Let it go!

Matthew 18: 21 - 22

²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

I don’t think I know of a single person, who hasn’t dealt with the spirit of unforgiveness, including me.

But forgiveness is a very beautiful part of the Gospel.

Jesus said in Matthew 6: 15… (KJV) ¹⁵ “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Our church membership covenant states: That since we all sin and make mistakes, I will strive to maintain an atmosphere of grace, forgiveness and love.

So why are we so quick to leave churches, or marriages, or relationships, if we’re called by Jesus to forgive?

I must admit, but I feel somewhat confused by people who are part of the church of Jesus Christ, that just can’t seem to forgive.

What are you hanging onto, that could be easily forgotten or forgiven?

I often hear people say… “Are you expecting me to forgive my ex-spouse for the things they did to me!!??”

Actually, I’m not expecting you to do anything, but only to consider the words of Jesus.

I believe in the light of Heaven, carrying an unforgiving spirit won’t be worth all the unnecessary energy spent.

Let’s be clear of this…God never tells us not forgive.

Actually, He says that if we don’t forgive, He won’t either.

Call me stupid, but that sounds like eternal separation from the One who can offer forgiveness, and has offered forgiveness…

White as Snow!

Isaiah 1: 18

¹⁸ “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Seriously, the older I get the more I just really hate snow.

But yesterday afternoon I walked through the drifts in the church parking lot, and I stopped to pray once I arrived.

I looked over the serene setting in the rear of the church building, and it was white everywhere.

That’s what it looks like when I come before God and humbly confess my sins.

Does snow remind you at all of God’s cleansing power?

God is so faithful to forgive me and wash me and He make me all white again.

When’s the last time you came before God, and asked Him to change the crimson stain of your sin?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive them.

I need to be purified. Do you need to be purified?

Even if God uses snow as an object lesson, I’m ok with that.

I asked God to do that at church yesterday.

When I left, I still wasn’t all the keen about the fresh snow that had fallen, but I sure felt a whole lot better inside.

I need to move through that confession exercise every day, because who in their right mind wants to be left out in the cold…

Narrow Gate!

Matthew 7: 14

¹⁴ “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

On my way home from a church meeting last night, I found out again an object lesson regarding the narrowness of the gate.

I should’ve have taken my truck to church, but I opted for the fuel economy of a Toyota Prius.

Just so you know, a Toyota Prius is not a great car in deep snow!

Traveling from Winneconne to Omro, I had to stay in the narrow path of the vehicle that went before me.

Had I diverted even slightly, I still might be in the ditch.

Then I had some jerk tailgating me all the way home.

The only thing I was left with, was staying focused on the path, and not the head lights of the truck behind me.

Only a slight deviation would’ve meant real trouble.

Isn’t that the way it is in our walk with Jesus at times?

Are you focused on the mission that He has given you?

Is there some jerk (the devil) riding your backside toward your destination?

I was deliberate in staying in the narrow path, and I’m happy to report that I made it home safely.

I’m amazed that only a few people are able to keep focused on the narrow way.

What has you distracted? How is your personal focus?

Be one of the few that takes the right way, and by the way, we can’t arrive safely unless we have SOMEONE else guiding the way… 

Are you ready?

John 8: 31 - 32

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

                                                                         

The great British evangelist, Leonard Ravenhill was quoted as saying… “Someone once asked me… “Do you pray for the dead?” I said, “No, I preach to them!”

He goes on to say… “I think every pew in the church is death row. Think about that! They sing about God and they talk about God, but they're dead!”

“They have no living proof of a real relationship with the living God…”

If these words were preached from today’s pulpit, this person would be tossed out of the church.

Will the truth, actually set a person free?

I have to wonder these days.

Are people ready to hear the truth? I have to wonder if I am?

Our country is over $18 trillion dollars in debt, and if we don’t figure out something soon, the truth is, our freedom is in real peril.

Don’t take my word for it, but check out the link to this web site… http://www.usdebtclock.org/

But this devotional is a spiritual driven reminder.

They say the next hot topic in the Presidential debate, will be abortion.

Like we’re willing to deal with that venue truthfully.

My Mom always told my brothers and me, that telling truth always paid off in the long run.

I wonder if we really feel that way in the church anymore?

Blessed!

^{Luke 1:45} “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

I think every believer in Christ that I know, believes that God will do what He said He would do.

His Word proves to be pretty faithful, and Mary was faithful to believe what Elizabeth told her.

But I think if we’re all honest with one another, in the back of our minds reins some doubt.

I’ve heard people say… “Well, we’ll just see what God does.” or… “I sure hope God comes through on this one.” or one more… “Well, the least we can do is pray!”

Blessings from God are often reserved for folks who truly believe.

That’s sometimes a hard pill for people to swallow.

I think there are moments when we forget that, “without faith, it’s impossible to please God.”

