Watch

The most watched event depends on the location and type of event, but popular global spectacles include the Summer Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, and Cricket World Cup for sports, and major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are highly popular in the US. Other major global events people watch include the Super Bowl, the Chinese New Year, and the Rio Carnival. That is according to the internet search I did. Yet, as believers, David tells us what His greatest watch was. It began every morning after his prayer time. He desired to see how God was going to handle his prayers. I want to encourage you to join me early in your day – the first thing you do whenever you wake up- seeking God and watching with great anticipation how He is going to handle your requests.

Psalm 5:3 (ESV)

3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Collect Call

Have you ever made a collect call? Did the person you were calling ever reject your call? Today, collect calls are almost a thing of the past, but from time to time, I still receive collect calls from a local jail. These calls are usually from people who have no money and are in need, much like the collect calls I used to make. I was not in jail, but I would be without cash and have some needs. Most of these calls went to the same phone number, my parents’ number, and yes, they always took my call. We have a Savior who is waiting to hear from us. He has always accepted my calls. It isn’t necessary to wait until you are desperate to call on Him but know that He will be there when you face desperate times.

Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV)

2 "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it--the LORD is his name:

3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'”

A Friend

Many people want friends but complain that they don’t have any.  My mother told me that to have friends, you have to be a friend.  I think a mistake that people make is that they want to tell God who should be their friends.  Since I am in the process of being crucified to self, I need to seek whomever God puts before me to become their friend.  Yes, we need to be there for everyone, including our “enemies”, as friends.  (I believe that we should not see people as our enemies – but that is another lesson)  Sadly, adults have not learned to listen to God in developing friendships.

1 Peter 4:8-10 (ESV)
8  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

I am Not a Victim

I am not a victim of circumstances beyond my control. I am a Child of God. While I may not understand or like the circumstances that surround me, I will not consider myself a victim. My God may allow something, but He is in control. One day, God will right every wrong, and justice will be served. I am a Child of God, and I will let Him take control of my life.

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Suckers

On Sunday mornings, I offer suckers to the children after they exit church. I love that most parents are teaching their children to say thank you for this small gift. Most people are trained to show gratitude for what they receive. The bible teaches us to go a step further. We are to be thankful not just for, but also in, many times I learn and benefit the most from times that I am in a situation that I don’t like. These situations have a tendency to draw me to my knees, to seek God and His guidance.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Remember

It seems silly some of the things I remember. Roses are red and violets are... pi r... Memory is a great tool that God calls us to use for our benefit.

Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced,

Psalm 105:5

All We Need To Know

In John 5, we are told of a man who was paralyzed for 38 years. We are not given his age nor any of the details of his time at the pool of Bethesda. What we are told is all we need to know.

Jesus not only saw this man, but He sees us right where we are and He knows how long we have been in our situation. The man knows that there is nothing he can do for himself to fix his condition. We see that the man’s faith in Jesus is what healed him.

We can learn from this illustration that God knows, God is able, God has a plan, and God has perfect timing.

John 5:2-3 (ESV)

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.

3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.

John 5:5-9 (ESV)

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”

9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

Proper time

Have you ever wanted to speed time up or slow it down? There have been times when I have been on both sides of wanting the ability to change time. Knowing that God is never early or late. I am learning to trust His wisdom with timing.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

Not Yet Seen

Missouri is known as the Show Me State. One theory of how Missouri received the name is, U.S. Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver in 1899 said, "I am from Missouri. You have got to show me," meaning he demanded proof or evidence before accepting something. Do you take God at His word or do you ask for a sign?

Hebrews 11:7 CSB

[7] By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Water Makes a Difference!

As the rainstorm blew in last night, the ditches began to fill up. This morning, the freshness brought by the rains was evident in the vegetation. When we walk with the Lord, we bring a freshness to this barren and dry world in which we live. Your joy in the Lord is something that others are longing for. Take time today to water others with the living water from our Lord.

John 7:37-38 (ESV)

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Just Praise God

Habakkuk, the prophet, surveys his situation and finds it less than wanting. There is no harvest in the fields. There is no fruit on the trees nor on the vines. The flocks and herds will likely not survive. Yet, in the midst of this, Habakkuk says, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord” (3:18). Notice that the prophet turned his eyes from his circumstances and rejoiced in God. Life is uncertain but God is unchangeable. God remains in control even when life seems out of control. He is aware of all our situations, and He cares.

We may not understand or like our circumstances, but we can praise God for who He is.

Psalm 150:1-2 (ESV)

1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!

2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!

Squeaky clean

It takes effort to make something "squeaky" clean.  When something is that clean, there is no trace of dirt. It is as if the surface was as new again.  When we ask God to clean our hearts are we asking for "squeaky " clean ? Or are we asking for a clean that looks good from a distance?

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,  Blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2

See Through The Eyes Of Christ

Interestingly, with the disciples around Jesus, Jesus saw so many people that others missed seeing.  Zacchaeus, the little man.  The woman at the well.  The lame man. These are just a few.  How many people do we miss that need the hand of the Lord?  Lord, help me to see people through your eyes.  Reveal what you would have me to see.

Matthew 16:17 (ESV)
17  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Phillippi and Dallas

This past week, I walked the streets of Phillippi and Dallas. What impact have I left on those two cities today? Paul's impact walking the streets of Phillippi is still felt today. Why? Because he was not so much concerned with the mark that he left on the tent-making business, but on the business of living for Christ. How sold out to Christ are you?

Galatians 2:20-21 (ESV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

How Much Love?

I have three measuring devices this morning. First, I have a ruler on my desk for measuring small items. Then, in my toolbox, I have a tape measure that I use on many building projects. Last, I have a survey wheel that can measure fence lines. All of these measuring tools have their limits. None of them can come close to measuring the love of our Lord for us. You have great eternal value.

No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

What do you see?

Ask two people who witnessed an accident and you will likely get two different accounts. Take a moment to look at someone, what do you see? So often we let the surface define what we think. What happened before the accident? Where did that person you are looking at come from or what did they go through? Looking deeper widens our perspective. The more we know, the better we see.

“For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Have You Heard that Timing is Everything?

Back in the day, I would set the timing on my car a couple of times a year. If I missed the timing marks, the car ran badly. If I was way off with my timing, the car would not run at all. God set everything in motion and His timing is always on the mark. While we don’t always understand His timing, we need to realize that everything will run smoother in His timing. Take time to read Ecc 3 and make sure that you are in time with the Master.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (ESV)

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Deep Roots

As I was walking my dogs in the park, I noticed several newly planted trees had died due to the lack of water. A friend of mine opened a nursery a few years ago and named it “Deep Roots.” He opened the nursery within a few years of graduating from high school. Not only have I seen his business take root and grow, but I have witnessed his spiritual roots continue to grow. If you examine his family, you will see that his parents and grandparents have deep spiritual roots. Our spiritual walk has far-reaching effects.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Time is running out

How many times have you received a message letting you know that if you did not act quickly, time would run out? In talking about salvation to someone, have you said that now is the time to make your decision? Many times we miss out on blessings that the Lord has for us because we procrastinate or just refuse to do what He calls us to do. Today, claim the blessings God has for you.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (ESV)

1 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Little Words Matter

I heard the big words that were said to me. In fact, I only missed one little word. That missed little word kept me from finding what I was looking for. How important are the little words to you?

The Bible is a collection of God’s Word. Nothing should be added or taken away. We are to study His Word. We are to meditate on His Word. We are to hide them in our Hearts.

Matthew 4:4 (ESV)

4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”