The Daily Grace - Jesus' Love For All

It was a bit unusual, but three times in one day I heard the same song. In the early afternoon, I attended a hymnsing at a  home for the elderly. As part of her prayer at the end of our time together, Willie, one of the residents, said, "Sing with me, 'Jesus Loves Me'." In the evening, I attended a gathering with young people who sang it while pounding out the beat with their hands and feet. Later that evening, I received a text message on my phone with an audio recording of my 2 1/12-year-old niece with a sweet little voice, singing, "I am weak, but He is strong". People in their nineties, teenagers, and a toddler all sang that song that day.

After hearing that simple song three times, I began to think the Lord might be telling me something. Actually, He gave us all this message long ago: "I love you". In John 19, He allowed people to put a crown of thorns on His head, mock Him, strike Him, strip Him and crucify him (vv. 1-6). He had the power to stop them, but He said very little (v. 11). He did it all for love's sake to pay for our sins and to rescue us from punishment.

How much does God love us? Jesus spread out His arms and was nailed to the cross. He died for us, then rose again. That's a precious fact for young and old. "The truest measure of God's love is that He loves without measure!", as Bernard of Clairvux said.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe. Delight me to see how Your Christ plays in ten thousand places, in limbs and eyes not His, to be the father through the features of men's faces. 

Each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all, I ask only to share the wonder of it all. I pray for all who will be making journeys today, I pray for protection.

Now to him who is able to keep us from stumbling and to present ourselves blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - 1 Peter 2:9-10

We are precious in His sight. We are the chosen generation. We are the chosen race. And, we are the special people for God's own possession.

Proclaim His wonderful deeds, virtues and perfections today. For you are called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were lost, but now you were found. Now, you are God's people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

The Daily Grace - Catching Up With Us

A pastor told this story on himself in his local newspaper. He was chatting with an older man to whom he had just been introduced. "So, you used to work for a utility company", the pastor said, naming the organization. "Sure did", the man responded. The pastor remarked that when he was a kid the cables from that company ran across his parents' property. "Where do you live?" the man asked. When the pastor told him, the man said, "I remember that property. I had a tough time keeping the cable warning signs up. Kids were always shooting them down". When the pastor's face flushed with embarrassment, the man said, "You were one of the shooters, weren't you?" And indeed he was.

The pastor labeled his confessional story: "Be sure your signs will find you out", a clever play on Moses' words in Numbers 32:23: "Be sure that your sin will find you out". Old wrongs have a way of catching up with us. And old sins that have not been dealt with can lead to serious consequences. As David laments in Psalm 32: "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away" (v. 3). But confessing our wrong restores our fellowship with the Lord: "I acknowledged my sin to you. . . and you forgave the guilt of my sin" (v. 5). Through confession, we can enjoy God's forgiveness. Christians can erase from their memory what God has erased from the record.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, in the daily journey from sunrise to sunset, remind me always of Your holy presence hovering near, both within me to guide me, and surrounding me to protect me. Free me from shame and self-doubt. And help me, and all of my fellow believers, to see the myriad opportunities to walk our path in the courage, honesty, and wisdom inspired by Your Holy Spirit.

It's time to come clean with You. Thank You that my sins are under the blood of Christ. Restore me to fellowship with You.

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ. The great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; make me perfect in every good work to do Your will, working in me that which is well pleasing in your sight. Through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - John 4:14

Jesus said, “Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” The water that God is giving to us is like a flowing fountain that gives eternal life. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving us eternal life.

Come drink that water. It is like a river that never runs dry. It is a living water that makes us quench for the rest of our lives. You will never be thirsty again, says the Lord.

The Daily Grace - Strength In Weaknesses

No one wants to be weak, so we find ways to appear strong. Some of us use the force of our emotions to manipulate people. Others use the force of personality to control people, and some use intellect to intimidate. Although these create an illusion of strength, they are signs of weakness. 

When we are truly strong, we have the courage to admit our limitations and to acknowledge our dependence on God. As a result, true strength often looks a lot like weakness. When the apostle Paul prayed that an affliction would be taken from him, God answered, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul responded with these troubling words, "When I am weak, then I am strong" (v. 10).

