John 16:33
33 "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."
Dear friend,
Regardless of the adversity we may have encountered this past year or the challenges the new year may bring, we can rest in this beautiful truth from Jesus. HE has overcome the world! A perfect verse to end the year with and a great reminder to carry with us always!
I pray you experience God's peace and that He continues to bless you greatly in 2011!
Happy New Year!
-Robert
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
12.30.10
Ephesians 3:12
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Dear friend,
Our verse of the day is a short verse but speaks volumes to my heart. Without Christ, we could not dare to think of approaching our God that is white-hot with holiness, justice and well-deserved wrath. Yet God is also merciful and full of grace that He would demonstrate His love in sending Jesus - that He would walk Via Dolorosa and be obedient to death for our sins on the cross and then exalted far above all rule, authority, power and dominion.
In Him we can approach God with freedom and confidence. We no longer have to be a high priest who could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year to offer atonement as was the case in ages past:
"But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance." (Hebrews 9:7)
Do you have something that is burdening your heart today...something that you are angry with God about or ashamed of that you feel you can't bring to Him? I encourage you, in Christ, to approach Him today with freedom and confidence. Pour out your heart to Him as you ponder both His holiness and the depths of his love for us in our Savior.
In Him,
Mike
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Dear friend,
Our verse of the day is a short verse but speaks volumes to my heart. Without Christ, we could not dare to think of approaching our God that is white-hot with holiness, justice and well-deserved wrath. Yet God is also merciful and full of grace that He would demonstrate His love in sending Jesus - that He would walk Via Dolorosa and be obedient to death for our sins on the cross and then exalted far above all rule, authority, power and dominion.
In Him we can approach God with freedom and confidence. We no longer have to be a high priest who could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year to offer atonement as was the case in ages past:
"But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance." (Hebrews 9:7)
Do you have something that is burdening your heart today...something that you are angry with God about or ashamed of that you feel you can't bring to Him? I encourage you, in Christ, to approach Him today with freedom and confidence. Pour out your heart to Him as you ponder both His holiness and the depths of his love for us in our Savior.
In Him,
Mike
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
12.29.10
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Dear friend,
It's that time of year again for making a fresh start. Many of us mull over the resolutions we'll make for the New Year, vowing that this will be the year we actually follow through. We're digging out old gym shoes and dusting off treadmills. We resolve to read our Bibles more, eat less, workout more, view TV less, pray more, indulge in the world less. Come January 1st, we're focused and determined. We have a fresh view on life; full of hope and excitement for the future.
But then something happens. A slip up here, another one there and the next thing you know, we're back, neck deep in our old habits and unhealthy ways; all the things we desired to put behind us are once again part of our daily routine. They creep in and before you know it, all that we have achieved and worked so hard for, is undone. Maybe it's lack of will power or perhaps sin that hasn't been fully addressed. Regardless of what it is, the enemy wants nothing more than to see us struggle and to fall short of God's Glory! The enemy relishes in our failures and sets out to deter our well intended plans. And the downward spiral begins.
But God promises without exception, that "he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." All he asks of us is that we confess our sins. To share with him our short-comings and seek his strength to overcome!
The awesome thing is that we don't have to wait for a new year. We don't even have to wait until tomorrow. We can have a fresh start right now, at this very moment. God loves us just as we are, right where we are, but he does want the best for us!
So go, just as you are, and present yourself before God's throne. Share your life with him, every aspect. There's nothing that he doesn't know about you, what you've thought or done. He knows your heart. The freedom you'll find by entrusting your life completely to Jesus Christ is inexplicable! It's a peace and comfort unlike anything in this world!
Here's to a happy new beginning in Christ!
-Robert
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Dear friend,
It's that time of year again for making a fresh start. Many of us mull over the resolutions we'll make for the New Year, vowing that this will be the year we actually follow through. We're digging out old gym shoes and dusting off treadmills. We resolve to read our Bibles more, eat less, workout more, view TV less, pray more, indulge in the world less. Come January 1st, we're focused and determined. We have a fresh view on life; full of hope and excitement for the future.
But then something happens. A slip up here, another one there and the next thing you know, we're back, neck deep in our old habits and unhealthy ways; all the things we desired to put behind us are once again part of our daily routine. They creep in and before you know it, all that we have achieved and worked so hard for, is undone. Maybe it's lack of will power or perhaps sin that hasn't been fully addressed. Regardless of what it is, the enemy wants nothing more than to see us struggle and to fall short of God's Glory! The enemy relishes in our failures and sets out to deter our well intended plans. And the downward spiral begins.
But God promises without exception, that "he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." All he asks of us is that we confess our sins. To share with him our short-comings and seek his strength to overcome!
The awesome thing is that we don't have to wait for a new year. We don't even have to wait until tomorrow. We can have a fresh start right now, at this very moment. God loves us just as we are, right where we are, but he does want the best for us!
