John 2:16
16 For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world.
Dear friend,
Lately God has really been convicting my heart of my tendency toward the lukewarm. The culture in which we live fuels our lusts and seemingly incessant pride. Compared to the rest of the world, we are rich beyond measure and our richness can very often lead us to depend on ourselves and "our resources" rather than depending on God.
It is in these moments that I'm thankful for the conviction of the Holy Spirit. This lust and pride do not come from our Father but from the world in which we live. In stark contrast to my pride, I see a humility that I long for in Jesus. Let us think about that humility today and be encouraged by the promise that God will exalt those who humble themselves. Though at times it seems an impossible task to banish our pride, nothing is impossible with God. The power of His Spirit will impart to us the humility of Christ as we draw near to Him in realization of our destitution and the richness of His glory.
"What is the incarnation but His heavenly humility, His emptying Himself and becoming man? What is His life on earth but humility; His taking the form of a servant? And what is His atonement but humility? "He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death." And what is His ascension and His glory, but humility exalted to the throne and crowned with glory? "He humbled Himself, therefore God highly exalted Him."1
In Christ,
Mike
1Andrew Murray, Humility the Beauty of Holiness (IndoEuropean Publishing, 2009)
Friday, March 18, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
3.17.11
2 Timothy 1:8-9
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
Dear friend,
St. Patrick's day is usually associated with festivities of green, shamrocks, little leprechauns, and bottomless pints. It's really the celebration of a man, a Christian missionary, and his ministry. Here are some words from St. Patrick himself to encourage us in our faith today.
"I came to the people of Ireland to preach the Gospel, and to suffer insult from unbelievers, bearing the reproach of my going abroad, and many persecutions even unto bonds, and give my free birth for the benefit of others; and, should I be worthy, I am prepared to give even my life without hesitation and most gladly for his name, and it is there that I wish to spend it until I die, if the Lord would grant it to me." -St. Patrick (432 AD)
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
In Christ,
Robert
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
Dear friend,
St. Patrick's day is usually associated with festivities of green, shamrocks, little leprechauns, and bottomless pints. It's really the celebration of a man, a Christian missionary, and his ministry. Here are some words from St. Patrick himself to encourage us in our faith today.
"I came to the people of Ireland to preach the Gospel, and to suffer insult from unbelievers, bearing the reproach of my going abroad, and many persecutions even unto bonds, and give my free birth for the benefit of others; and, should I be worthy, I am prepared to give even my life without hesitation and most gladly for his name, and it is there that I wish to spend it until I die, if the Lord would grant it to me." -St. Patrick (432 AD)
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
In Christ,
Robert
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
3.16.11
John 20:31
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Dear friend,
Here we are midweek. How are you doing so far?
We just want to keep encouraging you to press on. We are praying that today would be a day that you remain 'All In' for Jesus!
Jesus the Christ....
He is the author and finisher of our faith. The beginning and the end. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the only hope for a fallen world. He is the bread of life. He is the light of the world. He will call us out of the graves and up from the earth by His power. He spoke the world into existence by His mighty word. He sustains and holds all things together. He said before Abraham was born "I AM!" He held little children in his arms and cleared a temple with a whip. He hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors. He came for the sick who need Him. He opened eyes and raised the dead. He was homeless at times, hungry at times, sad at times and tempted at times, so that we could relate to Him and Him to us. He is the true vine and we are His branches. We need to remain in Him or we will wither and dry up. He commanded that we make disciples of ALL nations. He told us that He is the master and the servants should expect similar treatment (a cross). In order that we do not faint from fear, He said that He would send a helper in His name....Holy Spirit. He is the Way the Truth and the Life and no person goes to the Father but through Him. He and the Father are one and yet he chose to become a human and a servant. He became a curse for us in His death, so that our curse would be removed and we could live. To kick off His ministry at a wedding He changed water into wine, and he will finish with His angels announcement and return as King to have a wedding feast with His children. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. The law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
He offers you and I grace today through His death on the cross and continued strength and hope through His Spirit. He made the payment that we could never afford to pay and sustains it with a power that we could never harness on our own.
His life for yours.....That's GRACE!! That's JESUS!!!
Remain in Him. Amen.
Ty
P.S. If you want to look up the verses that I pulled these thoughts from here are most of them that I can think of: John 1, John 8, Colossians 1:17, Revelation 1:8, John 14:6, Mark 2, Revelation 19, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 5 and others.
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Dear friend,
Here we are midweek. How are you doing so far?
We just want to keep encouraging you to press on. We are praying that today would be a day that you remain 'All In' for Jesus!
Jesus the Christ....
