Treasure It Above All Else

Psalms 119:11 Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Why do we read and study God's Word? What motivates us to spend time in it? Are we meditating on it and committing it to memory? If so, do we then use it for our own purpose and gain? Is it a trophy that we break out to convince people that we are so spiritual that we can quote it with chapter and verse? Do we use it to proclaim its promises, out of context, so that we can claim that all God wants for us is prosperity? Are we trying to convince others that we are immune from suffering simply because we are born again? The psalmist makes it very clear that his approach to God's Word begins with a great desire to seek God; so he seeks Him with his whole heart. Then he takes God's Word and stores it in his heart like a hidden treasure that he covets above all else. His purpose for doing this is so that he might not sin against the Lord. It is not enough for us to just memorize Scripture. Once it is stored in our mind, we must let it penetrate our hearts. We must allow it to take root in our very soul and spirit, where the Holy Spirit can use it to change us, as He produces His fruit in our lives. In times of temptation, it is where the Holy Spirit draws from so that, like Jesus, we can use the Word to help us take the way of escape that God makes for us. When life's stormy seas begin to crash against our house, our minds, our very being, we will not be moved. God's Word, the Rock on which we build lives will stand. However, this can only happen if we store up the Word of God as the most valuable treasure we possess. We must treasure it above all else. This cannot be accomplished by merely skimming the Bible for a few minutes once in a while. For some of us, if we treasured the Word as much as we treasure, money, worldly riches, worldly entertainment, and earthly success, we would turn the world upside down for Jesus.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Happiness Comes from Seeking

Psalms 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!

Happy are we who treasure God's truth in our hearts, and walk in them. In order to accomplish this, we must seek God with all our heart! A true follower of Jesus must not be half-hearted in their approach to studying God's Word, or outwardly living it; we must be intentional, and make it a conscious choice. We must seek to know God for who He says He is, not who we want Him to be. As born again believers, we must search out the Word with diligence. We must not approach it with preconceived ideas, and try to make God fit into our ideas or "truths". Seeking God is more than just being in His Word, it is seeking His presence. Seeking Him is not simply going to Him when we need something from Him, or when life goes sideways. Seeking the Lord means setting our minds and hearts to seek Him (1 Chronicles 22:19). It means setting our minds on the things above (Colossians 3:1-2). It means complete submission and surrender, and making God the real priority of our lives. God has a desire to draw near to us, but He tells us that He will draw near to us, when we draw near to Him. He has already proven His love for us, and His desire for us to be with Him, by dying for us. If we want to find true happiness in this dark, unhappy world, then we must seek God, and intimacy with Him, with our whole heart.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Happiness Comes from Walking Uprightly

Psalms 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!

Happy are we who walk the path of morality, honesty, and truth; not our sense of morality, or what we deem to be honest true, but God's morality and truth. There are far too many people, even so-called Christians, who are walking around deciding what is moral to do, and what is truth for them. Israel, in the Book of Judges, continually did what was right in their own eyes; yet, all that did was lead them to idolatry and put them on a path leading away from God. God tells us that true happiness comes from not walking in the counsel of the ungodly (Psalms 1:1), but true happiness comes from walking in accordance with the Word of God. We are called to not only be hearers of His Word, but doers as well. We can pray, fast, worship, and even serve, but if we are not doing all of this in accordance with His Word, then we are wasting our time. God is not looking for us to worship Him in a manner we deem right and true. No, He tells us that we are to worship Him in spirit and truth; based on the truth found in His Word. Sin is a destroyer. It will rob us of fellowship with God, destroy intimate relationships, and friendships. It will bring division, and tear apart local churches. It brings sorrow and misery, and in many cases long term, painful, consequences. This Psalm, right in the first verse reminds us that being blessed, or happy, is not about what we have or do not have; it is about how we are walking, how we are living for the Lord. God is Holy and Righteous. Only in Christ Jesus can we be holy and righteous, and only by obeying and living out the truth of His Word, can we experience the kind of blessings that God wants His children to enjoy.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

