Dear God,

Today I pray for my children, my family and friends.
I pray that they may experience your deep spiritual
understanding, strength,
endurance, and patience.
I pray that you can give them more knowledge of youself
during this difficult season.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:9-12

Give me strength and courage to pray for those around me who do not yet know your name

God still touches the lives of those who do not even heed his name. As with the Epistle Paul, it is not for us to pass judgment or rancor on unbelievers, but rather it is up to us to offer our prayers, our thanks, or goodwill to the Lord upon their behalf, so that each and every one might have the opportunity to find their own salvation.

Prayer

God Almighty, give me strength and courage to pray for those around me who do not yet know your name. For those who need your word Lord, help me turn them towards the light. Help me not turn them away with condemnation, but do your work in spreading acceptance and benevolence. Grant me God, the generosity of spirit and the kindness of heart, to help grow our congregation. Give me all this, Lord, so that voices of the many may multiply, and the psalms offered up to your name may grow. Amen.

Principle 7A Verses

1 Timothy 4:16

'As God's messenger I give each of you God's warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you." 

Romans 12:3

"Cling tightly to your faith in Christ and always keep your conscience clear, doing what you know is right." 

1 Timothy 1:19 

"Cross-examine me, O Lord, and see that this is so: test my motives and affections too." 

Psalm 26:2 

"We can justify our every deed but God looks at our motives." 

Proverbs 21:2 

"A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks, and suffers the consequences." 

Proverbs 27:12

"Keep a close watch on all you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you and use you to help others." 

1 Timothy 4:16

"So be careful. If you are thinking, "Oh, I would never behave like that' -- let this be a warning to you. For you too many fall into sin." 

1 Corinthians 10:12

"Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late." 

Mathew 5:25 

"My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience." 

James 1:2-3 

"A relaxed attitude lengthen a man's life; jealousy rots it away." 

Proverbs 14:30 

Forgiveness

Today, we read the familiar story of Peter’s denial. Each time he is asked whether he knew Jesus, Peter grows more vehement in his rejection of him. 

Peter who had earlier professed that he would lay down his life for Jesus is now scared off by a servant girl.

When the rooster crows, Peter remembers – the conviction in his heart is immediate. He weeps bitterly.

While the passage doesn’t mention it, Peter becomes the first great voice of the gospel. 

Underneath his mistake were the arms of Jesus. Peter allowed the conviction of sin to strike him and he allowed the forgiveness of sin to lift him up again.

I think of the verse: though he stumble, he will not fall for the Lord upholds him with his hand (Psalm 37: 24). That was Peter. And that was his faithful God.

Our smallest goof-ups and blunders and our biggest, darkest sin – none of it is beyond God’s redemption.

Bringing It Home

Do I sometimes feel like God can’t forgive me of a certain sin? Do I feel like even if God forgives me, I can’t forgive myself? What if God is telling me that the slate is wiped clean and that he has put a new spirit within me?

Lean In 

Father God, Thank you for your grace and forgiveness. I don’t deserve the second, third, sometimes hundredth chance you give me. You are faithful and you lift me out from the ashes and put a new song on my lips. Amen

It’s okay to share your heart’s burdens with others

Today's reading

The scene in today’s reading shifts from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane. The mood gets heavier and more somber. Jesus calls three of his closest disciples and summons them to pray with him.

While I’ve mulled over Jesus’ tribulation in the garden before, I’ve never dwelt on the fact that he invited his friends to grieve with him and pray with him.

It’s not like the God of this universe needed them. It’s not like he didn’t know they would be catching up on naps instead of praying.

Yet, by sharing his sorrow with them, Jesus was clearly demonstrating that it’s okay to share your heart’s burdens with others. Just because you have God in your life doesn’t mean you have to be poised and stoic and invulnerable. It’s okay to say, “Hey, would you mind coming along with me for this?” and give someone else the opportunity to pray with you and for you.

Jesus displayed a beautiful openness in inviting his closest disciples to come alongside him.

No, we don’t depend entirely on our loved ones. Nor do we act like faith erases them from the picture.

Bringing It Home

What am I trying to handle alone today? Has God shown me specific people I can share my heartaches and my dreams with? Am I willing to be invited into another person’s burden, even if it means sacrificing my time and my pursuits?