Toward the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, some of His disciples were striving for positions of prominence. Jesus used their argument as an opportunity to teach them that in His Kingdom things are different: greatness comes when we willingly assume positions of weakness (Matt. 20:26). This is a hard truth. I prefer the illusion of strength to the reality of weakness. But God wants us to realize that true strength comes when we stop trying to control people and start serving them instead. God's greatest power can be displayed in our biggest weakness.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, it seems that I drink far too often from the waters of the world that cannot satisfy. Forgive me, and teach me to find in Christ the water that can quench the thirst of my heart. Draw me ever closer to You.

You have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent Your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after You and find You. Bring the nations into Your fold, pour out Your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of Your kingdom.

Now the God of patience and consolation grant to me and to all who pray in the name of Christ, to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus. That we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This I pray, in Your Name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Matthew 22:37

What does loving God really mean? According to the Bible, loving God means totally surrendering ourselves to Him—“with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul and with all [our] mind.” The Greek word for the verb love in this Scripture is agapao, which means “to totally give ourselves over to something.” Now, if I asked you, “Do you love God”? most of you would automatically say, “Yes, of course I do!” But if you are really honest with yourself, how often do you seek to put His will and His desires above your own? How often are you consumed with what He wants for your life and not what you want out of life?

In order for God’s Life to come forth from our hearts, however, we must continually choose to “put off” our sin and self, and give ourselves over to Him; i.e., become a clean and open vessel. Then, we’ll not only personally experience His Love, but also be that vessel carrying His Love to others. When we don’t choose to do this, Matthew 24:12 tells us, His “Love will grow cold in our lives.” This, of course, will then affect our place, our position, and our status in the coming kingdom. The Bible, therefore, can really be summed up in three little words: Learn to love. 

Source: khouse.org

The Daily Grace - How to Grow Old

"How are you today, Mama?" I asked casually. My 84-year-old friend, pointing to aches and pains in her joints, whispered, "Old age is tough!" Then she added earnestly, "But God has been good to me". "Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life", says Billy Graham in his book Nearing Home. "I am an old man now, and believe me, it's not easy". However, Graham notes, "While the Bible doesn't gloss over the problems we face as we grow older, neither does it paint old age as a time to be despised or a burden to be endured with gritted teeth". He then mentions some of the questions he has been forced to deal with as he has aged, such struggles and growing limitations we face but also actually grow stronger inwardly in the midst of these difficulties?"

In Isaiah 46, we have God's assurance: "Even to your old age and gray hairs. . . I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you" (v. 4). We don't know how many years we will live on this earth or what we might face as we age. But one thing is certain: God will care for us throughout our lives. Don't be afraid to grow old; God goes with you!

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, in You we live and move and have our being. I humbly pray You so to guide and govern me by Your Holy Spirit. Let all the cares and occupations of my life I may not forget You, but may remember that I am ever walking in Your sight.

Help us to be still and know You are God. Guide me always to do Your holy will, knowing that Your strength will carry me through. Your words lead us to the calmness and greatness of Your Presence.

Now, oh Heavenly Father, I ask to be called as a witness to Your love by the love I extend to others; a precursor of Your justice by my unfailing commitment to what is right and good; a lamp set on a hill, reflecting the light of Christ in my forgiveness, mercy and compassion; and a harvester of souls through my humble and dedicated servanthood. In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Matthew 20:26

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done. He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.

If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. So that, for you to experience how to serve the people. Once you became on top, you are not just leading, but also serving the people as well. But always remember, work for the glory of God. In your leadership, let your subordinates see Christ in You. Have that Christ-like attitude every time you work. Then, blessings will pour out once you let Him take control of you.

The Daily Grace - Go Fever

On January 28, 1986, after five weather-related delays, the space shuttle Challenger lumbered heavenward amid a thunderous overture of noise and flame. A mere 73 seconds later, system failure tore the shuttle apart, and all seven crew members perished. The disaster was attributed to an O-ring seal known to have vulnerabilities. Insiders referred to the fatal mistake as "go fever" - the tendency to ignore vital precautions in the rush to a grand goal.