His Love Endures Forever

Psalms 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

I love where God chose to place this statement, in the order of what was written in this Psalm. It opens up with the reminder and truth that God's love endures forever. A reminder that nothing changes God's love for us, no matter what each day brings. The day may bring with it challenges and distresses, but we have a God we can put our complete trust in. When man threatens us, what can they do that God cannot deliver us from? When we need help, and man fails us, we have a God who never fails. So often we quote today's verse, but it is usually when the day is sunny, bright, and trouble free. However, God will also allow days that are cloudy, rainy, and filled with trials and challenges. Will we also quote this verse on those days? Will we acknowledge that God is God on both sunny days and stormy days? Will we remember that no matter what a day has in store, it is a day that the Lord has made, His love endures forever; and therefore, we can always rejoice and be glad in it.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Nothing Can Overcome It

Psalms 117:1-2 Praise the Lord, all you nations! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

What can be said about the Lord's faithfulness? What can be said of His mercy, grace, and love toward us? Can anything overcome it? Can circumstances, persecutions, or even the devils take it from us? Can our feelings make God's truth null and void? The short answer is, "No, absolutely not!" God's goodness toward us, in Christ, is unchangeable. The devils want us to be convinced that God changes His mind about loving us. They want us to be convinced that we are no longer worthy, and that God will abandon us the moment we stumble. They want us to "feel" like God no longer cares for us when our world crumbles around us. Yet, God gave us His only begotten Son in order to show us His great love for us. In Christ He has redeemed us, and it is Jesus righteousness, not ours, that makes us acceptable to the Father. The Holy Spirit indwells us, and has sealed us with a seal that CANNOT be broken. We are the Lord's forever! His truth, His promises, have not changed, and never will. His promise that He will never leave us, nor forsake us is eternal. We will never ever be separated from His love, and nothing that has ever existed, exists, or can exist, will ever change that promise. The bottom line is that God's powerful mercy and kindness toward us can be changed by nothing; because nothing can overcome it.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

What Can We Give?

Psalms 116:12-13 What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

Sorrow, trouble, and death surround us every day. Trials, tribulations, and persecutions, crouch around the corner. Yet, those of us who know Jesus, and trust Him at His Word, know that all of this is temporary, and that none of those things catch the Lord by surprise; nor do they get by Him without His approval. So, like the psalmist, rather than put our focus on the difficulties of life, we can instead place our focus on loving Jesus and asking, "Lord, what can we give?" Well, to begin with, in order to be in a position to give, we must first receive. Yes, I know that this is contrary to, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) However, that's not what I speak of at this moment. What I am saying is that in order for us to give anything worth giving, we must first receive the cup of salvation that Jesus offers. It is a cup we cannot earn, and a cup that began as the bitter cup that Jesus drank at Calvary, then filled it with the blessed salvation that became our benefit. So, what can we give in return? I say that we give a life for a life. Just as He gave us His life, and died in our place, we now have the opportunity, in Him, to be the living sacrifices that the Apostle Paul beseeched us to be in Romans 12:1-2. What can we give? We can give the fruit of our lips, thanksgiving and praise, that are now acceptable to give, because we received what Jesus first gave. What can we give? We can give our life by taking up our cross daily, dying to the world and the lusts of our flesh, and be alive to God and His service. We can, by faith, give whatever Jesus asks of us, because in Him we can do all things that He calls us to do or give. Let us be like the one leper, out of the ten that Jesus healed, in Luke 17:12-19, who turned back and glorified God in a loud voice, and fell down at Jesus' feet to give thanks. The bottom line is that the best answer to the question of what we can give, is to give it all, because He gave it all for us.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Who's Getting the Glory?

Psalms 115:1, 3 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your Name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.

Today's Psalm is a great reminder that glory belongs to God, and Him alone; for His mercy endures forever and He alone is Truth. We are often far too quick to glory in ourselves, and our accomplishments; when in reality all that we achieve is only achieved because God allows it. We, in and of ourselves, cannot do everything we please. Yes, God gives us the free will to choose and to do, but not without its limitations or consequences. Only God can always do as He pleases, and accomplish the impossible. Yet, when we accomplish something, even that which seems impossible, we boast in self and our abilities (which, by the way, came from God). When we do that, we essentially make ourselves the gods and idols of our lives, but spiritualize it by sprinkling a little "God" in our testimonies. This Psalm reminds us that just like idols of silver and gold who are deaf, dumb, blind, and incapable of physical movements or accomplishments, we who worship them (to include ourselves) are just as deaf, dumb, blind, and helpless as the idols and those who make them. That should be an eye opener for those of us who are quick to boast on ourselves and glory in our empty achievements. The bottom line is that God is the only God who should be trusted and worshipped. He alone deserves praise and glory for what we accomplish. By the way, if we are not prayerfully asking God to help us set goals and achievements that will glorify Him and bring forth fruit worthy of heavenly reward, then we are wasting precious time here on earth trying to establish ourselves as the gods of our own lives who deserve to be worshipped and glorified. Let us set our minds, our goals, and our lives, to accomplish those things that direct the glory of it all to the One and Only who deserves it...Jesus.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

