The Daily Grace - That is Mine!

The Nile of Africa, which spans 6,650 kilometers (more than 4,100 miles) and flows northward across several northeastern African countries, is the world's longest river. Over the centuries, the Nile has provided sustenance and livelihood for millions of citizens in the countries it passes through. Currently, Ethiopia is building what will become Africa's largest hydropower dam on the Nile. It will be a great resource for the area.

Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, claimed to be the Nile's owner and originator. He and all Egypt boasted, "The Nile belongs to me; I made it for myself" (Ezek. 29:3, 9). They failed to acknowledge that God alone provides natural resources. A result, God promised to punish the nation (vv. 8-9).

We are to care for God's creation, and not forget that everything we have comes from the Lord. Romans 11:36 says, "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever!" He is the One who also endows humanity with the ability to manufacture and invent manmade resources. Whenever we talk about a good thing that has come to us or that we have accomplished, we need to remember what God says in Isaiah 42:8, "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another". To God be the glory - great things He has done!

Today We Pray

Dear God, we praise You, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Praise Your glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with Your glory.

I thank You for this new day and pray that You will watch over me. May my thoughts, my words and actions reflect the Spirit that dwells within me. And may every minute of my life celebrate the gift of grace, earned by the blood of Christ.

I pray to You for all the graces I need to know You, to love You and serve You faithfully unto death, and to save my soul. Give me a tender and fervent devotion to Your sacred passion by which I was redeemed, venerating You each day in prayer. And teach me how to unite sorrows and sufferings of my life with Your own.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Isaiah 42:8

He is God. It is His name. He has called you to live right and well. He has taken responsibility for you and kept you safe. He doesn’t franchise His glory and doesn’t endorse the no-god idols.

He is God, and God alone. He will not give His glory to anyone else. He will not share His glory and praise with carved idols and humans. He is alone to be worshipped and adored. 

The Daily Grace - Never Forsaken

Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky said, "The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons". With that in mind, I read an online article describing "The Top 8 Deadliest Prisons in the World". In one of these prisons, every prisoner is held in solitary confinement. We are intended to live and relate in relationships and community, not in isolation. This is what makes solitary confinement such a harsh punishment.

Isolation is the agony Christ suffered when His eternal relationship with the Father was broken on the cross. We hear this in His cry captured in Matthew 27:46: "About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' (which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')". As he suffered and died under the burden of our sins, Christ was suddenly alone, forsaken, isolated, cut off from His relationship with the Father. Yet His suffering in isolation secured for us the promise of the Father: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).

Christ endured the agony and abandonment of the cross for us so that we would never be alone or abandoned by our God. Ever. Those who know Jesus are never alone. We are not forever alone 'coz Jesus is always there at our side.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making it possible for me to be Your child. I will be eternally grateful for the price Jesus paid to make that relationship possible. Thank You for the promise that You will never abandon me.

Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love You and worthily praise Your holy name. Come quickly to help me, who is assaulted by many temptations. And, as You know the weaknesses of myself and all people, let all of Your servants find You mighty to save.

May the God of peace, who declared victory over death by the resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ, make me perfect in every thought and action through His grace. Let my life might be pleasing in His sight and that I might share the perfect peace that is only possible through Him. Through Christ, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Hebrews 13:5

Let your character be free from the love of money. Shun greed—be financially ethical. Let your moral essence and inner nature be clean. Be content with what you have, God promised us that He will never, under any circumstances, desert you nor give you. God will never leave us without support or to any degree, leave us helpless. Be assured that He will not forsake or let us down or relax in His hold on you, assuredly not!

The Daily Grace - Sharing a Burger

Lee Geysbeek of Compassion International told about a woman who had the opportunity to travel to a distant land to visit the child she sponsored. She decided to take the child, who was living in abject poverty, to a restaurant. The boy ordered a hamburger, and the sponsor ordered a salad. When the food came to the table, the boy, who assuredly had never had such a meal in his life, surveyed the scene. He looked at his huge hamburger and over at his sponsor's small salad. Then he took his knife and cut the burger in half, offered it to his sponsor, rubbed his tummy, and asked, "Hungry?"

A child who had next to nothing his whole life was willing to share half of what he had with someone he thought might need more. This child can be a good reminder the next time we meet someone in physical, emotional, or spiritual need. As followers of Jesus, our faith in Him should be mirrored through our actions (James 2:17). 