Lean In

Heavenly Father, Help me grasp the fact that asking for help or asking for prayer does not chip away at my faith. Help me to be humble enough to invite people I trust to come alongside me on my faith walk. Amen

Today's Prayer

Father, I don’t want to do life without depending on you. In you I live and move and have my being. I can’t stand firm unless I’m standing on the Rock that is higher than I. Thank you for being my Rock. Amen

Keeping Pace or Keeping Peace

Today's Reading

Luke 12:16–21
Parable of the rich man who stores up grain

No matter what you’re tempted to compare, there will always be someone with more than you, and there will always be someone with less. Whether you compare husbands or hair, there will always be someone else to envy and someone envying you.

So you have a choice: either keep pace or keep peace.

Comparison will tempt you to keep pace, to accumulate more. But the parable in today’s reading illustrates that accumulating more is a worthless pursuit if what you’re accumulating isn’t put to good use for God’s purposes. The wise choice is peace with what God has entrusted to you.

In some areas, he’s given you more than others—maybe you’re a talented singer or gifted writer. In other ways, you may come up short—perhaps you had a challenging childhood or disappointing marriage. But God doesn’t ask you to change what you’ve been given. He asks you to use what you’ve been given.

Whether a lot or a little, what you have is less important than what you do with what you have.

TRY THIS: We all have a surplus of something. Brainstorm one area in which God has given you a surplus and commit to one thing you can do today to better use it for him.

Be Perfect

http://bible.idailybread.org/share/dod.html?breadId=1806a06583bdd7e0bab5e64664412f89&time=1552747357522&date=0316

Believing Makes Being Together Even Better

Today's Reading

Let's explore the gift of friendship, God's desire for you to be connected to meaningful and life-giving relationships that strengthen your faith, and his desire to use your life to bring hope to those around you. This is one of my greatest joys and passions: connecting women of all ages to God's purpose through interaction and relationship with one another. My desire in our time together is to help you grow in understanding that his plan for your life includes connection to others for the purpose of leading the girls around you closer to Jesus.

Believing Makes Being Together Even Better

I love my life, but it would definitely not be described as quiet and slow-paced. It seems like I am constantly facing some sort of deadline. Your schedule may be similar: go here, go there, pick up the kids, send that text, make dinner, empty the dishwasher, check on Mom, finish that report! Wowza . . . life can get pretty crazy! And if we are not careful, just "doing things" can be all that we do, and our relationships and connections with people can get shoved to the side or ignored altogether. People are really meant to be the most important part of life.

Have you ever experienced a connection so obvious that you knew God had made it happen? Have you ever heard him whisper to you, "See that girl in front of you? She needs your encouragement today." It can happen almost anywhere, for anyone: the server in the restaurant, your neighbor, the woman sitting next to you in the doctor's office, the couple sitting in front of you at church. Whether you are noticing or not, they are there, just waiting for you to stop and notice them. The truth is, it is God's will for you to connect with people and to use your life to reveal his love to those around you. But for that to happen, you have to be willing to stop, take time, open up your heart, and share your life with them. And that, my friend, takes faith!

There are girls all around you who are desperately searching for an answer to their lonely, hurting lives, and as a believer in Jesus Christ, you could be their only connection to the hope that is inside of you! But for you to be used by God, there are things you must do to make connections with the people he places in your path. Most importantly, you have to keep your eyes open, have an obedient heart, and be willing to respond to God's voice. 

1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8, 11 (The Message): So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. . . Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. . . So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul is writing to believers and admonishing them to live wide awake, ready to be an encouragement to those around them. When was the last time you stopped to encourage and talk to a girl you did not know? What do you think Paul means when he says, "Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind"?

My Faith Declaration

I believe that God created me to love and connect with others! Even when I feel the desire to hide, I will remind myself that he has called me to notice and reach out to the girls he places in my path. I will purpose to bring hope, life, love, and acceptance to the sisterhood that God has positioned around me, and guard against disunity and strife. And I will strive to always lead every girl who is watching me—through my kindness, words, actions (and social media posts)—closer to Jesus! 

40 Days Lent Devotional - Day 1

We start the Lent devotional with someone who truly got it. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, actually understood. In fact, she understood more than the indignant disciples who tried to stop her from “wasting” the perfume on Jesus. She, perhaps, understood that Jesus wouldn’t be with them much longer. 

Her response to Jesus’ imminent death is beautiful. She worshipped him. Not a casual, what’s-next-on-the-agenda worship. But an extravagant worship where she didn’t count the cost. 

