For Giving

One of the best things I have ever heard is that "forgiveness is for giving!" While God is clear, our confession of sin is the foundation of our forgiveness. Our heart must also be willing to forgive others or we are not really recipients of God's forgiveness. In fact, if we have prayed to receive Christ into our life and experienced His forgiveness, we can measure how sincere we are by how willing we are to be forgiving of others.

The Colossians 3:13 verse is great!
God bless you,
PJ

Confession can be hard... but good

It is interesting to me, that people raised going to church from childhood often have a more difficult time confessing sin. Why, maybe because when we grow up living a Christian looking life, it is hard for us to realize that we are really a sinner who needs to CONFESS our sinfulness to God before we truly receive forgiveness of sins. It is vitally important for each of us to see that we are a sinner and confess that sinfulness to Christ. When we acknowledge our sinfulness, that is confession. Jesus requires that before we are forgiven. Look up and read 1 John 1:8-10. Those verses help us understand the importance of confession.

God bless you,
PJ

Distress

Most of us don't like the "distress" or problems and pains of life. The devo today helps us through the tough times of life.

Also, go to 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. We can see value in gutting it out with the Holy Spirit's help... God wants to use us to help others.

In fact, the next three days take us down this road... keep turning to 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.

God bless you,
PJ

It hurts!

Suffering is painful! Frankly, none of us choose to get in the suffering line. We want the "easy line," the "life is sweet line," the "health, wealth and prosperity line." While we may know it is not a reality, we still would prefer the easy line.

While I don't like suffering, I take comfort in knowing that God's greatest have suffered for Him. I am trying to grow in the grace of viewing my suffering as a tool that will make me stronger for God. I know the scripture informs me that God will be with me, He will not forsake me and I can endure in victory.

Sometimes I suffer because of my own foolishness. At that moment, I deserve the suffering! However, I am asking for God's sustaining strength for the times I must suffer for no apparent reason or, more importantly, for Him. I am choosing to take the attitude of Christ and be thankful in all things.

How is your suffering attitude? What is your suffering teaching you? How have you grown through your suffering? Are you willing to continue suffering for Jesus?

God bless you,
PJ

Never Alone

I don't know how many times I here people say, "Where is God?" More often than we like it feels like God is not near when we need Him.

Since the Bible informs me that God's way is perfect, He knows everything, and all things work together for good, I have to trust that GOD is NEAR, watching over me and somehow working for my good.

When I don't feel God near, I know it is time for me to listen more, get into the Word of God more faithfully and trust more fully. I also try to do what I know is right for me according to the scripture and be faithful. He really is there?

If you feel like God is not near, don't lose heart, stay faithful, God is near and He will help you through this difficult time.

God bless you,
PJ

Is it me, or You?

Very often we think or feel we are distant from God and we often think it is because God has drifted off. So I find myself asking, "Is it me or You?"

Generally when I feel distant from God it is because my behavior and interaction with God has changed. I discovered that I generally need to refocus my life on Him and worship Him. Very often when I feel distant from God, I have learned something He desires me to be or do and I don't want to do it... so I distance myself from Him. Sometimes it is a Truth I don't like, so I distance myself from Him.

For me scripture reading, corporate worship and fellowship with other Christians are a remedy for feeling distant from God.

What about you? What makes you feel distant... what makes you feel near to God. I see that is what we are working on for Monday.

God bless you,
PJ

Humble

I have found that I have to humble myself to really come into the presence of God. At times public worship is harder because of the other people that I notice. The Psalm 100 passage indicates that we come into God's presence with singing, praise and thanksgiving. For a long time I was very conscious of all the people around me when I tried to sing and praise God (enter into His presence). When I really tuned out others and focused on singing, praising and giving thanks, that is when I best experience God's presence.

I have come to long for the noticeable presence of God!

Have a great day!
PJ

In to me see

Yesterday we learned about intimacy with God. The word just doesn't seem to flow out of most men's mouths. However, the sentence in the devo has it right; "The intimacy of any relationship is a function of both the amount of time spent together and the quality of what is accomplished or shared in that time."

So, I ask, "how much time and what kind of time do you spend with God?" For me, it needs to be more than just sermon prep. I need to have personal time with God.

This may sound crazy, but very often bathroom time is one of the ways I can get alone with the Bible and also pray. Early morning is also good for me.

What about you?

God bless you,
PJ

Really? For Monday 15th

Most men don't seem to put intimate and God in the same sentence. Well, at least and not feel comfortable.
Intimate is when we let God see deep into our heart. No wonder we don't use God and intimate in the same sentence. We are uncomfortable allowing anyone to see our heart. Ironically God sees our heart anyway. So the problem is with me being honest with God. I have to chose to let God into my heart and be honest with Him in order to be intimate with God. I am getting better at it.
How about you?
God bless you.
PJ

Obey

This was good for me today! Loving in more than words... demonstration of obedience is essential. The Bible tells us that people say, Lord, Lord, but don't do what Jesus says. I am committed to showing my love and faithfulness to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit by obeying everyday in every little and big way possible.

I am choosing to move beyond desire to faithful actions of obedience to show my love to God.

I am captured by Jesus' words; "If you love me, you will obey me". John 14:15

I am choosing to show my love to God!

Go love (obey) God today!