What's Our Excuse?

Psalms 114:5-7 What ails you, O sea, that you fled? O Jordan, that you turned back? O mountains, that you skipped like rams? O little hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,

How do we approach our daily relationship with the Lord? Do we approach Him with reverent fear? Do we see Him as who He really is, King of kings and Lord of lords? Does the thought of who God is cause us to seriously ponder how we will live for Him today? This Psalm is a great reminder that even nature recognizes the awesome presence of God and obeys Him. What we think of Jesus and who is in our life, will play out in the way we live for Him. It will be reflected in how obedient we are to His commands, which is also a reflection of our love for Him, and how we treat others. In recounting the Exodus, the psalmist reminds us that both the Red Sea and the Jordan, obeyed God and parted at His presence. Mount Sinai quaked when God descended upon it (Exodus 19:16-20). May I also remind us that not only is nature obedient to God, but even Satan does not dare cross the boundaries that God sets, as seen in the Book of Job, chapters 1 and 2. So, I have to ask, "If nature and the most wicked of devils obeys God, what is our excuse for not obeying God's Word? Do we not fear His presence? Do we not marvel at, and are we not awestruck by, the fact that the Creator Himself indwells us? How incredible is it that the Lord is present with us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? We can go before His throne, in Christ, whenever we desire, and we have Him present with us wherever we go. Does that not do anything within us to bring us into an intimate and obedient relationship with Him? Let us take time today to meditate on the magnificent truth that God, the Creator, the One who holds our life, our very breath, in His hands, is the God whose presence never leaves us; and realize that even inanimate objects obey Him at His every command. So I ask again, "What's our excuse?"

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Who Is Like Our Lord?

Psalms 113:5-9 Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes— With the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!

Is there any other god who can be compared to, or stand up to, our God? The short answer to that question is a resounding, "No!" There is no one who is like the God who is Creator, who is high above all the nations, and whose glory is above the heavens. He is the God who deserves praise day in, day out, all day, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Yes, that is the God who has provided, for us, salvation in Christ Jesus. As if that were not enough, I love what we are told in verses 7-9. The Lord is not only concerned about the poor and needy, but in Christ we, who were once dead in our trespasses, are now seated in heavenly places with Jesus (Ephesians 2:5-6). What is even more amazing is that a day is coming when this will also be realized, when Jesus comes back to rule and reign here on earth; but wait...there's more. Verse 9 shows us that the Lord is not only concerned for the needy in general, but is also concerned about us as individuals. He is a personal God. We know this from the stories of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, and Samson's mother. The Lord opened the womb of each one personally. The God who is praised above all else, and everyone else, is the God who is personally concerned about us, and meets each of our individual needs. I ask you again, "Is there any other god who can be compared to, or stand up to, our God?"

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Blessed Life of Reverence and Obedience

Psalms 112:1, 7 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Blessed, or happy, is the man who fears, or has reverence for, the LORD, who delights greatly, or finds exceeding pleasure in, His commandments. This Psalm lists the blessings that come with living a life of reverence to God and obedience to His Word. A life lived in reverence to the Lord helps us to raise a family who will revere the Lord also. A life of reverence for God is a life that will reap the blessing of enjoying, and being content, with wealth and riches God provides, both physically and spiritually. When our focus is on living in obedience to God's commandments, we become people who are compassionate and generous toward others with the things God blesses us with, regardless of whether it is little or much. A life of reverence for, and obedience to, the Lord, is a life of great peace. When troubling news comes we do not fret, for our trust is completely in the Lord. The bottom line is that a life that is lived for Christ is a life that is happy and filled with delight. It is a life that is filled with contentment, just as the Apostle Paul lived, and stated in Philippians 4:11-13. Let us strive today, and always, to live a God-honoring life of reverence and obedience to the One who gave His life for us.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Let's Lead By Example

