I thank the Lord for you!

Colossians 1:3-6


We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.



Many people I know have been participating in 30 days of Thanksgiving where they post each day during November what they are thankful for. While with this week being Thanksgiving, I want to share that I am thankful for each and every single one of you. I may not know each of you personally however as this scripture talks about, we thank God when we pray for you because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus. Each of you has had the courage to join our devotion group, a group that it can be seen that you are a part of. You are a witness to others by being a part of this group. By doing so, hopefully you are planting seeds and bearing fruit to those around you.



May your Thanksgiving be blessed this week.  

Thurs Devo: Miracle Key

Have you ever locked yourself out of your car or house or office? What did you do?

Joe locked himself out of his office a few weeks ago. I don’t think he realized he was the last counselor in the building and that the front door was locked. After going to his car to get a fork for his dinner, he realized he was locked out. He didn’t even have his phone on him. He prayed about what to do. He then went to the industrial trash bin area outside his office complex to look for anything he could use to pick the lock. He found a couple things to try, but made one more loop around the trash bin area and suddenly saw a key in the rocks nearby. You guessed it! The key miraculously fit his particular office door out of all the office doors in the complex!!! We praised God for “He Holds the Keys” as the Christian song title says!!!

The early Christian church in Philadelphia faced much bigger troubles than a locked door. However, Jesus reminded them that He holds the key and will reward their perseverance.

Revelation 3:7-10     ⁷ “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ⁸ I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. ⁹ I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

Jesus recognized the weakness of the Philadelphia church, worn down by continual persecution. He commended them for their patient endurance and promised to redeem their reputation. He also promised to spare them from a far worse trial.  

If you are a follower of Jesus, He has made the same promises to you. No matter what we suffer in this life, He will spare us from eternal death and bring eternal justice on evil. How are you and I comforted knowing this? What current situation is easier to endure knowing Jesus, as the miracle key, holds the door to Heaven open for us?

Alice

No Never Alone

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  Matthew 28:19-10

While there is so much going on in the world today, I want to speak of something more personal as it has relevancy to much of what is going on.  This past weekend, I lost a friend, and while all indications was that he was a believer, I could not help but feel the sadness of a life gone too soon.  It also brought me to realize one of the worldly devices that is creating greater stress in the world.  It is called loneliness.  I listen to experts, and see the data that points to a declining church and that people feel a disconnect with it.  With that disconnect, there is this empty space where loneliness takes its place.  It is not easy for me to ignore because I have such a connection with an awesome God, but many will say I just need to worry about myself.  But I can’t.  So I ask myself how can I not feel suffering when others feel they have no one to turn to.  What can I do to be accountable to making God’s presence in the world more known?

There is a reason Jesus commissioned us to teach others of God.  Many will disagree, but I believe much of what has gone awry in the world deals directly with the void of God in those places.  People who are alone are much more susceptible to evil, violence, and deception.  Our job as followers of Christ is to stay connected not only with God but also those who do not know of Him.  They are the ones who need to know of a God who loves them deeply, and must realize that whether they don’t have someone or do but sense no one cares about them, God is always watching, listening, loving, and protecting them.  There is no depth of loneliness or despair that God cannot touch, heal, and make one feel anew!

God is the only answer to save others.  The world is a ruthless tool of the devil for as 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  Armed with the truth, we have joy everlasting through Jesus Christ.  We have been given true victory, and with it, we know He is with us always for God has said. “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)  Anyone who knows this will never ever be alone.  Who do you know that may be feeling alone?  Who in pain needs a reminder of God’s faithful promises?  My prayer is that when others feel abandoned, we are able to sing to them the old spiritual hymnal, ‘No Never Alone.’  Amen.

Tues Devo: Gratitude, Part 2

Luke 12:6-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (NASB)

Hello,

When we think of things to be grateful for of God, certainly Him sending Jesus to die for our sins is at the top of the list. But this one above, I feel this one is right up there close by.

If you reflect on the times where you recognized someone cared about you, the chances are quite high that it involved that person knowing or remembering a smaller detail – often in the middle of chaos. These verses make me think of just that. Yes, life is full of chaos – but God knows the number of hairs on our head (OK – for some of you, that number is pretty low….). And beyond that, If God won’t forget the about any of the cheapest birds for sale – how could he forget about us? Our value to Him is incredibly high, and for that we should have gratitude.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Pray for the world around us

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

⁴ Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

It’s hard to look at the world today and not see evil all around us, to see the destruction that has come from all of the wicked ways of the world. As Christians, we have to remember that the Lord watches over us and that all of this evil was predicted in the Bible. No, it doesn’t make it easier to see happen or deal with however we do know that if the glorious promises of God are to come to fusion, we must first live out what the Bible has said would happen, which includes the destruction of this world.


