Room At The Table

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 1 John 4:15

A friend of mine recently remarked when coming to a friend’s birthday if there was enough room at the table? There should and always is room at the table for friends. That is how Jesus feels about you. You are not an afterthought to Him. You are welcome. 

The question is do you make room at ‘your table’ for Him? By this I mean do you consciously include Him in your day or is He a passing after thought? Is He truly a welcome part of your life and your activities? Do your thoughts center on Him? 

I have given you a question to ponder and ask yourself just how welcome is the Lord in your life. Be honest with yourself when thinking about this. Do you truly welcome Him everywhere you go? 

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord when I have unconsciously shoved you onto the back burner of life and only thought about my own selfish needs. I need you every hour of the day and in every thing I do for strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Joy To The World

How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19

Sometimes this time of year brings forced merriment upon us. By that I mean there are lots of suffering people. A cancer reoccurrence, a homeless person, death of a mother, lost job, prodigal children, and list goes on. We can put band aids on people’s needs temporarily but then true healing and restoration needs to take place. 

How do you have joy midst of a crisis is the real question? Living in the dumps never helped anyone. Death is going to occur to all of us and all of us will be touched by it. The thing is people need to be connected to Jesus and not run away from Him in a crisis time. Get your mindset in the right place. If you allow your thoughts to control you then you will catch yourself in a downward spiral. 

At times helping others get through a crisis is a way to receive joy and give joy to them as well. If you are aware of a need physical, emotional, or financial this time of the year pray about how God may be leading you to help.  If you are the one needing to be lifted out of a pit and find joy again keep looking to Jesus and not at your situation. How is God speaking to you today? 

PRAYER: Often as I sit in my comfortable home the worries of others are far from me. I know it is impossible to meet every need but use me Lord and show me how to show Christ love to a hurting person. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Artisan Bible

           Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

No there really is no such thing as an Artisan Bible that I know of but I used this title to be an attention getter as it seems nowadays so much is Earthy, natural, or Artisan. Almost like saying that word makes the product not only more expensive but a guarantee of being special. Your attention may be drawn to fancy packaging and key words to grab you and reel you in.

It is sad to think that maybe that would be what it would take to make some people pick up the word of God. If it is ‘cool’, ‘trendy’, and desirable. You should not need something like this to get you to want to follow after Jesus. Jesus wants our devotion,attention, and time. Even well meaning Christians often rush through their day with everything else so much more important or pressing than getting into God’s word. 

Start today reading the book of John. Next read whatever Proverb corresponds to today’s date. The start reading Psalms and ask God to remove distractions that keep you from spending time with Him. Now go on and get started to drawing closer to Him daily. 

PRAYER: I don’t want to wait till the New Year to resolve to be different but want to begin now making a daily time with you happen. I need discipline, motivation, and freedom from distractions. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Forgive/Love

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

What makes some people not be willing to forgive? Self gets in the way. Pride is another. Just not wanting to deal with the offense or the person is another reason.

Long time relationships can be destroyed over something silly or one party not being willing to move on and let it go. So very sad to wreck a friendship or even a family tie over being too proud. Some of the issues that separate are so childish too. But alas Satan is sitting up there on your shoulder urging you to hold on to your grudges and not give in. Maybe you say you forgive but never want to communicate with the individual again. That in my opinion is not true forgiveness.

If you want to live a life of fullness in Christ you must have a forgiving spirit. Maybe you hurt someone then you need to be willing to admit your fault and pray for reconciliation.  Don’t harbor a grudge against someone or your prayers may not be answered. In a nutshell be like Jesus. Period.

PRAYER: Father help me to let go of offenses against me and help me Lord to forgive and mend a relationship before the enemy strikes and destroys it. This includes marriage relationships, friendships, and family matters. I acknowledge Satan is a destroyer and he has no power over me. I choose to live a life of forgiveness. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Your Own Journey

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.Galatians 1:10

It is easy to get caught in the trap of comparison.  Comparison is wrong and it leads to discontent and envy, neither of which is a healthy fruit of the spirit. Why do we do it? Satan for one likes to get us not satisfied with our life and where we are. It certainly is not God making you discontent but a tool smack dab out of the enemies tool chest. 

Try this. Get up each day and first focus on Jesus. Don’t wish you were someone else or someplace else because you in fact are not. Ask God to use you just where you are for His purposes. Even believers can get stuck in this rut of discontentment and it is not a healthy place to camp out. 

Be thankful for each day and each experience good or bad because they all help grow you into the person God wants you to be. When discontentment is a regular part of your life you will not rise to the heights God has for you. Cherish each moment and give thanks for where you are and what God is doing through you. 

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord when I complain about not being someone different or someplace else and wish I had more in life. I praise you for how you work through me in the lives of others and continually give you thanks for just where you have me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Start Looking Up

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrew 12:2

Oh my goodness just look around you in every day life and see people all over gazing down at their mobile devices. You become a slave to your device when it is necessary to have it with you constantly. I am so thankful there were no cell phones when our sons were born. I see so many young mothers scolding or ignoring their children while they pay attention to the device and not their child. It is quite sad in my opinion. Heads constantly facing down in epidemic proportions. 

So how to tame this monster which people seem to not be able to live without? I remember in the Army we used to sing a Jody Call that said “What’s the use in looking down, ain’t no discharge on the ground. Sound off one two, sound off three four “ and so on. Keep you head held high. Pay attention to others. Look up as if you are looking up to the heavens. When you look down all the time it can strain your neck as well. 

Segway into the theme of keeping your eyes on Jesus and looking up to Him. He is your source of joy, peace , goodness, mercy, love and it is because of Him we exist. When you are with others put that phone away. When you drive, throw it in the backseat so you are not tempted. And when you do get it out use it for quiet time as many good resources are online. But do it not at the expense of people and relationships. 

PRAYER: Lord you have given mankind many creative abilities one of which was creation of cellular devices and the internet. Help me Lord to use my time wisely and to put people ahead of my need to know everything. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blocked, Shunned, Unfriended

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3

I hate these three words. Losing a friend or even a family member to an unforgiving spirit hurts like a knife being stuck in your heart. Why is it so hard to move on, forgive, let go, and forget? I have been there, done that so to speak on the receiving end and it is emotionally painful. 

Have you ever given thought to how many people are truly lonely and hurting everywhere? Nursing homes come to mind, then prisons, then the person eating alone at a restaurant on a holiday. Even a smile to someone as you go about your day may mean the world. So many frowning faces out there aren’t there? 

Don’t let you catch yourself refusing to forgive. Unforgiveness leads to a bitter spirit and does not benefit anyone. If you know of a person who refuses to let go pray for them. Hard hearts are not good. Think of what you can do to mend a broken heart and don’t let yourself be the one who has fractured someone’s.

PRAYER: Many people in the world are lonely or alone. Many people have broken hearts and the others have wounded spirits from their past that may cause them to hurt others. Bring revival in the hearts of those I may know who fit into any of these categories. And help me Lord reach out to someone who appears to be hurting. In Jesus’ name. Amen.