Psalms 111:1 Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

This Psalm is a praise to the great works of the Lord. Although God Himself is worthy of praise, simply for who He is, the psalmist gives praise for the work of His creation, His providence, and His guidance. He praises His work of love, grace, and compassion. When we stop and consider who God is, and the works of His hands, how can we not break out in thanksgiving and praise? My question for us is this, "What are we doing to lead the way in encouraging others in praising and thanking the Lord"? In the very first verse of this Psalm, the psalmist states that he will proclaim his praise for Jehovah in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. In other words, he will praise the Lord within his personal, intimate, circle of influence, and within his extended circle of influence. What are we doing to promote the praise of God within our personal intimate circle of influence? What are we doing to encourage praise for the Lord when we gather with other believers? I am not talking about bragging sessions that draw attention to us personally. I am talking about genuine praise and thanksgiving that encourage others, because it comes from our whole heart, and reminds them of the hope they have in Jesus. If we want to see God exalted amongst those we love and care about; and see Him exalted within the local church, then it must begin with us. Just like revival must start with us, so an atmosphere of praise needs to start with us. We all have needs, and we all go through difficult times, but we need to break out of the mindset of the world that tells us to only give praise when good things happen to us. No...we must learn to be steadfast in giving God the praise and honor that He deserves, regardless of our circumstances. Let us start to lead by example, when it comes to encouraging others to lift the Name of Jesus in genuine praise and thanksgiving.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Is He Priest AND King?

Psalms 110:4-5 The Lord has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.

Jesus...our Priest and King. Is He really? I mean...is He the Priest and King of our lives? It is interesting, and sad, that most of us have no problem with accepting Jesus as our Priest. Yes, as the One who offered up the ultimate sacrifice for the payment of our sins...Himself. We believe, and call upon His Name, and He freely gives us eternal life. However, there is more to our relationship with Jesus than just accepting Him as our High Priest. Yes, there is far more to our relationship. He is, and will always be, the King of kings and Lord of lords. How are we doing in letting Him be King of our lives? Is He Savior alone, or is He also Lord? The proof is in whether we are living out the one command He gave us in Mark 12:30-31, "'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." It is far too easy to say that Jesus is Savior, then go about living life as we see fit to live it, on our own terms. It is a whole different story to say that Jesus is Savior AND Lord, and then live out the one thing Jesus said that proves that we also see Him as Lord, in John 14:15 where He said, "If you love Me, keep my commandments." The bottom line is that, like Melchizedek who was a priest and king of Salem, Jesus is the ultimate High Priest and King. Let us not wait until He returns to judge the kings of this world, to acknowledge Him as, and let Him truly be, King of our lives.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Do Not Let Them Distract Us

Psalms 109:1-3 Do not keep silent, O God of my praise! For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me; they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.

The one thing the devils are good at is knowing how to distract us. We get entangled with social media, television, hobbies, and other such things. However, one of the greatest distractions we can encounter is the false accusations of others. Those times when people say things about us that are not true. Those moments when we are maligned because of what we believe or what we stand for. In a world where right is wrong and wrong is right; if we stand for God's truth, persecution and false accusations will inevitably come our way. So, how should we respond? Well, Jesus set the ultimate example for us. 1 Peter 2:23 tells us, "Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously." The best response we can have to the distraction of dealing with false accusations, and nasty rumors about us, is to turn our attention to God, in prayer. We know that God knows our hearts and is already aware of what is being said about us. Rather than feed into the drama, we need to turn our attention to the Lord, and focus on our dedication and service to Him. He will take care of our accusers. Jesus made it clear that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us (Matthew 5:43-48). We must stand our ground and return good for evil, for this is what is pleasing to the Lord, and gives room for God to take vengeance on our behalf (Romans 12:17-21). Let us not allow ourselves to be distracted from what our mission is here on earth. We must not forget that other people are not really our enemies, and that the driving forces behind them are the real enemies. However, in Jesus they have already been defeated and we already have the victory.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

The Battle Belongs to Him

Psalms 108:12-13 Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.