Our ambitious human nature relentlessly tempts us to make ill-advised choices. Yet we are also prone to a fear that can make us overly cautious. The ancient Israelites demonstrated both traits. When the 12 scouts returned from spying out the Promised Land, 10 of the 12 saw only the obstacles (Num. 13:26-33). "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are", they said (v. 31). After a fearful rebellion against the Lord that led to the death of the 10 spies, the people suddenly developed a case of "go fever". They said, "Now we are ready to go up to the land of the Lord promised" (14:40). Without God, the ill-timed invasion failed miserably (vv. 41-45).

When we take our eyes off the Lord, we'll slide into one of two extremes. We'll impatiently rush ahead without Him, or we'll cower and complain in fear. Focusing on Him brings courage tempered with His wisdom. A moment of patience can prevent a great disaster. Before making a quick decision, consider why you want to make it quickly. Consider if it will honor God and what it might cost others. If you are afraid to make a decision, think about why that might be. Most of all, pray!

Today We Pray

Dear Jesus, my Savior, and Master, a model of all perfection, I resolve — and will try this day with my full heart — to imitate Your example, to be like You: mild, humble, chaste, zealous, charitable, and kind. I will redouble my efforts to see Your image in all those I meet and deal with this day — not only people I like — and to be as helpful to them as I would be to You. I resolve to avoid this day all those sins which I have committed heretofore and which I now sincerely desire to give up forever.

I thank You, Master and Lover of mankind, King of the ages and giver of all good things, for destroying the dividing wall of enmity and granting peace to those who seek Your mercy. I appeal to You to awaken the longing for a peaceful life in all those who are filled with hatred for their neighbors, thinking especially of those at war or preparing for war. I pray for Your peace and Your mercy in the midst of the great suffering that people are now inflicting on each other.

God of mercy, swift to help: as my lips pour forth Your praise, fill my heart with the peace You give to those who wait for Your salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. Accept the prayers of Your Church, so that by Your goodness peace may return to all peoples. Hear us and have mercy on us.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 37:7

Be still and rest in the Lord. Wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him. Wait patiently for him to act. Fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Don’t be envious of evil men who prosper.

Quiet down before God. Be prayerful before Him. Don’t bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top. Be patient and trust the Lord. Don’t let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things.

The Daily Grace - Longing for Rescue

The movie Man of Steel, released in 2013, is a fresh imagining of the Superman story. Filled with breathtaking special effects and nonstop action, it drew crowds to movie theaters around the world. Some said that the film's appeal was rooted in its amazing technology. Others pointed to the enduring appeal of the "Superman mythology".

Amy Adams, the actress who plays Lois Lane in the movie, has a different view of Superman's appeal. She says it is about a basic human longing: "Who doesn't want to believe that there's one person who could come and save us from ourselves?" That's a great question. And the answer is that someone has already come to save us from ourselves and that someone is Jesus.

Several announcements were made regarding the birth of Jesus. One of them was from the angel Gabriel to Joseph: "[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Jesus came - He did so to save us from our sin and from ourselves. His name means "the Lord saves" - and our salvation was His mission. The longing for the rescue that fills the human heart ultimately is met by Jesus. Jesus' name and mission are the same - He came to save us.

Today We Pray

Dear Most Gracious Lord God, from whom proceeds every good and perfect gift, I offer to Your divine majesty my unfeigned praise and thanksgiving for all Your mercies towards me. You made me at first and have ever since sustained the work of Your own hand. You gave Your Son to die for me and have given me assurance of salvation, upon my repentance and sincerely endeavoring to conform my life to his holy precepts and example.

I beseech You to defend me this week from all evil. And do more for me than I can think or ask, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Do not allow me to be drawn away from You, by the blandishments of the world, carnal desires, the cunning of the devil, or deceitfulness of sin. 

Take care, I pray You, of my affairs and more and more direct me in Your truth, defend me from my enemies, especially my spiritual ones. Help us to proclaim the good news of Your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to You. Through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Romans 10:9

If you recognize His power, authority, and majesty as God, you will receive salvation. If you will just adhere, trust, and rely on the truth, you will receive it. For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead. So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,”.

Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!”

The Daily Grace - A Better View

As a child, I loved to climb trees. The higher I climbed, the more I could see. Occasionally, in search of a better view, I might inch out along a branch until I felt it bend under my weight. Not surprisingly, my tree-climbing days are over. I suppose it isn't very safe - or dignified.

Zacchaeus, a wealthy man, set aside his dignity (and perhaps ignored his safety) when he climbed a tree one day in Jericho. Jesus was traveling through the city, and Zacchaeus wanted to get a look at Him. However, "because he was short he could not see over the crowd" (Luke 19:3). Fortunately, those things did not stop him from seeing and even talking with Christ. Zacchaeus' plan worked! And when he met Jesus, his life was changed forever. "Salvation has come to this house", Jesus said (v. 9).

We too can be prevented from seeing Jesus. Pride can blind us from seeing Him as the Wonderful Counselor. Anxiety keeps us from knowing Him as the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). Hunger for status and stuff can prevent us from seeing Him as the true source of satisfaction - the Bread of Life (John 6:48). What are you willing to do to get a better view of Jesus? Any sincere effort to get closer to Him will have a good result. God rewards people who earnestly seek Him (Heb. 11:6). To strengthen your faith in God, seek the face of God.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, blessed are You, Lord God of my salvation, to You be praise and glory forever. May I, the fruit of Your new creation, rejoice in this new day You have made and praise You for Your mighty acts. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Life is busy, Lord. Often my best intentions are left undone. But I know that You are with me in all I say and do, and in everyone I meet with daily.

Thank You for all that You are. Show me more of Yourself as I read the Bible and pray. Help me to pursue You with all of my heart and mind.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Hebrews 11:6

Faith is not like a magic formula. It does not work like that. Putting your faith means completely trusting and putting your whole confidence in something without doubt. It is a strong belief. When you put your faith in the Lord, it pleases Him. Do the things that is pleasing in God's eyes, and one of this is having faith in Him.

The Daily Grace - Be Still

Years ago, I responded to letters within a couple of weeks and kept my correspondents happy. Then came the fax machine, and they seemed content with receiving a response within a couple of days. Today, with email, instant messaging, and mobile phones, a response is expected the same day! 

"Be still, and know that I am God". In this familiar verse from Psalm 46, I read two commands of equal importance. First, we must be still, something that modern life conspires against. In this hectic, buzzing world, even a few moments of quiet do not come naturally to us. And stillness prepares us for the second command: "Know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth". In the midst of a world that colludes to suppress, not exalt, God, how do I carve out time and allow Him to nourish my inner life?

"Prayer", writes Patricia Hampl, "is a habit of attention brought to bear on all that is". Ah, prayer. . . a habit of attention. Be still and know. The first step in prayer is to acknowledge or to "know" that God is God. And in that attention, that focus, all else comes into focus. Prayer allows us to admit our failures, weaknesses, and limitations to the One who responds to human vulnerability with infinite mercy. In prayer, God can quiet our minds.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, help me to be still. Nourish my soul as I spend time with You in prayer. May every day bring new chances to grow, new beautiful things to see, new plans to do, and new goals to pursue, as every new day is Your miracle day.

If things get tough today, Lord — and in all hard times — let me stay motivated and calm. Let me look at how far I have come rather than how far I still have to go. Let me continue counting my blessings, not what I've been missing.

I am heartily sorry, and beg pardon for my sins, especially for my little respect, and for wandering in my thoughts when in Your presence, and for my continual infidelities to Your graces. For all which I beg pardon, by the merits of the Blood, You shed for them. And, all through this day, O Lord, by the power of Your quickening Spirit, let me touch the lives of others for good, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I speak, or the life I live. 

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 46:10

What does it mean to be still? It means to calm down. It also means "hands off", because God is in control. It is entrusting everything to His Name and letting Him take over. Cease striving.

In being still, we can recognize and understand that He is God. His sovereignty will be shown if we just let Him handle everything. That's what God wants, to exalt and honor Him in His ways. So, step out of the traffic of life! Take a long, loving look your High God, above politics, above everything.