Today I encourage you to pray for the world around us. 

The Day Is Near

2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Wail and say,

    “Alas for that day!”

3 For the day is near,

    the day of the Lord is near—

a day of clouds,

    a time of doom for the nations.

4 A sword will come against Egypt,

    and anguish will come upon Cush.

When the slain fall in Egypt,

    her wealth will be carried away

    and her foundations torn down. Ezekiel 30

The day where our Lord will return is coming.  I'm both excited and worried for that day.  I'm excited that Jesus will come to claim his followers, but I worry for those who have denied him.  It will be a horrible day for them.  Look at the verses above, "a time of doom for the nations," "a sword," "anguish," and "the slain."  It's not painting a joyous picture.

I hurt for them.  Earlier this year, a family member died that I don't think knew God, and it truly pains me to know that I may not see them again.  Granted, I don't know what was in their heart or what choice they made, but they didn't leave many signs that they would choose Christ when the time came for them.  I think of the other people that I know that refuse to acknowledge God, and I hurt that they will face his judgment on that day.  It pains me to think about their future and to think that we will be separated and will not spend eternity together.  So I pray for them.  I bring up God and what he's done in my life at any appropriate opportunity.  I live my life in a way that reflects Christ.

I'm sure that I annoy them and get under their skin - and what do I think of that?  I think it'd be better to deal with an annoyance than to face the day described in the earlier verses.  I pray that I can call them to question their lack of faith.  I pray that I do God's will by doing what I can to help steer these people towards them, but the choice is ultimately up to them.  It doesn't mean that I give up, but that I continue to show faith in God - that he will come to claim his followers and judge those who denied him.

Thurs Devo: Beyond the Surface

I read an article the other day about a Christian ministry leader that appeared to be living for God, even to his wife. However, he was involved in pornography and adultery. It eventually came out into the open when his work computer required some maintenance. Divorce ensued. After genuine repentance and restoration with God, though, they remarried several years later. Jesus was patient with him to repent, but it did require bringing it out into the open to motivate him. 

As we talked about last week, we may be able to fool people for a little while, but Jesus is never fooled. Jesus sees beyond the surface.

Revelation 3:1-3         “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.² Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. ³ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Jesus saw beyond the surface of the Sardis church. They appeared genuine to others, but Jesus saw their hearts. Through this letter, He brought it out into the open and called them to wake up and repent!

What about you and me? Does it only appear to others that you and I faithfully love and serve God? Or, would Jesus say so, Himself? What’s beyond our surface?   

Alice

What Really Matters

I had purchased a TV the other day.  It had all of these nice amenities, and looked really good when I set it up on the TV stand.  I played it, and watched movies on it.  Yet, its value had diminished just a few days after.  While it has this wonderful picture, it just did not matter that much.  My BFF (aka my middle granddaughter) matters.  When I’m sad, I think of her, and it immediately brightens my day.  Her love for me matters more than anything because it never fades and she expects nothing in return for it . . . well maybe a hug and fruit snack sometimes.  She reminds me that the things made of this world do have great value.  However, those things made from God always have infinite value.

We all have loves, but it is the love of God that we must value most of all.  There are things we are blessed to have.  A nice house, great car, beautiful TV, or trips to various places here and abroad fall into this category.  Those are obvious worldly things.  But what about things that are not so obvious.  What about our need for self?  This is not an indictment of us having love for ourselves for Jesus himself said that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, but note that love for both should be one and the same.  It should not be slanted toward either side.  What about the cravings to have everything we want right now or that voice in our heads that when something monumental gets done saying, “I did that!”  Those are worldly thoughts that 1 John also warning us of.  This is not to say having or the ability to have certain things is wrong.  However, we are to give God thanks for all things and just as importantly be humbled that God blessed us with the opportunity to have such things.  Not focus on either what we have or what we did.  God is sufficient enough.  We need nothing else because through Him we are given all that we need.

There is no greater love than the love God has for us as Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)  Then, He gave His life for us.  With today being Veteran’s Day, it is truly fitting that we remember that the things we have and the stuff we want does not really matter.  The sacrifices our soldiers made and the love we have for our family and friends does.  Who matters in your life that you can share God’s love with today?  What will you re-prioritize to value God above self?  My prayer is that today and beyond, we look to God remembering what matters most, and for those of you who serve or served our country, thank you.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Gratitude, Part 1

James 1:16-17 “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.“ (NASB)

Hello,

Sometimes my eyes play tricks on me. One of the most common times is definitely at night when I think I may hear one of my kids get out of bed. I go towards the stairs to see what is going on –and I think I see one of them at the top of the stairs. So, I tell them to go back to bed…..only to discover that there was no child there at all, just a shadow or nothing at all. Our eyes do like to play tricks on us – where things are not as they first appeared. God is not like this. There is no deception or tricks. His good gifts are not a trap to lure us in, they are just good gifts. His nature is so pure, that things from Him cannot move in mid-stream; they stay as they started. The enemy – not so much. He likes to lure and deceive, he is the father of lies.

