Smile!
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Posted:Jun 18, 2014 2:37 am
Last Updated:Jun 18, 2014 2:38 am 16561 Views
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Read: Numbers 6:22-27
The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. Numbers 6:25
Bible in a Year:
Nehemiah 10-11; Acts 4:1-22
A recent study that I read concluded that smiling can be good for your health. Research shows that smiling slows down the heart and reduces stress.
But smiling isn't just good for you; a genuine smile blesses those on the receiving end as well. Without saying a word, it can tell others that you like them and that you are pleased with them. A smile can hug someone with love without giving them even the slightest touch.
Life does not always give us a reason to smile. But when we see a heartfelt smile on a âs face or through aged wrinkles, our hearts are encouraged.
Smiles are also a hint of the image of God in us. In the ancient blessing recorded in the book of Numbers we get an indication that God smiles: The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace (Num. 6:25-26). Those words are a Hebrew idiom for the favor of God on a persons life, asking God to smile on His .
So today, remember that you are loved by God, and that He is pleased to be gracious to you and to shine His face upon you.
Lord, may my life be so pleasing to You that You are
pleased to have Your face shine on me. And as You
graciously smile on my life, may I find someone
today with whom I can share Your love through a smile.
Your smile could be a message of cheer from God to a needy soul.
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The Light Of The Lamb
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Posted:Jun 17, 2014 3:39 am
Last Updated:Jun 17, 2014 3:42 am 16758 Views
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Read: Revelation 21:14-27
The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. Revelation 21:23
Bible in a Year:
Nehemiah 7-9; Acts 3
For countless generations people have looked to the sun and moon to light the day and the night. Whether illuminating our path or providing the life-giving radiance for fruitful crops and the nutrients our bodies need, the sun and moon are part of God's marvelous provision of light. The book of Genesis tells us that God gave the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night (Gen. 1:16).
But someday God will provide a different kind of illumination. Of the eternal heavenly city, John writes: The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light (Rev. 21:23). Interestingly, the word translated light here is more accurately rendered lamp. Christ in His glorified state will be the spiritual lamp that lights up that joyous new world.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He is also the source of spiritual illumination that makes those who follow Him the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). But in eternity He will be the Lamp that lights our way (Rev. 21:23). What a thrill it will be one day to live in the light of the Lamb!
No darkness have we who in Jesus abide
The light of the world is Jesus;
We walk in the light when we follow our Guide
The light of the world is Jesus.
The Light of the world knows no power failure.
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The World's
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Posted:Jun 16, 2014 4:29 am
Last Updated:Jun 16, 2014 4:32 am 16548 Views
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Read: James 1:22â2:1
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble. James 1:27
Bible in a Year:
Nehemiah 4-6; Acts 2:22-47
After a group of high schoolers visited an orphanage during a ministry trip, one student was visibly upset. When asked why, he said it reminded him of his own situation 10 years earlier.
This young man had been living in an orphanage in another country. He said he recalled people coming to visit him and his friends just as these students were doing and then going away. Occasionally someone would come back and adopt a . But each time he was left behind he would wonder, What's wrong with me?
When the teenagers would visit an orphanage
and then leave those old feelings came back to him. So the others in the group prayed for him and thanked God that one day a woman
(his new mother) showed up and chose him as her very own . It was a celebration of an act of love that gave one boy hope.
Across the world are who need to know of God's love for them (Matt. 18:4-5; Mark 10:13-16; James 1:27). Clearly, we can't all adopt or visit these and indeed we are not expected to. But we can all do something: Support. Encourage. Teach. Pray. When we love the world's , we honor our Father who adopted us into His family (Gal. 4:4-7).
Father, You made each in Your
image. Help us to convey Your love
to them with our hands, our help,
and our hearts.
The more Christ's love grows in us, the more His love flows from us.
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We're Safe
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Posted:Jun 13, 2014 5:35 am
Last Updated:Jun 13, 2014 5:36 am 16725 Views
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Read: 1 Peter 1:3-5
[God] has begotten us . . . to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3-4
Bible in a Year:
Ezra 6-8; John 21
The United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, is a fortified building that stores 5,000 tons of gold bullion and other precious items entrusted to the federal government. Fort Knox is protected by a 22-ton door and layers of physical security: alarms, video cameras, minefields, barbed razor wire, electric fences, armed guards, and unmarked Apache helicopters. Based on the level of security, Fort Knox is considered one of the safest places on earth.
