Good morning, Lord Jesus. I turn my eyes upon You, as I still my soul and listen for Your voice.
I believe I hear You saying in my heart: "Think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
Yes, Lord. I don’t know with any certainty of all my future circumstances or nor can I predetermine the severity of all my challenges, but I can choose, and I can control -- by the power of Your grace -- the focus of my thoughts. And Your Word encourages me to think on the good things, to focus a little more on the best things, on the things that help me look up instead of down, to look forward instead of backward, and to start off my day on the right path, with my best foot forward, with a good attitude the right priorities and a healthy perspective: "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.... Then the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:8).
There will be plenty of time to deal with the daily stuff, but right now I'm going to make my priority and take a little time to be with the Holy Spirit. I will gird up with the armor of God,, walk I out my door and go out into battle for You Jesus in a minute, but right now I'm going to settle in for some quiet time in the communion of prayer, centered in You, and surrounded in Your Presence. I'm going to open up my spirit and lift up my heart and welcome You into every thought in my mind, every desire in my heart, and every moment in my day.
I'm going to think on You and all You've done for me. I'm going to think on Your love for me, Your power within me, Your plans before me, and Your grace to sustain me through whatever comes. And then, when I have to start thinking about all the other things that will become a part of my life today, I'll not forget these good and precious things that You've sealed in my heart, here at the start of my day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you will take a little time with the Holy Spirit and let the Lord focus your mind and your heart on the good things of God in your life, as you begin your day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up -- here in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of His glory, by the power that also enables Him to make all things subject to Himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved" (Philippians 3:18-4:1).
We can become an enemy of the cross without being part of some army of another religion or some satanic cult. We can become an enemy of the cross when we refuse to take up our cross and follow You. We can become an enemy of the cross when we let our flesh be our god, when we set our minds on the priorities of the kingdoms of this world instead of the priorities of the kingdom of heaven. And we can become an enemy of the cross when we no longer "stand firm in the Lord," compromising with truth, watering down our faith, and conform to the ways of the world instead of standing in contrast through the ways of Christ.
Forgive us, Lord. Forgive me, Lord. The cross is the place of death -- death to my will that's apart from Your will, my ways that are apart from Your ways. The cross is the place where I can say by Your grace, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, buy Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
You said to Your first followers what continue to say to all who would claim to Your followers in every age, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in His glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels" (Luke 9:23-26).
To seek to "gain the whole world" -- even if we say "We're doing it for Jesus" or "We're just trying to connect with our culture" or "We're just trying to be relevant" or "We're just seeking to be less threatening or less exclusive or less judgmental or less intolerant" -- is to lose our soul as a follower of Christ and ambassador of His Church. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?" (Mark 8:36)
Give me grace to "stand firm" in this age, in my generation, in my culture, in the challenges to Your Way and Your Truth and Your Life in my day. I want to be a friend of Christ not an enemy of the cross. I want to be Your beloved not Your befuddled. I want to be clear in proclaiming and living Your message -- "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) with my "faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6) -- not afraid to love and not afraid to speak the truth, just as You show us through Your Life in Your Spirit and in Your Word.
"Truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:21). You said, "You are My friends if you do what I command you" -- not "what you think will work best in your world," not "what you feel the Bible ought to say," and not "what you would do if you were God," but "what I command you." So give me grace to be a friend of Christ, not an enemy of the cross. Give me grace to live my life in Christ, in Your Truth, is to take up my cross and follow You this day and every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you are empowered by God's grace to take up your cross and follow Jesus every day, proclaiming His message through your life as a friend of Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me! God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved)! For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in the all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).
My Father God, teach me what it really means that I have already been raised from the dead along with Christ and You have already "seated (me) with Him in the heavenly realms because (I am) united with Christ Jesus." Give me deeper "spiritual wisdom and insight so that (I) may grow in (my) knowledge of God" to understand more clearly the truth of this mystery (Ephesians 1:17). Help me "understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else -- not only in this world but also in the world to come" (Ephesians 1:19-21).
I'm here on earth in this earthly realm. But already, at the same time, I'm also raised up and seated with Christ in the place of honor at Your right hand in the heavenly realm. That's my high place in Christ You've prepared for me. I have such a strong sense that it's so important to grow in my understanding of the truth of this mystery and to live it out. Help me learn to live it out in the way I pray, in the way I speak, in the way I see myself and see all who believe and have been seated with me and united with me and with Christ Jesus in the heavenly realm.
In the heavenly realm, where I am in Christ and Christ is in me, I am "far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else" (Ephesians 1:21). In that realm, sin is under me, sickness is under me, selfishness is under me, Satan is under me along with every satanic scheme to steal my identity or silence my voice or suppress my spirit. Discouragement, depression, disappointment, defilement, deception, darkness, and every devil sent to delay or destroy my destiny is under me and defeated by the victory of the cross and the glory of the resurrection. "All praise to God, the Father of (my) Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed (me) with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because (I am) united with Christ!" (Ephesians 1:3)
Let this truth get into my spirit. Let my spirit come alive in Your truth.
It's from there -- from the heavenly realm of my identity in Christ, united with Christ in the place of honor as a child of God at the right hand of God -- that I want to learn to live. I want to learn to live from my high place in Christ. I'm alive in Christ and I want to fully live into all that means. Living from there, together with all who believe You and fully entrust ourselves to You, "we are God's masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago" (Ephesians 2:10). And living from there, may our "hearts be flooded with light so that (we) can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called -- His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance!" (Ephesians 1:18) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray your heart is flooded with the light of God's truth and love, with wisdom and revelation, to learn to live from your high place in Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that You are Lord, raised from the dead and raising me up to live my life in You this day. ...