We don’t often like the fact that sometimes God’s blessings, are dependent on the purity of heart.

Actually, some of them are though.

The size of our faith I must confess, doesn’t seem to be the real issue here.

(See Matthew 17: 20)

Let’s face it, our faith should in no way be mixed with doubt, at least that’s what my Bible says.

Those who trust God in a big way, will generally find Him to be faithful in a very big way too.

Christmas is about faith and belief all rolled up in one. May your faith grow in a deep way this Christmas…

Make room!

Luke 2: 7

⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

 

The world that does not naturally accept Jesus, or make room for Him.

Only by God’s Spirit can Jesus be welcomed.

 

Have you found a place for Jesus this Christmas?

Is there room enough for both of you?

 

The Kingdom that is counterfeit, always seems to wage war against the Kingdom of Christ.

Our corrupt system is based in independence and pride, not on dependence and worship.

 

I’ve found that people living everyday lives, generally don’t have very much room for the Savior of the world.

Then something tragic happens, or someone dies, and then there’s ample room for the Redeemer.

 

Don’t wait until something tragic happens.

Welcome Him today, in the midst of your hectic, fast paced world.

 

Let our faith be stirred this morning, by the sound of that still small voice.

Stand firm against any worldly thought, and make room for the peace of Christ.

 

“O come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee”…

Respond!

Philippians 2: 9 - 11

⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Last night I had the chance to officiate a funeral for two souls who died last Wednesday in a tragic fire.

You’re going to think this comment is just nuts, but I had the time of my life…yes, at a funeral.

I in no way spared the loving details of the Gospel. I was clear and concise, and there’s such freedom in telling the truth.

Actually, two local Democrat dignitaries were in attendance. Mark Harris, Winnebago Cty. Executive, and Gordon Hintz, 54^th District State Representative.

Both Albert and Colleen were staunch Democrats, but I think they still liked me. Actually, I know I liked them.

I spoke of the love of the Master, and the need to be saved in a good sort of way.

What struck me though, was that our church was packed last night with people who will one day bow and confess.

I watched the faithful ladies serve in the kitchen, and in their own loving way, they too, presented the sweet Gospel, to those who will bow and confess.

The young man who worked in our sound area, came all the way from Green Bay to serve this family…people who will bow and confess.

The lady who has played the piano/organ in our church for almost 50 years, was serving the greater good of the Gospel, to those who will one day bow and confess.

There was so much food, if you went hungry at that funeral luncheon, it would’ve been your own darn fault.

If you haven’t yet responded to the Gospel, maybe you should get that done soon?

Sinner and saved…Democrat or Republican…everyone one is going to bow and confess.

As my dear friend Dave Wager always says… “choose wisely”…

Receive!

Psalm 73: 25

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

I spoke to someone at church yesterday, and they didn’t think Christmas would be Christmas, without a little snow.

I did not want to hurt their feelings, but I could care less about snow for Christmas, or at any other time of the year for that matter.

I’m not trying on purpose to the dampen the spirits of ice fisherman,snowmobilers and skiers, but the older I get, the more I know I can do without snow.

Do you know what would really make my Christmas crummy? If we didn’t have any Jesus.

People all around the world will celebrate Christmas, without Jesus.

I see it in the Christmas cards I get. I’m all for the fat guy in red, or snow men or scenic winter scenes, but very few Christmas cards come with the manger scene anymore.

I hope each person receiving this text, has the merriest of Christmas’s.

I hope each of you receive all that you have coming and then some, that is if that’s what will make you happy.

If I never receive another thing at Christmas, I’ve already received all that I ever need to receive.

How about you?

What will make your Christmas bright? What will make your Christmas right?

Actually, there’s nothing I desire that can satisfy me, like that little babe born in  manger, for you and for me.

Don’t ever forget the real reason behind the season.

And here’s another really good hint…you’ll never be able to find it at your local Polaris store…

Bear!

Colossians 3: 13

¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Late yesterday afternoon, I received a phone call from a distraught lady.

Her Dad and Step Mom both perished in an early morning house fire just that day.

The most painful part of the experience, was that there were unresolved issues between her, and her Dad.

Now those issues can never be resolved.

Do you have a grievance against someone your holding onto this morning?

Are you too prideful to make the first move?

Are you willing to step into eternity, without getting things right?

That may say more about you, than it says about the other person.

So if God gives Grace to the humble, how much Grace are you receiving from God today?

Pride actually goes before destruction. (Proverbs 16: 18)

There’s an old hymn of the faith, and the words of one stanza go…”oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bare…”

Are you carrying any needless pain this morning?

Be the better person, and get it right today.

Honor God today, by letting go of those things that hinder you…and the other person…

Fear not!

Luke 2: 10            KJV

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Have you ever taken an inventory of what you’re afraid of?

