Final Trumpet

"I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way--with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge"- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (NIV).

You have been thoroughly equipped, enriched, saturated, not lacking in any area, and now you eagerly await Jesus to be revealed. Verse 9 assures you will be found blameless the day Jesus returns. God is faithful and He will work everything out for you (Romans 8:28). This is pure grace, something you didn't earn, freely given to you by the Father through the Son. Nothing today, nor tomorrow, no power...absolutely nothing...can separate you from the mercy and love God has given you (vv. 38-39). While you wait...God's wants you to be joyful, pray continually, and be thankful no matter what is going on as you wait for the sound of that final trumpet (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18;1 Corinthians 15:52). 

Rightly So

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring"- 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 (NIV).

Paul could have been writing to us. We are God's church and our love for each other continues to grow. We are persevering, our faith steadfast and maturing, during trying times Christians endure. Sometimes our strongest testimony is being joyful while enduring hardship, praising God while storms encircle us, being thankful with less and with loss. We know the source of our glad tidings and joyful countenance: "Jesus saves! Jesus saves!" We'll "bear the news to every land, climb the steeps and cross the waves; Onward!--'tis our Lord's command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!" (Borrowed from the hymn Jesus Saves.) I thank God for you...and rightly so!

Speed Bumps

“God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”- Philippians 4:19 (NRSV).

Henry Edward Manning is quoted as saying, “God loves and cares for us, even to the least event and smallest need of life.” We are unaware of the multitude of our little needs God satisfies each day. We go through our day, taking for granted that the car will start, the buttons will be on our shirt, our food will be fresh in the refrigerator…well, you get the picture. The little hiccups in our life cause us to slow down and notice…we become aware that we’re missing that button or there’s a funny smell coming from the freezer. Speed bumps in our life, like the speed bumps on a road, make us slow down and take notice, reflecting on God’s providence. We should take time to thank God for all things...big and small. Everything is from Him, through Him, and to Him. Thank God He cares about the mundane little things in our lives, which we take for granted…but He doesn't. Praise the Lord!   

Authentic Dialogue

"The Lord says: "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is based on merely human rules they have been taught"- Isaiah 29:13 (NIV).

Richard J. Foster said, "God desires authentic dialogue...what is on our hearts." A church bulletin is handed out to each congregationalist as they enter for worship...referred to as the "order of worship." It's an agenda; for some...a checkoff list, repeated every Sunday. The songs change, their may be a solo or quartet variation to the music, but the order has been the same from generation to generation. There are churches that repeat the same words, as a congregation, every Sunday: doxologies, call/responses, even prayers. To God the Father, they are words of worship from those who repeat them from their heart, but ring hollow from uncommitted lips. Our churches need revival and it must begin in our hearts! The revival doesn't come from us, but from God, by supernatural power. Show us what You are able to do, Lord, and raise your servants to new heights...a Holy quest for revival, which begins with authentic dialogue with You.

Ordinary

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus"- Acts 4:13 (NIV).

God does not show favoritism, many times He has taken the societal misfits, the underestimated and the unappreciated...the ordinary...to demonstrate His presence and power. Jesus promised to send the Helper once He ascended to the Father, which came to fruition during and following Pentecost. The indwelling Holy Spirit convicts, empowers, guides, and protects those who ask, accept, and acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. Do not underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. He is God...in you, His redeemed...and no weapon forged against you will stand (Isaiah 54:17).

Take Heart

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world"-John 16:33 (NIV).

God is faithful! He keeps His covenant and love to a thousand generations to those who love Him and keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9). Even if you are faithless, He won't...He can't...deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). God promises to establish you and guard you against evil (2 Thessalonians 3:3). When temptations come, He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability and then will provide an escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). What can you say in response to God's faithfulness? Take heart! Praise God! If He is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? God is faithful! 

Welcome Home

"I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings"- Luke 16:9 (NIV).

Marley, in the movie Scrooge, had been a miser while he was alive. Following his death, he was shackled with heavy chains, forged link by link by his accumulated wealth. His apparition was a warning to Scrooge that Scrooge's chains were much longer and heavier because of his tight-fisted dealings with others. God loves a generous and cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Isaiah gives a description of the Lord's saints being welcomed into eternity: everlasting joy will crown their head, happiness will overtake them...making them burst forth in songs (51:11). There's nothing wrong with having money, until it becomes your most prized relationship...becoming an altar. Be generous in all things and your welcome will be "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21)...longed for beautiful words.

Lips and Hips

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up"- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV).