"He destined us for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us" (Ephesians 1:5-8).
It's Your "good pleasure" to pour out Your grace into my life. You don't do this begrudgingly, but freely; and not in scarcity, but in abundance. Out of the riches of Your grace, You lavish me with Your goodness -- all in Your joy and "good pleasure." "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 136:1)
Thank You, Lord, that You are a good God, in a good mood! 'He who sits in the heavens laughs!" (Psalm 2:4). It was "for the sake of the joy that was set before (You that You) endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). And despite what's going on around us -- even in the things that break Your heart and ours -- You're always inviting us to know the truth of Your Word: "In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore!" (Psalm 16:11).
O Lord, my God, "restore unto me the joy of Your salvation" every day (Psalm 51:12). Speak Your words of spirit and life into my heart that "(Your) joy may be in (me), and that (my) joy may be complete" (John 15:11). Though every moment and challenge of every day, help me see You and see myself in the light of Your truth and Your lavish grace and the "good pleasure" of Your will. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you have eyes to see God as He is and see yourself as He sees you, that His laughter and joy may be in you and your joy may be complete in Him, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's all about You. So I seek to begin my day and week centered in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ...
“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 13:2-3)
Jesus, I hear you ask me this morning, Do I "have first place in everything"? Do I seek You first? Do I put Your first? Do I live my life throughout the moments of my day with no other gods before me, with no idols in Your place, with no compromises in my "sincere and pure devotion to Christ"?
Jesus, As I sense Your leading to honestly lay the question before You this morning, it seems I hear You speaking in my heart, "Honestly, no. You do not. Nor can you completely, sincerely, purely, and fully. No one can by themselves. Even in this, you need My grace. Especially in this, you need My power of My grace to be at work in your heart and your mind to seek Me and surrender to Me, to passionately pursue Me and allow Me to make your heart more pure and more wholly devoted to Me. But is it My great desire and delight to answer your prayer and move in your heart every time you turn to Me and invite Me to move in you. This is a life-long journey, with breakthroughs along the way. And I breakthrough more deeply as you surrender more deeply to Me." ...
Yes, Lord. I want to love You and surrender to You and Your love for me with "an undivided heart," with "my whole heart" so "turn to me and be gracious to me" (Psalm 86:11-16). I want to "love the Lord (my) God with all (my) heart, and with all (my) soul, and with all (my) mind, and with all (my) strength" (Mark 12:30). I want to hold nothing back from You, wholly devoted to You, completely surrendered to You. I want You to be first, to "come to have first place in everything" in me -- all by the power of Your grace at work within me.
You are "the Alpha and the Omega, the Frist and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 22:12). You are my "All in All," as All in One -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:23; 1 Corinthians 15:28). So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose to keep turning my heart to You and inviting You to keep moving in me on this life-long journey of faith in You and Your love for me, with breakthroughs of deeper surrender all along the way. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you keep turning your heart to Jesus and inviting Him to keep moving in you. I pray you trust Hm more fully and surrender more deeply to Him as the One with first place in everything in you -- all by the power of His grace, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Help me listen to you. Tune my heart to your melody.
“Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God... But as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you - make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. ..For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich. …For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” (2 Cor. 8:1-15)
Lord Jesus, I am joyful over Your amazing gift of the cross! I still am saying “Thank you!” for Your extreme gift of love that although You were rich, You became poor for my sake, so that I by Your poverty could become rich. (v.9) Lord Jesus, help me “pay forward” to others the gift I received from You. Help me today to “overflow in the wealth of my generosity”(v.2). Help me to excel in the act of kindness to others (v.6). Help me not only out of my abundance, but out of my poverty seek for the blessing and fellowship found in help others (v.4). Jesus, You remind me today that all I have is a gift from You to be used to pour into, relieve suffering, and bring relief to others. “We must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). However, I am called to give because I have been blessed in receiving from You. Jesus, free me from my fleshes desire to hoard, store up, collect, claim, keep, save, and hold onto my items and my finances I should freely give. Open my heart to others as Your Word says, “your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’(Deuteronomy 15:11-12).
My family, You have been given the greatest gift you will ever receive through the greatest act of generosity and outpouring of grace this world has ever know in and through the saving works of Jesus’ death and resurrection. I pray today you will “pay it forward” and be a tangible example of the love and generosity of Jesus that we who call ourselves “Christians” are supposed to be, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you friends! He Has!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.... For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And He died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for them" (2 Corinthians 5:11-15).
We are "well known to God." And You know well the plans You have for me and each one of Your children (Jeremiah 29:11). ...
My Father, You know all about me. You've created me and saved me. You've loved me and corrected me. You've called me and anointed me, encouraged me and inspired me, equipped me and empowered me. You always go before me and You're always with me. You know every hair on my head and every hurt in my heart. You know every step that I'll take and every misstep I've taken. And yet You love me with "an everlasting love" (Isaiah 54:8).
The Bible says there came a time when "the Lord was sorry that He had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart" (Genesis 6:6). I know I've grieved You to Your heart at times. I wonder if You were ever sorry You made me. ...
But even as I write those words here in my journal, I immediately hear You speaking to my heart. It seems I hear You saying: "No, My son. I chose to create you and never forsake you, even as I have chosen each one of My children. You are created in My image, but destined to struggle through your issues on your spiritual journey to maturity in Me. When you stumble and fall, when you falter or fail, I still love you and help you and even cause you to become more desperately dependent upon Me so that I can display My glory more completely through you. This is My way. This is My will -- that My children learn to trust Me and love Me and know My love for them on their journey to learn to love in the time they have on this earth."
Yes, Lord. "For this is the will of God, (my) sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). You desire that I would "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of (my) mind, so that (I) may discern what is the will of God -- what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).