We encounter people in need every day. Some around the globe, some simply around the corner. Some in need of a warm meal, others a kind word. What a difference followers of Christ, who have experienced His love, could make by doing good and sharing (Heb. 13:16). To be doing good is man's most glorious task, as what Sophocles said. Take time to share today and do good to others.

Today We Pray

Dear God, today is a blessed beautiful day and I praise You for allowing me another day to be on this earth. I ask that You touch those whose hearts have turned cold and no longer care. I pray that they see Your way is the greater way. 

Today, Lord, help me see beyond my own problems to the needs of others. Guide my hand to give instead of getting, to offer instead of ask, and to bless instead of seeking blessings. May Your name be honored.

I acknowledge all my sins which I have committed every day of my life, in thought, word and deed; in body and soul alike. I am heartily sorry that I have ever offended You, and I sincerely repent; with tears, I humbly pray You, O Lord: of Your mercy forgive me for all my past transgressions and absolve me from them. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your Grace, to amend my way of life and to sin no more; that I may walk in the way of the righteous and offer praise and glory to the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - John 5:28-29

Do not be surprised at this. A time is coming when all those who are in the tombs will hear His voice. And those who did good things will come out to a resurrection of new life. But those who did evil things will come out to a resurrection of judgment, that is, to be sentenced.

Repent from your sins so that you will have that resurrection of new life. And, you will not be condemned. Jesus is here to redeem you from your sins! Look to Him with great joy!

The Daily Grace - The Olive Press

If you visit the village of Capernaum beside the Sea of Galilee, you will find an exhibit of ancient olive presses. Formed from basalt rock, the olive press consists of two parts: a base and a grinding wheel. The base is large, round, and has a trough carved out of it. The olives were placed in this trough, and then the wheel, also made from heave stone, was rolled over the olives to extract the oil.

On the night before His death, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem. There, in the garden called Gethsemane, He prayed to the Father, knowing what lay ahead of Him. The word Gethsemane means "place of the olives press" - and that perfectly describes those first crushing hours of Christ's suffering on our behalf. There, "in anguish, He prayed. . . and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground" (Luke 22:44).

Jesus the Son suffered and died to take away "the sin of the world" (John 1:29) and restore our broken relationship with God the Father. "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. . . He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isa. 53:4-5). Our hearts cry out in worship and gratitude. As W.G. Ovens reflects, "Gone my transgressions, and now I am free - all because Jesus was wounded for me". May this be our reflection, too, this Holy Thursday.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I strive to follow Jesus in my living and to trust Your power in my dying; I bow my head today to reflect upon the life that ended on a cross. Help me understand what Your Son endured for me. Help me appreciate the depths of love that would allow my Lord and Christ to be crushed for my wrongs and my rescue.

I am humbled, honored and inspired by the deep love Christ extended to the world, and I hear with open ears the calling to be a member of the body of Christ. Forgive me when I disappoint and fail you, and guide me back to a place of trust and faithful living. Grant me the vision to see the world as you see it, with love and compassion for each creature and all of Your creation.

May Your Word be planted deeply in my mind and heart. Help me not to walk away and forget it, but to meditate on it and obey it and so built my life on the rock of Your truth. I ask this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray to You for all things.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Isaiah 53:7

This is how Jesus terribly suffered in the road to calvary. He was beaten. He was tortured. But in spite of these all, he wasn't able to complain or defend Himself. He didn’t say a single word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered, and like a sheep being sheared, He took it all in silence.

We say to ourselves now, He don't deserve this. He is sinless and yet He was the one who suffered. How can we pay the price? Don't think about how you can do it, 'coz Jesus already paid it for you. Just worship Him and accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior to receive forgiveness and to be freed from your bondage. That's the only way you can do for our Lord that died on our behalf.

The Daily Grace - Too Close

I grew up in Oklahoma when severe weather is common from early spring through the end of summer. I recall one evening when the sky boiled with dark clouds, the TV weather forecaster warned of an approaching tornado, and the electricity went out. Very quickly, my parents, my sister, and I climbed down the wooden ladder into the storm cellar behind our house where we stayed until the storm passed by.  Today, "storm chasing" has become a hobby for many people and a profitable business for others. The goal is to get as close as possible to a tornado without being harmed. Many storm chasers are skilled forecasters with accurate information, but I won't sign up for a tornado tour anytime soon. 