As safe as Fort Knox is, thereâs another place that's safer, and it's filled with something more precious than gold: Heaven holds our gift of eternal life. The apostle Peter encouraged believers in Christ to praise God because we have a living hope a confident expectation that grows and gains strength the more we learn about Jesus
(1 Peter 1:3). And our hope is based on the resurrected Christ. His gift of eternal life will never come to ruin as a result of hostile forces. It will never lose its glory or freshness, because God has been keeping and will continue to keep it safe in heaven. No matter what harm may come to us in our life on earth, God is guarding our souls. Our inheritance is safe.
Like a safe within a safe, our salvation is protected by God and we're secure.
For Further Thought
What about your salvation brings you the
greatest joy? How does it make you feel knowing
that your salvation is kept safe with God?
An inheritance in heaven is the safest possible place.
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Keep The Calm and Carry On
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Posted:Jun 12, 2014 4:02 am
Last Updated:Jun 13, 2014 12:01 pm 16602 Views
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Read: Ezra 5.7-17
We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. Ezra 5:11
Bible in a Year:
Ezra 3-5; John 20
Keep calm and call mom.Keep calm and eat bacon.Keep calm and put the kettle on. These sayings originate from the phrase: Keep Calm and Carry On. This message first appeared in Great Britain as World War II began in 1939. British officials printed it on posters designed to offset panic and discouragement during the war.
Having returned to the land of Israel after a time of captivity, the Israelites had to overcome their own fear and enemy interference as they began to rebuild the temple (Ezra 3:3). Once they finished the foundation, their opponents hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose (4:5). Israel's enemies also wrote accusing letters to government officials and successfully delayed the project (vv.6,24). Despite this, King Darius eventually issued a decree that allowed them to complete the temple (6:12-14).
When we are engaged in God's work and we encounter setbacks, we can calmly carry on because, like the Israelites, âWe are the servants of the God of heaven and earth (5:11). Obstacles and delays may discourage us, but we can rest in Jesusâ promise: I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it (Matt. 16:18 . It is Godâ's power that enables His work, not our own.
Thou art our life, by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength receive.
Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy power,
And give us strength in every trying hour.
Godâs Spirit gives the power to our witness.
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An Honest Heart
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Posted:Jun 11, 2014 3:16 am
Last Updated:Jun 11, 2014 4:36 pm 16623 Views
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Read: Psalm 15
I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness.
1 Chronicles 29:17
Bible in a Year:
Ezra 1-2; John 19:23-42
I came across an epitaph on an old gravestone in a cemetery the other day. It read,
J. Holgate: An honest man.
I know nothing of Holgates life, but because his marker is unusually ornate, he must have struck it rich. But whatever he accomplished in his lifetime, he's remembered for just one thing: He was an honest man.
Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, spent a lifetime in search of honesty and finally concluded that an honest man could not be found. Honest people are hard to find in any age, but the trait is one that greatly matters. Honesty is not the best policy; it's the only policy, and one of the marks of a man or woman who lives in God's presence. David writes, Lord, . . . who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly (Ps. 15:1-2).
I ask myself: Am I trustworthy and honorable in all my affairs? Do my words ring true? Do I speak the truth in love or do I fudge and fade the facts now and then, or exaggerate for emphasis? If so, I may turn to God with complete confidence and ask for forgiveness and for a good and honest heart to make truthfulness an integral part of my nature. The One who has begun a good work in me is faithful. He will do it.
Lord, help me to be honest
In all I do and say,
And grant me grace and power
To live for You each day.
Live in such a way that when people think of honesty and integrity, they will think of you.
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Crowns Of Honor
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Posted:Jun 10, 2014 4:26 am
Last Updated:Jun 10, 2014 4:30 am 16513 Views
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Read: John 19:1-8
The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head.
John 19:2
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 34-36; John 19:1-22
The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom are stored securely and protected within the Tower of London under 24-hour guard. Each year, millions visit the display area to ooh and aah over these ornate treasures. The Crown Jewels symbolize the power of the kingdom, as well as the prestige and position of those who use them.
Part of the Crown Jewels are the crowns themselves. There are three different types: the coronation crown, which is worn when an individual is crowned monarch; the state crown (or coronet), which is worn for various functions; and the consort crown worn by the wife of a reigning king. Different crowns serve different purposes.
The King of heaven, who was worthy of the greatest crown and the highest honor, wore a very different crown. In the hours of humiliation and suffering that Christ experienced before He was crucified, the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe (John 19:2). That day, the crown, which is normally a symbol of royalty and honor, was turned into a tool of mockery and hate. Yet our Savior willingly wore that crown for us, bearing our sin and shame.
