Oh Give Thanks Unto the Lord!

With so many demands for our time and resources, it's easy to go throughout the day without thanking God for all that He has done for us. It's easy to take for granted that God will wake us up again tomorrow morning in good health, He'll keep our families safe, get us to work and back home safely, and the many other things that He does for us daily, partly because He never fails to deliver. In Psalm 118:1, David declares that he will "Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; he is love endures forever." Thank God not just because of all the things that He does for us, but just because He is good, and His love towards us endures forever.

Perfect Peace

Have you ever seen a believer who seems as though they don't have a care in the world? You never see them frustrated, angry, or anxious about anything, and wonder what is their secret? The answer is simple; they are resting in the perfect peace of God, resting assured that God truly is in control. Isaiah 26:3 declares that God will "keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in him." When we trust God, and focus our minds on our God instead of our problems, God has a way of working things out on our behalf, or he will prepare and enable us to accept his will with perfect peace.

Betrayal of Friends

Anytime that someone betrays you, the hurt is deeper than one can easily express; it becomes almost unbearable when those who betray you are those who are close to you. In Matthew 26: 50, when Judas betrayed Jesus and identifies him, Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. When a friend or family member betrays you, how do you respond?

I'm a Representative

In all that we do, we must realize that we represent more than ourselves. We represent our families, represent our church, our pastor, our jobs and organizations; ultimately, we represent Christ. We have to determine what kind of representative will we be for Him. In Philippians 1: 27-28, Paul declares that "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you."Even when we fall short of God's glory, we must be able to confess, repent, and then move on with our relationship with God and continue to represent Him in every situation and in all that we do.

Not Perfect, Just Forgiven

One of the most common reasons that people give for not attending church is they are unworthy, or living too foul of a life to enter God's house. In 1 John 8-9, the Bible declares that "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. " Thankfully, that excuse in invalid; otherwise, no one would be able to enter the church because we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). The next that you hear that excuse, or make it when invited to church, remember that we have sin; all God wants is for us to confess our sins so that He can forgive us, clean us up, and share his love through His presence.

The Will of God

We often hear that we should pray for God's will to be done, which is absolutely true, but how do you know what is the will of God? In Romans 12:2, Paul declares "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." What is God's will, and how do you know when you are walking in the perfect will of God?

Lord, I'm Available to You

Today's society has made it almost taboo to be over a certain age and single, to the point that many singles feel as though something must be wrong with them. In 1 Corinthians 7: 32-34, Paul describes just some of the benefits of being single. He says that " an unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband." A Godly marriage is a gift from God, but He has not forsaken his unmarried sons and daughters; He's just given them more time and opportunity to spend with Him.

Mmm-Mmm Good

When we find something great, we want to share it with the world around us. We take our family and friends to our favorite restaurants and share our favorite recipes with our loved ones because we want those around us to experience the great flavor that we enjoy. Nothing in the world can compare to the greatness of God! In Psalm 34: 8-10, David says "Taste and see that the Lord is good;blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." If we only share a "taste" of God, show those who are around us how blessed we are because of God, with those around us, it could change the people and circumstances in our own lives as well as those who are around us.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Each day seems to bring about its own set of trials, oftentimes, they come unexpectedly. At times, it seems that everything that could happen unfolds right before our very eyes. But thank God for new mercy! In Lamentations 3:22-23, Jeremiah declares "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." God loves us so much that even when we face our day-to-day challenges, including the challenges that we fail to conquer, He continues to bless us, every day, with new mercy to meet the day's challenges that are set before us.

Work or Church?

Consider this scenario: you are a new college graduate and are looking for a full-time position. You have a great interview with an international company, making a great salary with outstanding benefits. However, your job requires you to travel extensively, including the weekends, so you would not have the opportunity to attend church services. Would you take the position, as it is offered, ask for an adjustment in terms, so you can attend services at least once or twice a month, or refuse the offer flatly and look for another position where you only work Monday through Friday?

More than Anything

When Jesus walked the earth, he drew tremendous crowds everywhere he went; some were curious, many were in need of healing or deliverance, several gathered to accuse him, and a few wanted to follow him in his ministry and work as his disciple. The same crowds are still gathering in our churches today. In Luke 14:26-27, Jesus plainly said that "You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life. You cannot be my disciple unless you carry your own cross and come with me." Salvation is free, but discipleship is costly. To be Christ's disciple, we have to love him more than anything in our lives, and be willing to sacrifice everything that is precious to us.

Where is Your Faith?

A recent survey revealed America is "losing it's religion." The American Religious Identification Survey, administered to people in all 50 states, revealed a strong decrease in self-identified Christians by more than 10% and an increase in non-Christians, and non-religious people by more than 15% since the last survey in 1990. What are the implications of this "Falling Away" from the faith in America, and what can we do, as Christ's ambassadors, to minister to a world that has lost their faith?

Handling your Haters

As God elevates you, as a result of remaining in Him and allowing Him to remain in you, the odds are that some people around you will become jealous, perhaps even spiteful, and try to do whatever is in their power to hinder you. When you encounter these people in your life, how do you respond? In 1 Peter: 3: 15-16, the Bible declares that we should "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." They "hate" the fact that God is with you, in you, and using you; hence the title "haters." Love them, show them kindness and respect, until the Christ in you shames the malice in them.

Brotherly Love

Philadelphia is known as the "City of Brotherly Love," but certainly, the love of Christ should extend far beyond one city. In Romans 12:10-11, Paul says that we should "be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." How can we love one another, practice hospitality to those in need, and maintain our own spiritual zeal without facing "burn out?"

Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding

Is is better to seek wisdom or gain knowledge? Proverbs 3: 13-15 states that "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold." Are wisdom, knowledge, and understanding the same? If not, then what is difference between these concepts?

Just Ask in My Name

Have you ever wondered why do we close every prayer "In Jesus' Name?" What are the requirements for an answered prayer? In John 15: 7-8, Jesus declares "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." When Jesus makes this declaration to his disciples, he makes it clear that they must remain in him and his word, which reveals his will, before asking for anything. If we, as modern-day disciples, remain in him and his words, which reveal his will, then the same promise applies to us as well. God is glorified when we bear fruit for his kingdom. Consider one thing that is within the will of God, and simply ask for it in prayer, in Jesus' name.

Bad News? Have No Fear!

At some point in all of our lives, we will hear, or be delivered some bad news. Even with our close, daily walk with God, we will still have to endure some storms that often start with bad news. But have no fear! Psalm 112: 7-8 declares that "He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes."When your trust and faith is in God, and not in your own ability to overcome any situation, you can rest assured that God will ensure the victory over every enemy, which may be fear, doubt, worry, or whatever that enemy may be. Consider one of your enemies in your own life; even in hearing the bad news, consider how you can overcome any fear.

Coming Out

Consider this scenario: your son/daughter, raised in church all of their lives, is coming home for Spring Break with their significant other. You're thrilled that they have found someone special and can't wait to meet them. To your surprise, your son/daughter's significant other is the same sex. Your child uses this visit, with their significant other, to tell you that they are homosexual. They simply could not tell you any other way. How do you respond to your child and their "other?"

Follow Me

The dictionary defines "disciple" as "One of the 12 personal followers of Christ,one of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ, (Luke 10:1), any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime, any follower of Christ, a member of the Disciples of Christ, or a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another follower." In Matthew 10: 41-42, Jesus declares that "Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." The definitions of discipleship, though slightly different, are all relative: one who follows another. Whose disciple are you, and how are you being discipled?