So, as we head towards Thanksgiving the first thing I would like us to have gratitude for is the goodness of God and His nature of truth.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Mon Devo: Seeing versus Hearing God

I'm posting for Jessica. (FYI - grap a tissue. It's quite moving. I had to blow my nose after tears of joy ran down my cheeks.)

This devo from crosswalk.com really spoke to me this week, I hope it will you to. 

"The one who listens to me, who carefully seeks me in everyday things … that one will find true happiness." Proverbs 8:34 (The Voice)

"I just need to know you’re here," I told God, as I mindlessly chopped carrots in preparation for dinner.

The baby whimpered in her bouncy seat, the toddler begged for a snack and I wished our meal would magically appear while I escaped to the bedroom for a nap.

My body was weary from the demands of a long day with little ones; my heart was weary from the weight of unanswered prayer. I was walking through a season of loneliness, and I desperately wanted to hear from God.

I’d never heard God speak audibly, but I’d experienced the Lord’s "still small voice" many times in my life. In the past, words of Scripture had often leapt off the pages of my Bible. I’d gleaned heavenly insight from the lyrics of a Christian song, a sermon that pierced my heart or the inspired words of a godly friend.

Why wasn’t I hearing anything now? I’d been begging the Lord for a word of encouragement for months. But it felt like my ears had grown deaf to the sound of my Savior’s voice. When I read my Bible, the words fell flat. When I tuned my ear to Heaven, I heard only silence.

Just then, my 8-year-old son skidded around the corner with a shiny blue ribbon pinned to his shirt. He hopscotched across the dingy floor, laughing as the ribbon caught air with every bounce and flapped like a baby bird trying out its wings.

Suddenly, my laments were trumped by my son’s noisy chatter about the track meet he’d enjoyed at school that afternoon.

"I can’t believe I won the race, Mom! I thought my legs were gonna give up, but I just kept moving my feet and suddenly I was at the finish line."

His happy prattle mingled with the rhythmic clank of my knife on the cutting board, and I looked up to acknowledge his words with a proud smile.

"Did you hear me cheering for you?" I asked.

I wasn’t sure if my little runner even realized I’d been in the bulging crowd of parents flanking the track that afternoon. Despite juggling the baby in one hand and the camera in another, I’d cheered as loudly as I could when my son sprinted past us toward the finish line.

"Yep," he said with a grateful grin. "I heard you."

"Oh, good," I replied. "I wasn’t sure if I was yelling loud enough."

My bouncing boy stopped hopping on one foot and shrugged his shoulders. Then he looked me in the eye and confessed, "Well, I couldn’t hear you with my ears, Mommy, but I knew you were there, ‘cause I was listening with my eyes."

My son wrapped his arms around my middle in a quick hug, then pointed those fast feet toward the back door and dashed outside to join his sister. I stood silent in the kitchen with the echo of those words in my head.

When my child couldn’t hear my voice, he’d sought my face.

When my cheers failed to echo in his ears, he’d let my presence encourage his heart.

My heart lurched with conviction. Maybe I hadn’t grown deaf. Maybe I’d grown blind. In my quest to hear God’s voice, I’d stopped seeking proof of His presence.

Today’s key verse reminds us God doesn’t just want us to seek His word with our ears. He wants us to listen with our eyes, as well.

This concept is woven throughout Scripture from the first page to the last. God’s people are often commanded both to listen and look, to hear and see.

Bending our ears to the promises of heaven involves tuning our eyes to God’s existence on earth. We can’t hearken His word without heeding His "with-ness."

I dumped the carrots into the simmering skillet and turned toward the window to watch my son chase his sister across the lawn. They blazed a trail of giggles across the emerald green, as the One who paints the sunset ignited the horizon with a blaze of orange glory.

I looked and listened while the day gave way to dusk. And as the sun sank low, I felt the weight on my heart soar high. Then, before I called the kids in for dinner, I changed my desperate prayer for an expectant plea: "Open my eyes, Father. I’m listening."

Dear Lord, teach me to listen to Your voice with my ears and my eyes and to seek You in everyday things. I want to know true happiness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.