Today's verses reminded me of 1 Samuel 17. Goliath, a nine foot giant, was challenging the Israeli army, and every one of its soldiers, including King Saul, was afraid and ran from him. Along comes this young shepherd boy who dared challenge this seasoned warrior. To make matters even more laughable to Goliath, and probably the entire Philistine army that was standing by, this young shepherd boy came to a spear, armor, and shield fight with a staff, a sling, and a few smooth stones. When the dust finally settled, the giant lay dead on the battlefield, with the young shepherd boy victoriously holding up Goliath's decapitated head. What made the difference? What gave David, later King David, the courage to face that mountain of a man who should have been able to defeat him with relative ease? It was David's perspective and faith. King Saul and the Israeli army saw the battle as being their battle. David, on the other hand, like this psalmist's perspective, saw the battle as being the Lord's battle. He faced the giant knowing and trusting that this fight was not his fight, but God's fight. He knew that the victory would not necessarily come from him, but from the Lord, as he (David) accepted Goliath's challenge, in the Name of the Living God. Far too often we live defeated lives because we lack faith in God, and choose to fight the battles in our own strength. We use our own wisdom, and often seek the help of people who are of no real use to us on the battlefield. If we are going to truly live a victorious life (I did not say a prosperous life) we must fight more of our battles as one song says, "On our knees with our hands lifted high. Oh God, the battle belongs to you." While it is good to have brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage us, there is a time when God calls us to just stand and face the battle, in His Name, and simply trust Him for the victory; because only He has the power to defeat the enemies we face each day. Let us not go to battle in our name, or the name of anyone other than the Name of our King of kings and Lord of lords.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

He Quiets the Storms

Psalms 107:28-30 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.

Today's verses reminded me of what Jesus did on the Sea of Galilee in Matthew 8:26. It is also a wonderful reminder that when we find ourselves in the midst of one of life's storms, Jesus can give us the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). It is no secret, by now, that as born again followers of Jesus, we will face all kinds of storms. They can be storms from fear, worry, anxiety, persecution, temptation, or tragic situations; you name it. We can choose to try and navigate these storms on our own, or we can choose to let the Captain of our faith navigate for us. The word "storm" used in this Psalm means, "a hurricane, tempest, or whirlwind". However the psalmist also uses the words "calm" and "still". These words mean, "quiet, silence" and "hold peace", respectively. This is exactly what we can experience through the most trying times in our lives; a calmness, stillness, and peace that passes all understanding, but only if we trust and rely on Jesus for that peace. Jesus promised in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Jesus said this to His disciples, right after the promise that the Holy Spirit would be sent. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling and sealing us. Therefore, in Christ, we can have this incredible, heavenly peace, even as the storms of this world rage on. Only Jesus can calm the storms that rise up within us, when we hear His voice within us say, "Peace be still." Then the waves subside, the waters become calm, and there is a peace that the world can neither provide, nor take away from us.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Where Does Our Joy Come From?

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

What brings joy to our lives? Is it times of prosperity, times of plenty? Do we only rejoice when troubling times are kept at bay? Where does our joy come from? The fact of the matter is that life can be, and feel, very unstable and uncertain. Difficult circumstances can show up at any moment and catch us by surprise. However, there is one thing that is constant and never changes...that is, who God is in our lives. Habakkuk knew what was coming for Israel. Yet, he did not rejoice in prosperity, and all that was temporary. Instead, he rejoiced in, and found joy in, the Lord. All that we have can perish in the blink of an eye. If we are finding joy only in times of plenty, and in times when there are no trials or tragedies, then not only will our joy be fleeting, but our faith is weak. The greatest test of our faith comes when all that is good seems to slip through our hands. They say that if we truly want to know what we are made of, we only really find out when the bottom falls out of life. That is when we find out if our faith is in God, or our material things and our own ability to handle life. If we are leaning on anything or anyone, other than God, then our rejoicing will always be temporary and unstable. If we want lasting joy and the ability to always rejoice, regardless of what our life looks like or what society and the world look like, then we must have enough faith to rejoice in the Lord and Him alone.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Separated...Truly Separated!

Psalms 106:34-36 They did not destroy the peoples, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them, but they mingled with the Gentiles and learned their works; they served their idols, which became a snare to them.