It was a reverential worship, an extraordinary worship, perhaps even an irrational worship. She didn’t look at the clock or her wallet or at people around her who were wagging their fingers in judgement.

Instead, she looked at Jesus. She allowed him to fill her vision and eclipse everything else around her. She worshipped like no one was watching.

Bringing It Home

What is my response to Jesus’ death on the Cross? Am I offering Him a sacrifice of worship and praise? Or is my sacrifice this season of Lent geared more for my own benefit?

Lean In

Heavenly Father, Help me to worship in a way that truly takes all of me. Help me love you with not just my words but with all my soul, my mind, my strength and my heart. Let me never be content with lukewarm worship, but let me burn with the flame of faith set aglow by a deep reverence for you. Amen. 

She Believes - Embracing The Life You Were Created To Live

Today's Reading 

We long for revolution. Something within us cries out that the world is horribly  broken and must be fixed. For centuries, the word revolution was scarcely heard, buried under ages of oppression. The word itself was feared and speaking it was treason. And then, revolutions seemed to appear almost everywhere.

Some historians have gone so far as to identify our modern epoch as “The Age of Revolution.” Is it? Perhaps it is more accurate to refer to our times as “The Age of Failed Revolution.” Looking across the landscape it becomes clear that very few revolutions produce what they promise. Arguably, most revolutions lead to a worse set of conditions than they replaced.

And yet, we still yearn for radical change, for things to be made right. We rightly long to see righteousness and truth and justice prevail. We are actually desperate for what no earthly revolution can produce. We long for the kingdom of God, and for Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. We are looking for a kingdom that will never end and a King whose rule is perfect.

This is why Christians pray the Lord’s Prayer. As we will see, this is the very prayer that Jesus taught his own disciples to pray. So Christians pray this prayer as a way of learning how to pray and what to pray—as Jesus teaches us to pray.

The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer that turns the world upside down. Are you looking for revolution? There is no clearer call to revolution than when we pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” But this is a revolution only God can bring . . . and he will.
 
This short prayer turns the world upside down. Principalities and powers hear their fall. Dictators are told their time is up. Might will indeed be made right, and truth and justice will prevail. The kingdoms of this world will all pass, giving way to the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ.

It all comes down to one of the shortest prayers found in the Bible. The Lord’s Prayer takes less than twenty seconds to read aloud, but it takes a lifetime to learn. Sadly, most Christians rush through the prayer without learning it—but that is to miss the point completely.
    

Watching The Clock

Today's reading... 

When you’re waiting it seems everything ticks.

The clock, your heart, the tapping of your leg.

No stopping it, no magic bag of tricks.

Relentless ticking, what to do but beg?

Time just crawls, what does it mean that it’s due?

Time never seems to be due on my time.

Always left waiting, time rarely comes through.

I try to be humble, but waiting’s a crime.

So I cast all my cares to Him they belong.

Waiting seems easy when I know that He cares.

That frees me to be sober to know I belong.

And free too, to throw the clock down the stairs.

Waiting.  Is there anything harder than being patient?  Joyce Meyer said once that “Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting.” 

This meditation from the fifth chapter of first Peter will help you stop minding the time and cast your cares on Him who created time.  

Resting in imaginative contemplation for a moment, remain with your eyes closed...imagine holding a baby.  Perhaps just a few months old.  Very aware of being lifted.  Very unfamiliar with time.  A baby loves being lifted, tossed in the air, and cradled in caring arms.  They laugh.  They giggle.  When you place them back on the floor they look at you with longing eyes.  They want to experience that again but don’t know how to ask.  They don’t know when.  But out of care and joy in your heart, you pick up the child again.  You can do this all day can’t you.  The joy you feel of caring for them.  If only they knew.  Stay there lifting and twirling this baby in your arms.  Give them your time. 

Today you have the opportunity to be lifted up by God as he is mindful of time.  He knows your needs, far better than you. He is aware of time, much more than you. He created you.  He created time.  And he created time to be with you.

Let me pray too that you remember too to humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.  Now to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and forever will be. Amen. 

So when you are ready, step into your day be mindful of being lifted.  Turn away from the clock today and focus instead on an encounter with God as he lifts you at the perfect time.

Where Do You Walk?

Today's Reading 

Have you ever felt alone in a crowd? Walking down an unfamiliar street yet very familiar with the fear you feel.

Isolated.

Far from home, you feel vulnerable.  Lost yet too afraid to ask strangers for directions.

