Be Holy
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

I Peter 1:15-16 GW But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in every aspect of your life. Scripture says, "Be holy,because I am holy."

Garbage in, garbage oit. As it is with computers so it is with us. What we allow into our minds, hearts and relationships will eventually be reflected in our actions.

Focus on hurtful, evil, perverse things and we'll grow coarse, uncaring, jaded, angry and disillusioned. Focus on what is true and good and righteous and our lives will reflect love, kindness and joy.

Seeking to be holy, is seeking to know and follow God, not to a set of regulations, but to the very heart of love.

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All I Have
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

James 5:11 GW We consider those who endure to be blessed. You have heard about Job's endurance. You saw that the Lord ended Job's suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
 
It seems to have gone on so long. I pray, read & study God's Word, I try to live right and within my means. Yet, I'm still blocked, seeing no way out. Everything crumbles under my hands.
 
All I have is God. All I have is hope. I will cling, sing of my blessings, hanging on no matter what. Trusting--somehow--finances will be at hand when the next bill arrives.

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What We Seek
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

James 4:1 GW What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren't they caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you?

Job 28:17-18, 28 GW Neither gold nor glass can equal its value. Nor can gold ornaments, jewels, or crystal be exchanged for it. Wisdom is more valuable than gems....So he told humans, 'The fear of the Lord is wisdom! To stay away from evil is understanding.'"

How often do we seek wealth and status thinking those things matter, exchanging for them everything that truly matters---faith and family?

Seeking wisdom is of so much more value, for wisdom starts in the
heart of God. And God is not only wisdom, He is love.

James 4:17 GW Whoever knows what is right but doesn't do it is sinning.

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Elections & Truth
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Truth & Justice
James 3:5 GW In the same way the tongue is a small part of the body, but it can brag about doing important things. A large forest can be set on fire by a little flame.
 
Especially in election cycles, things are alleged, some true, some true--but out of context, some things completely twisted, some things fabricated.
 
What is true? Ask yourself who is truth--Jesus Christ. Who most nearly matches what Jesus values--life, protecting the innocent, punishing wrong, eradicating evil--real evil not the demonizing of someone for being a businessperson, an outspoken Christian, a gun owner or a patriot.
 
(America--or any country--will only remain great, if she is good and Godly.)
 
Want is true? Check things out on line, with other news sources...study, learn the truth. Pray. Search God's Word for His standards. Then make your decisions.
 
We can only know truth by knowing the One who IS truth--Jesus Christ.
 
V.9-10 GW With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. Yet, with the same tongues we curse people, who were created in God's likeness. Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters,this should not happen!

More Than Words
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Attitude

James 2:17-18 GW In the same way, faith by itself is dead if it doesn't cause you to do any good things. Another person might say, "You have faith, but I do good things." Show me your faith apart from the good things you do. I will show you my faith by the good things I do.
 
I can claim anything I want to, say I believe this or that. I can act like I'm all that as a Christian, but if I don't reach out to help others, if I'm not there for my family, if I don't take time for faith, family and friends, I am an arrogant nothing, a shallow windbag...a hypocrite.
 
Real faith is more than words, it is faith in action, the love Jesus showed to the poor, the miserable, the blind.
 
Am I more than words of faith?
 
V.19-20 You believe that there is one God. That's fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear. You fool! Do you have to be shown that faith which does nothing is useless?
 
V.24 You see that a person receives God's approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes.

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The Source of Wisdom
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

James 1: 5 GW If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn't find fault with them.

We think wise those who are educated and have a string of degrees behind their name. We think wise those who've had experiences and lived to share them. We even often believe wise those with psychic abilities.

And we miss the truth completely. Wisdom and truth comes not from education or experience, as beneficial as these may be. Nor does it stem from consulting the dark arts whose source, regardless what is claimed, is malevolent and evil.

Wisdom, positive, beneficial wisdom has only one source--God the Creator and sustainer of all. Christ Jesus. If we refuse or ignore Him, we close the door on the very source of wisdom. Want to be wise? Seek to know Him.

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Silence Can Be Golden
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Listening

Job 16:1-2 MKJ V And Job answered and said, I have heard many suchthings . You are all miserable comforters.

We Americans, like Job's friends, are not comfortable with silence. We awkwardly try to fill the void, often with useless assurances or complaints. When we do, we often make things worse, not better. Sometimes all we need say is "I'm sorry" and offer a hand or hug.

Sometimes we just need to quiet and listen. Others don't need more Job's comforters with opinions and suggestions, they need friends to be there. A listening ear and a hug.

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Provoke to do GOOD?
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

Hebrews 10:23-24 GW Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful who promised), and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works, ...

We provoke to anger and frustration. What a concept to  provoke/encourage/egg on others to do good. Which is better--to encourage others in what is good or in what is not? Which satisfies more?

Which do I do more provoke to anger or to joy?

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Bu I'm A Good Person
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Hebrews 9:27-28a GW And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. ...

We don't like to consider consequences now or after death. Too often we're comfortable with the ridiculous rationalization, "But I'm a good person."

A good person doesn't choose to do wrong things. When we choose to lie, take what doesn't belong to us, spread gossip, deliberately hurt someone else physically or emotionally, if we don't keep our promises, if we cheat the government, our boss, our mate--we are NOT good.

If we're honest, not one of us is good in and of ourselves. We are not good and certainly would be unhappy with a God who is the embodiment of goodness.

Once we acknowledge the truth of our short-comings and realize, no matter how we try, we cannot BE perfectly good, we're ready for help. That's where Jesus steps in. Jesus came, died, rose BECAUSE we can't save ourselves, can't always be good on our own. He came because He is all that is good, all that is love, all that is right.