In moral and spiritual areas of my life, however, I can foolishly pursue dangerous things God tells me to avoid because of His love for me, all the time believing I won't be harmed. A wiser approach is to read the book of Proverbs, which contains many positive ways to elude these snares of life. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding", Solomon wrote. "In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Prov. 3:5-6). Our Lord is the master of the adventure of living, and following His wisdom leads us to the fullness of life. Every temptation is an occasion to trust God.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Your wisdom leads us along the path of life. Help us to follow Your guidance today. I thank You that You have not destroyed me in my transgressions, but in Your love toward mankind You have raised me up, as I lay in despair, that I may glorify Your majesty.

I entreat Your infinite goodness. Enlighten the eyes of my understanding and raise up my mind from the heavy sleep of indolence. Open my mouth and fill it with Your praise, that I may unceasingly sing and confess You, who is God glorified in all and by all.

May God the Father bless us. May Christ take care of us; the Holy Ghost enlighten us all the days of our life. The Lord be our defender and keeper of body and soul, both now and for ever, to the ages of ages.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Proverbs 3:6

This verse is commonly paired with Proverbs 3:5 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". But today, let us solely focus on this verse to know the deep meaning behind this. In all your ways, know, acknowledge and recognize Him. If you do, He will make your paths straight and smooth. He will remove any obstacles that block your way.

Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He’s the one who will keep you on track. And finally, let Him always lead you. If you will just trust Him and submit to His will, He will clear the road for you to follow.

The Daily Grace - The Definite Choice

Coming from someone who used to value ancestral gods, my 90-year-old father's statement near the end of his life was remarkable: "When I die", he spoke laboriously, "nobody should do anything other than what the church will do. No soothsaying, no ancestral sacrifices, no rituals. As my life is in the hands of Jesus Christ, so shall my death be!" My father chose the path of Christ in his old age when he invited Jesus into his life as Savior. His contemporaries mocked him: "An old man like you shouldn't be going to church!" But my father's choice to follow and worship the true God was definite, like the people Joshua addressed.

"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve", Joshua challenged them. "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15). Their response was resolute - they chose to worship the Lord. Even after Joshua warned them to count the cost (vv. 19-20), they still resolved to follow the Lord, recalling His deliverance, provision, and protection (vv. 16-17, 21).

Such a confident choice, however, calls for equally confident actions, as Joshua strongly reminded them: "Throw away the foreign gods. . . and yield your hearts to the Lord" (v. 23). Have you made a choice to live for God? A definite choice demands definite actions.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I call to You and name You as eternal, ever-present, almighty, and boundless in love. Your wisdom leads us along the path of life. Help us to follow Your guidance today. 

In the daily round from sunrise to sunset and to sunrise again, remind me again and again of Your holy presence hovering near me and in me. Free me from shame and self-doubt in expressing my faith. Help me to see You in the fleeting moments of possibility and be filled with Your courage and Your word. 

The blessing of the Lord rest and remain upon all his people, in every land, of every tongue; the Lord meet in mercy all that seek him; the Lord comfort all who suffer and mourn; the Lord hasten his coming, and give us, his people, the blessing of peace, this day and always.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 100:5

God is sheer beauty. He is all-generous in love. He is loyal always and ever. His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting. His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.

Always remember that His love and faithfulness will last forever. He never changes. His unfailing love continues forever. And, His faithfulness continues for eternity.

The Daily Grace - The Gallery of God

Psalm 100 is like a work of art that helps us celebrate our unseen God. While the focus of our worship is beyond view, His people make Him known. Imagine the artist with brush and palette working the colorful words of this psalm onto a canvas. What emerges before our eyes is a world - "all the earth" - shouting for joy to the Lord (v. 1). Joy: because it is the delight of our God to redeem us from death. "For the joy that was set before Him", Jesus endured the cross (Heb. 12:2).

As our eyes move across the canvass, we see an all-world choir of countless members singing "with gladness" and "joyful songs" (v. 2). Our heavenly Father's heart is pleased when His people worship Him for who He is and what He has done. Then we see images of ourselves, fashioned from dust n the hands of our Creator, and led like sheep into green pasture (v. 3). We, His people, have a loving Shepherd.