So go, just as you are, and present yourself before God's throne. Share your life with him, every aspect. There's nothing that he doesn't know about you, what you've thought or done. He knows your heart. The freedom you'll find by entrusting your life completely to Jesus Christ is inexplicable! It's a peace and comfort unlike anything in this world!
Here's to a happy new beginning in Christ!
-Robert
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
12.28.10
Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Dear friends,
What are you holding onto from your past? What daily are you looking back at? What has a hold on you so deep that no one else knows about?
Friend, in Jesus name press on! Repent, trust Christ with your very life. Trust Christ with those burdens and point your eyes heavenward. He knows. He sees. He has felt. He has heard your prayers! Wait eagerly for Him. Don't forget to give thanks. We serve a mighty GOD so press on!
In Jesus, Amen.
-Ty
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Dear friends,
What are you holding onto from your past? What daily are you looking back at? What has a hold on you so deep that no one else knows about?
Friend, in Jesus name press on! Repent, trust Christ with your very life. Trust Christ with those burdens and point your eyes heavenward. He knows. He sees. He has felt. He has heard your prayers! Wait eagerly for Him. Don't forget to give thanks. We serve a mighty GOD so press on!
In Jesus, Amen.
-Ty
Monday, December 27, 2010
12.27.10
Psalm 77:11-13
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
Dear friends,
We hope that you had a great Christmas and, amongst the busyness, were able to focus on the true reason for the season. No matter what your circumstance this Christmas, are we not blessed beyond measure? As I meditate on the amazing time we had together as a family, my thoughts are drawn to ways that I can teach my children to remember why it is that we come together and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior and the immeasurable gift that we have been given.
Psalm 77, most likely penned by Asaph, begins with a prayer to God in times of deep distress. The psalmist cries to God for help, stretches out untiring hands and his soul refuses to be comforted. Next, in verses 7-9, he begins pondering questions about God's favor, love and mercy - questions that you may have, at one time, asked God in the recesses of your heart. "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?". Yet for the rest of the psalm, Asaph chooses to REMEMBER.
In a season of resolutions and looking forward to a new year, may we always remember the miracle of Christmas and the other countless and mighty deeds of our God. May we meditate on His holiness and greatness for what god is as great as He?
In His remembrance,
Mike
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
Dear friends,
We hope that you had a great Christmas and, amongst the busyness, were able to focus on the true reason for the season. No matter what your circumstance this Christmas, are we not blessed beyond measure? As I meditate on the amazing time we had together as a family, my thoughts are drawn to ways that I can teach my children to remember why it is that we come together and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior and the immeasurable gift that we have been given.
Psalm 77, most likely penned by Asaph, begins with a prayer to God in times of deep distress. The psalmist cries to God for help, stretches out untiring hands and his soul refuses to be comforted. Next, in verses 7-9, he begins pondering questions about God's favor, love and mercy - questions that you may have, at one time, asked God in the recesses of your heart. "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?". Yet for the rest of the psalm, Asaph chooses to REMEMBER.
In a season of resolutions and looking forward to a new year, may we always remember the miracle of Christmas and the other countless and mighty deeds of our God. May we meditate on His holiness and greatness for what god is as great as He?
In His remembrance,
Mike
Friday, December 24, 2010
12.24.10
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Dear friends,
The greatest man in history named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Lord Jesus,
We thank You for being our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. As we enter the Christmas Season, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness. As You sent Your messengers the prophets to prepare the way of salvation, may we prepare traditions that nurture our spiritual lives and celebrate the dawning of your everlasting light. In Your name we pray. Amen.
May the love of Christ fill you completely, and His grace and mercies flow forth from you!
Merry Christmas,
Robert
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Dear friends,
The greatest man in history named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Lord Jesus,
We thank You for being our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. As we enter the Christmas Season, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness. As You sent Your messengers the prophets to prepare the way of salvation, may we prepare traditions that nurture our spiritual lives and celebrate the dawning of your everlasting light. In Your name we pray. Amen.
May the love of Christ fill you completely, and His grace and mercies flow forth from you!
Merry Christmas,
Robert
Thursday, December 23, 2010
12.23.10
John 3:17
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Dear friends,
Many of us are familiar with John 3:16 and have it memorized (say it with me :-), "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." I encourage us to read, meditate and even memorize the verses that follow as well. We know that all of us have fallen short of the glory of God. The Bible says that not one of us seeks God in our own strength. We all had gone astray and stood condemned because of our sin. In verse 19, Jesus gives us the verdict: "Light came in to the world but men loved darkness because their deeds were evil". But praise be to our merciful Father who could have first sent Jesus to earth with the justice and war of Revelation 19. Instead, God sent his Son to be our Savior through his obedience even unto death!
May you dwell in the depths of His mercy this Christmas!
