Choices

Good devo today! I don't know how many times I have people ask me for my input regarding choices they are needing to make. I have made some selfish choices that were not for my better spiritual development. Godly choices are always for my good, they may not be easiest, but they are the best.

I like the advise that is offered through the devo..., here it is from a little different viewpoint:
1 God's voice through His Word, the Bible.
2 God's counsel through the wisdom of Godly Advisors
3 God's commandment, think of God and others first

If we can do this, we can find the right choice!

God bless you,
PJ

What next? Pray!

I believe that most of us throw up quick, "Oh God, I need your help" prayers when we don't know what to do. I want to affirm that it is right to pray in times of need. However, we need to be men who pray regularly, everyday, for God's divine direction in our life. We need to be interceeding for our own life and direction, protection and purpose. And we need to pray that same way for our wife and children. Intercession (or praying for life's needs) ought to be an everyday practice.

How about you? Have you interceeded (prayed) before God for your needs, your family, your church, your community, your nation, your national leaders, the world in which we live?

Men! Interceed! Start today... if nothing else... make a list and use your drive time to interceed (pray). God will give you direction.

God bless you,
Pastor Joe

Hang on!

I am running late today... late post for this devo.

However, great words of encouragement in the devo today! Life is difficult at best and our attitude is the most important factor in helping us through life's instability. Today the devo took us to Habakkuk 3:17-19; that is one of my favorite passages. I encourage each of you to look it up and mark it in your Bible. Even when life if tough, Praise God! We must remember, we are not really living for everything to be great here on earth, we are living for an eternity with God in heaven. Keep focused on the real, eternal goal and it will help give us stability in the difficult life today!

God bless you,
PJ

Can you see me now?

This devo is about seeing God in the circumstances of life. However, it certainly seems like there are plenty of times He is absent. Frankly, it reminds me of the times when I was a boy and I would ask my mother, "Mom, where is my _________." And she would seem to have this amazing ability to see everything and know exactly where it was. She would commonly say, "if it was a snake, it would have bit you!" As a mother of six, she had "trained eyes" for about everything you could imagine. Her trained eyes had enabled her to have a clear vision and see about everything in her domain.

We need trained eyes. The Bible informs us that God is there / here / everywhere and we need to learn to see Him and respond to Him.

God is at work, can you see Him,
PJ

Circumstances

This a great devo! It is really reflecting on Romans 8:28 as the answer to troubling circumstances. "all thing work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.". God may not be making the difficult circumstances. But He can work for the good in them.

I continually ask God; what do You want me to learn and how are You working in this? Then I choose to Praise God in every situation. Some times it is hard. But God is working and I need to praise Him.

How about you!
PJ

Change

This is an interesting topic for the devo. Some people like change and others do not. What about you? Our God, as a foundation of life is unchanging. However, we live in a world of constant change. I have found that when I am facing unwanted change, God is the rock solid place to turn. I read the Bible and pray to find strength and guidance through change.

Do you like change?
How do you respond?

God bless you!
PJ

Restlessness vs Patience

Sometimes I am restless and move on, into something or out of something, before I have a clear sense of direction from God. That comes from restlessness or impatience with God and His timing. How many times have we (you, me, anyone) become impatient with God? Acting Godly, doing the Godly thing and waiting on God is a challenge for me. I am learning to practice Godly patience and not be restless before God.

Yesterday, I mentioned the long traffic light in the middle of the night. I was restless, but it looks like God saved us from something very serious. Trusting God is the main antidote to restlessness. Trusting God leads to patience. Trusting God is essential when we can't see the end and what we do see is unpleasant right now. That is typically when I feel restless.

I like the old Christian hymn; "Trust and Obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
What makes you feel restless with God?

God bless you!
Trust Jesus!
PJ

Time

Good devo today! The last few days, time has gotten away and I have not blogged. Then on top of that my office computer went on the 8$5*&#_-!4**(##, well I think that explains part of it.

Time. God created it! We all have the same amount of it! The thing that sets us apart from one another is how we use it. I am personally captured by the reality that when I include God into my time schedule He finds a way to help me make my time more productive. I seem to be reluctantly learning that including time for God is never lost time, nor could I say that I don't have the time.

The other night I was driving home from Dallas, TX and it was around 1:00 a.m. I was in a hurry and stopped at a traffic light in Okmulgee, OK and it did not turn green. It went through two cycles before we got green. I thought that was goofy. It mildly frustrated me. Instead we thanked God and traveled on. A short time later we came upon a multi-vehicle accident that had just occured. The time of our delay may have been what kept us out of the accident. My dear wife and I praised God for His timing. God is in control.

I join the author of the devo. Thank God for your time and give Him time daily in personal worship.

So, how much time do we have for God?

God bless you,
PJ

Poverty or Scarcity!

Some people think that Godly people will always have blessings and wealth here on this earth. I do not think that is a good reading from the Bible. While blessings and wealth might happen here. I believe that we must maintain an eternal viewpoint when we read verses about God always providing good and evil not defeating us. Sometimes evil wins here on earth. Just look around! But in the eternal, heavenly perspective, we will win. Poverty, sorrow, sadness, evil, etc... are all wiped out in heaven.