Are there any areas of your life where fear completely cripples you?

All throughout the Bible, we read the words… “Fear NOT!”

So then if God tells us not to, why do we?

Satan does a pretty good job all by himself to bring about fear.

At church, I often wonder when the next shoe is going to drop, and all that is, is fear.

How much time do you operate in fear over the course of the day?

How much time do you waste, fretting over things beyond your control?

I found this the other day, and it seemed to make sense to me.

I sure hope it makes sense to you…

FEAR:    FORGET…EVERYTHING…AND…RUN…

Or…

FEAR:    FACE…EVERYTHING…AND…RISE…

God has given us the spirit of power, not fear…so… “what have I to dread, what have I fear…”

RISE & Shine & give God the Glory!!

How are your Sharpening skills?

Proverbs 27: 17

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Early this morning I will head to church to be with some guys that I love very much.

We will pray together, and the reason I love them the most, is because I know they’ll be honest with me, about me.

I had pizza last night in my home with three of the coolest spiritual men I know.

We talked sort of silly, but I know we can all be vulnerable with one another, without being judged or looked down upon.

We have no problem stepping into some somewhat tense situations.

Tense moments are generally the most valuable moments…at least they are for me.

An iron object, rubbed against another iron object, makes one or both more affective.

Without friction, each will become more dull and ineffective.

Do you have people in your life that can sharpen you? Do you have people in your life who will be honest with you?

Do you allow those people to get that close, who wish to love you honestly?

Feeling pretty dull these days? Then maybe you need some men or women of iron in your life?

People will usually like to take the path less traveled, because they don’t have what it takes, to take it.

How are you going to become more sharper this week? (sorry for my misuse of the English grammar)

Maybe the reason you’re kind of dull, is because you’re trying to become sharp all by yourself?

Good luck with that!

Thirst!

John 7: 37

³⁷  Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

Thirst, drives people to do some pretty crazy things.

Thirsty people are those who are qualified to come to Jesus.

One of our men at church yesterday, gave his testimony about how he found the river of life.

Actually, his wife led him to the water, and a 4 year old child introduced his wife to the well.

Our thirst can drive us to a lot of things… Salvation…deliverance…provision…fulfillment.

Actually, anything we need. Jesus represents the spiritual, “BIG GULP”.

One day Jesus shouted these words to a crowd that gathered at Jerusalem.

He said that our thirst, coupled with our faith, would give us all access to an ever gushing river of water.

Jesus said, that those who would drink would be forever satisfied.

Are you thirsty today? Are you satisfied?

How relentlessly would you pursue Jesus, if He said that our relationship with Him hinges on our thirst?

It all begins with thirst.

In Matthew 5: 6, Jesus said… “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

God is very much interested in our desire, and uses it to draw us to Him…

Rejoice!

Romans 12: 12

¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

I’ve had people over the years ask me how much time each day they should pray.

Let’s be sure we understand one another, I think the answer to that question lies within.

Rightly so, I have said from the pulpit… “little prayer…little power…much prayer…much power.”

Actually, the man who preached from our church pulpit last Sunday, said the very same thing.

I have said though, and I will never apologize for the remark, when I said… “Can you imagine what might happen to our lives, if we prayed as much as we use our cell phones?”

I realize that for some, those comments aren’t easily tolerated.

Paul seems to suggest that we should be “constant” in prayer.

I like what the great teacher/preacher, Oswald Chambers once said about prayer…

“A great many people do not pray because they do not feel any sense of need. The sign that the Holy Spirit is in a person, is that we realize, not that we are full, but that we are empty.

There should be a sense of absolute need! We come across daily, people who try us, difficult circumstances, and conditions that are perplexing, and all these awaken a dumb sense of need.

This is a sign that the Holy Spirit is speaking…”

I have to go to the dentist today. I had to make an appointment almost a year in advance.

I don’t have to do that with God. I can have communion with God any time I desire to, and I don’t have to make an appointment.

And the best thing of all, is that I probably won’t hear Him remind me that I need to floss every day…

Fear Not!

Isaiah 43: 1 - 3    ESV

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. ² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. ³ For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

There was a young woman who had her entire life ahead of her, that is until the morning of December 7^th, 2006, when everything changed.

She was a Junior in High School…full of life and promise, until a tragic automobile accident claimed her life, and the life of her classmate.

I’m certain her parents have felt overwhelming grief. I’m sure they have felt the fire of oppression, but they have not been consumed.

Their God has been with them every step of the way.

St. Francis of Assisi once said… “Preach the Gospel…and if necessary, use words”.

I know the parents of this young lady, and their faith in the midst of heart ache, has been incredible without uttering a single word.

If today you’re going through something heavy, just remember this…the flames will not consume you…that is, unless you allow them to do so…

Divorce!

