YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW THE TRUE IMPACT YOU HAVE ON THOSE AROUND YOU. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH SOMEONE NEEDED THAT SMILE YOU GAVE THEM. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR KINDNESS TURNED SOMEONE'S ENTIRE LIFE AROUND. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH SOMEONE NEEDED THAT LONG HUG OR DEEP TALK. SO DON'T WAIT TO BE KIND. DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO BE KIND FIRST. DON'T WAIT FOR BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES OR FOR SOMEONE TO CHANGE. JUST BE KIND, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH SOMEONE NEEDS IT.
Matthew 25:40 - And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Great God help us to do what is right and to live up to the example You gave us in Christ. In Jesus name. Amen.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “ - John 14:6 We must focus on Jesus not because we want to get through this world but because we love Him. But sadly we also love the world and when we sho that, we need to reminded of 2 Peter 2:2 “And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.” This is why James 4:4 says: “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. “
Father God, give us wisdom and guidance so that we do not become Your enemy or blaspheme Your Son. Save us Lord. Save us for You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Hope!?!

Hope is a power thing, but what it does for us depends entirely on what kind of hope we are using. There are 3 kinds of hope in this world and we as Christians need to make sure we are using the right one. First there is the hope of fear. You hear that a friend or family member is in a car accident and out of fear you hope that they are OK. Second there is hope born out of desperation, you take a biology test and come saying, "I hope I passed." Then there is Biblical Hope. Biblical hope is not based in fear or born out of desperation, Biblical Hope comes out of our faith in Christ Jesus. It is as sure as all the promises in the Bible. It is Hope that does not waver or faultier. As Christians our Hope comes directly from Jesus.

Romans 8:28 says that "all things work together for Good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." This is our Hope. This is our security - that we know, no matter what is going on, God will use it for good. No matter what your struggles, pain, fear or desperation are, the Biblical Hope of Jesus Christ will not only see you through, but make it all for for His good and purpose.

Pray with me: Great and all might God, the one who created all things, we come to you now asking for Your forgiveness, Your Hope, and Your guidance in our lives. Help us to see what it is that You are pointing us toward and show us how to help you work through us to accomplish your goals and purpose in our lives and the lives of all those we come in contact with. In the mighty and gracious name of Jesus, Amen!

Important!

How long has it been since you talked to your spouse, kids, parents, best friend? How many of us know when our favorite ball team starts their season, and who they are playing? How many of us know exactly how much money we have in the bank? How many of us watch the news or read the paper or read the news online? How long has been since you looked at your phone?

These are all important things to us. And yes many of these things should be important to us. But now let me ask you, how long has it been since we’ve sat down and had a conversation with God? How long has it been since we’ve read and studied the scriptures? How many Bible verses do we remember? How many Bible stories can we remember? How long has been since we talked with family or friends about God or the scripture?

In our life, we make time for what is important to us. We make an effort to know and work on what is most important. So what is most important to us? If you look at our world today, it is not God. It is not the scripture. It is not our relationship or our friends and family ’s relationship with God.

We have to change our priorities and start putting the most import at the top of our list. Amazing things happened in the Bible when people were obedient and prayed and stayed in a right relationship with God. People were blessed. People were healed. The world was made right. We have to put our priorities in the right order for our own salvation and the salvation of family, friends and the world.

Pray with me: Father God, Lord and Creator of all, we come to you right now thanking you for all you have done for us, all you are doing for us and all you have done for us. We ask now that you forgive us for having our priorities all messed up, and ask for you guidance to set them straight. Love us and keep us safe. And empower us to set our lives straight and be about your service. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

From the Dark to the Light

The world in which we live today is a dark place. There is all manner of sins happing all around us. The news is full of death and depravity. We as are Christians are called to be a light in this this dark world. In Colossians chapter 1, Paul tells us that we were rescued from the darkness and placed in the Kingdom of God. We as Christians are spread the light of Christ to this dark world (Matthew 5:14). We are as a whole not doing such a good job, because the world is getting darker and darker.

I believe that this is happening because we as Christians are not doing many of the things that we are supposed to be doing. We are not reading and studying the Word of God the way we should. We are not sharing the Gospel of Christ with the lost. We are not praying the way we should. We are not taking our Salvation and the Salvation of the lost seriously.

We want to feel good and be told that we are ok. Yes in these dark times we need to be uplifted. But when we are not reading, studying, sharing, and praying the way should, we are not serving the way we should. When we read and study, share, and pray, we shine a light into the darkness of this world so that others can see. So that others can join us. So that the world can be changed. We as Christians have been rescued from the darkness, and we should be shining a light so that other can be rescued as well. I challenge you today to be the light that brings someone to Christ. I challenge you today to ready and study God’s word. And I challenge you today to pray that the light will over power the darkness of this world.