He is the author and finisher of our faith. The beginning and the end. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the only hope for a fallen world. He is the bread of life. He is the light of the world. He will call us out of the graves and up from the earth by His power. He spoke the world into existence by His mighty word. He sustains and holds all things together. He said before Abraham was born "I AM!" He held little children in his arms and cleared a temple with a whip. He hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors. He came for the sick who need Him. He opened eyes and raised the dead. He was homeless at times, hungry at times, sad at times and tempted at times, so that we could relate to Him and Him to us. He is the true vine and we are His branches. We need to remain in Him or we will wither and dry up. He commanded that we make disciples of ALL nations. He told us that He is the master and the servants should expect similar treatment (a cross). In order that we do not faint from fear, He said that He would send a helper in His name....Holy Spirit. He is the Way the Truth and the Life and no person goes to the Father but through Him. He and the Father are one and yet he chose to become a human and a servant. He became a curse for us in His death, so that our curse would be removed and we could live. To kick off His ministry at a wedding He changed water into wine, and he will finish with His angels announcement and return as King to have a wedding feast with His children. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. The law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
He offers you and I grace today through His death on the cross and continued strength and hope through His Spirit. He made the payment that we could never afford to pay and sustains it with a power that we could never harness on our own.
His life for yours.....That's GRACE!! That's JESUS!!!
Remain in Him. Amen.
Ty
P.S. If you want to look up the verses that I pulled these thoughts from here are most of them that I can think of: John 1, John 8, Colossians 1:17, Revelation 1:8, John 14:6, Mark 2, Revelation 19, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 5 and others.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
3.15.11
Numbers 6:24-26
"The LORD bless you and keep you;the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."
Dear friend,
It's only Tuesday, but already so many of us are tired and feeling the world pushing down on us. The day to day demands in our lives along with the attacks of the enemy attempt to drown out God's Glory and Love for us. Lay your worries and cares on Him and rest (Matthew 11:28). Put the pressures of the day in perspective of the Cross.
Praying you have a wonderful day in the Lord today.
Happy Tuesday!
In Christ,
-Robert
"The LORD bless you and keep you;the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."
Dear friend,
It's only Tuesday, but already so many of us are tired and feeling the world pushing down on us. The day to day demands in our lives along with the attacks of the enemy attempt to drown out God's Glory and Love for us. Lay your worries and cares on Him and rest (Matthew 11:28). Put the pressures of the day in perspective of the Cross.
Praying you have a wonderful day in the Lord today.
Happy Tuesday!
In Christ,
-Robert
Monday, March 14, 2011
3.14.11
Romans 6:16
16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Dear friend,
Lately I've been thinking about what it means to fully submit ourselves to God. And what does it mean to be free in Christ? We know it's in our best interest to trust God with our lives and our hearts long for the freedom that can only be found in Christ, yet somehow we always seem to do things our way. Our small group Bible study uses the term "all-in" like in a poker game, but knowing we've chosen a sure thing by putting our lives in the hands of Jesus. Today as I opened 'My Utmost for His Highest', the topic of yielding was there staring back at me and I had to share these wise words from Oswald Chambers.
"The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.
If a child gives in to selfishness, he will find it to be the most enslaving tyranny on earth. There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is- "I must have it now," whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. ". . . He has anointed Me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives . . ." (Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1).
When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, "Oh, I can give up that habit whenever I like," you will know you can't. You will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly yielded to it. It is easy to sing, "He will break every fetter," while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person's life." -Oswald Chambers
I was reminded of the hope we have in Jesus and the power He has to transform lives! I pray we all seek the freedom found only by fully yielding our lives to King Jesus!
In Christ,
-Robert
http://www.utmost.org Daily Devotional by Oswald Chambers
16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Dear friend,
Lately I've been thinking about what it means to fully submit ourselves to God. And what does it mean to be free in Christ? We know it's in our best interest to trust God with our lives and our hearts long for the freedom that can only be found in Christ, yet somehow we always seem to do things our way. Our small group Bible study uses the term "all-in" like in a poker game, but knowing we've chosen a sure thing by putting our lives in the hands of Jesus. Today as I opened 'My Utmost for His Highest', the topic of yielding was there staring back at me and I had to share these wise words from Oswald Chambers.
"The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.
If a child gives in to selfishness, he will find it to be the most enslaving tyranny on earth. There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is- "I must have it now," whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. ". . . He has anointed Me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives . . ." (Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1).
When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, "Oh, I can give up that habit whenever I like," you will know you can't. You will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly yielded to it. It is easy to sing, "He will break every fetter," while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person's life." -Oswald Chambers
I was reminded of the hope we have in Jesus and the power He has to transform lives! I pray we all seek the freedom found only by fully yielding our lives to King Jesus!
In Christ,
-Robert
http://www.utmost.org Daily Devotional by Oswald Chambers
Friday, March 11, 2011
3.11.11
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
The Need for Self-Discipline
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Dear friend,
The President of the United States is coming to your house tomorrow! Are you ready? Do you have your house in order and have you prepared yourself to meet him? Have you reviewed his agenda so that you know your talking points?
Okay, so the president isn't coming to your house, but I guarantee if you knew he was, regardless of your political ideology, you'd prepare yourself for the meeting. We all would consider it an honor to have a visit at our homes by such an important person.