If we accept His gift of life, We become new in Him. As we seek to know and follow, Jesus helps us become like Him. God is good. To become good, we need to understand His way, and His way is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ His Son. It is by coming, humbly, and asking Him to take control of our hearts, our lives, all we are. Without Jesus, we're just fooling ourselves to claim, "But I'm a good person." Life and good are in Him.

Have I yet stopped rationalizing my sin and started seking Jesus instead?

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Father's Day 08
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Celebrate!
Eph. 6:4 WEP You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but
nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Today is Father's Day. It is also my dad's birthday. He has been gone
since 1988, but he taught me how to live. He taught me God is, Jesus
loves me, He forgives and, though we don't understand His ways, He is
near waiting for me to come to Him.

Dad taught me to develop and use all the talents and abilities God
gave me and to reach for the stars. He listened what I needed to talk,
provided guidance when I craved his wisdom and gave me silence when I
simply needed his presence.

Dad had a sense of humor. He was awful at telling jokes, but never
stopped trying. I learned to not take life situations too seriously,
but to realize life happens, bring my needs to God and deal with life
head on.

When I was at my worst as a teen, in pain amd with no hope of a cure
from the arthritis that decimated my once strong body, no hope of a
better quality of life, Dad never gave up on me or my future.

Dad may be many years gone, but the lessons I learned at his knee, I
passed on to my children.

Dads, Godly men, are an absolute need for children. Thank the Godly
men in your life today.

Speak Truth--In Love
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Attitude
Job 6:25 GW How painful an honest discussion can be! In correcting me, you correct yourselves! --Job speaking

How true. This is one reason most of us avoid confrontation or soft-pedal truth. We're afraid of being embarrassed, hurting feelings, causing anger or a rift in a relationship. Yet, when we refuse to deal with very real problems anger builds, explodes or implodes causing the very damage we feared.

We should not fear truth. But when we deal with problems we need to do so with the right attitude.

Ephesians 4:15-16 GW But that you, speaking the truth in love , may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ; from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love .

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Life Happens
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

 Job 2:10 GW He said to her, "You're talking like a godless fool. We accept the good that God gives us. Shouldn't we also accept the bad?" Through all this Job's lips did not utter one sinful word.

Too often we think when all is going our way God loves us and is blessing. When circumstances turn against us, when pain and problems overwhelm, we often believe God either has left us, can't or won't help and we turn from Him.

Job knew the truth. Life happens. God doesn't promise smooth sailing unencumbered by problems, some from our own choices, some not. We also seem to forget Satan is the one seeking to trip us up--not God.

God loves. God blesses. God doesn't let us become arrogant, spoiled children. Life happens and life lessons shape us either into compassionate persons of integrity, honor and faith, or--if we turn away from Him--angry, bitter, self-centered or worse.

God didn't promise a calm sea. He does promise to ride with us and be our comfort and guide when those storms unfurl their fury in our lives and relationships.

Job 4:5-6 GW But trouble comes to you, and you're impatient. It touches you, and you panic.  Doesn't your fear of God give you confidence and your lifetime of integrity give you hope?

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Divorce
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Mal. 2:14-16a GW  But you ask, "Why aren't our offerings accepted?" It is because the LORD is a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been unfaithful. Yet, she is your companion, the wife of your marriage vows. Didn't God make you one? Your flesh and spirit belong to him. And what does the same God look for but godly descendants? So be careful not to be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.  "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel.

Today in America there is little difference between the divorce rates of those who claim Christianity and those who don't. Claiming a form of Christianity doesn't make one a Christ-follower.

Too many have no clue about who Jesus is, His sacrifice or our need not only for repentance, but also to follow Him. When we turn our backs on truth in Jesus we no longer honor our commitments to Him or anyone else. We substitute our own rationalizations, our own way, our own pleasure instead of God's way of truth, righteousness and sacrifice.

Divorce is a fallout of hearts hardened against Christ. He is not only truth, but also the embodiment of love. If we don't know or follow Jesus, we don't truly know how to love or sacrifice or be loyal. Real love is not all about ME.

Real love is about trust, about Jesus living in me reaching out to a world in need--starting with those closest to us.

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Do I Care Enough?
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

Hebrews 3:13 GW Encourage each other every day while you have the opportunity. If you do this, none of you will be deceived by sin and become stubborn.

A couple of weeks ago when sirens sounded and tornadoes ripped through town, my daughter-in-law tried to contact us to see if we were OK. (She heard the reports on national news.)

When she didn't get through, she didn't just wait. She called a friend still in town, Bill Orr, and asked him to check on us, which he did.

Keith was at YRTC in the tunnels with staff and boys. I was safe. We only lost a few branches.

When danger lurks we often let nothing stand in our way to "be there" for our loved ones. In other circumstances we're to "be there" with words of encouragement when someone is down, doubting or depressed.

Do I care enough to "be there" to encourage, strengthen and help? Do I care enough to remember to pray?

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Fair-Weather Believers
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

Hebrews 2:1 GW For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Then we won't drift away from the truth.

If there is one thing I can say with certainty it is that I forget. I forget as daily responsibilities deaden past emotions, thoughts, feelings, memories--even commitments.

Foremost it is easy to forget commitments we make to God. Though we don't much care for fair-weather friends, how often are we fair-weather believers, letting anything and everything separate us from our commitment to God and so separate us from Him?

Excuses: Too busy to read His Word or pray. Sleep or activities take us from worship and fellowship. Problems/pain/hurt/life happens and we allow anger and who knows what all fill our hearts, effectively putting a barrier between us and Christ. We blame Him when the choice is ours.

God doesn't need fair-weather followers. (He has plenty of those.) His blessings are for those who remember their commitment, who seek to know and follow Him, no matter what, who recognize that He is God and only He is worthy of worship and trust.

Like Job we need to say, "Though He slay me, yet will I Trust Him."

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