'Tis the Season...

As I look forward to the week to come, I am reminded of the reason for this holiday season. It's not about getting the shiniest gifts for everyone on our shopping lists, either! I have always made fun of those poor folks that get up at 4:00 AM on the morning after Thanksgiving (otherwise known as Black Friday), but this year, I was one of those saps! I swore it wouldn't ever happen, but I guess that's why they say to never say never. Anyway, unlike most of those other folks, I was back home sleeping by around 7:30 or 8:00. We did get a few bargains, but I think next year, we will wait until later. What did you do on Black Friday? Did you get up and fight through the hustle-and-bustle?

Let's take a look at our memory verses from the past weeks before we get to this week's new verse. First off is last week's verse from 1 Chronicles 16:34..."O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." Next up, let's look at Romans 8:1 & 2..."There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." The next verse comes from Ephesians 5:15 & 16..."See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." And our final review verse comes from John 3:30..."He must increase, but I must decrease." How many of you have those memorized already? Anybody care to step up and tell us how many you have? Don't be ashamed, learning scripture is something to be proud of!!!

For this week, let's look at 1 John 4:10..."Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." So many times, we think about all the love we show, but that is nothing without the love of God FIRST!!! Too many times, I tend to think of the works I have been doing, rather than what God has been allowing to be done through me...does that sound familiar? If I am doing the works in my power, then most likely they are not being done right or to the fullest potential!

This year, during the Christmas season, I want to keep my mind on what God did by sending Jesus to earth, to suffer rejection by a lost and dying world. Without the hope that is found in Him, my life would have no meaning...

Please review the verse for this week...ask God to speak to you with the words...share them with someone else...and let's see what God will do through our faithfulness to learning His Word!!!

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today...

Thanksgiving thoughts...part 1

I know it seems a bit early, but Thanksgiving is coming next Thursday. In the realm of church, we have our dinner and music night this Sunday. So, this week, the Thanksgiving theme has been very much on my mind. In thinking about Thanksgiving, I looked up the references to the word on YouVersion. I want to look at a few of the references today, and will look at a few each day until the holiday itself. Thanks for bearing with me on this!

The first verse I look at today is from Psalms 26:7..."That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works." When I think about Thanksgiving and thankfulness, am I thinking more about what people have done that benefited me? That seems odd to say, but, unfortunately, I feel that I've been trained to think that way. It is a battle to keep focus on the One who should receive thanks for what He has done. There should be no better time for me to be thinking about His works, not only in my life, but in His creation of the world and the history that has been made because of Him.

Psalms 69:30..."I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." Every year, I look so forward to our Thanksgiving meal and special music service. It seems like such a great time of "letting our hair down" and just focusing on praising God and even sharing some testimonies of what God has done in our lives. It means so much to be able to lift our songs and words of praise in a relaxed setting...the real challenge is trying to sing after filling up on turkey, stuffing, desserts, etc.

Psalms 95:2..."Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." All worship leaders know this verse by heart, I am sure. We are always asking everyone to make a joyful noise. But with my voice, am I giving Him thanks, or just giving my best performance? Sometimes, I get so focused on the order of our worship service that I lose focus of the object of our worship...

At this time of year, we focus on giving thanks to our families, friends, and co-workers for what they have done for us and our lives...please don't forget to give thanks to the one who gave you life!!!

Let's take a quick look at our verses to memorize this week from Romans 8:1 & 2..."There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

Keep working on your learning of the scriptures...God will give you opportunity to share them with others if you take the challenge to learn them!!!

Please let me know if there is a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today...

Outside the Box...

My mind today is set upon "thinking outside the box". You know, too often we try to box our Christianity into "our" ways of thinking and our expressions of worship into what we are comfortable with. When something comes along that is a little different, we put it down and say that it can't be done that way.

Along those lines, are we changing our methods to fit into what the world would feel comfortable with? Change is a tough thing to deal with...but change just for sake of change isn't what we are called to do. Last year, I picked up my first translation of the Bible other than KJV... I use other versions along with the KJV to sometimes get a different insight into what is being taught. I was telling one of my friends how difficult it was. I was raised using the KJV and still do my memorization from it, but I find it helpful to study with more than one version.

Change doesn't have to be a drastic turning away from what we have been taught but can also be a slight "tweeking" of methods. We are to change to become more like Christ everyday, right? So, we are truly "called" to change, in a manner of speaking...