Finally, we see God's great and glorious dwelling place - and the gates through which His rescued people enter His unseen presence while giving Him thanks and praise (v. 4). What a picture, inspired by our God. Our good, loving, and faithful God. No wonder it will take forever to enjoy His greatness! Nothing is more awesome than to know God.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, teach me all it means to choose You. I want my words, actions, and attitudes to show the love for You that I have in my heart. You are worthy of far more than I could ever do.

I will take refuge in Your loving heart. You are my strength in times of weakness. You are my comforter in times of sorrow.

When I return to my everyday tasks, remind me, Lord, that You are always there beside me. I need never despair. And turn my heart to Your will at every moment, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Joshua 24:15

In this verse, Joshua calls upon the Lord’s people to make a decision. He was literally saying, “If it seems like serving the Lord is the wrong thing to do, then choose whom you will serve.”  He then makes that bold statement that he and his house, or family, would serve the Lord.  Make no mistake, Joshua declared that he and his family would serve the one true God…Jehovah. It is so impressive that Joshua, as the head of his family, declared that his family would serve the Lord.  He rightfully took upon Himself to lead his wife and children in obedience to God’s Word. 

Let me ask you, fellow believer, do you fear the Lord?  Do you reverence Him above all?  Do you desire to serve Him in sincerity and truth?  Do you desire to have the Lord as your ‘all in all’? As a child of God, give the Lord your whole heart.  Fix your eyes upon Him and learn of Him and His ways.  Make that choice today. 

The Daily Grace - When the Water Blushed

Why did Jesus come to Earth before the invention of photography and video? Couldn't He have reached more people if everyone could see Him? After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. "No", says Ravi Zacharias, who asserts that a word can be worth "a thousand pictures". As evidence, he quotes poet Richard Crashaw's magnificent line, "The conscious water saw its Master and blushed". In one simple line, Crashaw captures the essence of Jesus' first miracle (John 2:1-11). Creation itself recognizes Jesus as the Creator. No mere carpenter could turn water to wine. 

Another time, when Christ calmed a storm with the words, "Quiet! Be still", His stunned disciples asked, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:39, 41). Later, Jesus told the Pharisees that if the crowd did not praise Him, "the stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40). Even the rocks know who He is.

John tells us, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory" (John 1:14). Out of that eyewitness experience, John also wrote, "We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. . . He is the Word of life" (1 John 1:1, NLT). Like John, we can use our words to introduce others to Jesus whom wind and water obey. The written Word reveals the Living Word.

Today We Pray

Dear Jesus, we acknowledge You as the Creator who knows and loves His creation. Yet You wait for us to invite You into every aspect of our lives. Forgive us for those times we keep You at a safe distance.

Thank You for the work my hand may find this day. May I find gladness in all its toil and difficulty, its pleasure and success, and even in its failure and sorrow. I would look always away from myself, and behold the glory and the need of the world, that I may have the will and the strength to bring the gift of gladness to others; that with them I stand to bear the burden and heat of the day and offer You my work, as well as I, may accomplish it, in Your praise.

Today we choose to risk knowing You more completely. Let me work for Your glory and not my own, putting an end to the pain of my vanity, that I may serve You in joy and peace all my days. This I pray, in Christ's name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - John 1:1

Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. This inspiring introduction of John carries us back to the account given in Genesis of the beginning of all things. The passage declares that at that time, before creation, the Word existed, was with God and separate from him, but was God, or divine. 

This deep and elaborate address concerning the divine Word, almost too deep for human understanding, was penned by John on account of certain false philosophies which began to creep into and to trouble the church. This passage then affirms that the person afterwards manifests as the Christ existed before creation began; that he was present with God; that he was divine; that he was the Word; and, that by or through him were all things made that were made.

The Daily Grace - Simply Trusting

When our children were young, taking them to the doctor's office was an interesting experience. The waiting room was filled with toys they could play with and children's magazines I would read to them. So getting that far with them was no problem. But as soon as I picked them up to carry them into the appointment, everything changed. Suddenly the fun turned into fear as the nurse approached with the needle for the needed shot. The closer she got, the tighter they hugged my neck. They would cling to me for comfort, probably hoping for rescue, not knowing that it was for their own good.