And those you see around you, those you may seek for counsel and guidance, don’t seem the sort too willing to help.  Is it just you or are others standing in your way?

Blocking you from finding your way.

How do you feel when you desperately want answers but have no one around you to help.  And those that are around you seem only bent on taking you further from the truth you seek. 

This meditation from the first chapter of the Psalms will help you steer away from the counsel of the ungodly and delight in the law of the Lord.

Resting in imaginative contemplation for a moment, remain with your eyes closed...see yourself walking down a strange unfamiliar street.  Strangers whispering advice, wicked advice as you pass by.  Their words drifting in and out of your ears like worthless chaff.  How do you feel?  Now turn the corner.  Find a cool stream.  A well rooted tree.  Sit there in peace.  In its shade.  Leaning back against the solid trunk.  Cooling your feet in the stream.  How do you feel now.

Encounter God there.

Today you have the opportunity to be delighted in God. To experience truth and wisdom that only comes from the Lord.

When you encounter empty words today, return to the planted tree by cool water.

Rest there.  Be delighted in what the Lord says to you.

Let me pray that you remember to have your delight in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings.  That you habitually meditate day and night on God’s law that is like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water.  Now to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and forever will be. Amen.

That Seems Impossible

Today's reading 

Maybe you’ve seen it at the circus. Perhaps between skyscrapers. Or stretched high over a canyon. A tightrope walker fighting gravity, fear, isolation, and howling winds to slowly navigate the impossible. 

Focusing with laser precision. One step, then another, on a thin cable.  Their eyes on safety at the end of this impossible journey.

Constantly shifting, adapting, and adjusting for whatever comes their way. The impossible becomes more likely with every forward step they take.

Have you ever faced something in your life that seemed impossible to navigate?  Hearing unexpected news. Receiving a late night phone call.  Encountering the unforeseen. Then you become frozen. Your new reality seems impossible to face.

This meditation from the first chapter of Luke will help you find hope when facing hopelessness. Courage when facing the impossible. 

Resting in imaginative contemplation for a moment, remain with your eyes closed...you may not want to imagine being on a highwire, but imagine the solitude of facing a journey that seems impossible. A new job. New relationship. Disease. Caring for someone in need. When have you faced what seemed impossible and seen your way through to the other side. Imagine the beginning.  Imagine the ending. Walk that path again for a minute. 

Let me pray that you remember the word of God will never fail.  That with God, all things are possible.  Nothing is impossible. To live the truth that you are a servant of the Lord; may all things be done to you in peace according to His word.  Amen.

Today you have the opportunity to face the impossible. To experience divine peace and gifted faith when confronting the impossible. When you encounter it today, embrace it today. Relish it as an opportunity to encounter His hope when facing hopelessness. His courage when facing the impossible.

Day Seven Opposition Leads to Opportunity

Offenses are inevitable. No one is exempt. One way or another, we are all going to get offended, hurt, insulted, betrayed, cheated, shamed, violated or lose our pride.

Since being offended is a Biblical fact, we must learn how to deal with it.

Opposition can cause you to face things and do things you could not have done without the opposition. Opposition will make you pray. Opposition will make you come running to God. Opposition will make you increase your faith.

You may need to start seeing those who offend or hurt you as an opportunity for God to take you higher.

Right now, the Holy Spirit is pulling into your driveway. He is coming for you. He is swooping into your home with a defibrillator. Charging the paddles with resurrection power, God is ready to press them down on your heart and shock you back to life. He is ready to revive whoever has been dead to you. He is ready to resuscitate your marriage. He is ready to resuscitate your family. He is ready to resuscitate your spirit.

It is time to restart your heart.

The Big Idea:  God can use the most trying of circumstances to fortify the walls of your marriage, your family and your relationship with Him. 

The Dirtiest Battle = Your Greatest Victory Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:8

Today's reading: 

So David and his men stood before the mountain. A wide area on top had been flattened. Huge walls surrounded the city. There was no way in. 

Then, David’s eyes fell on a water tunnel. This can also be described as a water shaft or a gutter. And David turned to his army and said, “First one who gets up the gutter . . .”

Have you ever cleaned out your gutters? It is an awful job. Once you pull on thick rubber gloves that reach to your elbows, it’s time to start pulling out an endless pile of gunk and debris. Out comes slime and sludge, twigs and leaves, remnants of bird nests and sometimes even small animals. It’s just nasty.