Though humankind grieved You, at the same time "Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord" (Genesis 6:8). And by the power of Your grace through sacrifice of Christ, we are Your children who find favor in Your sight, despite all our sins and failures and all that grieves Your heart with us. "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us this ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). In Christ, we are the message -- through our changes hearts and changed lives by the power of the grace of God at work within us! "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making Hi appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
You want to bring me to the place here in my heart and soul where I am free to no longer live for myself, but live for You (2 Corinthians 5:15). And in living for You and allowing You to live in me, I am becoming more like You. "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one Spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). This is the way of life and the will of God You've chosen for me and every one of us. "God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9). "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17). Lord, in desperate dependence upon You alone -- upon the One who knows me well -- make me more like You today, as I learn to love more like You today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I earnestly pray without a doubt you realize, you completely understand, and that you truly know how much God loves you and longs to live through you, making you more like Jesus as you learn to love more like Him each day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit and lead me in Your ways, here at the start and throughout the moments of my day. ...
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
Your Word calls our spiritual enemy "the god of this world" who "has blinded the minds of the unbelievers" -- those who do not believe "the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." And "the god of this world" is at the source of the evil of this world. You called him "the ruler of this world" (John 14:30). Bur Your Word encourages us to not lose heart when we see Satan’s evil work of deception and destruction, but to rise up in faith: "Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith..." (1 Peter 5:8-9).
One way we resist him, steadfast in our faith, is by letting Your light shine in our hearts. Give us a love for those who are deceived. Move us to intercede for them instead of condemn them, that their eyes will be opened to the truth -- "the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Stir in our hearts to pray for those who persecute us, to bless those who curse us, to love those who hate us (Matthew 5:44). Break the blindness from their minds to know the truth who will set them free (John 8:32).
Even with all we see in the world now with Covid and injustice, this is not a time to fear, but to arise in faith. This is not a time to lose heart, but to be stirred in our hearts to pray as warriors into the great contrast between the light and the dark, between good and evil, between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God.
As You explained long ago, both light and darkness, both good and evil, are all growing to full maturity at the end of this age -- "to grow together until the harvest" (Matthew 13:24). Let us be encouraged when we see these things coming of age in our day -- the time of a great harvest is near! (Mathew 13:39)
You are "not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). And You will use this ever-increasing contrast that we see around us of the light and the dark, the good and the evil, to expose the deception of the ruler of this age so that all can see the truth and know the One who is the truth -- "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6).
So give us Your harvest perspective! Give us Your kingdom perspective! In the midst of this darkness, as we hold fast to our faith and let the light of Your glory shine through our faces and move powerfully through our prayers, "the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of (our) Father" (Matthew 13:43). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray that in this harvest time, the light of the glory of God will increasingly shine through your face and your prayers to expose the darkness of deception and bring many to faith in the One who is the Truth. The whole earth was Jesus’ harvest field into which He poured His saving blood.. Pray for Jesus to reveal to you the fields you are to pour yourself into and aide in the harvest, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
“On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, …. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, with the church that meets in their house. “ (1Corinthians 16:2,19)
Bishop Desmond Tutu stood up as the key speaker to give the college commencement speech to the graduating class. He walked up to the mic and proclaimed, “It is all a gift! It is all a gift!” And then returned to his seat and sat down.
Everything we have is a blessing. There is nothing that we have that can’t be taken away from us tomorrow. All we have is a gift from God. All our gifts from God are resources to be given back to God and used for the kingdom of God. God’s grace did not bless you with simply 10% of your gifts, He blessed you with ALL of your gifts. Though sadly the average giving by parishioners in the US is 2.4%. For Christian families making less than $20k per year, 8% of them gave at least 10% in tithing. For families making a minimum of $75k or more, the figure drops to just 1%. His grace provided for all of your gifts. The notion that 90% of our gifts and resources are ours, so that 10 percent of our gifts are all we need to give back to God is false, as Paul states, “You are to set aside income to the extent that God has blessed you.” As the hymn states, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe …”
A major portion of the blessings and where we store up the blessings that God has bestowed upon you and I is our homes and apartments we live in. This major source of our blessing is not meant to be gated and fenced off as “ours” from God’s use but opened up to be used as an outpost of God’s blessings to your neighbors and community as “His.” What percentage of your home, your gift from God to the extent that He has blessed you have you set aside for God? Out of the 168 hours in a week God has blessed you to reside in your home, how many of those hours weekly is your house or apartment open to others and used for God? Used for hosting youth to mentor, after school children’s bible study, accountability groups, a Bible house church, or other ministries for God? What percentage of this time God has blessed you to reside in a comfortable home do you share back to God? 20%, 10%, 5% or 0%. “Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, with the church that meets in their house.” How are you warmly greeting in the Lord others into your home?
My family, I pray you will intentionally discern and plan how you will “tithe” and open up and share your home or apartment, one of your greatest blessing from God, as a place that warmly greets others in the Lord. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I shared my insights and prayers from todays passage with you. Please share your insights and prayers with me and others in the comments box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Father, Son, and Spirit, I press into You at the start of my day so when the day presses into me I can stand firm in You.
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lordʼs death until he comes.,” (1Corinthians 11:23-26)
My devotion for this morning was given to me by a child at the Waffle House. I received by praying as I always do before I went in the restaurant to let me see those I encounter inside through God’s eyes.
One morning I was at the Waffle House and I noticed in the booth to my right a small boy, maybe 5 years old, who was seated across the booth from his father. The food was brought to the table and his dad had ordered him a waffle. The boys eyes got big and a large smile came across his face as he stared at the waffle. He looked at his dad with a big grin, his way of saying thanks, then started smearing butter and syrup on his waffle, and ate it in complete joy!