Jesus should frequently be on our lips and on our hips. We should walk the walk and talk the talk. OK, the first reference was really a food reference (forgive me Lord), but I'm trying to make a point. Walking the walk involves our hips. Our children listen and watch us, later to imitate us. A student did a parody of me during class one year. Her clothes, including the glasses, reflected me. Her words, her statements, were repeated verbatim as mine. She marched up and down the familiar path I normally walked, using my posture. She was me! It was the aping of two actions that surprised me: she pushed her glasses up with her index finger and repeatedly ran her tongue over her front teeth. Yes, I knew I did those, but not noticeably! What do you want your children to remember about you? Notice the first two words of today's verse. My student mimicked the influence, word and action, known and unknown, I had on those young people entrusted to me. Forgive me Lord and help me clearly mimic your Son, who always had Your name on His lips and hips.  

Precious Moments

“Your eternal Word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth You created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves Your plans”- Psalm 119:89-91 (NIV).

The Bible is the living breathing Word of God. It’s not an ancient historical text, nor an out-dated compilation of religious letters. Those who read God’s Word daily have discovered His Word given directly to them. God said if you seek Him you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). Do you want God to tell you what He wants you to do, know His promises and plans for you, hear Him tell you how much He loves you? Open up the line of communication by opening His Word. God is yearning for those precious moments of communion between the two of you.   

Synchronized

“Well then, what shall I do?  I will pray in the Spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand.  I will sing in the Spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand”-1 Corinthians 14:14 (NLT).

The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26). There is an undeniable inequality between limited humans words and the limitless Holy Spirit! Success in today's world calls for synchronization: watches, calendars, plans, lives. Paul calls for a synchronized offering, a combination of Spiritual groaning and human words, lifted to an adoring Father. We pray and sing with the Holy Spirit. We hear only our part, we understand only our part, but God hears and understands the synchronized whole, accepting our offering. Praise the Lord!      

Band of Edifiers

"Let us therefore, make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification"- Romans 14:19 (NIV). 

Your intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth is enhanced by those whom surround you. It's a two-way relationship with limitless possibilities. We could speak about choosing your friends wisely, but let's focus on your duty as an edifier. Paul left a desirable attribute list in his epistle to the Church of Philippi: honest, noble, just, virtuous, lovely, of good report...any action or thought that is excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). Paul repeated several from the list Christ Jesus rendered in His "Sermon on the Mount," with the exceptions of being humble, patient, thirsting for God, merciful, and peacemakers (Matthew 5:3-11). Imagine a relationship between two such people, three, four, or a group of people who strive to develop and model these qualities and challenge you to do the same: A band of edifiers...with limitless possibilities. Seek them and be one.  

In Time

"Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God""- John 6:68-69 (NIV).

A marriage suitor puts on their best performance during the courtship trying to win your heart, but in time, the mask comes off and their true self is divulged. Peter, and the other disciples, spent three years living with Jesus, plenty of time to see Jesus "revealed." Peter didn't just say they believed...he said they knew; in time they knew. Not one artifact exists today expressing any disciple doubts, concerns, or recanting. Not one turned away during the three years or testified against Jesus. In the end, the one who betrayed Jesus couldn't live with the knowledge of what he had done and hanged himself. He, too, knew. Jesus is the Holy One of God; the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). In time...all will believe and know (Revelation 1:7).     

Be Prepared

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed"- 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV).

Self-control is not an easy beast to bring under rule. Our eyes, ears, tongue, nose and flesh override our will at times. That donut we know is very bad for us, the award winning movie that takes the Lord's name in vain, the body-moving music with sensual lyrics, the unintentional touch that sends goosebumps springing across your skin and I know you wonder what I'll use for nose...the smell that makes our nostrils flare of memories of all of the above. I do think aging has another benefit...we can control ourselves more easily. Our senses aren't quite as sharp as they once were :). Self-control should be long ignited prior to a tempestuous event. Prepare your minds...outflank the enemy. It's an action that has won many battles.

Great Worth

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment...it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight"- 1 Peter 3: 304 (NIV).

You monitor your outward self all the time; yet, you should carefully monitor your inner self.  God's sees into your heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He placed eternity there (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and you shall see God (Matthew 5:8)! Your outer body wastes away, but your inner self is renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). Take every thought captive, making it obedient to God (2 Corinthians 10:5); set your mind on the Spirit, evidenced by peace, modesty, self-control, and fear of the Lord (Romans 8:6, 1 Timothy 2:9, Proverbs 31:30). And don't be anxious, you are of great worth in the eyes of God...worth the life of His Son (Romans 8:32).