That is what David was willing to climb through. He knew God had a bigger plan in mind. He knew God wanted him to do more than just settle for ruling in Hebron. God wanted him to take Jerusalem.

God said to David, “Hebron is what you can do, but Jerusalem is what only I can do. And I want you to get up there. It is not going to be easy. It is going to get ugly and dirty.”

David had to climb the gutter. Victory comes in the strangest of places.

The first one up was a fighter by the name of Joab. He said, “Hold up—I’ve waited for this all of my life. Get behind me, young guns. I’m going up.”

And Joab started climbing.

When he popped out the other side, you can imagine how much gunk and junk was splattered all over him. He looked bad. He smelled bad. But he raised his hands in victory and said, “God has given us this city!”

David and his men captured the city of the Jebusites. Wet, smelly and dirty, they conquered what rightfully belonged to them.

You may be facing a stronghold in your life. Maybe you are trying to save your marriage. Maybe you are trying to salvage a relationship with a wayward adult child. However big or intimidating the stronghold, God can set you free. He can raise your family up from the depths of bitterness, shame and unforgiveness.

I do not know how dirty your battle has gotten. But I do know that it is the very place where God will be glorified the most in your life. It is where the anointing will come through.

The Big Idea:  The dirtiest battles of your life will produce the greatest victories. 

Looking Back Limits The Future

Today's Reading: 

It is heartbreaking to see so many people live their lives camping out in the past that cannot be changed and turning their backs on a grand future. We all know it is impossible to be effective in two places simultaneously and the only person who could accomplish that is God. We can never give one hundred percent of ourselves in the present if we keep dwelling on the past. Our potential will never reach its maximum capacity; future goals get delayed, insecurity and fear will dominate, the flesh will rule and life will become one heap of complaining. There is a lot at stake to remain, and truthfully your life will be unhappy. 

The children of Israel found themselves in extreme bondage, they cried to God to deliver them, and God sent a deliverer.  They experienced firsthand the goodness, kindness, protection, and provision of God. He split the Red Sea, he destroyed their enemies, he made bitter water sweet, he rained manna from heaven and fed them, their shoes never wore out, and their clothes were kept. He covered them, moved with them, and most of all loved them even when they complained. But they could not let go of the past and that blinded them to the glorious future God had for them. They were eyewitnesses to the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey but because they did not rid themselves of the "Look back mentality" they saw the giants in the land rather than the big, big God with them. The past kept them in fear, and they doubted God's plans. Because of their evil report of the goodness of God; they never made it to the promise land.

Today the stories told in this plan is of greater value than silver and gold. It may have been too late for the Israelites in the wilderness, but it's not too late for you. Living in the past is of great detriment to your future. I want to ask you today to leave the past behind, clear your heart of the clutter and take hold of the glorious future God has planned out for you. The past is over; God is about moving forward!

Holy Spirit, I thank you for the revelation I received, and I genuinely want to make it into the future God has for me. I am sorry I've wasted so much time on the things I cannot change, I am sorry for taking for granted what you so freely provide for me every day. I am sorry for robbing the people in my life because of the "look back mentality." 

Holy Spirit, help me to forget the pain associated with the past and as I visit my past from now on let it be for only moments of remembering how you brought me out of bondage. Thank you, Abba for a new start!  

Looking Back Feeds The Desires Of The Flesh - A Longing For Supplies

As we go further into the story of the children of Israel in the wilderness, we can see how much their heart was rooted in the bondage of Egypt. It is incredible how much food plays a huge part in any culture. In New York, one highlight of the city is the many restaurants and the diversity of culinary cuisines. Food can comfort us on a cold night, it is the highlight of every party and what has always puzzled me is going to the theater to see your favorite movie yet that experience is never complete without something to munch on. I guess what I'm trying to say is that food seems to infiltrate most aspects of our lives and Jesus was acutely aware of the tendency to lean on food as a substitute for God. In one of the recorded temptations of Jesus in his wilderness experience, the devil challenged him to turn the stone into bread, and Jesus response was, "It is written: man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4 NIV) 

I know you might be wondering what food must do with looking back. Well, let us look at what happened to the children of Israel. After they left Egypt; they crossed the red sea and started their journey in the wilderness, God was with them through it all. God was their shade and cool in the daytime in a cloud, and He was their warmth and protector by night in a pillar of fire. God moved with them, and He became their source, but their flesh was so attached to Egypt for the supplies they had in abundance they could not see the many provisions in the present by the very hand of God. This looking back mentality caused them to grumble and complain rather than be thankful. It is a dangerous thing to live desiring for what was and making light of what is. Many good relationships end when a partner cannot let go of the past. While this reference is about the food there is other material stuff and connivances we can keep looking back for. 