I was reminded of Bonhoeffer’s words: “The fellowship of the table has a festive quality… God cannot endure that unfestive, mirthless attitude of ours in which we eat bread in sorrow, with pretentious, busy haste, or even with shame. Through our daily meals He is calling us to rejoice, to keep holiday in the midst of our working day…” (Bonhoeffer, Life Together).
And I was reminded of Jesus’s words: “13 “And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."(Mar 10:13-15)
That young child reminded me what a gift a meal is, something that I take for granted in this land of plenty where my fridge and pantry is full and there are restaurants on almost every corner.. Unlike most people in the world, the question I struggle with daily is not “if I am going to eat today:, but “what or whereas I going to eat today.” However, The gift of physical life a meal provides for me is a gift from our Father in heaven, who is ever present in my “booth” while I am eating it. And no matter how rough or hard of a day I may be having (at least in my mind), or what situations I find myself in, I have no right to eat a meal that day, or any day, as Bonhoeffer tells me in sorrow or shame. I always need to rejoice while I am eating, and look up to my Father with a big grin of thanks.
It also reminded me of when I share a special meal together with my family, The Lord’s Supper. It is also a gift from the Father that provides a much greater gift than physical life, it provides spiritual and eternal life. A Father, who through the works of the Son on the cross, and by the Holy Spirit, is present in my “booth” when I partake in it. The triune of God is present more closely during the Lord’s Supper than anything else I can do in life because of the promise of the Son that when you “Do this in remembrance of me” I will be with you. A meal, that if I receive and eat it in shame and sorrow would be insulting and saddening to Father. Like it would be to the father of the boy if he received his waffle with sorrow, ate it in quiet shame, never once looking up at his dad.
I am reminded that as a person in the “church” I have taken the Lord’s Supper at times for granted. I need to receive the bread and the cup in celebration with “big eyes” and a wide open heart in wonder and amazement of all the love the Father has bestowed upon me. I need to receive it like that child at the Waffle House and look up to my Father, my Abba, my daddy and give him a big grin!
My family, I pray today at every meal you partake in a big smile of joy will come over your face and you will look up at your heavenly Father and say “Thanks dad!” In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Father, Son, and Spirit, fill me with the unity of your presence.
“Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.”(1Corinthians 9:24-26)
Paul uses a runner as an illustration to compare to a person’s sharing of the Gospel. A runner does not just go and enter a race, he constantly trains to equip his body and mind for running the race. When a runner enters a race, he does not run whenever he wants and where ever he wants, but at a specific time on a specific course. A runner has a daily structure of training and a schedule to help him be a better runner. We all have structures and schedules we use to makes as better and more efficient at completing a task or competing in something. At work we have time schedules and procedures we follow. We have daily schedule of when we work out at a gym. Our calendars have dates and times scheduled on them to help us complete tasks and requirements. What does your schedule for living out the great commission to make disciples look like? What does your routine for training look like to share the gospel with your neighbors? Open your calendar, besides church on Sundays, what dates and times are marked in it daily that are intentionally set aside for your growth as a Christian? What dates are penciled in for sharing your faith with others?
We understand in every area of our life the need to be intentional, have structure and a schedule to follow to achieve results and goals. How come most do not do that with the thing they claim is most important to them above all else, their faith and walk with Jesus? Yes, so we don’t forget and miss opportunities, to schedule in our calendars our kids and grand kids ball games, doctor appointments and other events, most however do not have scheduled in their calendar weekly days to prayer walk their neighborhood, go to a laundromat, attend a Band Group, or intentionally sharing the Gospel with others.
Paul’s ministry and success in sharing the Gospel with people did not “just happen” when the situation was right. He was successful because he was very ntentional in sharing it, prioritized sharing his faith, and he actively actually went out and shared it with people. You and I will be successful in sharing our love of Jesus if we do the same.
My family, I pray today as you begin your week you will take time to sit, open your calendar, and honestly look at how intentionally you set aside times daily, weekly, and monthly for training and equipping in the Bible, prayer, being in a Band Group, and sharing the Gospel to your neighbors and those in your community. We as Christians claim Jesus is better than anything else so I pray you and your family restructure your calendar to reflect that claim. In jesus’ name. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
The LGBT issue is a major issue in our church, country and the world today. This morning, our journey through the New Testament speaks into this issue and instead of sidestepping it, I will reflect on it as well. Since it is a major and delicate issue today in the church, my reflection today is a little longer.
The term LGBT is not in the Bible. It is a modern term, just like the term lesbian does not come up in the Bible either. And it is also true to say that the Bible does not say anything about sexual orientation. This is also a modern term, psychological way of framing a discussion on same sex activity and attitudes. So does the Bible have nothing to say on this subject? In fact it has quite allot to say about this subject as in today’s reading.
The focus of what the Bible has to say about what we today call homosexuality and lesbianism is behavior. Behavior; not inclinations, not tendencies, not orientations, not preferences, not a lifestyle, but actual behaviors.
What the Bible says bout the behavior of homosexuality and lesbianism is pretty clear it says:: Same sex activity, whether it is between two men or two women, is forbidden.
· It is forbidden in the Levitical codes of the OT and other places in the Torah
· It is clearly forbidden in the NT both directly and indirectly
· Paul clearly states this in many places like Romans 1:18-32,
· Here in 1 Cor Paul lists it in sinful behaviors that can even exclude you from the kingdom of heaven.
· There are very strong warnings throughout the Bible against this type of behavior.
Jesus indirectly addresses this issue. When asked by his disciples how they are to relate to each other, he gives us two options: Fidelity in marriage, and celibacy in singleness. Read Matthew 19, it is pretty clear.