The Daily Grace - The View from the Mountain

Our valley in Idaho can be very cold in the winter. Clouds and fog roll in and blanket the ground, trapping frigid air under warmer layers above. But you can get above the valley. There's a road nearby that winds up the flank of Shafer Butte, a 7,500-foot mountain that rises out of our valley. A few minutes of driving and you break out of the fog and emerge into the warmth and brilliance of a sunlit day. You can look down on the clouds that shroud the valley below and see it from a different point of view.

Life is like that at times. Circumstances seem to surround us with a fog that sunlight cannot penetrate. Yet faith is the way we get above the valley - the means by which we "set [our] hearts on things above" (Col. 3:1). As we do, the Lord enables us to rise above our circumstances and find courage and calmness for the day. As the apostle Paul wrote, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Phil. 4:11).

We can climb out of our misery and gloom. We can sit for a time on the mountainside. And through Christ who gives us strength (v. 13), we can gain a different perspective. Faith can lift you above your fears.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, let me take up the shield of faith this morning and carry it before me throughout the day. For the darkness of the world attacks my soul from every direction. Although I can't always see You or what You're doing, Lord, I rest in Your love for me.

Thank You for dying on the cross for me. I confess those things in my life that aren’t pleasing to You and ask You to forgive and cleanse me. Right now the best way I know how, I open the door to my heart and life and trust You as my savior and lord. 

May the God of hope fill me and all of us with the joy and peace that comes from believing. So, we may abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

Today's Godly Reminder - Colossians 3:1

If you have been raised with Christ to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power. You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God’s right side. Set your sights on the realities of heaven

The Daily Grace - Four Ways to Look

Joan was struggling with some difficult issues with her children when she sat down for a worship service. Exhausted, she wanted to "resign" from motherhood. Then the speaker began to share encouragement for those who feel like quitting. These four thoughts that Joan heard that morning helped her to keep going:

1) Look up and pray. Asaph prayed all night long and even expressed feelings that God had forgotten and rejected him (Ps. 77:9-10). We can tell God everything and be honest about our feelings. We can ask Him anything. His answer may not come right away or in the form, we want or expect, but He won't criticize us for asking.

2) Look back and remember what God has done in the past for you and others. Asaph didn't talk to God only about the pain; he also recalled God's power and mighty works for him and God's people. He wrote, "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago" (v. 11).

3) Look forward. Think about the good that might come out of the situation. What might you learn? What might God want to do? What do you know He will do because His ways are perfect? (v. 13).

4) Look again. This time, look at your circumstances with eyes of faith. Remind yourself that He is the God of great wonders and can be trusted (v. 14).

May these ideas help us gain perspective and keep moving in our faith journey with Jesus. Our problems are opportunities to discover God's solutions.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, You have brought me to the beginning of a new day. As the world is renewed fresh and clean, so I ask You to renew my heart with Your strength and purpose. Forgive me the errors of yesterday and bless me to walk closer in Your way today.

I can't help but see my problems. Help me not to be discouraged and weary, but to see You in the midst of them. Take my hand, precious Lord, for I cannot make it by myself. 

I bind myself to You this day, oh Christ, in Your truth and in Your sacrifice. I give to You my anxiety and my fear, my depression, and my doubt, for You have promised to take them if we only ask; and I take upon myself Your burden, for it is light and Your way is gentle. May I keep this in my heart and mind all this day.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - 2 Corinthians 5:20

We are Christ's representatives here on earth. So, He made this appeal to us: be reconciled with Him. It means to make peace with Him. Let our hearts be one with Him.

We are here to speak in behalf of Christ. Ask Him to bless you with wise words to speak to the people about the Good News. God begs us to listen to His message. Come back to God no matter what happens.

The Daily Grace - The Eleventh Hour

World War 1 has been ranked by many as one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. Millions lost their lives in the first global modern war. On November 11, 1918, a ceasefire was observed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. During that historic moment, millions around the world observed moments of silence while they reflected upon the war's terrible cost - the loss of life and suffering. It was hoped that "the Great War", as it was called, would truly be "the war that would end all wars".

