Dat's Scawy!

I once saw a little boy get frightened and he turned to his dad and said; "Dat's scawy!" That kind of fear is not the same as the fear of God. The fear of God is a sense of reverent awe of God in His majesty, power, wonder, creative ability, justice, mercy, and grace.

This kind of "fear of God" is what makes us say; Wow, God you are awesome!" We love Him and obey Him because we have a reverent fear of Him.

Frankly, I am as much in awe and fear of God for His mercy and grace as I am His power and justice. When I see the creative power of God, I am in fear of Him. When I see the natural power of God in the rush of the ocean, the movement of the earth in an earthquake, the explosion of a mountain in a volcano, the flash of a star on a dark night, the birth of a baby, the healing of a sick person and the miracle of a changed life and forgiveness of sins.... all of that makes me have the "fear of God".

When do you sense the "fear of God?"

God bless you,
PJ

consequences can cause distress

What an interesting devo today! How many times have I felt really bad about something that was totally my own fault. I complain that I have to suffer the consequences of my foolish or sinful action. I even get stressed about it. So, how can I stop feelings stressed or distressed over these situations? Stop doing the foolish or sinful thing.

I once heard a man say, "I went to the Doctor and said to the Doctor; "It hurts when I put my hand up over my head." The Doctor simply said, "Stop putting your hand over your head!"

Sometimes we face distress for our own foolishness and the best way out is to stop doing the foolish things.

What foolish or sinful thing are you doing that leads to distress in your life?
Stop doing it!

God bless you,
PJ

Power Hungry?

Missed a couple of days and now we jump into a manly subject. Men love power. Whether it is more power for the car, lawnmower, computer, or power of influence on the job or the power of money. It seems to have started by being captured with the super power of the super heroes. This has not changed over the years; from the mythological Greek characters with superpower to our current world of fictional super heroes. We long to be associated with someone of power.

God is the answer. It is not mythology, it is Biblical history and truth. Our access to the God of the universe is through Jesus Christ, His son.

When we recieve Jesus Christ into our life, we recieve the one who said, "all power and athority has been given to me" (Matt 28). We need to seek Jesus and God and find the power we need in them and through them.

I find it in the Truth of the Bible and the ever present help of the Holy Spirit and my trust in His Divine help and guidance.

The devo helps us remember that we are weak and He is strong. God desires to work in us and give us the power we need to be what we should be. Ask for God's power to help you today and everyday!

Live in His power!
PJ

You can count on me!

Have you ever said or had it said to you, "you can count on me"? Frankly many of us have faced that opportunity. Someone has said, "you can count on me". And we believe them because we know them and have a relationship with them. If we don't know them, we have a difficult time believing them. So it is with God. God says, "you can count on me!" We believe Him if we really know Him. We doubt Him when we don't know Him. I have found that the closer I get to God, through His Word and prayer, I find Him more trustworthy and reliable.

I find Him fully reliable to His character and Word. However, He doesn't always do what Joe wants. He does what God knows is right in light of eternity.

I am challenged to grow in my faith and trust in God's reliability.

God bless you,
PJ

extraordinary needs

God is my provider! He provides my needs. I seem to get troubled about my wants that go beyond my needs. I am eternally grateful that God provides me a way of salvation, acceptance, love, mercy, wisdom, daily assistance, a way of escape when I am tempted and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Wow! the problem is that I don't often ask for those things. I generally ask for more tangible, physical type of things, things that will not make it to eternity. When I step back and take an eternal view of God's provision for the eternal "real" and "lasting" things, then I can see that God really is my great provider.

I have to remind my self... "get your eyes on the right things!"

Thank you God for your provision!

God bless you,
PJ

Success!

Success is so elusive when our definition is worldy instead of Godly! I am trying very hard to make the Bible and Godly values be my standard of success. In fact, Biblical obedience is the foundation for success. I must know what the Bible declares as successful and ignore what the world calls success.

It is my goal to become successful from a Biblical, eternal value system. I am trying hard to not be caught up in the worldly standard.

What is your standard of success?

God bless you,
PJ

Give

It seems to me like most of us think we need to have God give to us so that we can have something for ourselves. However, God's real plan to give to us is so that we can be a channel of His blessing to someone else. Many times I meet people who say; "If I had more I would give". However, history has proven that generous people give from very little or very much. And greedy people are greedy with little or a lot.

It is always important for me to remember to "give and it will be given" to me... but it starts with me giving first.

What have you given lately?

God bless you,
PJ

Is There Ever Enough?

I am grateful for Gods provision of all my needs. (Phil 4:19) It is important that I maintain an eternal perspective. From a human perspective there are many things I want and I must distinguish between my wants and my needs. God will truly provide my needs. Frankly, I don't NEED very much. I just visited with a man, my age, who doesn't have a home, doesn't have a permanent job, doesn't have much of anything and he talked about having everything he really needed! He carried his Bible, believed in eternal life through Jesus Christ and was living satisfied with the little that he had.