The only option to monogamy, sex between a man and a woman in marriage in God, is singleness, celibacy for the sake of the kingdom. Jesus is so emphatic on this singleness that he calls it being a “eunuch for God. “ Everybody in Jesus’ day knew perfectly well what eunuchs were. They were incapable of being with another human being because they had been rendered that way. Jesus even use the technical terms: There are some that are born eunuchs, some that were made eunuchs by other people, and some who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of God. Jesus essentially and clearly ruled out any form of sexual activity outside of monogamy in marriage between a man and a woman. This should not be surprising to us, it is a common point of view of the Jews, common of early Christians.
What is the fallout from these facts as to how we read the Bible? Lets look at several things. What we all “homophobia” today, the singling out. the stigmatizing, name calling and out casting of homosexuals simply because of their gender orientation I see as a sin. God loves everybody, he just does not love their sin. And one sin a person can commit is treating one group of sinners as somehow worse than everybody else. This is morally wrong and it is a sin to treat Gay and lesbian people as if they are some type of lepars.
Anyone who knows my heart knows that I have a radical approach to “church” that includes radical hospitality of all and everyone. I also have an orthodox understanding of scripture. Like Jesus I try to display extravagant grace, while presenting complete truth in all situations as Jesus did with the women in John 8 caught in adultery. If approached by a LGBTQ individual or couple how would I respond? First, I would let them know I do not judge them. As one saved by grace I look at them with love and not judgement. My story of past sins I committed before coming to Christ is far worse than sleeping with a man. Secondly, As a representative of the church, I would say to them if you have ever been hurt by the church through any form of hate, prejudice, condemnation, or judgement by the church, I am sorry. That is not what the church is called to offer the world, it is a sin, I am sorry and it is not what I am offering you.
Thirdly, I love you and you are welcomed to come and be part of Toney UMC, ODC, and worship in my home. Fourthly, though you are graciously welcomed into the family of God to come just as you are, you, however, just as I and anyone who seeks Christ, you are not allowed to remain as you are. All of us have to repent of our sins. When we call Jesus Lord, we surrender our image of ourselves to the workings of the Holy Spirit to conform us into not our image, but the image of Jesus. I am not going to “call you out”, I am not going to call anyone out. But you, I, we; are all called to repentance, and should be called to repentance. The church was designed to be an equal opportunity critiquer of all behaviors and lifestyles that the Bible says are inappropriate. The Holy Spirit is an equal-opportunity critiquer and confronter of all human sin.
So come as you are, you are welcomed as you are, however all of us are called to repentance and should be called to repentance. And if there is a behavior, or lifestyle anyone is refusing to surrender to God, then it becomes not a behavior issue, but an obedience issue. In the Bible, inappropriate behavior is where the rubber meet the road; Not inclinations or tendencies; as all of us have inclinations: some that are healthy, and some that are unhealthy and sinfull. That is not where the real issue lies, The issue in the Bible focus on behavior. We are all fallen individuals. All of us have tendencies and inclinations that we are not sure are behaviors derived more from nature or nurture. But what we can be sure of is what kind of behaviors are said to please God, and when it comes to sexual behaviors, what behaviors do not please God.
Here is what else I would want to say most. Within my own, our own Methodist tradition, if we did not ordain sinners, including myself, we would not have any ordained ministers of any kind. If we did not accept members into our churches who were sinners, our churches would be empty. So if any person, no matter what orientation they are sexually; heterosexual, homosexual, LGBT, is prepared to be chased in celibacy singleness, or be faithful in heterosexual sexual relationship in monogamy of marriage, then they can be candidates for ministry. We will not rule them out just because their inclinations are different from mine or someone else. I think that is gracious, I think that is fair. I think that is where the church should stand. I think that is what the Bible allows us to say.
My family, as we journey through the reading the Bible together it is going to speak into the issues and behaviors of our lives and the life of the church. That is what God’s word is designed to do. I pray as you read through it this morning you will not be drawn to reflect on the behaviors of others, but the behaviors of the person you see in the mirror and ask the Holy Spirit to remove or add behaviors to transform you more into the image of Jesus, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my frinds!!!
I would love for you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
I place my life in your hand God to mold into the image of your Son.
“It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles…I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Are you not to judge those inside? But God will judge those outside. Remove the evil person from among you.” (1Corinthians 5:1, 9-13)
Why do heathens, non-Christians, those who do not know Jesus and seek to conform their lives to Him act and do some of the immoral things they do? Because they are heathens. You would not expect those who don’t know Jesus that their values, morals and lifestyles would be conformed to Him. However, you would and should expect Christians who claim Jesus as their Lord and should be pressing into deeper Christian perfection and sanctification, trying to imitate the life of Jesus to resist and abstain from these things that are obviously behaviors not in Jesus. So Paul tells us we are not to stop associating, seeking out, becoming friends, and trying to mentor immoral people who do not know Christ. It is these places and people we are called to visit, hang out with, and offer our love and friendship to them to introduce them to Jesus and change their indentation by others and in their own hearts from that of a “Heathen” to that of a son or daughter of the King and a fellow heir with Christ. Who we are supposed to stop associating with is those who profess to be Christians, to be sons and daughters of the king who live immoral lives imitating sons and daughters of Satan, and give Christians a bad name. People who by our association with them and remaining silent to their immoral actions are actually approving of them. “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God! But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:19-22)
Paul’s message today is directed towards all who claim to be Christians and he pulls no punches. He is “meddling” and very direct in addressing and calling out the personal morals and behaviors of those in the church, including me.