Sometimes in this fallen world, we move from times of peace and tranquility into the painful realm of trouble. At that point, the question is, "How will I respond?" We can be fearful and wonder why God allowed this to happen to us, or we can trust that in the midst of this trouble, He is doing something that in the end is for our best, even if it hurts. We would do well to remember the words of the psalmist who wrote, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you" (Ps. 56:3). 

Like my children, the tougher it gets, the tighter we should hug His neck. Trust Him. His love never fails! Cling to your heavenly Father; He is your only hope.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Your love embraces everyone. And through the Resurrection of Your Son, You call me and all who pray with me into Your wonderful light. Dispel our darkness and make us a people with one heart and one voice, forever singing Your praise.

Come quickly to help me. Teach me to trust You in times of trouble. Remind me of Your presence and of the fact that You hold me in Your loving arms.

I pray that Your Holy Spirit may dwell with me today and throughout the coming week, to comfort me, to give me strength against temptation, and to guide me into the path of righteousness. Have pity on me, Lord, according to Your great mercy; and make of me, in me, and for me, all that You wish. Because I abandon myself to You with full and entire confidence that You will never abandon me.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 56:3

Put your confidence in the Lord always. Rely on His presence. Do not be afraid for He will always be there for you. Trust the promises of God.

As we face another year, put your hopes and plans in His hands. Do not be afraid to plan with Him because He will always lend His helping hand for you. He knows what is best for you. So, fear not. Trust His ways!

The Daily Grace - Signature Scent

You can't see it, hear it, or touch it, but scent is powerful. The smell of things like crayons, petunias, and colognes evoke memories that transport me to the past and bring to mind people and places I might not otherwise recall. Some celebrities have fragrances named after them. Fans can identify with an actress or singer by dabbing on the scent bearing her name. Along those lines, Ladies Home Journal published a quiz to help readers determine the perfect fragrance for them. The idea is that every woman to be memorable, should have a specific scent associated with her.

The idea of a signature scent is not new. God introduced it as part of worship. In the tabernacle, a certain scent was to be associated with the Lord (Ex. 30:34-35). The people were forbidden to use this fragrance for anything but worship (vv. 37-38). This idea continues under the new covenant, but with a stunning difference. Instead of using incense to make people think of Him, God uses Christians as His "signature scent" to the world (2 Cor. 2:14-15). The fact that God identifies Himself with us in such a powerful way is a truly humbling thought, and causes me to ask, "What do people think about God as a result of being around me?" A life lived for God has a pleasing aroma.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, what a wonderful privilege that You, the Lord of all creation, desires to come to me. I welcome Your presence. Draw near to me.

Thank You that You are always there waiting for me. Sometimes I get bogged down with the concerns of this life. Grant that I may be still more often to know Your peace and Your calm.

Let me be a living witness in this world. Help me to be the gospel bearer, spreading good news to everyone. This I pray, in Christ's Name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Acts 1:8

God has promised that you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. If you just ask in His mighty name, you will receive it. Then, you will be God's witnesses. You will be the one to tell the people about Jesus.

Make Him famous among the nations. To the ends of the earth, go forth and preach the good news. Everywhere you go, be a witness. Be the salt and light. Be the living testimony.

The Daily Grace - The Best Is Yet To Come

In our family, March means more than the end of winter. It means that the college basketball extravaganza called "March Madness" has arrived. As avid fans, we watch the tournament and enthusiastically root for our favorite teams. If we tune in early we get a change to listen to the broadcasters talk about the upcoming game and to enjoy some of the pre-game drills where players shoot practice shots and warm up with teammates.

Our life on earth is like the pre-game in basketball. Life is interesting and full of promise, but it doesn't compare to what lies ahead. Just think of the pleasure of knowing that even when life is good, the best is yet to come! Or that when we give cheerfully to those in need, it's an investment in heavenly treasure. In times of suffering and sorrow, we can find hope as we reflect on the truth that a pain-free, tearless eternity awaits us. It's no wonder that Paul exhorts: "Set your minds on things above" (Col. 3:2).

The future God has promised us enables us to see all of life in new dimensions. While this may be a great life, the best life is still to come. It is a wonderful privilege to live here in the light of there. Living for the future puts today in perspective.

Today We Pray

Dear Almighty and everlasting God, who has safely brought me to the beginning of this day; I give You thanks for my creation, preservation, and all the blessings of my life. Grant that this day I fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all my doings, being governed by Your will, may be righteous in Your sight. I pray that You will fill my heart with the blessing of Your Holy Spirit.