The psalmist recounts Israel's history of rebellion against the Lord, after He delivered them from Egyptian slavery. In today's verses we read the consequences of disobeying God's command to live a life of separation from those who do not believe as we believe. Israel ignored God's command to destroy the peoples of the land He was giving them. Instead they intermingled with them, and ultimately became rebellious idolaters. That same danger exists today, and we see it more and more within Christianity; a refusal to obey God's command not to be unequally yoked to unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). God also warns us in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that "Bad company ruins good morals." Yet, far too many Christians insist on making the world their friend. May I remind us that the world, and the devils, are not our friends? May I also remind us that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4)? We complain that God is not doing enough to turn our country, or this world around, but this is not God's failure; this is our failure. We live in such a way, as the church, that there is not clear difference between us and the unbeliever; then we expect God to punish evil and deliver us from the wickedness of this world, when we, ourselves, refuse to stand up, be separate from the world, and call sin what it is...sin! Let us not forget that we are in the world, but not of the world. We must remember that we are here for the purpose of spreading the Gospel, and serving God for His glory. However if we are going to accomplish this with any kind of success, it is time to come out from among them and be separated unto the Lord...truly separated.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Still A God of Miraculous Provision

Psalms 105:39-41 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night. The people asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it ran in the dry places like a river.

Is there any doubt in our minds that times are getting tougher, and are going to get worse? Is there any doubt to the warnings that God gives us in His Word about these times, and how people will behave? Sadly, even people who claim to be born again believers are behaving and thinking more like the world. For those of us who are choosing, instead, to stay focused on God's Word, and staying our eyes upon Jesus, I want to say, "Hold on. There is hope, because we have a Living Hope and His promises." In today's Psalm we are reminded of how God took care of His people during seemingly perilous times. He provided them with protection during the times that Pharaoh pursued them. He provided them with meat, bread, and water, in miraculous ways. May I remind us all that this same God is the same One who is our Lord and Savior today? Yes, He is the One who can still provide for us in ways that are supernatural. That being said, let us not allow ourselves to be tempted to write off God's ways of providing in these tough times as coincidences or plain old luck. Most of all, let us avoid the temptation to take credit for what is really being provided by the Lord. As true born again followers of Jesus, let us give God the praises and thanks that He deserves, and acknowledge His miraculous provision for what it truly is, during these difficult times.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Is There Any Reason Why We Wouldn't

Psalms 103:10-12 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

How amazing is God's grace and mercy? Do we truly understand what God has done for us? Can we wrap our minds around the fact that in Christ we are escaping eternal condemnation? However, let me stop us right here for a moment and caution us about something. Jesus did not save us so that He could simply become "fire insurance". No...He saved us for a purpose. He saved us, and set us apart to fulfill His plan for our lives, which is ultimately for His glory. We are still called to work out our salvation with reverent fear and trembling. We are still called to demonstrate our love for Jesus by being obedient to His commandments; the greatest being to love God with all that we are, and love our neighbor as ourselves. How wonderful it is to serve a God who loves us so much that He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor punishes us according to our iniquities. Instead He offers forgiveness for our sins, and Heaven, when what we truly deserve is Hell and the Lake of Fire. As far as the east is from the west, He has removed our transgressions from us. Knowing this, is there any reason why we would not surrender our lives to serve Him now and forever?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

The Little Bird Life

Psalms 104:10-12 He sends the springs into the valleys; They flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them the birds of the heavens have their home; they sing among the branches.

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26) That was exactly what we did this morning, before writing today's devotional. As we read Psalms 104, we watched a Robin walk around our patio, living its little bird life. The rain had created a couple of small puddles. We watched as the Robin sang, picked from the grass, bounced onto our patio; ate a tiny worm that was just sitting there waiting to be breakfast, then made its way over to one of the puddles to wash down the meal God provided. It kept us company as we finished reading the Psalm, and then we listened to Fernando Ortega's "Creation Song", based on the same Psalm. We sat a little longer pondering that Robin's little bird life, and asked ourselves, and each other, "Why do we worry?" To which the Lord replied, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink? or 'What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33) So today, we will not waste our time and energy worrying about the things that God already promised He will provide. Is it not amazing what the Lord can teach us from "a little bird life"?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).