Daily Dose 12-27-19

Psalm 146:3-4 Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing!

The self-help industry has a huge and vulnerable market. People are desperate for the quick fixes that will make them happy and whole in life. Most often, people are seeking ways to fill the void in their hearts that is meant for a relationship with their Savior, Jesus Christ. The greatest self-help book was inspired by God and written by men. It has been preserved for centuries and has more original manuscripts than any other document ever written. It brings hope to the hopeless, strength to the weary and comfort to those who mourn. It is Holy, pure and righteous. It will never steer us wrong. It is a living source of guidance that comes with an interpreter called the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Bible – God’s Word. Read it to find your direction when your way seems lost. Use it to fill the void missing in your heart. The discipline of time in God’s Word is an investment that pays great dividends!

Father, I thank You for Your Word and for preserving Your guidance for my life. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who helps me understand…don’t let me quench the Spirit’s power to guide me. I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 12-23-19

Psalm 142:3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watches over my way.

There are times in life when we are just plain weary. Plans don’t always go according to schedule. There is death, destruction and turmoil around. Our hearts are broken from loss, betrayal or loneliness. In the midst of all that’s bad, is the incredible security of the faithfulness of God. He is with us and sustains us beyond what we think we can bear. When God is added to the equation of all the bad in life, the answer is always peace. Faith in Him, and walking closely with Him also changes the equation. Those without God continue adding the negatives. When we walk with God, our equation inevitably adds the blessings, provision and protection He provides in the midst of hard times. The sum is not only peace, but joy as well!

Father, Thank You seems inadequate to express my gratitude for all You have done, are doing and will continue to do for me. You are my peace and deep joy! I love you! Amen

Daily Dose 12-22-19

Zachariah 1:3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.

If you feel like God has deserted you, look around to see who moved. God is eager to embrace us into His protection, but He will not force us to be in relationship with Him. Like us, He wants to be wanted. Some feel God has deserted them when they are enduring tough trials. Nothing could be farther from the truth. He never promised we would not go through trials, but He did promise to go through them with us – if we allow Him. Hardships are often a litmus test for our faith. We will either cling to God with every fiber of our being, or lose heart and turn away. When we walk closely with God through the good times and the mundane, He is the safe place we run to when times are tough. Most hardships are a result of sin entering the world and bad things can happen to good people – even God’s people. Other hardships can be God allowing them as a call to repentance. You are the only one who can examine your heart to know if your run to God is one of clinging closer, or repentance. Either way, He is eager to grasp You in His arms – just run!

Father, I am running into Your arms! Thank You for Jesus who’s sacrifice gives me complete access to You! I come to You with a heart broken by my own sin and overcome with struggles that are just a part of doing life. I know You are with me and I am comforted by Your embrace. I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 12-21-19

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

The words we speak hold power. With every utterance we make a choice to build up, tear down or waste. You may not ever utter a word of foul language, but what you say, or sometimes how you say it, can be like verbalizing curses to someone. Subject your mouth to God in all you say. Ask Him to give you words to show His love, encouragement and support to build up those around you. Make your language so that others are drawn to you and to God, rather than avoiding both! Life is short and times are tough, everyone you come in contact with today could use a bit of the love of God spoken through you. Ask God to guide you and don’t waste an opportunity!

Father, I know you gave me two ears and one mouth for a reason. I submit my thoughts and words to You. Let me be an instrument of Your encouragement as opposed to a tool for satan used to bring others down. I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 12-15-19

Micah 4:3 (MSG) He'll establish justice in the rabble of nations and settle disputes in faraway places. They'll trade in their swords for shovels, their spears for rakes and hoes. Nations will quit fighting each other, quit learning how to kill one another.
         Each man will sit under his own shade tree, each woman in safety will tend her own garden. God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so, and he means what he says.

When will these last days Micah prophesied about come to pass? There is such a longing for peace on earth. There is such despair among nations and distrust among our own. Jesus came to help us find His peace. Is this prophecy saying what the world could be like if all came to know Him? Like the stereotypical beauty contestant calling for world peace, the concept is too large to grasp. However, if we seek each day to bring the peace of Jesus to our circle of influence, there is hope. Don’t look at the condition of the whole world and feel despair; look to those around you and let them know Jesus cares.

Father, I have no great power or influence in the world. I ask that you empower me and other believers to begin being the influencers you intended us to be in our part of the world. Be with Your missionaries who are facing trials to spread Your Good News! Amen

Daily Dose 12-14-19

Jonah 4:1-5 (MSG) Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, "God! I knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That's why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness! God said, "What do you have to be angry about?" But Jonah just left. He went out of the city to the east and sat down in a sulk. He put together a makeshift shelter of leafy branches and sat there in the shade to see what would happen to the city.