Despite the many deadly military conflicts that have followed, the hope for lasting peace has not faded. And the Bible offers a hopeful and realistic promise that someday, wars will finally end. When Christ returns, Isaiah's prophecy will come true: "Nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Isa. 2:4). Then the eleventh hour will pass and the first hour of lasting peace in a new heaven and new earth will begin.

Until that day comes, those who follow Christ are to be people who represent the Prince of Peace in the way we conduct our lives and in the way we make a difference in our world. Only Christ can true peace be realized. The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. Trust Him that He will end all of these because He is on the throne.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, thanks be to thee. Thank You for all the benefits thou hast won for me. And thank You for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, may I know thee more clearly. Let me love thee more dearly. And, follow thee more nearly for ever and ever.

Walk with me, dear Lord, so that I may not be alone as I face this day, but always in Your presence. Your joy is a lighthouse in a world often dark with sin, and I pray that I may reflect the light of Your truth, to inspire others as I have been inspired. In the name of Christ, bless me this day, and all whom I may meet.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Isaiah 2:4

God will settle things fairly between nations. He will settle their arguments. He’ll make things right between many peoples. They’ll turn their swords into shovels, their spears into hoes. No more will nation fight nation. They won’t play war anymore. They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and shovels. 

 The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will never make war or attack one another. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.

The Daily Grace - Mirror, Mirror

How often do you see your reflection in a mirror? Some studies say that the average person looks in a mirror 8-10 times a day. Other surveys say it could be as many as 60-70 times a day if glancing at our reflection in store windows and smartphone screens are included.

Why do we look so often? Most experts agree that it's to check our appearance, especially before meetings or social gatherings. If something is amiss, we want to fix it. Why look if we don't plan to change what's wrong?

The apostle James said that reading or hearing God's Word without acting on it is like looking in a mirror and forgetting what we've seen (1:22-24). But the better alternative is to look closely and act on what we see. James said, "Whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do" (v. 25). If we hear God's Word without taking action, we fool only ourselves (v. 22). But when we examine ourselves in light of God's Word and obey His instructions, God liberates us from all that keeps us from looking more and more like Him each day. The Bible is a mirror that lets us see ourselves as God sees us.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, You are ushering in another day, untouched and freshly new, so here I come to ask You God if You'll renew me too? Forgive the many errors, that I made yesterday. And, let me try again dear Lord, to walk closer in Thy way.

Thank You for the Bible, Your Word to us. Give us wisdom and guidance as we read its pages. Make us sensitive to Your voice and give us hearts to obey.

Oh God who has made me, oh God who keeps me, oh God who will be my Lord through all eternity, shine down Your blessings and wisdom upon me like the sun upon a field. And, may I keep You at the forefront of my every thought and deed, throughout this day, and evermore. This I pray, in Christ's name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - James 1:25

He who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a careless listener who forgets but an active doer who obeys, he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does in his life of obedience to the law. Whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. If anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does.

You must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget. If you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. Obey and be blessed!

The Daily Grace - Opening Doors

Charlie Sifford is an important name in American sports. He became the first African-American playing member of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour, joining a sport that, until 1961, had a "whites only" clause in its by-laws. Enduring racial injustice and harassment, Sifford earned his place at the game's highest level, won two tournaments, and in 2004 was the first African-American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Charlie Sifford opened the doors of professional golf for players of all ethnicities.

Opening doors is also a theme at the heart of the gospel mission. Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20).

The word nations (v. 19) is from the Greek word ethnos, which is also the source of the word ethnic. In other words, "Go and make disciples of all ethnicities". Jesus' work on the cross opened the way to the Father for everyone. Now we have the privilege of caring for others as God has cared for us. We can open the door for someone who never dreamed they'd be welcomed personally into the house and family of God. Jesus opened the doors of salvation to all who will believe.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, let Your forgiveness find me. Hold me in Your strong arms and give me Your new life. Live in me and with me this day, that I may by Your power find forgiveness and be made ever anew, reborn from above, living fully in Your Spirit every minute.

