Author Archives: jsjdevotions

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

April 29, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience, Worry

Will We Rest or Resist?

Who heard God’s voice and was against him? It was all those people Moses led out of Egypt. And with whom was God angry for forty years? He was angry with those who sinned, who died in the desert. And to whom was God talking when he promised that they would never enter his rest? He was talking to those who did not obey him. So we see they were not allowed to enter and have God’s rest, because they did not believe. [Hebrews 3:16-19 (NCV)]

Although we all appreciate a good night’s sleep, the rest we find in God doesn’t come from a Serta mattress or a sleep-number bed. In God’s rest, our frustrations, exhaustion, fears, and doubts are replaced with the comfort of His presence, renewed energy, hope and peace. This rest, however, depends on our willingness to accept God’s will and follow His way. It was recently pointed that the words “rest” and “resist” are similar; the only difference is the letter “i.” As long as I resist giving up my burdens and as long as I resist His will, I will have no rest!

I find rest in God; only he gives me hope. [Psalm 62:5 (NCV)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

April 27, 2014

Posted under

Church & Worship, Sharing Our Faith

PUT OUT THE WELCOME MAT

4-27-14 everglades community church-webWhen we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly. [Acts 21:17 (NLT)]

While walking yesterday morning, I noticed a decal on my neighbor’s car window. It said, “Welcome to Florida – Now Go Home!” Below this sentiment was a skull and crossed rifles! Being a “snowbird” here in Naples, I can understand the locals’ annoyance during “high season” when the population swells, traffic stalls, restaurants overflow, and parking is near impossible. “But, come on,” I thought, “Even on a bad day, this place is paradise compared to most other places. You’re blessed to be here; share it.”

I then realized we sometimes have the same attitude when it comes to our churches. I imagine most of us had to leave for church at least thirty minutes earlier Easter Sunday just to hope for a seat in the back rows. Maybe we even got stuck on the folding chairs in the narthex or, worse yet, were left without a seat. Even though extra services and chairs are added on Christmas and Easter, there never seems to be enough room for everyone. Those of us who attend church regularly tend to get a bit annoyed at these “Birth and Resurrectionists.” Don’t worry; they won’t be at church today. Unfortunately, there will be plenty of room at every service this morning.

Some of the people my neighbor would like to send back up north are the very ones who regularly volunteer at the hospitals, homeless shelters, nature preserves and resale shops. They are the people whose money helps build the hospitals, theaters, schools, Habitat homes and museums of Naples. Could some of the people we resented at church last week be the very ones we need in our church family to help spread God’s word and do God’s work?

We need to find a way to make our church population swell every week, not just twice a year. It’s not only the official greeters who should offer a welcome; we should, too. Do we need to make more effort to reach out? That’s not just the job of the Evangelism Committee! Is there someone we should invite to join us at worship? Let’s remember that church is God’s house, not ours. Everyone is welcome: all shapes and sizes, races and nationalities, saints and sinners alike. Church visitors aren’t strangers; they’re the guests of God! Let’s welcome everyone to God’s house! The welcome mat is out!

Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. [Philippians 2:29 (NLT)]

 

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

April 26, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Salvation: A New You

SAY IT AIN’T SO, JOE

All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. [1 Corinthians 9:25 (NLT)]

Yesterday’s news included the story of a Major League baseball player caught blatantly cheating; unfortunately, it is an all too common occurrence. It’s not just pitchers using pine tar, but also Olympic sprinters using steroids, champion cyclists blood doping, baseball players using performance enhancing drugs, athletes taking money to throw games, and NFL football players accepting money to deliberately hurt opposing players. Back in 1980, a Boston marathon runner even took the subway just to win the race!

This got me thinking about Louis Zamperini and his experience in the 1938 NCAA track championships. In Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken, the author relates how Zamperini’s track opponents attempted to injure him during the race to keep him from winning. In spite of having a cracked rib, both shins punctured and one of his toes impaled by sharpened track spikes, Zamperini won, setting a new NCAA record, having run the mile in four minutes eight seconds.

These all were gifted athletes, among the best of the best, but that was not enough for them. Why were they not satisfied simply by doing their very best? What joy could possibly come from a win that is accomplished by cheating?

I’m not sure we’re all that different from some of these athletes; it’s just that we’re not in the limelight and our tactics might be a bit more subtle. Do we ever want to win an argument at all costs? Are we ever more interested in proving the other person wrong than in finding the right solution? Have we cut corners to give ourselves an unfair advantage? Does our sense of competition come from the desire to show someone else how weak they are? Has it become more important to defeat others rather than defeat what is weak within us?

Lord, help me defeat the enemy within. May I always meet my challenges with integrity. Run with me, Lord, run with me!

The Challenge is from within. The Opponent is yourself. The Reward is private. The Victory is having met the challenge! [Anonymous – seen on the back of a race event t-shirt]

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? [Mark 8:36 (NLT)]

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. [2 Timothy 4:7-8a (NLT)]

 

 

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

April 25, 2014

Posted under

God's Grace & Love, God's Promises

KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL OPEN

A hostile world! I call to God, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call; my cry brings me right into his presence — a private audience! [Psalm 18:6 (MSG)]

Knock and the door will open. [Luke 11:9b (MSG)]

The peasant can’t just come before the king to speak and we’d be hard put to get an invitation to meet with the president or even our governor. The Prime Minister of England has an audience with the Queen only once a week. A private audience with the Pope is all but impossible unless one is a head of state or a high ranking dignitary. When he’s in Rome, the Pope does have papal masses and a public audience weekly but tickets are required for that. Yet, whenever we call on God, we all can have a private audience with Him because Jesus Christ purchased the ticket for us!

Thank you, O Lord, for always allowing us to approach your heavenly throne.

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us — set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. [Romans 5:1-2 (MSG)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

April 24, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Love & Works, Today: Make it Count

HOW TO TREAT OTHERS

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. [2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)]

Heavenly Father, when you come to take me home, let there be no remorse about opportunities I’ve missed or things I’ve left undone. Guide me so that I leave no apologies unsaid, no forgiveness withheld, no kindness refused, no compassion unoffered, and no fences unmended. May your Holy Spirit help me to live a life of love, harmony and peace.

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again. [Og Mandino]

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. [Matthew 7:12 (ESV)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 23, 2013

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Obedience

WE’RE NOT THAT EASY TO LOVE

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. [1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (NLT)]

Fill us with your love, O Lord. Teach us to pay more attention to your positive message. Guide us so that we focus less on the shortcomings of those around us and more on their worth. Please, curb our critical spirits and remind us daily that we, too, have many faults! If you love us, with all our defects, we can surely find a way to love others as well.

Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. The person who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, because God is love. [1 John 4:7-8 (GW)]