Grant me this day the strength to be temperate in all things, diligent in my duties, and patient under my afflictions. Direct me in all my ways. Give me grace to be just and upright in all my dealings; quiet and peaceable; full of compassion; and ready to do good to all people, according to my abilities and opportunities. 

I know I am not alone saying these prayers or reading Your Word this morning, but many people unknown to me, from all stations of life, have joined together in this brief moment of devotion. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be among the community of all who pray in the name of Christ this morning, and remain among us always. Through Christ our Lord, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - 2 Corinthians 2:14

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. 

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Be grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.

The Daily Grace - Gentle Witness

Years ago, I was hospitalized, following a life-threatening, 38-foot fall from a bridge. While I was there, the wife of the man in the next bed stopped to speak to me. "My husband just told me what happened to you", she said. "We believe God spared your life because He wants to use you. We've been praying for you".

I was stunned. I had grown up going to church, but I had never imagined that God would want to be involved in my life. Her words pointed me to a Savior I had heard of but did not know - and marked the beginning of my coming to Christ. I cherish the memory of those words from a gentle witness who cared enough to say something to a stranger about the God whose love is real. Her words conveyed care and concern, and offered purpose and promise.

Jesus challenged His disciples - and us - to tell others about the love of God: "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Through the Holy Spirit our words and witness can have the power to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. A caring word can accomplish more than we could ever imagine.

- Bill Crowder

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, when I called upon You consciously for the first time, You heard my prayer and filled my heart with the blessing of peace. At that moment I knew Your goodness and knew how blessed are those who turn to You. I started to call upon You night and day, and now even now I call upon Your Name.

Never let us underestimate You by seeing only one side of Your role in our lives. Help us to enjoy Your love and kindness while recognizing how much You hate sin. Look with compassion on the whole human race, O Lord.

Seek me out, and bring me home to Your fold again. Deal favorably with me according to Your good pleasure, until I may dwell in Your house all the days of my life. And, praise You forever and ever with them that are there.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Nahum 1:7

God is good! He is a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, no matter how desperate the trouble. He protects those who trust Him in times of trouble.

When trouble comes, He is the place to go! And He knows everyone who trusts in Him! He is a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him.

The Daily Grace - A Gift of Hope

When a powerful typhoon swept through the city of Tacloban, Philippines, in 2013, an estimated 10,000 people died, and many who survived found themselves homeless and jobless. Necessities became scarce. Three months later, while the town was still struggling to dig itself out from the destruction, a baby was born on a roadside near Tacloban amid torrents of rain and strong wind. Although the weather brought back painful memories, residents worked together to find a midwife and transport the mother and newborn to a clinic. The baby survived, thrived, and became a symbol of hope during a time of despair.

Forty years of Philistine oppression marked a grim period in Israel's national history. During this time, an angel informed an Israelite woman that she would give birth to a special son (Judg. 13:3). According to the angel, the baby would be a Nazirite - a man set apart to God - and would "take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines" (v. 5). The infant, Samson, was a gift of hope born in a troubled time.

Trouble is unavoidable, yet Jesus has the power to rescue us from despair. Christ was born "to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace" (Luke 1:76-79). Jesus is the hope that calms life's storms.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, help me to see beyond my circumstances and put my hope in You. All authority and power are Yours. Remind me of Your goodness, and let me rest in Your love.

Remember Your church to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in Your love. And gather it, the one that has been sanctified, from the four winds into Your kingdom, which You have prepared for it. May grace come, and may this world pass away.

Walk with me, 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 - Romans 5:5

Such hope in God’s promises never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! There's a hope that will never disappoint us.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.

Do not lose hope. There is always hope, as long as you are in Jesus Christ. The hope of all hearts is Jesus. His love never fails.

The Daily Grace - A Place to Be

A thousand strands of time, events, and people weave into a tapestry we call place. More than just a house, place is where meaning, belonging, and safety comes together under the covering of our best efforts at unconditional love. Place beckons us with memories buried deep in our souls. Even when our place isn't perfect, its hold on us is dramatic, magnetic.