Let me not forget all of those around the world who are frightened at this moment. Help those who are victims of terrorism and war. Hold us all in Your loving arms and let us be comforted by the strength and peace You make available to us through the birth of Your son, Jesus; and thank You for all the many gifts You offer us, during our life on earth and for all eternity.

The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us, and give us peace, this day and evermore.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Matthew 28:19

Help the people to learn of God, believe in Him, and obey His words. Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Go to the people of all nations and make them His disciples. Go and make followers of all people in the world.

This is the great commission to our Lord. Make Jesus known and famous. Take this challenge to reach out to the lost and share the love of Christ to them. So that, they can enter the kingdom of God.

The Daily Grace - Taming the Untamable

From Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs to Siberian foxes, humans have learned to tame wild animals. People enjoy teaching a monkey to "act" in commercials or training deer to eat out of their hands. As the apostle James put it, "All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind" (3:7). But there is something we cannot tame. All of us have trouble getting a little thing called the tongue under control. "No human being can tame the tongue", James tells us (v. 8).

Why? Because while our words may be on the tip of our tongue, they originate from deep within us. "The mouth speaks what the heart is full of" (Matt. 12:34). And thus the tongue can be used for both good and evil (James 3:9). Or, as scholar Peter Davids put it, "On the one hand, [the tongue] is very religious, but, on the other, it can be most profane".

If we cannot tame this unruly tongue of ours, is it destined to be a daily problem for us, always prone to speak evil? (v. 10). By God's grace, no. We are not left to our own devices. The Lord will "set a guard over my mouth"; He will "keep watch over the door of my lips" (Ps. 141:3). He can tame the untamable. To rule your tongue, let Christ rule in your heart.

Today We Pray

Dear God, Lover of Your people, help me this day to live entirely to Your glory. Let me be deaf to unmerited criticism and the praise of men. Nothing can hurt my new-born inner self, it cannot be smitten or die; nothing can mar the dominion of Your Spirit within me; it is enough to have Your approval and that of my conscience.

Let me not put my trust in the words of men, for their minds are weak and their tongues are tainted by the world. Let me not put my trust in the thoughts of my mind, for I am filled with sin and self-deceit. But, let me test everything having to do with faith against our only true teacher, Jesus Christ, and the true Word of God that He inspired the apostles to write in the Bible.

By Your Holy Spirit You have made me one with Your saints in heaven and on earth. Grant that in my earthly pilgrimage I may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know myself to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. I ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - James 3:18

The seed whose fruit is righteousness or spiritual maturity is sown in peace by those who make peace by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals. The harvest of the righteousness of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed is the fruit of the seed sown in peace by those who work for and make peace in themselves and in others. That peace means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. Be a peacemaker today!

The Daily Grace - In The Car Wash

I'll never forget my first experience using an automatic car wash. Approaching it with the dread of going to the dentist, I pushed the money into the slot, nervously checked and rechecked my windows, eased the car up to the line, and waited. Powers beyond my control began moving my car forward as if on a conveyor belt. There I was, cocooned inside, when a thunderous rush of water, soap, and brushes hit my car from all directions. 

What if I get stuck in here or water crashes in? I thought irrationally. Suddenly the waters ceased. After a blowdry, my car was propelled into the outside world again, clean and polished. In the midst of all this, I remembered stormy times in my life when it seemed I was on a conveyor belt, a victim of forces beyond my control.

"Car-wash experiences", I now call them. I remembered that whenever I passed through deep waters, my Redeemer had been with me, sheltering me against the rising tide (Isa. 43:2). When I came out on the other side, which I always did, I was able to say with joy and confidence, "He is a faithful God!" Are you in the middle of a car-wash experience? Trust God to bring you through to other side. You'll then be a shining testimony of His keeping power. A tunnel of testing can produce a shining testimony.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for being close to our broken hearts. Free me from doubt and indecision. Guide me through this day and show me my next step.

Let Your Holy Spirit be powerful to direct my thinking today so that it be empty of self pity, dishonesty, self-will, self-seeking and fear. Inspire my thinking, decisions and intuitions. Help me to relax and take it easy.

Show me what I need to do to take care of any problems. I ask all these things that I may be of maximum service to You and my fellow man. In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, I pray.

Amen