Holy Spirit, as I meditate on this passage, reveal to to me and in me immorality, bad attitudes and behaviors in me that I am still doing in my flesh that have no business being in someone who claims Jesus as His Lord. Convict me where my lifestyle is a bad witness to my neighbor. I want to be a person who’s association with my wife, family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and church members bears good fruit in them and not bad, builds them up and not tears them down, brings them joy and not pain. Someone of character who can say to a brother or sister, “I encourage you, then, be imitators of me.” (1Corinthians 4:16). Holy Spirit, also reveal to me the relationships I am maintaining with immoral believers and “silently approving” of their attitudes and behaviors out of “political correctness”, “tolerance”, or lack of courage to speak truth in love into their sin, In Jesus’ name.
My family, I pray today you will allow the Holy Spirit to “meddle” in you in a personal way and reveal morals, attitudes, and behaviors in your life you are continuing to practice that have no business being in a child of God. Then name them, repent of them, and release them to Jesus to lay at the foot of His cross. I also pray you will ask the Holy Spirit to reveal relationships you have with immoral Christians and are “silently approving” of their behaviors that you need to speak truth into and release yourself from them, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Order my steps today Lord, please order my steps..
“For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the worldʼs dirt and scum, even now. “1Corinthians 4:9-13.”
We have no reason to be proud; all we have, or are, or do is owed to the free grace of God. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) As a sinner snatched from destruction by sovereign grace of God alone, it would be very absurd and inconsistent, if I took personal pride in my salvation and all of the free gifts of God.
And we must remember that there is not a “normal Church” and a “persecuted church”, referring to Christians in foreign countries who’s faith is under constant attack, there is just The Church. Though some Christians in their lives will face greater persecutions and hardships in their life, we all are called in to suffering and sacrifice. As we read through the New Testament we are reminded that Jesus himself suffered from poverty, hate, verbal and physical abuse, by those around him and was treated like dirt, looked at like scum, and killed in the most hideous way. His apostles were treated in the same way. And all of us who by our claiming Jesus as our Lord and called to imitate Him must be prepared to sacrifice, suffer poverty, contempt, and abuse for our faith as well.
Satan and his demons, the ruler of this world, sees us in Christ, sees Christ’s face when he looks at us, and with rage desires to insight every form of violence and affliction on and against us. “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” (Philippians 1:29). Yet it is better to be rejected, despised and abused by the world as outcasts, knowing we are precious in God’s sight and in His Kingdom and that He will gather us outcasts, us scum to the world together in His loving hands and place us in His throne room.
My family, I pray today you allow yourself in meditation over these Scripture and with the Holy Spirit to reveal where you are avoiding Spiritual growth in Christ by an unwillingness to accept the sacrifice involved, the unpopularity it will cause you, or any suffering or persecution that will result. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
At the beginning of my day, I seek your strength in all that I am weak.
“So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work. We are coworkers belonging to God.” (1 Corinthians 3:7-9)
I took some people prayer walking into our neighborhoods. The people were a little fearful and had some anxieties. Though some had been in church for many years, many had never gone out and walked their neighborhood and prayed over it and those who live there, and shared the Gospel with their neighbors. They were worried if they would get it right or be able to convince people about Jesus. However, our role is not to be right. We do not go out needing to convince people. Our role is to simply share the hope of Gospel, our love for Jesus, and pray and speak Jesus over them. If a seed is planted and growth is to occur leading to initial salvation in a person or rekindling of faith, God is the only one who can do that. It is His Lordship and His Kingdom, we are to simply, yet powerfully out of love to share the Gospel of the grace of Jesus. Only God through the Holy Spirit can “flip the switch” on of faith in an individual.
As Peter stated of concerning Jesus, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”” (Acts 4:12) “Name given among people” declares we are to give and to to share the name of Jesus with people. “Salvation in no one else” declares Jesus is the one who convinces and saves. Remember what we read in our last book of the Bible, Romans, Paul’s words, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17).
My family, I pray this morning you pray over and resolve, without worrying or anxiety about “getting it right” or trying to convincing someone, to share the name of Jesus with at least one person everyday, including today. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come into my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that you fight might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
Come, Holy Spirit. Demonstrate the power of God through my life today. Demonstrate the power of Your love, the power of Your joy, the power of Your peace. Demonstrate the power of Your Word, the power of healing, the power of Your freedom. Demonstrate the power of the name and the blood of Jesus. Demonstrate the power of Your all-consuming fire and Your ever-abiding presence.
Your power confirms Your word (Hebrews 2:4). And Your power expresses Your heart. Give me Your heart, give me Your words today. Not merely my words or human wisdom or soulful desires, but instead, put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Guide my steps by the leading of Your Spirit to demonstrate more of Your power through my life today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will press into the Holy Spirit and expect and experience more demonstrations of God's Spirit and power through your life every day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
I would love for you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
“The leg does not feel the chain when the mind is in the heavens.” Tertullian.
“And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.” Act 16:23-26
Today we are on Acts chapter 16. In it we read where Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and scourged for their faith and sharing of the Gospel. Being a Christian for Paul, Silas, and almost anyone else was not easy. They lived in a time of hostility towards those who proclaimed Christ. Christianity was not a comfortable practice of getting up on Sunday mornings, getting dressed in nice cloths, being greeted at a door and given a bulletin, fixing a cup of coffee in the fellowship area, sitting in a nice chair or pew for an hour in a room the thermostat has been set to keep you comfortable, then going to get a nice lunch. There was an actual cost and commitment involved. There was an actual cross involved.
Yet as the passage in Acts 16:23-26 reveals, no matter what trials, no matter what prisons, no matter what persecution the early Christians found themselves in, they rejoiced in praise. Today I am going to let Tertullian speak to you in this blog. He was an early founder of the faith and theologian who lived only a little over 100 years after the resurrection of Jesus in 155-240 AD. The excerpts below are taken from a letter of his “To the Martyrs.”