Be blessed,
PJ

Nothing in Return

Learning about God's love is a remarkable life experience. Most of the time, we measure our love experience by how we feel about something. For me to discover that God loved me so much, even while I was a sinner, that He gave His son to take my guilt and punishment, that fact amazes me. Generally we love when someone is nice or kind or good to us... God loved us when we were terrible and wicked. That is amazing love!

Think about loving someone who is bad and doesn't deserve to be loved... that is what God has done for us! Wow! Think about loving the most evil person and realize that is what God has done for us. Wow! Amazing Love!

"Thank you God for loving "unworthy" me... even when I don't deserve it. What a great God you are!"

God bless you,
PJ

I've Been Adopted

I have some friends who were adopted. One time one of them said, "my parents chose me". "Your parents didn't have a choice."

It was a clever play on words to emphasize that he felt special and chosen by his adoptive parents.

Frankly, I feel special to know that I am an adopted son of God and a brother to Jesus Christ. I feel very special to know that God and Jesus chose to love me. I celebrate my great relationship with God. It amazes me that He loves me and give me the opportunity for such a great relationship. I am choosing to respond to His love to me and develop our relationship. This daily study helps me! My daily Proverbs chapter also helps me grow in my relationship with God.

God bless you,
PJ

Actions Speak Louder than Words

I've heard it most of my life; "Actions speak louder than words!" While I don't remember who said it first, somehow, it has stuck with me. People say "I love you" and then treat (actions) each other very unlovingly. God put action to his intentions, He gave His son Jesus to die for our sins. That is how God showed His love to us and now He draws us to Him with the Holy Spirit.

How do you show your love to God? Remember actions speak louder than words. What do you do with your time, talent and treasure? Do you say you love God or do you show Him you love Him?

What do you do to show your love to your spouse, family, friends, etc???

God showed you that He loved you... how are you showing Him that you love Him?

Have a great day!
PJ

Sounds kind of foo foo!

Very often men think of love talk as sounding kind of, "foo foo" (a term in our family for feminine kind of things.) I think it is important for us to think about and even talk about how much God loves us.

John 3:16 is a great verse that tells us how much God loves us; "For God so loved the world that He gave His son..." Who or what would you give up a child for? I probably only began to understand God's love to me when Dawn Marie and I had children. Would I give up my kids for someone? God did for me! That is amazing love!

Think about how much God loves you and then try to tell someone about it.
God bless you,
PJ

"Trust Me!" for Sunday Feb 7

Have you ever had someone say; "trust me!"? It is something we hear quite often. I don't know about you, but many of us have trouble trusting because we feel like we have had our trust broken. However, I have learned that when it relates to trusting God, the issue is not an issue of God being trust worthy, simply an issue of me understanding who God is, how He works and how I should view God.

When I know God always answers prayer, it is just that He always answers in the way that He knows is best for me. And when I know that God is trustworthy I will pray, "Thy will be done" and trust Him.

Trusting God is easier when I understand and believe that He is God and I am not.

Again, I hang onto Proverbs 3:5-6.... Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

God, I choose to trust YOU!
PJ

Guard Your Heart

Guard rails is a great illustrative idea for guarding your heart. God has given us great guidelines through the Bible. Are you aware of the guidelines? Each of us need to pay attention and guard our heart to keep us from slamming into some sin issue.

It seems like I often hear men speak about being frustrated with the idea of following Godly guidelines... like obeying the Bible. It is valuable for us to see it as the guard rails that keep us out of the sin ditch.

I guard my heart by reading God's Word, listening to God's Word and listening to Christian music. I also work to discipline my eyes regarding what I see, watch or read.

What do you do to guard your heart?
God bless you,
PJ

Tough and Tender

Somehow in our macho male world the concept of tenderness seems to be erased off our page of life. I refuse to miss the God ordained quality of tenderness and compassion. I agree that a confident, strong man can be tender. I pray that God will strengthen me to be tender and strong in a manner that will help me be a Godly husband, father, grandfather and spiritual leader.

Psalm 25:6; 40:11 and other passages inform us of God's tender mercies. If our magnificent God can be tender, I need to learn how to be tender.

God bless you,
PJ

Heart Ache

I can remember when I first met Dawn Marie (my wife) in June of 1972. We were in North Carolina and when she left to go home to South Dakota and I left to go home to Missouri, my heart ached. I felt we had a heart connection and we did. My heart longed to get to know her better.

I want my heart to long to get to know God better. I want God to know my heart and He does... even better than I do. I try to honestly talk to God about what He already knows in my heart. I ask Him to help me, because He already knows how I need help. When I am honest with God about my heart He seems to be a greater help for me. I am determined to live with integrity, to be humble and obey God. Only when I am honest with God about my heart can He really create a clean heart in me.

How's your heart connection with God?
PJ

Listen

When I desire to connect with God, I choose to get alone, push away the distractions and take time to read and be silent and listen. I tend to be a bit ADD and focusing on God, for me, requires focus.

How about you? What helps you connect to God?

Have a great day!
PJ

Trust it!

I am continuing to grow in my love and appreciation for the Bible! In part, not just because I like to read it and learn from it, but I like to read about it. The book, The New Evidence that Demands A Verdict is by Josh McDowell and it is a great book that helps me grow in defending my faith. He opens the book with several chapters about the Bible. It is powerful when we understand that the Bible passes the three fundamental tests of historical literature.

Read the Bible, it is your help, guide, encouragement and trust worthy Word from God. However, you might want to read Josh McDowell book and then you will go back to the Bible with more confidence.

God bless you,
PJ