We must live this life well, but this life is not our goal. Heaven is our goal. We may live with scarcity here, but I want to invest my life in the eternal treasures of heaven.

Are you beginning to get the heavenly perspective?
God bless you,
PJ

Generosity

This devo today is a direct follow-up from yesterday! Understanding God's system of generosity requires an eternal viewpoint. Seeing life with heaven and God's great blessings and abundance as our goal.... not the here and now.

Is God generous to you? We typically look at the things we have "here and now". However, we need to look at our unmerited and undeserved forgiveness and our eternal home in heaven.

My God is generous to me... way beyond what I could ever deserve.

Think about the spiritual and the eternal. Yes, God is generous!

God bless you!
PJ

Abundance?

To understand this concept we must move from earthly thinking to eternal, heavenly thinking. Frankly that is quite difficult. We seem to be captured by the "here and now". We look around and see the person with the new (whatever) or bigger, faster, nicer, (whatever). We see someone with a better paying job, etc... and we begin to think we have been cheated.

Too often we miss seeing the abundance of God's eternal value system and we think we have been cheated. I like the sentence from the devo; "Instead, we should think of abundance as God does - as the marvelous gift of salvation and eternal life; the blessings of a relationship with the creator of the universe; the treasure of God's Word; and the wonderful character traits of godliness, truthfulness, wisdom, and a good reputation.

Sometimes I can get in the "poor me" because the "earthly" retirement for most preachers (me included) is rather meager. And then I watch people retire early and live luxuriously. Then, I am reminded of my "real" and eternal retirement in heaven. Hey, that is pretty high class, luxurious and abundant living. So, I say to myself, "Joe, get perspective!"

This requires an eternal perspective not a "here and now" viewpoint! Where are you viewing your life of abundance?

God bless you,
PJ

happiness, really?

God can make us happy! That is quite a thought. I have read that Godly happiness is not dependent upon happenings, it is dependent upon obedience. The happenings can be miserable but we can be happy in spite of our happenings or circumstances. I have learned that Godly happiness is dependent upon my obedience and, for me, it is a sense of contentment. I can remember as a young boy being assigned some task to accomplish and when Dad would come home I would be happy to show him my accomplishment and it made me happy to know he approved.

How does Godly happiness develop in you? What stirs Godly happiness in you?
God bless you,
PJ

Delight the Lord

What a great thought in today's devo! One that most men don't often think about. How can I make God look at me and say; "Wow, what a great guy!" In reality we can, but it takes obedience, honesty, integrity, worship, and faithfulness.

The bible tells us that obedient people can one day hear; "well done". We need to be men that work to hear that from our God. We need to choose to delight Him so that He takes delight in us.

Being a grandparent reminds me of this; "I take great delight when I hear my local granddaughter come running up to me and say, Papa!. And then jump into my arms. I take great delight to hear one of my grandson's who live in Texas get on the phone and say, "hi grandpa, what you been doing today?" I take great delight to see my grandson play in the school band.

God takes great delight in us when we live well for His glory and not just for a day or two, but consistently.

I want God to delight in me... how about you? What do you want?

God bless you,
PJ

superstition and prayer

Today's devo evoked interested thought for me. While I completely agree with the author, I find that many people use prayer almost like a superstitious response rather than a sincere form of communication with the Almighty God of the Universe.

Yes, pray. No, don't engage in some mindless repetition that is done like some superstitious formula. Personally take time to talk to God about the things of your life, family, work, etc... He is there to listen.

How is your prayer life? Have you prayed for your life circumstances today?

God bless you,
PJ

Friends and witnessing

This devo makes me think about being a good friend and witness to those around me. I get so busy with my schedule of working with church people that I do a poor job of making friends with neighbors in order to simply be their friend and help point them to Christ. I firmly believe that God's plan is for all believers to be friendly and invite friends to Christ and His church. I am challenged to be a better Christian friend and make an eternal difference in their life

How are you doing as a "Christian" friend?

God bless you.
PJ

I Can't

When I read today's devo I was reminded of the times that I said to God, "I can't". It was an admission of my perceived weakness and inability. Today I am reminded of the reality that God is my helper and He enables me to do what I think I cannot do. He is God and He is all powerful!

There are times I feel like I can't be the faithful witness for Christ. There are times it feels like I can't stand alone for what is right when it seems like so many are doing wrong. It feels like I can't turn the cheek when people wrong me or hurt me. It feels like I can't forgive when forgiveness is the right answer. It feels like I can't love my wife so sacrificially like the Bible says I am to do. It feels like I can't give as much as the Bible and God asks me to give. It feels like I can't... what would you say?

What is God speaking to your heart about doing or obeying? Does it feel like you can't do it? Then we must remember that "I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. (Phil. 4:13)

What are you doing alone? What are you doing with God's strength? What are you saying "I can't" about?

Just do it... God will give you the strength.