“Though the body is shut in, though the flesh is confined, all things are open to the spirit. In spirit, then, roam abroad; in spirit walk about, not setting before you shady paths or long colonnades, but the way which leads to God. As often as in spirit your footsteps are there, so often you will not be in bonds. The leg does not feel the chain when the mind is in the heavens. The mind compasses the whole man about, and whither it wills it carries him. But where your heart shall be, there shall be your treasure…
Grant now, O blessed, that even to Christians the prison is unpleasant; yet we were called to the warfare of the living God in our very response to the sacramental words. Well, no soldier comes out to the campaign laden with luxuries, nor does he go to action from his comfortable chamber, but from the light and narrow tent, where every kind of hardness, roughness and unpleasantness must be put up with. Even in peace soldiers endure themselves to war by toils and inconveniences— marching in arms, running over the plain, working at the ditch, and engaging in many arduous labors. The sweat of the brow is on everything, that bodies and minds may not shrink at having to pass from shade to sunshine, from sunshine to icy cold, from the robe of peace to the coat of mail, from silence to clamor, from quiet to tumult. In like manner, O blessed ones, count whatever is hard in this lot of yours as a discipline of your powers of mind and body. You are about to pass through a noble struggle, in which the living God acts the part of superintendent, in which the Holy Ghost is your trainer, in which the prize is an eternal crown of angelic essence, citizenship in the heavens, glory everlasting. Therefore your Master Jesus Christ, who has anointed you with His Spirit, and led you forth to the arena, has seen it good, before the day of conflict, to take you from a condition more pleasant in itself, and has imposed on you a harder treatment, that your strength might be the greater…
Let the spirit hold convene with the flesh about the common salvation, thinking no longer of the troubles of the prison but of the wrestle and conflict for which they are the preparation. The flesh, perhaps, will dread the merciless sword, and the lofty cross, and the rage of the wild beasts, and that punishment of the flames, of all most terrible, and all the skill of the executioner in torture. But, on the other side, let the spirit set clearly before both itself and the flesh, how these things, though exceeding painful, have yet been calmly endured by many,—and, have even been eagerly desired for the sake of fame and glory; and this not only in the case of men, but of women too, that you, O holy women, may be worthy of your sex.”
Read and pray over these Scriptures.
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-7)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1Peter 5:6-11)
My family, pray over how these readings bring light and revelation to the trials and “prisons” you may have found yourself in in the past, that you may find yourself in in the present, or you may find yourself in in the future. Pray over our ministries together as a church and your personal ministries and calling that you may remain “firm in your faith” and obedient to the Spirit and embrace your call and our call collectively to spread the gospel and make disciples. Pray over those around the world and the kinds of suffering that are being experienced by your brothers and sister in the faith throughout the world.
Please share your own personal reflections from Acts 16 in the comments box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Father, Son, and Spirit, I place myself in the middle of your union seeking your embrace and encouragement as I begin my day.
" After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch. Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:.21-22)
“But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers” v.2
“When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled…” v.5
“They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead…” v.19
In our reading today Paul and Barnabas went to different cities to the strengthened and encouraged the young churches so recently planted there. The members of those churches needed to be encouraged as they had seen Paul and Barnabas violently assaulted and driven out of towns. . They had seen Paul stoned presumably to death. And he was their leader who was asking them to follow him in his same path. The members of these churches themselves had certainly had to endure some measure of persecution. It is almost taken for granted throughout the New Testament during the times it was written that tribulation is the normal experience of Christians and the normal experience of the church. it is those who suffer for and with Christ who will now share in his glory. "No cross, no crown" (Rom 8:17, 2Tim. 2:12).
In Acts 14 Luke indeed records the irresistible progress of the gospel, but he does not do so in triumphant spirit. In K.C. Barrett's words, "Luke make it clear that the road his heroes were traveling was the way of the cross."
My brothers and sisters understand this, that we are called to walk this same road, that leads in one direction, the cross. That is why we named the church I planted “One Direction Community.” Other you are a member of ODC, Toney UMC, or whatever church you attend, we are all called to be a community walking together in one direction that leads to the cross. We must remember who we are, we are cross bearers of Christ. We need to press into becoming true disciples of Jesus. As Jesus tells us, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38.) Cross bearing and being a Christian are in-separatable.
My family, pray:
The NT reveals that Christians and the church understood that tribulation is the normal experience for them and they completely realized, and accepted with joy, where the road they were walking down would lead them. Pray that we can come to understand this as well. Pray for us a realization, acceptance, and joy in our calling to suffer for and with Christ. To be cross bearers.
Pray thanksgiving to God for those who's willingness to bear Christ's cross in the past and in the present have witnessed to you and strengthened you like a Paul and Barnabas did for the early church. Those that brought you to this place where you now find yourself walking the same road with them.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring to mind those you know that are going through suffering and tribulation now and pray for them. Give them a phone call, text or email of encouragement. Go visit them. Be a source of strength and encouragement in your family, workplace, circle of friends and those around you will witness to today.
Pray that The Holy Spirit will raise up cross bearers to walk the road with us the one direction that leads to the cross.
In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections on Acts 14 with me and others in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Jesus, you are my everything, and everything in my day is yours.
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:2-3)
The church in Antioch was planted by believers who fled the persecution of the Jews following the stoning of Stephen which we read about in chapter 7. Paul (Saul) approved of and participated in the stoning of Stephen. Now, Antioch, the same church that was formed out of Paul’s arresting and persecution of Christians, the same Christian church he hated and tried to stop from ever coming into existence, is the same church that lays hands on Paul, commissions him as a Christian, fills him with the Holy Spirit, and sent him out unto the nations to build up, plant, and launch even more of the same churches he tried to destroy! God is so awesome!!! Satan is such a loser!!! What and who Satan tried to use for evil, God redeemed for good and used for good.
