What We Fear Most
Psalm 71:20-22a GW You have made me endure many terrible troubles. You restore me to life again. You bring me back from the depths of the earth. You comfort me and make me greater than ever. Because of your faithfulness, O my God, even I will give thanks to you ...

God never promised an easy life if we follow Him. He does promise His presence, His comfort, His guidance and His blessings.

What do we fear most? Not pain and problems, as bad as these might be. We fear being alone as we face them. With Jesus we don't ever have to be alone.

Thank you, Jesus.

Hate & Forgiveness
Acts 22:18-21 GW ...the Lord. He told me, 'Hurry! Get out of Jerusalem immediately. The people here won't accept your testimony about me.'
"I said, 'Lord, people here know that I went from synagogue to synagogue to imprison and whip those who believe in you.
When Stephen, who witnessed about you, was being killed, I was standing there. I approved of his death and guarded the coats of those who were murdering him.'
"But the Lord told me, 'Go! I'll send you on a mission. You'll go far away to people who aren't Jewish.'"

Paul changed the world with the message of forgiveness, salvation and hope. He was a murderer under the guise of protecting his faith. Hatred for the Jesus followers filled his heart.

But Jesus didn't leave him in this hopeless state. Paul found forgiveness, release from hate and tradition and found freedom in Jesus.

He was a prisoner set free from his hatred, preconcieved religiousity as well as spiritual and emtional baggage. Is it any wonder he had a message to share about God's amazing grace?

When we hold onto unforgiveness we hurt ourselves, put ourselves in a prison of pain, hurt. An unwillingness to accept or extend forgiveness hurts those we love most, starting with ourselves. we become persons we don't even want to hang with, full of hate and evil--however much we talk of righteous retribution.

Paul accepted God's forgiveness and it changed his life. Accepting and extending forgiveness isn't easy, but it means freedom.

May we know freedom from hate as we accept forgiveness in You, Lord. Amen.

Am I Too Arrogant to Seek Help?
Psalm 69:16-17 GW Answer me, O LORD, because your mercy is good. Out of your unlimited compassion, turn to me. I am in trouble, so do not hide your face from me. Answer me quickly!

David knew he was far from perfect. In fact, he'd done some pretty awful things. Yet, he repented and trusted the Lord's forgiveness.

When He needed help, he didn't wallow in self-deprecation. He didn't worry about being unfit for God's attention and mercy. He knew that already. But he also knew God loved him and desired an open and intimate relationship, one in which David was not afraid to say, "Help."

David was not too arrogant to think he could suceed as king or in life without God.

Do we?

V. 33-34 The LORD listens to needy people. He does not despise his own who are in prison. Let heaven and earth, the seas, and everything that moves in them, praise him.

Power to His People
Acts 20:22-24 GW "I am determined to go to Jerusalem now. I don't know what will happen to me there. However, the Holy Spirit warns me in every city that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me.
But I don't place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I'm running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus-the mission of testifying to the Good News of God's kindness."

Paul followed God's guidance even knowing it would lead to danger, even loss of life. His passion for spreading the Good News of salvation was so great nothing else mattered.

Do I have such passion to spreading the Good News and seeing people come to saving grace in Jesus? Or is comfort, convenience, embarrassment or fear--hurt feelings, misunderstanding, a job--more important than what I claim--the value of my faith?

Help me, Jesus, put You first. Help me not to be ashamed or afraid to tell others about You--no matter what. Amen.

Psalm 68:35 GW God, the God of Israel, is awe-inspiring in his holy place. He gives strength and power to his people. Thanks be to God!

Where Do I Go?
Psalm 68:19 GW Thanks be to the Lord, who daily carries our burdens for us. God is our salvation. Selah

Where Do I Go?
© 2009 Carolyn R Scheidies

When the day is dark,
Where do I go, but to the Lord
For He is Light.
When my heart is heavy with grief,
Where do I go, but to the Lord
For He Lifts up.
When life overwhelms and I don't know what to do,
Where do I go, but to the Lord
He leads me beside still waters.
When I am bowed down with problems and pain,
Where do I go, but to the Lord
For He loads on His own back not only my burdens
But me!
When all fails I know
Where to go, I go to the Lord
And He is there.

Honor Him
Psalm 67:5-7 Mkjv Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. The earth shall yield its increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Gratitude reaches God's heart. He wants us to be thankful, to give thanks and to praise and honor Him in our daily lives.

There is a correlation between honoring God and His blessings. Why should that surprise us? As we open our hearts to His love, as we listen to His direction, He will fill us with His wisdom in all we do. Blessings follow. Cause and effect.

Help me, Jesus, stop trying to do things on my own without You and instead listen and let You lead to the very best You have for me as I honor and praise You from an understanding, grateful heart. Amen.

Sin is a Deal Breaker
Psalm 66:18-20 G W If I had thought about doing anything sinful, the Lord would not have listened to me. But God has heard me. He has paid attention to my prayer. Thanks be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or taken away his mercy from me.

We often think how we act doesn't matter and God is the genie we pull out of the box when we're in trouble. But answered prayer is in direct relation to a heart willing not only to listen, but also to obey, to follow God's guidance and principles.

If He knows I won't listen or obey, why should He speak? God wants to guide and bless. But, sin separates us from God, cuts us off from hearing His voice. Sin isn't God's choice. It is ours.

Sin is a big deal. Lord, cleanse me that I might clearly hear when You speak. Amen.