-Mike
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Dear friends,
Many of us are familiar with John 3:16 and have it memorized (say it with me :-), "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." I encourage us to read, meditate and even memorize the verses that follow as well. We know that all of us have fallen short of the glory of God. The Bible says that not one of us seeks God in our own strength. We all had gone astray and stood condemned because of our sin. In verse 19, Jesus gives us the verdict: "Light came in to the world but men loved darkness because their deeds were evil". But praise be to our merciful Father who could have first sent Jesus to earth with the justice and war of Revelation 19. Instead, God sent his Son to be our Savior through his obedience even unto death!
May you dwell in the depths of His mercy this Christmas!
-Mike
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
12.22.10
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Dear friends,
Is it not amazing that the Lord has shown us prophecy after prophecy that has been meticulously fulfilled in the life of Christ? Isaiah most likely ministered in Jerusalem and the surrounding area from 739 to 686 B.C. during the reigns of 4 kings of Judah (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah).1 Hundreds of centuries before Christ's birth, God told the house of David a most curious sign.
Can you imagine the looks that Isaiah received when he claimed that a virgin would bear a child? In Matthew 1 our verse for the day is referenced:
Matthew 1:22-23
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
May you rest in the sovereignty of our God who has given us sign after sign that He is Lord over all!
-Mike
1 John Macarthur, The MacArthur Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2006)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Dear friends,
Is it not amazing that the Lord has shown us prophecy after prophecy that has been meticulously fulfilled in the life of Christ? Isaiah most likely ministered in Jerusalem and the surrounding area from 739 to 686 B.C. during the reigns of 4 kings of Judah (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah).1 Hundreds of centuries before Christ's birth, God told the house of David a most curious sign.
Can you imagine the looks that Isaiah received when he claimed that a virgin would bear a child? In Matthew 1 our verse for the day is referenced:
Matthew 1:22-23
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
May you rest in the sovereignty of our God who has given us sign after sign that He is Lord over all!
-Mike
1 John Macarthur, The MacArthur Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2006)
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
12.21.10
Colossians 1:15-16
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Dear friends,
Hello! Have you missed me? I'm back again and this time with reinforcements! What better day to make a comeback than the first day of winter. It's such an honor and privilege to share God's Word with others and I've truly enjoyed using this medium to do so. However, as you can imagine, family, daily schedules, life's happenings, distractions of the world, etc., can all become a bit overwhelming and something has to give. Unfortunately it was this daily dose of spiritual food. Realizing the importance of encouraging one another daily, two dear friends volunteered to come alongside and help share God's amazing spiritual food with you each day! Both are great brothers in the Lord and have huge hearts to share the Truth! I pray you'll be blessed by them just as much as I have been. Welcome Mike and Ty!
God being the Supreme Creator that He is, wrote himself into the heavens. You may have heard that last night there was a lunar eclipse that created a blood read moon just like the one seen at Christ's crucifixion. The power in the birth of this Baby named Jesus, that we celebrate at Christmas, extends beyond to the Son of God that gave his life on the cross for all of us. Blood shed to cleanse us white as snow. The sweet celebration of the nativity, culminating in the ultimate power, joy and gift of great sacrifice in the story of the cross!
God's magnificent story, written in the skies. God wrote the incarnation of Himself into and out of history in the stars. He left His mark for us to see over two thousand years later...and at the time of Jesus' birth. Leaving pieces of Himself for us to find, yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Bethlehem Star, not just descriptive imagery, but an actual astronomical event...God heralding the birth of his Son from on high in the heavens.
All glory, power and honor to the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
Happy first day of winter!
Because of Christ,
Robert
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Dear friends,
Hello! Have you missed me? I'm back again and this time with reinforcements! What better day to make a comeback than the first day of winter. It's such an honor and privilege to share God's Word with others and I've truly enjoyed using this medium to do so. However, as you can imagine, family, daily schedules, life's happenings, distractions of the world, etc., can all become a bit overwhelming and something has to give. Unfortunately it was this daily dose of spiritual food. Realizing the importance of encouraging one another daily, two dear friends volunteered to come alongside and help share God's amazing spiritual food with you each day! Both are great brothers in the Lord and have huge hearts to share the Truth! I pray you'll be blessed by them just as much as I have been. Welcome Mike and Ty!
God being the Supreme Creator that He is, wrote himself into the heavens. You may have heard that last night there was a lunar eclipse that created a blood read moon just like the one seen at Christ's crucifixion. The power in the birth of this Baby named Jesus, that we celebrate at Christmas, extends beyond to the Son of God that gave his life on the cross for all of us. Blood shed to cleanse us white as snow. The sweet celebration of the nativity, culminating in the ultimate power, joy and gift of great sacrifice in the story of the cross!
God's magnificent story, written in the skies. God wrote the incarnation of Himself into and out of history in the stars. He left His mark for us to see over two thousand years later...and at the time of Jesus' birth. Leaving pieces of Himself for us to find, yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Bethlehem Star, not just descriptive imagery, but an actual astronomical event...God heralding the birth of his Son from on high in the heavens.
All glory, power and honor to the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
Happy first day of winter!
Because of Christ,
Robert
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