I thank God for all the ways He has redeemed things in my past and in me for his good: All the things that Satan has led me into and I allowed myself to participate in. All the stones I have thrown at people out of hate, prejudice, and pride. Yet praise God that Jesus has covered them all under his blood. And he continues to do so today when I confess my sins and repent. Just like Jesus changed Saul’s identity to Paul when he encountered him, Jesus changed my identity when I encountered him as well. So that now I can be a source from which his church will be birthed. God is so awesome!!! Praise God! Satan is such a loser!!
What was the source of the church of Antioch’s missionary outreach plan for it’s neighbors? Was it a study of Acts or one of the four Gospels? No, as they were not even written yet. Was it a 12 step program on Evangelism, a sermon series, or a mission training? Nope. Its source was fasting, praying, and the laying of hands. As Pentecost Sunday reminded us yesterday they were sent out in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. (13:2-3) They were sent out and commissioned as we need to sent out and commissioned today, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says The Lord of Hosts" (Zech. 4:6) They were sent out by the Holy Spirit. (13:4)
And what was Paul and Barnabas's missionary strategy? Preach Christ crucified, (13:28,29) Christ risen (13:33) and the forgiveness of sins (13:38). With all the books, trainings and conferences out there today on church planting, discipleship and growing a church, Paul’s and Barnabas’s strategy sounds pretty basic and simple. Go out and preach Christ crucified, Christ risen, and the forgiveness of sins. Simply give them Jesus. I think we need to remember our first love (Rev 2:4) and get back to Christ Crucified, Christ risen, forgiveness of sins, and simply giving people Jesus. That was all Paul and Barnabas relied on:
and the church multiplied so walls could not contain it,
and disciples made disciples who made disciples,
and the gates of hell could not prevail against them,
and the enemy’s stoning of Stephen only fanned the flames of the church and it spread.
And Satan was such a loser!
Read Acts 13, then reflect on all the ways Satan deceived you and used you in the past and the ways that Christ has redeemed you and is now using you for his good. Look at all the ways he has changed your identity, and is changing your identity since you have encountered him. Take a few minutes to thank Him.
Pray that your ministry, pray for our church's ministries we serve in together, that what ever they are unto, will be founded in prayer and fasting and a sending by the Holy Spirit, founded in a return to our first love, simply Jesus.
My family, I pray you claim Christ crucified, Christ risen, and the forgiveness of sins over your life. Then I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead one person into your path today that you can share this simple message with them. And that Satan is such a loser! In Jesus’ mighty name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts, comments and verses that spoke to you in your time in chapter 13 in the comments box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning Jesus, I’m starting my day in you so I can look back on my day tonight and see where I was led by you.
"Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria......Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word." vs.1, 4.
The early church in Jerusalem, was forced to scatter, to leave their home “church” the attended, the only church they knew. This scattering, led them to share and tell the Gospel to new people, new neighbors, and plant new churches. Today in chapter 11 we read:
"Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch" (11:19)
Those early disciples were forced to leave their "first church", This lead to planting of other churches, including the great church in Antioch! The persecution and scattering the enemy meant to destroy the church, God used it to grow and further establish his church. The church was designed to be a movement. To scatter then gather, scatter then gather again. When the church ifs forced to leave its building and takes with it nothing but Jesus is when it is most effective.
I am learning that the church is at its best when it is fluid, underground, subversive, and countercultural. It is the unknown, quiet, humble stealth acts that the church changes things.
Pray over your life, the life of our church and the life of your ministries. Have you been stuck, complacent, or comfortable in a season of “gathering”? Has cover put your in a mindset of isolation? Pray that the Holy Spirit will motivate you and guides you into a new season of scattering. Pray God leads you, leads us as a church and reveals to us our new “Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antiochs in which to share our stories of Jesus with, start new ministries and maybe even start new churches out of homes.
As you start to fulfill your plans you have made for this week, remember God has set his plans He has made for you and needs you to fulfill as well. His plan is to release you and I, ordinary people in the church out into our communities to do extraordinary things in the kingdom. Just like in Acts 8:1. It was ordinary, un-named Jews, just some people, that scattered and spread the Gospel, lead others into salvation, made disciples, and grew churches.
God’s plan this week includes the scattering and sending of you and I. People are saved, disciples are made, lives are restored and churches grow not through programs, but through ordinary people spreading the Gospel. Spreading and sharing the Gospel is not about bringing people into a building to hear someone speak, but sending people out of a building to speak it into the world. Armies of ordinary people in the church, empowered by the extraordinary power and presence of the Holy Spirit, speaking life, truth, and transformation to those they encounter in their day.
Lets all commit to get rid of any spectator mentality we may possess about our role in Christ’s church. A church after the heart of God does not simply focus on its seating capacity, but its sending capacity. Because I believe at the end of the day that is how God is going to judge the church.
A change in spectator mentality won’t happen accidently. Just like setting aside and scheduling time in your day and calendar is required to fulfill your other plans for the week, setting aside time and creating margins in your day and calendar is required to fulfill God’s plan for you to do extraordinary things for his kingdom. It requires intentionality.
My family, I pray and challenge you to open your calendar for the week and look at where you have scheduled times to release yourself in your community and spread the Gospel. Not scheduled times in a Bible study, prayer gathering, church meeting, or small group (though these are good), but intentional times of release, sentness into an area of your community with no prescript expectation or outcome but sharing your testimony and the Gospel. If you do not have times set aside and scheduled for this, for fulfilling God’s plan for you, it won’t happen. Luther said, “Delay is the sharpest arrow in the enemies quiver.” Don’t delay.
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