My Reactions
Acts 16:25 Mkjv And toward midnight Paul and Silas prayed and praised God in a hymn. And the prisoners listened to them.

Though they had been beaten, were in chains and in prison, Paul and Silas praised the Lord. They did not get angry or turn away from God in the tough times. They gave thanks.

What happened? The other prisoners had a real experience with God's power when an earthquake opened the prison doors. But it was their sensitivity to the head jailor that brought he and His family to Jesus. For Paul and Silas praised instead of complained, stayed instead of escaping, and conferred a blessing instead of condemnation. Who wouldn't want to know this God they served?

How do I react to calamities in my life? Does my response lead others to Christ--or away?

Nothing Else Will Save
Acts 15:10-11 GW
Now therefore why do you tempt God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples, a yoke which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, according to which manner they also believed.

We're still trying to dictate to God how we live and please Him--and it is all about us, our works.

But there is only one way into God's good graces. It is not by being good or going to church, not by reading the Bible or even praying. These are all things that help us grow our relationship with Jesus, but not ways to salvation.

Salvation comes from a simple decision to accept Jesus' gift of life when He came, died and rose again. We ask Him into our lives and everything else flows from that choice.

Nothing else we do can or will save, because salvation and a relationship with Jesus is a gift of grace.

And I bow in gratitude.

Do I Honor God By Listening?
I Chronicles 4:9a-10 GW And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.... And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that You would bless me indeed, and make my border larger, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, so that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he asked.

When we honor God, He honors us, blesses us and answers prayer.

When we don't honor or follow Him, we don't hear Him when He speaks. We miss His blessings, not because He isn't available--we aren't.

God honors those who honor Him. Do I honor Him with my time, my love, my heart?

Psalm 63:1 GW O God, You are my God; I will seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You, as in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; ...

Eternity
Yesterday morning I attended a funeral. Sad, but also a joyful
celebration of a man who lived each moment for his faith and his
family. A man now claiming eternal life.

This morning, Cutie cat scared me when she jumped from the floor to
the sink in the bathroom, scrambling not to fall. She hasn't been able
to jump up there in the last couple of years. Yet, she always liked
drinking directly from the faucet. She enjoyed the fresh water. When
she finished, I lifted her down. She's so skinny and fragile. I'm sure
her fast-running thyroid is telling her brain she's a youngster again.
She's not, but considering I thought she was about to die in June,
she's doing very well.

The funeral and Cutie's jump, made me think about eternity. Maybe it
will be like Cutie a bit—only for real. Our bodies will no longer be
limited by age and pain and aches. We'll be renewed to our youth.
We'll be able to jump and run and dance. But eternity begins here,
with the joy of allowing Jesus into our lives and serving Him.
Eternity isn't about death. It's about life—forever.

But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God,
you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23 WEB

Envy Hurts Others and God's Work
Acts 13:44-45 GW And on the coming sabbath day almost all the city came together to hear the Word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and contradicted those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

We see this even in our churches. Someone doesn't get the attention they think they deserve or the power and become jealous of others God is using. Instead of being glad for the good being accomplished and for lives being changed, they grow angry and resentful.
Finally, they undermine what is being accomplished and those being used.

Whatever side we may fall on this at any given time, whether the one being used by God or the one undermining God's work through our attitudes and actions, we need to remember always it isn't about ME! It isn't about power or prestige. It is about reaching a needy world for Christ and working together for that goal--and give God the glory and credit.

Psalm 62:11-12 GW God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God. Also to You, O LORD, belongs mercy; for You give to every man according to his work.
I want my work to honor Him, not show how petty I am.

Worship with Fellowship
Psalm 61:4 GW I will dwell in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the hiding place of Your wings. Selah.

We often think church is optional, but Psalms shows us love for God manifests through regular worship in God's house and fellowship with God's people. The Psalmist had a deep love for not only worship, but also the place of worship.

If we're not desiring God's house we need to ask why.
Has my relationship with Jesus grown cold?
Is something in my life separating me from God?
Am I worshipping in a church that truly honors God and His Word or is my church off track or little more than a social club?
Is Jesus or man lifted up as the highest authority?
Is the church loving or enslaving?
The bottom line. Where is my heart? If I love God and His Word, if I listen to Him , He will lead me to Godly fellowship.

Help me, Lord, find joy in worship in Your house. Amen.

Shame
Psalm 59:17 GW O my strength, I will make music to praise you! God is my stronghold, my merciful God!

When we love someone, we show it. When we're happy about something, like a fan, we're nit ashamed to show excitement and emotion.

Why then do we not desire to spend time with He who knows and loves us best? We aren't afraid to claim we love some sports team/figure or celebrity.

Why not, like the Psalmist, give voice of honor and praise to He who truly deserves it?

Question is--am I really ashamed of Jesus Christ?

God's Heart
Acts 10:34-36 GW Then Peter said, "Now I understand that God doesn't play favorites. Rather, whoever respects God and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation. God sent his word to the people of Israel and brought them the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ. ...

We like the illusion that we're all that and it feels good to exclude those who don't quite "fit" into our circle. Worse, we give handouts to "them" as if extending great favor.

Truth is, God is all that and we are not. He wants us not too look on outward appearances, but to look at the heart--starting with our own. How can we show God's love until we come to the place stiff-necked, arrogant Peter came to--that Jesus loves everyone one of us and wants to know Him.

But showing such love means discarding our "attitude" of superiority and reaching out heart to heart--God's heart.