I must remember that I am not living to accumulate more things for tomorrow or the next day... but simply to give God glory in who I am and how I live today, with much or very little.

My greatest need is eternal life in heaven. God has provided that through Jesus Christ, His Son! I have found that the eternal perspective helps me a great deal with being satisfied. Yes, God does care about my daily needs... through the light of eternity.

God bless you,
PJ

Stress and Trouble

I don't want to overreact, but, I feel like saying; "I hate stress!" Now, my Mom told me not to use the word "hate". But I really don't like stress! However, I can't seem to escape it. So, I am learning to become stronger and better because of it.

How do you handle stress? What do you do?

For me, I go to God, worship, listen to worship music, pray and read the Bible. That helps me! I also try to rest and seek counsel where it may be helpful. I really do like one of the phrases of the devo for today; "As you look for what God is teaching you in your stressful times, you will become better equipped to deal with other stressful situations."

I still turn to Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:4-8, both passages help me hold strong in the big stress times of life.

God bless you,
PJ

Trust and Obey

I grew up singing a church song called "Trust and Obey". Frankly the words of the song are great. However, the practice is harder. When we begin to worry about the problems of life, we panic. Trusting God empowers us to conquer panic.

I don't know about you, but, I have had some feelings of panic when life goes sour. I continue to apply the song: Trust and Obey! Trust God and obey the principles of God's word for how to live and what to do.

I challenge you to read God's Word, Pray, Praise God in songs and trust God to guide you. You will overcome or prevent panic!

What makes you panic? What do you do to overcome panic?

God bless you,
PJ

Advertisements!

Advertisements are the most productive way of advancing materialism. It seems to me that I want way too much and advertisements keep the ideas right in front of me. I grow weary of all the advertising! However, that isn't the real problem, the problem is me. I must daily die to my selfish desires to obtain and have more. All of this "stuff" here on earth is earthly and the eternal things are most important.

God once taught me a lesson about materialism... many years ago when our boys were small, I bought a "new to me" car. I was very pleased with it and I try to keep my cars nice and clean. The boys were eating in the car and dropped some food in the seats. I proceeded to be very harsh on them. God spoke to my heart and said that "the car would be in a junk yard in a few years and those boys are eternal. Be careful where you place your value!"

I am trying hard to make my focus on eternal values! Don't get caught up in materialism!

God bless you,
PJ

The elephant in the room!

Well, what do you expect from the Pastor. I support the Biblical ideas of tithing and generous giving. Why? Because it is a Biblical concept. This is like the elephant in the room. Nobody wants to talk about it, but everybody knows it is there. I struggle with wanting to be a "people pleaser". I want to be so careful that I don't say anything that will offend anyone. However, I have come to the point of saying. Read God's Word, the Bible and simply do what it says as it relates to your giving of money to God. I grow weary of men and women looking for exceptions, it is time we step up and demonstrate our love and obedience. We give to God because we love Him and we give to God because it is obedience to Him. How about you? Are you robbing God or faithfully giving to God?

I do know that when I pray and ask God to meet my needs, I want to be confident I have not robbed God and then asked for Him to bless me. The verses in the devo are great! Men, step up and obey, this is one of the most important and significant ways for you to show your love to God.

God bless you!
PJ

Give me the money and nobody gets hurt

The title line suggest some idea of a bank robbery. Actually many people feel that way. They are so compelled to have money and more money that the idea of money consumes them and drives them. In fact, with some, money owns them!

The issue of "money" is one of our most challenging spiritual points of growth and maturity. If we are not giving God His tithe and managing His money properly, we are not obeying God and being mature Christian believers. We need money to function in this world, but we don't want to be owned by our money. It is vital for me to simply imagine that I am taking care of God's money. The money is not mine to spend, but Gods money to manage.

Sometimes when I reflect, I don't think I managed God's money as well as I should have. I am committed to better management! What are you doing with God's money!

God bless you,
PJ

How much does it take?

Today's devo focuses us on wealth and contentment. I will never forget a time over 25 years ago when I was visiting with a man who made more than ten times what I made in annual salary and He simply could NOT find any contentment. He mistakenly thought that if he could purchase all those "things" he would be happy. He purchased them and he was not happy. It was a heart issue.

Several years ago Dawn Marie and I, with several friends, visited Mozambique Africa. We visited villages where families lived in huts smaller than our home bedroom. We also visited people in Croatia who lived in the bullet riddled remains of a home. In both cases we observed people learning to have contentment in spite of wealth.

In my pastoral responsibilities I have done a wedding that cost the father about $75,000 and the couple simply couldn't get enough. No contentment in possessions or life relationships. It was a heart issue.

