15!
I am so grateful, Father, for Your active presence in my life. Over the last several weeks I had been getting lax about our time together, some weeks it seemed that I was not here more often than I was here. But today marks day #15 – 15 days in a row that I have come and sat in this chair with Bible and notebook in hand. For me to be victorious in following You it is imperative that I consistently spend time with You. Even skipping one day can have a detrimental impact. So every day I step into Your presence and slip on the full armor You have given me so that I “will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.” So that “after the battle [I] will still be standing firm.” Ephesians 6:13
And, Lord, surely all the glory goes to You! Where would I be if You had not called out to me? I was so tired of living a defeated, powerless life. I cried out for help and You were right there, ready and more than able to meet my need. There is absolutely no way I could do it without You. Thank You, Jesus!
So today, with You by my side, I am ready! Fill my heart to over flowing with Your love, please Lord. Make me a conduit for Your grace to a world who needs You. Help me to be that contact point for You to touch those who cross my path. Give me wisdom, Give me courage, Give me strength! “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 Amen, so be it!
Feb 5th, Fri, 6:13 am
Don’t Be Factious!
Thank You, Father, for helping me to avoid distractions (news, Facebook) this morning. I am able now to sit with You and not have any fresh clutter in my mind and heart that would interrupt our time together. Father, bless me as I sit at Your feet.
Titus 3:9-11 (<<click here)
Lord, John 13:34-35 records a “new commandment” which You gave Your followers (and that includes us!)
“Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
In many Bibles these words are printed in red which means You, Jesus, spoke them. And Your speaking them should make us take them to heart and live them out each day…but too often we don’t. And, unfortunately this is not a new problem in the church.
In today’s passage, Paul instructs Titus on how to deal with divisive people in the church. He advises to give them a couple of warnings and if that doesn’t work, to “have nothing more to do with them.” The New American Standard Bible translates it in a little more pointed manner. It says to “reject the factious” individual. Reject I get that’s pretty clear, but what does “factious” mean. Of course, I Googled it and here are some synonyms – split, discordant, argumentative, quarrelsome, warring, and rebellious.
This may come as a shocker to some but not one of those words is synonymous with the word…love. So if You said, “you should love each other” (and You definitely did!) Why do we think we need to be factious? There is absolutely no room for it in the church!
I have a friend, who is a fine upstanding Christian young lady and her church is going through a difficult transition. Their well respected pastor of many years is in the process of retiring and after much prayer has announced a successor whom he feels You have selected to step into the role as spiritual leader of this congregation. This individual is amply qualified for the task. Many in the church are embracing this transition and these two Christian brothers in love, as You have commanded. But others? They feel that they must be factious! Unfortunately, some of these individuals are prominent enough in the church that it is a little hard to just “have nothing more to do with them.”
Lord, why do people who claim to be followers of You behave this way?! If it pains me, I know it surely pains You, Lord. These kinds of situations hurt those inside and outside the church!
Lord, I pray for all believers that we would be overcome with Your love, that it would fill us to the point where we feel we will burst if we don’t pour some of that love out on those around us. And the more we pour the more You will supply!
Feb 4th, Thurs, 6:26 am
Washed Away!
Thank You, Father for such a good night’s sleep! I was only up once and You let me sleep in a little, too. I am truly grateful for Your love and watch care over me…
Titus 3:4-8 (<<click here)
Lord, we have all been enslaved to the things of this world…and there was absolutely nothing we could do about it. And then we get the first word in verse 4 – “But…”!
Because of You and You alone our slavery to sin is a thing of the past! You “Our Savior” in “kindness and love… saved us”! And we weren’t saved because of our own righteousness – for our “righteous deeds…are nothing but filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6 Nope! Our salvation is because of Your mercy and You have “washed away our sins”! We are declared righteous because You say so – because You paid the price for our sin. You are worthy of all praise and honor – we who were hopeless are not filled with hope!
As the old hymn goes,
“He took my sins away,
He took my sins away,
And keeps me singing every day!
I’m so glad He took my sins away,
He took my sins away.”
Thank You, Lord!
Feb 3rd, Wed, 6:53 am
Nobody Tellin’ Me What to Do!
Father, my mind is already rolling this morning and I need to bring it to a stop. The things of this world are nothing compared to what You have for me. I’m sorry for trekking off. Help me to give my full attention to You.
Titus 3:3 (<<click here)
It really makes no sense, Lord, that much of humanity is all about doing what we want when we want. “Ain’t gonna be nobody tellin’ me what to do!” But in reality we are all enslaved to something. We may say we are “free” to choose but all we are really doing is choosing what Master to serve. Will it be money? Or power? Or sex? Or alcohol? Or acceptance? Or religion? Yes…we may choose but what we choose ultimately puts our lives- our minds – in bondage.
Paul says it is like it is, “Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures.” We don’t want to admit it but we have way less freedom than we think we do. Each of us is controlled by something. And most of those things are not easily set aside.
Lord, I know that what Paul writes next provides the answer to this dilemma but I want to stop here and acknowledge that I am no exception. There are things to which I have been enslaved in my past. And to this day those things call out to me, enticing me, with empty promises. I want to address it more fully later but I must speak of it now as well! Lord, without You, I am helpless – I would yield to those things in a heartbeat. Help me to stay close by Your side. Continue to help me to shoot down those thoughts before they even come close to bearing fruit. All the praise for victory goes to You!
Feb 2nd, Tues, 6:30 am
Old Dog, New Tricks
During yesterday’s sermon, Father, many things were running through my mind. First of all, thanks you for Your presence – both times though. 😉 And then, thank You for showing me, with my own life, that You can teach an old dog new tricks. I am so grateful that Your love broke through like a ray of sunshine to my fog enshrouded heart! I have known and loved You for most of my life but not in the way I know and love You today.
One of my regrets is that it took so long. I heard Your call but it seemed like I just fumbled around and could never make that connection. I know You were reaching out to me. I realize that Your desire was for our relationship to go to a whole other level but other things kept getting in the way. It is surely Your nature to do so, but thank You for not giving up on me – talk about long-suffering love!
I love where I find myself but I can take no credit for getting here. Only because of You, am I where I am. You are the ever patient teacher. I just finally followed Your teaching. I prayed so many times that You would burden my heart for a deeper relationship with You – I didn’t know how to get there. I tried many things with very little success. But in looking back I see You used them as stepping stones that were leading me to where I was supposed to be.
Lord, I pray right now that this is just a point of a journey just begun. Enable me to hold the course. Shore up my defenses against the ploys of the evil one. Strengthen my fortitude so I may continue to stand tall. Use me to further Your kingdom. Help me to shine my light so as to guide others in Your ways. I am all Yours!
Feb 1st, Mon, 6:25 am