Perhaps you were in an abusive relationship, but your partner would overcompensate in material supplies to keep you in bondage, and now that you are out of the abuse your heart still longs for the stuff. Perhaps you complain about the provisions you have now even though the situation is far safer for you. I want to encourage you to keep your eyes on the Lord as he leads you through the process of detoxing your soul of the past. The Bible tells us that the past was so deeply rooted in the hearts of the Israelites they lusted for the supplies of Egypt. (Numbers 11:4 – 6 AMP). God wants to set you free from the bondage of the past. Won't you take his help today?

Holy Spirit, help me to let go of the lust of fleshly things in my past and help me to have an attitude of gratitude for all that you provide me with daily.

Looking Back Is A Heart Condition

The scriptures teach us that as a man thinks in his heart so is he (Proverbs 23:7 NIV).

If we examined this closer, we could see that most of what we act out in life find its origins in our thoughts. Day after day whatever we ponder on, meditate on and dwell on becomes a reality sooner or later. Our thoughts are powerful and will eventually determine the future we will experience. Have you ever heard the saying "Follow your heart?" Well, there is so much truth wrapped up in that saying, and even the Bible talks about our heart following our treasure (Luke 12:34). 

Our heart was made to follow the ultimate treasure which is God himself, but only Jesus could give us the heart to understand that, and without this understanding, we will chase riches of this world of lesser value.

Looking back and living in the past constantly is a clear indication you believe your treasures are still buried there. A woman in the Bible only went by the title of Lot's wife, and her heart was so caught up in the treasures of this world she could not see the grand future God had planned out for her. I am sure many of you have heard of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the destruction of fire and brimstone that rained down and ruined them. Lot's wife lived there with her family, and though it was a place of much immorality and disgraces, her heart was very much tied to it. But because of the prayers of Abraham God would save Lot and his family from the devastation. God allowed them enough time to escape with this instruction, 

"Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain." (Genesis 19:17 NIV). 

When I look back at my life, I am so thankful that God brought me out of many situations that would have only resulted in my destruction had I stayed there. In the moment of having to leave behind people, possessions and relationships we hold close and dear to us may seem like the most challenging thing to do. But when you put your trust in the One who knows best; the present pain will eventually turn into the greatest gain in life. Lot's wife's treasures were so buried in the city she had to leave behind that she was not willing to trust God with the future. The Bible tells us that as she was leaving the city she "Looked back" and was turned into a pillar of salt. The truth about looking back constantly and living in the past is that it will drain the very life from you. Let us heed the warning of God and make sure our heart is following him.

Holy Spirit, help me today to leave the past behind and lead me to an abundant life ahead!

A New Start

Today's Reading

Doesn't a new start sound great? When life becomes difficult, you have failed several times, you have messed up a perfect relationship, and you are bored of your job, your house, your friends, and family; a new start sounds exciting when we find ourselves stuck in the mediocrities of life. Do you know what Jesus did on the cross over two thousand years ago enables you to have a new start even now? Though many believers know this truth, they still live beneath this truth every day because somehow the lie of the old life seems to envelop their souls. The fact is the enemy of our souls knows if he can keep us looking back we would make little progress in the future God has for us. 

We all have a past, and for some, it may be memorable, for others it may be horrible. Whatever the past looks like the enemy majors in causing us to indulge in what was. We serve a God that loves to plan ahead for his children, and scripture tells us that his plans are always good in the end (Jeremiah 29:11NIV). As a pastor, I am afforded the opportunity to minister to many people from the young to old, mature and immature, strong and weak but what I recognize is from the least to the greatest the most common issues among them all is letting go of the past. 

I spent or should I say "Wasted" a lot of time and energy on what was, and what could have been. But I am grateful for the present and the bright future that God has for me and you too. I want to encourage you to take your time through this plan and to commit to stop looking back on the negatives in your life. Our memory is not the enemy, but the way we use our memory will determine the detriment.  When I look back on life, it is for only moments of seeing what God did and how he has brought me through. As you journey with me, I want you to understand that a new start is available to you no matter where you've been or what you have done. Jesus died to save and give you a brand new start. Jesus specializes in new beginnings, and now I look at every disappointment, hurt and pain as an opportunity to birth something new. We do ourselves a great injustice, and we lock God out when we keep looking back negatively. We were made to move forward, and it's time to stop looking back. 