So how's your walk with God these days? Are you giving Him your best time and preparing for your daily visit with the most important being in your life, the Creator of the Universe? Are you intentional about your meetings with God or are you canceling on Him? Is your house in order? How's your relationship with your spouse and children? What does your training regimen look like?
We need to train for our race, our walk with God. We're all guilty when it comes to letting our time with God slide. Each of us is given the same 168 hours each week; rich or poor, we all get the same amount of time. It's what we do with it that counts! Is God getting your best time each day?
Paul tells us to be disciplined through 'strict training' so that we run the race to win! Our eyes are on heaven and our prize is eternal. In verse 27 we're called to bring our flesh into submission; to discipline ourselves spiritually so that our witness isn't called into question as we preach the Gospel. We don't want to be 'disqualified for the prize' because we weren't prepared for the race.
Make an intentional effort today to reflect on the time you're giving God. We all can do better.
In Christ,
-Robert
The Need for Self-Discipline
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Dear friend,
The President of the United States is coming to your house tomorrow! Are you ready? Do you have your house in order and have you prepared yourself to meet him? Have you reviewed his agenda so that you know your talking points?
Okay, so the president isn't coming to your house, but I guarantee if you knew he was, regardless of your political ideology, you'd prepare yourself for the meeting. We all would consider it an honor to have a visit at our homes by such an important person.
So how's your walk with God these days? Are you giving Him your best time and preparing for your daily visit with the most important being in your life, the Creator of the Universe? Are you intentional about your meetings with God or are you canceling on Him? Is your house in order? How's your relationship with your spouse and children? What does your training regimen look like?
We need to train for our race, our walk with God. We're all guilty when it comes to letting our time with God slide. Each of us is given the same 168 hours each week; rich or poor, we all get the same amount of time. It's what we do with it that counts! Is God getting your best time each day?
Paul tells us to be disciplined through 'strict training' so that we run the race to win! Our eyes are on heaven and our prize is eternal. In verse 27 we're called to bring our flesh into submission; to discipline ourselves spiritually so that our witness isn't called into question as we preach the Gospel. We don't want to be 'disqualified for the prize' because we weren't prepared for the race.
Make an intentional effort today to reflect on the time you're giving God. We all can do better.
In Christ,
-Robert
Thursday, March 10, 2011
3.10.11
Revelation 4:11
"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."
Dear friend,
God has recently placed a resource in my life that has both convicted and encouraged me to be more like Jesus. Scripture will continue to be the focus, as it is truly our Daily Bread, and for the next few weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays I will also be quoting parts of the book "Humility The Beauty of Holiness" by Andrew Murray. My hope is that you will be impacted in a similar fashion. I encourage you to read the book if you so desire, even if you have read it previously, which is in the public domain: http://manybooks.net/titles/murrayaother08Humility.html. Please feel free to e-mail us your thoughts or post any feedback on our blog (link below) as to how God is working in your life.
With regard to our verse today, "As truly as God by his power once created, so truly that same power must God every moment maintain. The creature has not only to look back to the orgin and first beginning of existence, and acknowledge that it there owes everything to God; its chief care, its highest virtue, its only happiness, now and through all eternity, is to present itself an empty vessel, in which God can dwell and manifest His power and goodness".1
May you live today with full regard to our Lord and God who created all things by his will and maintains that creation in power and majesty. Help us, Father, to lift our eyes up today...to gain perspective to see your beauty and power in all you have created in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us present ourselves to you as empty vessels that you may richly dwell within each of us.
In Christ,
Mike
1 Andrew Murray, Humility the Beauty of Holiness (IndoEuropean Publishing, 2009)
"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."
Dear friend,
God has recently placed a resource in my life that has both convicted and encouraged me to be more like Jesus. Scripture will continue to be the focus, as it is truly our Daily Bread, and for the next few weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays I will also be quoting parts of the book "Humility The Beauty of Holiness" by Andrew Murray. My hope is that you will be impacted in a similar fashion. I encourage you to read the book if you so desire, even if you have read it previously, which is in the public domain: http://manybooks.net/titles/murrayaother08Humility.html. Please feel free to e-mail us your thoughts or post any feedback on our blog (link below) as to how God is working in your life.
With regard to our verse today, "As truly as God by his power once created, so truly that same power must God every moment maintain. The creature has not only to look back to the orgin and first beginning of existence, and acknowledge that it there owes everything to God; its chief care, its highest virtue, its only happiness, now and through all eternity, is to present itself an empty vessel, in which God can dwell and manifest His power and goodness".1
May you live today with full regard to our Lord and God who created all things by his will and maintains that creation in power and majesty. Help us, Father, to lift our eyes up today...to gain perspective to see your beauty and power in all you have created in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us present ourselves to you as empty vessels that you may richly dwell within each of us.
In Christ,
Mike
1 Andrew Murray, Humility the Beauty of Holiness (IndoEuropean Publishing, 2009)
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