Jonah’s story epitomizes what so many Christians feel but rarely verbalize. Jonah judged the people of Ninevah for himself. He deemed them not worthy of God’s grace, so he avoided sharing God’s message with them. After three days in the belly of a fish, he agreed to obey. We don’t have a lot of detail on Jonah’s sermon, only one sentence. The picture is a reluctant servant doing it because he had to. Yet, despite Jonah’s lack of enthusiasm, the people of Ninevah repented and were saved from destruction. Instead of a time of grateful worship, Jonah pouted. He wanted God’s grace, mercy, love and forgiveness for himself and those he thought worthy. None of us could dream of putting ourselves in Jonah’s shoes. We would never run away from a God assignment! Really? God may not be asking you to preach to a distant land of evil people, but what about your friend or co-worker who doesn’t know the LORD, and possibly ridicules your faith? It’s so easy excuse those God-story-sharing conversations as politically incorrect and assume they wouldn’t listen anyway. What about the homeless on the streets? It’s easy to say they have made their poor decisions and are too far-gone to change. Bottom line? God uses even reluctant servants to change the hearts of lost souls to know salvation. Whether the servant rejoices or pouts when they do is up to him. When making that choice just think about how much more fun could Jonah have had if he had stayed to further minister to the people of Ninevah than pouting alone on a hill!

Father, Help me to see people through Your eyes. Change my heart to desire Your full mercy for everyone and give me the courage to be a willing servant. I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 12-12-19

Proverbs 29:20 (MSG) Observe the people who always talk before they think—even simpletons are better off than they are.

Oh the wisdom of Proverbs! It is so easy for us to spot those who speak before they think. They can often bring pain or stir turmoil with their thoughtless words. The Message paraphrase of this scripture asks us to observe these people. More often than not, the word observe is used in the pursuit of training. An apprentice will observe the master’s techniques before trying for himself. Solomon cautions us to do the opposite in this case. Observe those who speak before thinking to learn what NOT to do. The old adage, “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason” is founded in Biblical wisdom. Not every thought you have is intended to be spoken – or tweeted, blogged or posted for that matter! Our words are powerful and should be harnessed by the Hoy Spirit. Spend time in prayer – before you even get out of bed – and ask the Spirit to harness your words, not only to halt anything that would be hurtful or divisive, but also to drive you to speak words of encouragement to lift others up from despair!

Father, I pray Your Words to guard mine: Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, Oh LORD my strength and redeemer. I love You! Amen!

Daily Dose 12-11-19

Revelation 3:1b-3 (MSG)  "I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you're dead, stone-dead. Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there's life in you yet. But I wouldn't know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God's work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God.

There are times when our walk of faith looks strong on the outside. We are busy doing good deeds, serving in ministries and working hard for the cause of Christ. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the busyness of doing Christianity, we forget about the being of Christianity. It’s similar to the commercialization of Christmas. What started as a Holy time to reverently reflect on Christ leaving the splendor of heaven to be born in the humble setting of a manger has turned into a hustle-bustle, stress-induced frenzy. Don’t let the world’s view of corporate church get in the way of the church inside you. Serve in programs and ministries, but remember who you are serving and why. Just like there is a call to put Christ back in Christmas, we should live everyday focused on the Christ of our title as Christian.

Father, I take a deep breath to pause and ask You to breathe Your will into my Spirit. Renew my faith and focus my work for Your glory! I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 12-9-19

Joel 1:12-13 (MSG) But there's also this, it's not too late—God's personal Message!—"Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!" Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God.
 And here's why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot. This most patient God, extravagant in love, is always ready to cancel catastrophe.

There are some who think their lives are too far-gone to change. They are the way are they, plain and simple, so why try? God’s Word says it’s never too late! As the prophet Joel shares in this beautiful scripture, God is patient, kind and compassionate. He is eagerly waiting for you to give your heart back to Him…no matter how far you have strayed, no matter how forcefully you turned your back! He is waiting with open arms to welcome you home to the shelter of His embrace! There are also those who may not have great sin to repent of, they are just living lukewarm, pew-sitting lives. That’s a dangerous place to be! God puts up with a lot, but this may be one of the toughest to tolerate – those who look good, religious and holy on the outside, but have never truly been in relationship with Him. This must be a reminder of those Pharisees who rejected His Son, subjected Him to ridicule and eventually His cruel death. No matter what your state, today is a new day! Run to Him!

Father, I’ve loved You my whole life, but my life has not always shown it. I come to You in true repentance ready to let go of old junk and start this day fresh! Empower Your Spirit to keep me on track! I love You! Amen

Daily Dose 12-1-19

Psalm 120:1 I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.

There are times in life we see crying out to God as a last resort. That’s fine. He should be our final source of refuge. However, the book of Psalms is about crying out to the LORD in ALL areas of our lives, not just our most desperate times. We need to cry out in praise for no other reason than He is worthy of it. Cry out to Him in thanksgiving for blessings He has given. Cry out for wisdom and courage to do more for His kingdom. Cry out to Him for others who need His protection and love. Just as a mother’s ears are attuned to interpret her child’s cries, our Father turns His ear toward His children and listens. Find some alone time today to cry out to the LORD in a new way…He’s waiting for your call!

Father, You know my desperate cry too well. Today, I will cry out to You in praise. I trust You enough to forgo my request calls today. You know my needs and the needs of those I love. Today, is a day of Praise! I love You! Amen