God bless you,
PJ

Tired

I would guess that most of us have found ourselves weary, maybe daily. I really appreciated Psalm 84:5-7 in the devo today. It states "when" we walk through the valley of weeping, not "if". All of us will be weary, we simply need to learn the best antidote for us. Maybe it is sleep. Maybe it is some alone time in God's Word. Maybe a nice quiet date with our spouse or girl friend. Maybe it is some good exercise to burn off some stress. Maybe it is some healthy food. Whatever it is that can help in our weariness, do it.

For me, getting some sleep helps immensely. I gain a new and healthier perspective when I am well rested.

What helps you when you are weary?
What did this devo speak to your heart? What action should you take?

God bless you!
PJ

I am free at last

What a great subject around the 4th of July. Freedom! However, there is a freedom even more important than our national freedom, our spiritual freedom. When Christ sets me free from sin and death in hell, I am free... free from the consequences of my sin. But I am not free to live like hell! Since God is the eternal Judge and perfect in judgment, we must use His standard for freedom and bondage or slavery. When we sin and continue to do sin, we are slaves to sin. When we are forgiven, we are free. If we are truly forgiven, then our heart is changed and we want to live for Christ. It doesn't mean that we are not tempted by the things that can put us in bondage, but we don't have to do them and God will help us overcome our sinful temptations and bondage. For me, the closer I get to Christ, the one who set me free from my sin, the more I feel free from the temptations that can normally feel so attractive.

Draw closer to Christ everyday and use that to find more freedom from your temptations and sin.

What sinfulness seems to capture you? Take it to Christ in prayer and scripture and surrender it to Christ. Let Christ, with the Holy Spirit's help, lead you to freedom.

God bless you,
PJ

Good and Bad

This is a great follow up on yesterdays devo. For many, we have a tendency to ask for God to bless those we like and we prayerfully ignore those we think are bad leaders. We need to pray for both. Reread the verses today, they are very good.

Remember God is using both good and bad leaders to work His plan to help bring about the return of Christ. Yes, pray for the leaders even if you don't like them. Ask for God's will to be done. Remember God is in control.
Stop and pray for the leaders now!

God bless you!
PJ

Patriotic prayer

I pray for the leaders of our City, County, State and Nation... And even the world. The issue is not whether I like them, it is a matter of obeying the Word of God and praying for those in authority over me, just like the Bible says. I pray for their salvation and that God will use them to work His Divine plan. Take time to pray for our leaders and our nation. Teach your children by example.
God instructed us to do this we need to obey. In addition, it needs to be more than the fourth of July.

Pray on!
God bless you
PJ

Rest again!

I find it hard to rest, I know I am a bit of a "work-a-holic" My wife says that using the word "bit" is kind of a form of denial. I even went through the Celebrate Recover 12 Step Study and really discovered that I am a "work-a-holic". The study was great for me and I think most of us would find tremendous growth by going through the study. However, I have to work at resting... how is that for an oxymoron?
Maybe I am just a moron.

When I really intentionally rest physically, mentally, and psychologically I will grow spiritually.

I want to challenge each of you men to find a time to get alone with God and rest. Discover what works for you. When you rest, talk to God, just talk to Him about whatever you are thinking about.

Take some time to rest!

God bless you,
PJ

Rest

Have you ever felt "so tired"? How many times have you said, "I'm so tired!" I have and it seems like I say it weekly. God set up a plan to rest... that is what the Sabbath is supposed to be about... rest and worship. Frankly it seems to me that we do little of either one. We live in a "rat race" of hurry and trying to do one more thing and when the "day of rest" comes we try to throw in an hour of worship and go out to play or work. I am guilty.

For the past five years we have accepted the invitation from friends to come to Hawaii and for Dawn Marie and me, it is our Sabbath rest. We read, pray, rest, read, pray, rest, etc... and in it is a sense of renewal. As a pastor there is no Sabbath rest. It is almost impossible to rest at home because of the demands of the ministry and life. We live life "too busy".

While we are away, we really truly rest and renew spiritually. This is not a hurry around to do tourist activities, it is a wait on the Lord time. It truly renews my inner being and physical strength. I am trying to creatively discover ways to incorporate some "Sabbath Rest" into my life at home. I find it really hard, but I can see how valuable this really is. I am amazed how God speaks to my heart during this time and I need it.

How about you?
God bless you and find some "rest"!

PJ

Did you ever feel guilty?

Today we were challenged to think about our conscience. I once had a person tell me about some really bad stuff they had been involved in doing and then they said; "I feel so guilty". The reality is that it was their conscience and they felt guilty because they were guilty. Funny how that works!

God put it in us and we can try to numb or desensitize the guilty conscience, but like the devo pointed out, God is the real judge and whether we feel guilty or not, if it is wrong, God will judge it. It is not the world to which I am to compare my sense of right and wrong. It is God and His Word. I am grateful for my conscience and how the Holy Spirit works to guide me to righteous living.

Thank you God for a conscience that is sensitive to Godly Truth!

How about you?
PJ