Pray with me now:
Almighty God, Father and Creator of all, we give you thanks for all that You have done, all that You are doing, and all the You are going to do. We ask for Your forgiveness for our sins. We ask for Your guidance in our daily lives and our daily studies. Great God, we ask that You help us to be a shining light in this dark world, so that others may come to You. Protect us with Your grace and strength. Convict us to be the Christians we should be. And in all things we give You honor and praise. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen

Get Out of the Boat

In this world today we are not all in the same boat, but we are as they say on the same ocean. We all have different issues and problems that we deal with. We all have different things from our past that we are either trying to ignore, deal with, or forget. However we do all still live in the same world. A world that wants to condemn us for our problems and issues and for past mistakes. Not all the same boat, but the same ocean.

I am reminded of the gospels where the disciples were in a boat and they saw Jesus coming toward them walking on the water. At first they were filled with fear. But then Peter said "Jesus, if that's you tell me to come to you." Jesus told him to come. Peter stepped out of the boat on faith and Peter walked on the water. Of course Peter hear the wind and saw the waves and took his eyes off Jesus. At which point he started to sink. but he cried out to Jesus and Jesus lifted him up and saved him.

I am here to tell you today that we need to all be getting out of our boats. Our fear of what will happen or of what people are going say should not stop us. Jesus is calling us to Him. He is calling us to walk on the water. We need to step out on faith and answer the call. The wind and waves this world are nothing compared to the love, grace and salvation of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the answer for all our issues and problems. Jesus does not condemn us for our past, He forgives us. The world may try to knock us down for what we've done in the past, but Jesus does not. In fact when we repent, are forgiven and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savor, He doesn't even remember those things. they are cast as far as the East is from the West.

We need to step out of our boats. We need to stay focused on Jesus and walk on the water. Don't listen to the wind of the world telling "No you can't" or "No not you." Don't look at the waves of issues or problems that the world is throwing at you to distract you for Jesus.

Get out of the boat. Walk on the water. Stay focused on Jesus. Pray with me right now:

Lord God, I am sorry for my doubts and fears. I'm sorry for the mistakes I have made. I ask that you forgive me, and I thank you for being here for me. I thank you for calling me to get out of the boat and I thank you for helping me walk on the water. I pray that you guide me this day and help me to stay focused on you. I ask that you help me not to listen to the wind of the world saying "No", but listen to you call my name and saying "Yes you can." I ask that you help me not to focus on the waves of issues and problems in this world, but to keep my eyes on you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

What has you bent out of shape?

In Luke 13:10-13, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and there was a woman there who for 18 years had been bent over due to a sickness cause by a spirit. She could not stand up straight. Jesus called the woman over and in verses 12 and 13 said "Woman, you are free from your sickness." He laid His hands on her and she immediately stood up and began glorifying God. What an amazing and wonderful thing. Jesus healed her, just like that.

In our world today, we get bent out of shape ourselves. Sometimes it's because of addictions, or loss. Sometimes it's just because we get frustrated. Addiction, loss and frustration happen to us on a daily basis. These things can cause us to shut ourselves off from those who care about us. They can cause us to look to all kinds of things for comfort and relief. But mostly they keep us from seeing the one thing that can help us more than any other. Jesus!

Jesus is here for us. Jesus wants us to be made whole and righteous. He came so that we would have life and have it abundantly. Jesus is willing and able to cure our sicknesses, to stop our addictions, comfort us in times of loss, and calm us in times of frustration.

Today, what has you bent out of shape? Give it to Jesus. Let him Heal, Comfort and Calm you today. Pray with me right now:

Jesus, I know my life has been less than perfect. I know I have made mistakes along the way and I know I have not trusted you completely. Jesus, forgive me for my sins, mistakes and lack of trust. Lord just heal me right now. Complete me right now. And help me to see and live this abundant life You came to give to me. In Jesus name. Amen!

To Join the Party or Not

During His ministry, Jesus taught His disciples many things. When He taught many times He taught with parables. One the most remembered parables, is the Parable of the Lost Son or more commonly remembered as the Prodigal Son. This amazing parable is one most people Christian or not are familiar with. The main focus of the parable is the son who wanted his inheritance, got it, went and spent it all, ended up eating with pigs and came home to a loving and forgiving father who welcomed him with open arms. When the son came home the father put robes on his son, rings on his fingers and put on a fantastic party to welcome him home.

However, this amazing parable is the only parable that Jesus ever told that He did not finish. You see the last bit of this parable talks about the father going out to the older brother, who instead of preparing for the party was in the field working. He was not happy that the father welcomed his brother back. The father told the older brother, "Son you've always been here, and all that I have is yours, but your brother who was lost has come home to us." But Jesus never says if the older brother joined the party or not.

We as Christians can all remember a time when were the prodigal son, but we are many times in the roll of older brother as well. When someone comes to Christ or comes back to Christ we remember all the things that they have done. Well we need remember that God has forgiven these people and cast their sins as far as the East is from the West and remembers it no more. We also need to forget those things and just rejoice that our brother or sister has come home.

We need to join the party!