The One who deserved the best of all crowns took the worst for us.
Crown Him the Lord of life:
Who triumphed o'the grave;
Who rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save.
Without the cross, there could be no crown.
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Generous God
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Posted:Jun 9, 2014 3:31 am
Last Updated:Jun 11, 2014 4:36 pm 14208 Views
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Read: Ephesians 3:14-21
[God] is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. Ephesians 3:20
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 32-33; John 18:19-40
When our family lived in Chicago several years ago, we enjoyed many benefits. Near the top of my list were the amazing restaurants that seemed to try to outdo each other, not only in great cuisine but also in portion sizes. At one Italian eatery, my wife and I would order a half portion of our favorite pasta dish and still have enough to bring home for dinner the next night! The generous portions made us feel like we were at Grandmas house when she poured on the love through her cooking.
I also feel an outpouring of love when I read that my heavenly Father has lavished on us the riches of His grace (Eph. 1.7-8 and that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (3:20). I'm so grateful that our God is not a stingy God who begrudgingly dishes out His blessings in small portions. Rather, He is the God who pours out forgiveness for the prodigal (Luke 15), and He daily crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies (Ps. 103:4).
At times we think God hasn't provided for us as we would like. But if He never did anything more than forgive our sins and guarantee heaven for us, He has already been abundantly generous! So today, letâs rejoice in our generous God.
Lord, remind me often that You have been
exceedingly generous to me. Help me to extend that
generosity of spirit toward those around me, so that
they may know who You are and rejoice in You.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
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D-Day
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Posted:Jun 6, 2014 3:56 am
Last Updated:Jun 6, 2014 3:57 am 10325 Views
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Read: Joshua 24:2,13-18
Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 25-27; John 16
Recently I asked my older sister, Mary Ann, if she remembered when our family moved into the house where we lived for many years. She replied, You were about 9 months old, and I remember that Mother and Daddy stayed up all night packing boxes and listening to the radio. It was June 6, 1944, and they were listening to live coverage of the Normandy Invasion.
Today marks the 70th anniversary of what has become known as D-Day a military term for the day on which a planned operation will begin. Over the years, D-Day has also come to mean a moment of decision or commitment in our personal lives.
At one point in ancient Israel, their leader Joshua, now an old man, challenged the people to another kind of D-Day. After years of struggle to possess their inheritance in the land God had promised them, Joshua urged them to faithfully serve the One who had been so faithful to them (Josh. 24). Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, he said. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (v.15).
The day we decide to follow the Savior is the greatest turning point in our life. And each day after, we can joyfully renew our commitment to serve Him.
Lord, what a privilege it is to say yes to You each
day. Thank You for loving me and forgiving me.
Guide me in all my choices today and
help me to serve You faithfully.
Life's biggest decision is what you do with Jesus.
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Reframing The picture
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Posted:Jun 5, 2014 3:52 am
Last Updated:May 10, 2024 2:36 am 7674 Views
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Read: Deuteronomy 32.7-12
As an eagle stirs up its nest, . . . spreading out its wings, . . . so the Lord alone led [Jacob]. âDeuteronomy 32:11-12
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 23-24; John 15
For 3 months I had a ringside seatâ or should I say a birdâs-eye viewâof Godâs amazing handiwork. Ninety feet above the floor of Norfolk Botanical Garden, workers installed a webcam focused on the nest of a family of bald eagles, and online viewers were allowed to watch.
When the eggs hatched, Mama and Papa Eagle were attentive to their offspring, taking turns hunting for food and guarding the nest. But one day when the eaglets still looked like fuzzballs with beaks, both parents disappeared. I worried that harm had come to them.
My concern was unfounded. The webcam operator enlarged the camera angle, and there was Mama Eagle perched on a nearby branch.
As I pondered this âreframedâ picture, I thought of times when I have feared that God had abandoned me. The view in the forest heights of Virginia reminded me that my vision is limited. I see only a small part of the entire scene.
Moses used eagle imagery to describe God. As eagles carry their young, God carries His people (Deut. 32:11-12). Despite how it may seem, the Lord âis not far from each one of usâ (Acts 17:27). This is true even when we feel abandoned.
Under His wings I am safely abiding;
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust HimâI know He will keep me;
He has redeemed me and I am His .
Because the Lord is watching over us, we donât have to fear the dangers around us.
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