the grave. That is the perfect picture of love.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Thursday, March 30, 2017

March 30

If you believe that God can change, where is your hope? If the God of the Bible can change, who can you trust? Someone once told me that the God of the Old Testament was mean and nasty, I've got news, that is the same God we are living with today. God does not change!  We are the ones that shift and are not fixed - our minds vary so we attach that way to God because that's our perception. Not only is He unchanging, but He is also all knowing, which means that He also knows the way that He will act according to our obedience or disobedience. He may give us the opportunity to repent before calamity happens, and it may seem to us that He change His mind, but we are the ones who made a choice. God is loving but He is also just. You can't continue in your sin and expect that you won't have to pay a price for that sin. He wouldn't be perfect and holy if He could be less than holy and then go back to being holy. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

March 29

My dogs have to go out early in the morning. My yard is somewhat like a jungle, so it's easy to lose sight of them. One dog came back in the house, and I thought the other one was coming in too. I turned around for just a second and he was gone. I searched the whole yard, but couldn't find him. I went back inside just to make sure he hadn't sneaked past me, and there he was, standing on a chair looking at me. I knew he couldn't be far away, I had just seen him. We need to remember that about God too; He's right there! You just saw Him when He answered your prayer, He never left! He has promised to never leave you or forsake you, so if you feel like you've lost Him, go back to where you last saw Him, you'll find Him as you remember that answered prayer or the other good things in your life. This is why it's so important to write down or bank in your memory the things He has done for you. 

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

March 28

Do you like to watch mixed martial arts (MMA)? Even though it can sometimes be bloody, it's also quite exciting. This is a sport where there is no mercy. A fighter could have their opponent's arm in a position to break it, and that's exactly what they are going to do. It is merciless! There is only one thing that they can do and it's what could save their arm, and it is to tap out. It makes you cringe when you think that pride is getting in the way of them receiving mercy. When they can no longer take the pain you'll see them give up and tap their challenger, then the fight is over. But, what if the underdog fails to tap? No mercy will be shown and it will be a long time before they can fight again because of that broken arm. We are to always show mercy. How do you show someone mercy? Show them Jesus or they will face judgment where there will be no mercy. Give them to opportunity to tap out!

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13

Monday, March 27, 2017

March 27

Have you ever said something or laughed at something that was completely off color? I'm guilty! These things are quite unbecoming of a Christian and is not in the character of Christ. There are sins that may seem small, and may even go unnoticed, but they are still sin. Words may seem harmless, but they can cause hurt that penetrates to the core. Not only that, but to the ears of the hearer and to God Himself, course talk can be vile, putrid, and have the aroma of rotting meat. We certainly do not want to offend God with words that stink. This type of behavior could taint your testimony, and you never want to be a party to it. On the other hand, our words should build others up and be spoken with love and grace so those hearing them are edified. They should be a fragrant offering full of kindness and a pleasing aroma to the hearer and to our Father in heaven. 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Sunday, March 26, 2017

March 26

I have a friend who just loves dogs; so much so that they seem to find her if they need to be rescued. One evening, we were with her and her husband taking a ride on the golf cart after dinner. When out of nowhere, this beautiful golden retriever comes running down the path with no human companion. We stopped, and she loaded it into the cart with us. We went back to the house and she found its owner within, what seemed like, minutes. It had become frightened by some lightning and ran off. This is a story of grace. We are like that sweet dog, but Jesus is our rescuer. We were running down the path, out of control, frightened by the evil of this world, looking to be rescued. Jesus, because of His great love for us, loaded us into the cart, and delivered us to the Father, and now we will live in the house of the Lord forever. Did we do anything to deserve that? By no means! It is only by His grace that we were saved!

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

God's Grace

Grace, is God's free and unmerited favor; what we do not deserve.

In this video, I give you a glimpse of how God's unmerited favor has helped me break free from the chains that had me bound. I also give you a few clues to help you start breaking free from your own bonds.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—Ephesians 2:4-5