Holy Spirit, help me from today to live my life with a view of what is ahead; help me to stop looking back! 

Learn to Love Yourself First

Today's Reading 

Scripture:  Jeremiah 31:3-4 

God wants to restore you. He wants to offer you the ring of acceptance. He wants to reconcile you to the Kingdom. He wants to invite you to sit at His table. As it is written in Isaiah 61:7, “Instead of shame . . . you will enjoy a double share of honor.”

Once we get ahold of the truth of grace, not only does it empower us to forgive and love ourselves, it should also prompt us to forgive and love others. Because, let’s be honest, there’s a Prodigal in all of us. And sometimes it takes learning to love through a mess to get to the miracle.

You can read the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, let’s put it in modern times. 

You may relate to the following scenario.

Lisa was raised in the church. Her parents were great people who loved Lisa and wanted only the best for their daughter. She made the mistake of her life when she began to date Bill. After several months, Lisa was head over heels in love and wanted to marry him. 

Lisa knew he had a drinking problem. He also had lots of excuses. She knew he did not like to go to church with her much, but she convinced herself that she could change him. Despite her pastor’s warnings and her parents’ pleadings, she went ahead and married him. About a year and a half later, she was in a living hell.

Bill’s drinking evolved into physical abuse, and Lisa filed for divorce. She was heartbroken. She had ignored all the warning signs. Any time children of God marry children of the devil, they are going to have trouble with their father-in-law. 

The good news is, God never gives up on us. Recovering from bad choices you have made can be a heart-wrenching experience, but God is always ready to restore you, to give you a new start.  

 

The Big Idea:  Learning to love others begins by learning to love yourself. 

Keeping Score Versus Losing Count

Today's Reading

Matthew 18:21–22 

One of the most powerful lessons Jesus ever taught was on forgiveness. He gave it because Peter approached Jesus and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

I have a sneaky suspicion Peter had someone in mind that he had already forgiven six times. He just might have been ready to write that person off. Whether or not, he was looking for a formula.

Jesus says, “No, not seven times. Seventy times seven.”

You know I am not good at math, but I can figure out this equation. The answer is 490. The way I read it, this means we are to forgive the same person 490 times each day. That is a lot of forgiving to do. At a rate of one act of forgiveness every three or so minutes, you could spend an entire day just forgiving someone!

But this is not about numbers. Jesus was giving us a new math formula, a new set of truths for us to walk in forgiveness. The first truth is this: Forgiveness is not about keeping score. It’s about losing count.

We are all going to get hurt in some way. Your spouse will let you down. Someone might gossip about your marriage. Someone might steal your money. Someone might steal your husband. Someone may have abused you. Someone may have harmed your child.

While getting hurt is reality, getting and staying bitter is a reaction. We must live a lifestyle of constant forgiveness. This is not about satisfying the requirements of a mathematical equation. We must forgive. All the time.

The Big Idea:  Stop keeping score and start losing count.

Love Wins All The Time

Love is the answer to the broken home. Love is the answer to the addict. Love is the answer to fractured relationships. Love is the answer to being offended. Love is the answer to heartbreak. Love is a weapon that can shatter division and rebuild what has been broken.

What is happening in your life right now that tests you in the way you love? Did you just discover that your spouse has been cheating on you? Do you want to reconnect with the daughter you haven't spoke to in months? Did you son just tell you his girlfriend is pregnant? Is your teenager suffering from an addiction that is overwhelming not just his life but every single person in your family? Has you adult daughter declared she's a lesbian and she's done with the whole God business? 

Different dynamics and complexities characterize each of these situations. But they're real. They're hard. And they hurt. 

I wonder what would happen if we decided that, with God's help and in His strength, we are going to love like we've never been hurt. Instead of withholding affections, staying bitter or seeking revenge, we love. 

God will begin, little by little, to release you from the past if you will reach for a new day. 

It takes a lot of love and forgiveness to hold a family together. Love never fails. Keep on forgiving. Keep on loving. Keep on reaching. Keep on talking. 

The Big Idea: The ones whom you love the most can hurt you the most. Love them anyway.