Wealth doesn't make us happy or content. I have seen a content and happy heart in simple lifestyle and opulent lifestyle, because the happiness or contentment is in the heart.

It is vitally important for us to see our wealth as a tool to use for the Kingdom of God and not a prize for us to obtain and show off like a trophy.

Is your wealth a tool to use for God or do you see it as a possession to hold for yourself?

God bless you,
PJ

Advertising and Children

Contentment is difficult! Advertising is focused on making us feel like we need to have something new, different, nicer, bigger, smaller, faster, more eco-friendly, etc... and it is difficult to be content in our visual, media driven world. However, I think we see it in our children even before they are old enough to notice much advertising. Our discontent comes from within, my sinful nature. I really appreciate the two passages from the devo... I want to be appropriately content as I live among the things of this world.

I am trying to ask myself; "Do I NEED that?" Emphasis on need!

I just recently heard a story of a man who inherited his parent's estate. He invited all his children and family to come and choose whatever they wanted. One of the children noticed the Dad wasn't choosing anything and asked, "Dad, what do you want." The Dad responded something like this, "None of it will fit in my casket."

I want to be content with my needs being met as far as the earthly things are concerned. I want to have a holy discontent about doing eternal things.

God bless you,
PJ

I need courage!

The devo indicates that reading and studying the Word of God will help give us courage. I know that God speaks through the Bible and while reading the Bible. I know that many times, while reading the Bible, I have found the courage to do something that I struggled with or doubted.

I am grateful for God's Word, the Bible, and the hope and encouragement I gain that helps me be courageous. Bible stories of the courage of God's people inspire me. Sometimes it is like the Holy Spirit speaks to me and guides me, providing the courage I need to do the right, difficult, challenging thing.

How does the Bible help you gain courage?

God bless you,
PJ

Have you been scared to death?

I have heard people say, "I would die for my faith!" Some people have had to face some pretty scary things and die for their faith. That takes real courage. However, I believe it takes even more courage to live boldly for your faith. Frankly death has an end. When we have to live boldly for God, even in the face of persecution, it takes great courage.

Will you live courageously for Christ when people make fun of your faith or how you live out your faith? Will you live courageously when you stand up for Biblical Truth and people mock you? Will you live courageously when temptations come with friends and you need to turn them away?

God is looking for men who will live courageously for Him. I want to have that kind of courage. Remember... "be the one to take a stand so that othes will be inspired to follow."

Where have you had your courage challenged... how did you respond?

God bless you,
PJ

Respond Sensibly

When I read and think about the word, RESPONSIBILIITY,I think about "respond sensibly". That really makes sense! That is exactly what responsibility is about. However, there is an element that influences our idea of what is sensibility? What gives us our standard of sensibility? For me it is the Bible. I need to act and respond sensibly based upon Biblical Truth. For example; the Bible says that we are not to engage in sexual relations before we are married... that is Biblical responsibility. Yet, the world would likely say, "just be careful and protected". That is worldly sensibility.

I choose to act, live, and think Biblically responsible. Respondsensibly!

Remember, we are responsible for our actions and Jesus Christ is the judge... not the secular world or any other opinion.

God bless you,
PJ

Happy Easter

Today is Easter! The reason this day is so important is because Jesus Christ died and rose from the grave. The only religious leader who can make that claim. The historical evidence is overwhelmingly supportive. Praise God for Easter!

If you are helping hold someone accountable, then be faithful, loving, caring and firm. The goal is not to bring someone down but to lift them up.

Go to Galatians 6:1. If we are holding a person to be accountable, we need to be very careful that we do not fall into sin.

God bless you,
PJ

Accountability

Do you have accountability? Fools refuse to be accountable.
Are you accountable for your time at work?
Are you accountable for the web sites you visit on the computer?
Are you accountable for the TV shows you watch?
Are you accountable for the places you go when you travel?
Are you accountable for....

The list can go on and on. Accountability can keep us from foolishness! One of the sentences from our devo today is... "Accountability can be painful in the short run, but the lack of it will destroy you in the long run."

Find a wise, good friend who will help you be accountable. Don't be a fool!
God bless you,
PJ

You Ole Fool!

I have heard people say: "You ole fool!" My birthday is on April Fools day, some people say that is the national holiday for Athiest. "Only fools say in their hearts. "There is no God." Psalm 14:1

I am probably more concerned about many of us who act like fools by the way we conduct our life. Today, April 02 devo is great for helping us focus on not being a fool. Frankly, our life style, attitude and actions are the best indicator to reveal if we are "fools". The book of Proverbs is a great read to help us identify those characteristics and actions.

I challenge you to faithfully read from Proverbs daily... on the first day of the month, read Proverbs 1, etc...

Remember, being wise by the world's standards is foolishness. True wisdom is found in God and God's Word. However, don't just read it, read it and use it to examine your own life.

God bless you,
PJ