One of my friends who blogs at Consuming Worship was talking about taking the limits off in a recent post. Am I willing to take the limits off myself in what I do for God and allow Him to in my life? What if I did? what would He do to me and thru me? what changes would be evident? would my worship, prayer, Bible study, and witness be anything like what it has been?

Let's look at Isaiah 55:8-9..."For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." If you're reading it the same way I am, then everything I do would be different if I let Him have control.

I thought the memorization challenge was intense. It pales in comparison with the challenge to take the limits off and let God have control. Thanks, Jeff, for the inspiration!!!

Before I end today, let's take a look at our memory verses for this week from Romans 8:1 & 2..."There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

Take the verses in...think on them...pray over them...ask God to speak thru them...and share them with someone today...

Be challenged to not only learn verses, but to be willing to change...For God's Glory!!!

Please let me know if there is a special prayer I can word on your behalf today!!!

Get uncomfortable...

I was asked this morning about the challenge I have taken here on the blog of learning verses each week and how that is going. I told him how the verses and blog were becoming quite a challenge to do daily, because things seem to keep coming up to detour my thoughts.

Then, he asked the question...so, what is the challenge you are facing in life? Hmmm...well, the challenge I struggle with is stepping out of the comfort zones and getting uncomfortable and reaching out to help others. I'm sure you have all seen the list of where our priorities as Christians should be, right? God, family, church, friends, others, then you...in that order!!! Well, being honest, I struggle putting myself to the bottom rung of the ladder. It's so easy to say "but that's not what I want for this situation"...or..."that's not how I want things to be done"...when I should really be concerned about how God wants things done and down the list and so on and so forth, yadda-yadda-yadda.

Do you struggle with this? I found that to keep this challenge, I must work on four aspects for my life to stay on track...First, my Bible study or devotion time must be there and evident in my life...Second, I must be asking for God's directions...Third, I must work on my marriage (because the devil will try to pull at family)...and finally, sharing with others (getting out of comfort mode).

My struggles definitely aren't the same struggles that many of you may face today, but if there is some part of your life that you are fighting with, know that God is always there to help when we ask. Take a look at 2 Corinthians 1:4..."He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God." So, what I am battling can be used for the glory of the Lord...the strength that I gain from giving it to Him can be shared with others I come in contact with who think there is no hope.

To wrap things up today, let's review our verses for the weeek from Romans 8:1 & 2..."There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

Make time for your Bible study, prayer time, family, and share what God is doing with another today. Take the verses into your heart...let God use them to speak to you, and share what you have learned...

Please let me know if there is a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Be grateful...

First off this week, let's take one more look at our previous memory verses from Ephesians 5:15 & 16..."See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Was this as much a challenge for anyone else this past week as it was for me? Not that it was two verses, hard to remember, or extremely time-consuming...the issue is that since I have committed to memorize scripture, Satan is doing all he can to keep me from it. Has this been happening to you? Each time you try to go over verses we have learned the past couple weeks, does it seem like something pulls you away? Believe me, it's no coincidence.

We also have two more verses to take a look at...Acts 6:4...""But we give ourselves continually to prayer, and the ministry of the word." and John 3:30..."He must increase, but I must decrease." Have you memorized all three of these yet? or maybe one of them? or two? Are you still on board with the challenge? Will you continue on with me?

This week, I am led to Romans 8:1-2..."There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

This verse fits with the grand theme of things during this time of year. We are thankful to be under "grace" and not under the "law", right? I am so glad for the grace that has been offered, because in so many ways I fall short of the law. And, if I offend in any one part of the law, I am guilty of all!!!

How do you feel about that? Would you rather be judged by what you have done, or by what Christ did for you?

Now, this doesn't stop there...if we are in Christ Jesus and walk not after the flesh, we will be abiding in His will. Am I abiding in His will every moment of every day? Say that again to yourself...Am I abiding in His will every moment of every day? To answer quite simply...No, I am not. That is why I am so glad for God's grace.

I'm not sure how many of you have heard it put this way, but our pastor puts grace this way...

G od's
R iches
A t
C hrist's
E xpense

So, I am grateful..."For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Look over this week's verses...think on them...ask God to speak to you...and share with others...

Please let me know if there is a prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!