The Bible speaks frequently of place. We see an example in Nehemiah's longing for a restored Jerusalem (Neh. 1:3-4; 2:2). It's no surprise, then, that Jesus would speak of place when He wants to comfort us. "Do not let your hearts be troubled", He began. Then He added: "I am going. . . to prepare a place for you" (John 14:1-2).

For those who have fond memories of earthly places, this promise links us to something we can easily understand and look forward to. And for those whose places have been anything but comforting and safe, Jesus promises that one day they will hear the sweet song place sings, for they will inhabit it with Him. Whatever the struggle, whatever the faltering on your faith journey, remember this: There's a place in heaven already waiting, fitted just for you. Jesus wouldn't have said so if it weren't true. May the memory of your earthly place point us with hope to our heavenly place.

Today We Pray

Dear God, we praise and honor Your Name forevermore. Forgive us for acting as if You were not present in our moments of need, hurt, anger, or compassion. May I be a witness for you, a light of the world, reflecting your radiance to all I meet.

Help me to glorify You by striving to be like You. Make me as pure and good as You are. May I be a partaker of the Divine Nature, so that all that is truly human within me may be deepened, purified, and strengthened. 

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep me from falling away and will bring me with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time.

Amen.

Today's Godly Reminder - Proverbs 24:17

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles."

Don’t laugh when your enemy falls. Don’t crow over his collapse. Don’t be happy when they stumble. Don’t be happy to see your enemies trip and fall down.

Learn to extend your patience to them. Bless them instead of cursing them. The greatest thing to do to them is to pray for them. It may be hard, but it is His command (Matt. 5:44).

The Daily Grace - Dangerous Shortcuts

During recent elections in my country, one struggling mom I know exchanged her vote for a bag of diapers. We had discussed the benefits of each candidate, so her choice disappointed me. "But what about your convictions?", I asked. She remained silent. Six months after her candidate won, taxes went even higher. Everything is now more expensive than before. . . even diapers!

In countries around the world, political corruption is not new. Spiritual corruption is not new either. Satan tried to lure Jesus into "selling" His convictions (Matt. 4:1-10). The tempter came to Him when He was tired and hungry. He offered Him immediate satisfaction, fresh bread in seconds, a miraculous delivery, the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

But Jesus knew better. He knew that shortcuts were dangerous enemies. They may offer a road free from suffering, but in the end, the pain they carry is much worse than anything we can imagine. "It is written", Jesus said three times during His temptation (vv. 4, 7, 10). He held firm to what He knew was true from God and His word. When we are tempted, God can help us too. We can depend on Him and the truth of His Word to help us avoid dangerous shortcuts. God's road is not easy, but it leads to external satisfaction.

Today We Pray

Dear God, grant me this day the heart of a child, pure and transparent as a spring. A simple heart, which never harbors sorrows; a heart glorious in self-giving, tender in compassion. And, a heart faithful and generous, which will never forget any good or bear a grudge for any evil.

Make me a heart gentle and humble, loving without asking any return. A large-hearted and undauntable, which no ingratitude can sour and no indifference can weary. A heart penetrated by the love of Jesus whose desire will only be satisfied in heaven.

Grant me, O Lord, the mind and heart of Your dear Son. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. This I ask, through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Matthew 4:4

It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth. For the Scriptures tell us that bread won’t feed men’s souls. Obedience to every word of God is what we need.

No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken. A person does not live only by eating bread. But a person lives by everything the Lord says.

The Daily Grace - Positive Repetition

A journalist had a quirky habit of not using a blue pen. So when his colleague asked him if he needed anything from the store, he asked for some pens. "But not blue pens", he said. "I don't want blue pens. I don't like blue. Blue is too heavy. So please purchase 12 ballpoint pens for me - anything but blue!" The next day his colleague passed him the pens - and they were all blue. When asked to explain, he said, "You kept saying 'blue, blue'. That's the word that left the deepest impression!" The journalist's use of repetition had an effect, but not the one he desired. 

Moses, the lawgiver of Israel, also used repetition in his request to his people. More than 30 times he urged his people to remain true to the law of their God. Yet the result was the opposite of what he asked for. He told them that obedience would lead them to life and prosperity, but disobedience would lead to destruction (Deut. 30:15-18). 

When we love God, we want to walk in His ways not because we fear the consequences but because it is our joy to please the One we love. That's a good word to remember. Love for God will cause you to live for God.