Isaiah 3: 8            KJV

And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce…

I guess I should have seen this verse by now, or at the very least remember reading it.

I read it again last night, and I couldn’t believe that God had at a time, divorced His own people.

What these people did must have been pretty serious for God to take such drastic action.

In their backslidden and adulterous condition, God put His own people away.

If God would divorce His people that He loves so much, what is He willing to do with a country that seemingly has turned their back on Him?

In the last 100 years, the U.S. has considered and moved toward the following:

We removed prayer & the Bible from all Public schools…

We put to death over 50 million babies…

We’ve removed the Ten Commandments from all Public buildings…

We’ve sanctified same sex marriage and unions…

I wonder if God was so willing to enter into divorce, would this disqualify Him from being a Pastor in the Southern Baptist Conference?

Divorce isn’t the issue here, but holiness is.

We all know that God hates divorce, but what He hates more is our sinful condition.

Every day I have to go before my God, and get my blemishes cleansed.

I also understand that I most likely have more of an issue with sin, than most people have.

If I ever plan to be the Bride of Christ, then I need to get some things right, in advance of the wedding ceremony…

Yes or No!

Matthew 5: 37

³⁷ “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

My Father was good friends of a successful trial attorney.

He always told my Dad, that the best witness on the witness stand was a farmer.

In usual fashion, a farmer would only answer questions asked, with one of two simple words… “Yup”…  or “Nope”.

He also told my Dad that the worse witness on the witness stand was a Preacher or a Teacher, because they love to hear themselves talk.

Sometimes, the less said, the better…Amen?

This verse calls us to live our life with character.

We should all live and practice the truth, that just by saying, “yes”, or “no”, we would all be taken at our word.

Is that the way you live?

If our reason for a situation is, “yes”, we would give people no reason to believe that we would ever lie to them.

Is your word enough for people to bank on? How about your handshake, does that mean anything, anymore?

Believe it or not, some of the biggest deals ever made in this country, were made in honest ways, and without contracts.

If we have character that’s above reproach, there would be no reason for anyone to question our honesty.

Do people think your honest? Does anyone have any reason to doubt your word?

By being “yes”, or “no” men and women, we actually bring honor to God…

Appointed!

Hebrews 9: 27 - 28           ESV

²⁷ And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many…

The news out of San Bernardino, CA. isn’t any way out of the unusual these days.

The media agencies are striving to report as much information to the public as possible.

It’s certainly not new news, or good news.

I wonder how many people will have forgotten all about these events one month from right now?

The answer is most people will, I’m afraid, and so will I, most likely.

Not to be redundant, but how many of those 14 people planned to be in the morgue at the end of the day yesterday when they got up in the morning?

If the Bible is clear, and I believe it is, those 14 people have way more information today, than they had yesterday.

But those of us who survive these sorts of events, aren’t remotely phased anymore by such catastrophe.

Following death and facing every single person, is the most fair judge this world has ever known.

I wonder how much of that information affects people these days? How often have you thought, that everyone of us will stand and look straight into the eyes of Jesus?

I know, I’m asking a lot of questions, some of which I have no answers for.

This much I do know. When it’s appointed for me to die, I know which arms I’m going to fall into.

It’s amazing though how many people today, who still can’t answer that question with the fullness of assurance.

Jesus bore the sins of many and all, and that’s still the greatest news the world has ever known.

But you won’t hear that on ABC, NBC, or CBS… 

False!

Matthew 7: 15

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

                              

I don’t think it’s very hard to see that we live in a world that’s filled with the spirit of evil.

Those who follow Jesus these days are met pretty usually with pure hatred.

If a wolf came into your life, dressed as a sheep, would you even know it?

What would you look for? How would you know for sure it was a wolf?

Jesus said that we should be on the lookout for people who speak falsely.

The problem is, that most people don’t know the Word of God enough to point out a false speaking person, let alone someone who really knows Biblical truth.

In these last days and moments, we need a strong foundation of the Word of God.

How secure and sound is your foundation?

In northern Wisconsin, wolves were introduced in nature, and in some areas they have almost completely decimated the deer herd.

No one ever thought they would create that kind of carnage.

I think we sometimes underestimate wolves. That would be fool hearty on our part.

Maybe we need a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit than we do?

False prophets look to draw us away from the faith, and if we’re in sync with the Holy Spirit, we’ll be able to adhere to His warning when a big, bad, wolf steps into the picture.

Look for the fruit these shady people produce, and you’ll be able to detect any wilily wolf from a mile away… 

Put and Take!

2 Corinthians 9: 7

⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

In 13 years of ministry, I’ve met a lot of gracious givers, and also some extravagant takers.

Please note…givers can often be taken. Trust me on this one…I’ve been taken by the best of them.

A giver may in fact see the takers need, and give to it cheerfully.

That might not be the best thing you can do for a taker.

Takers are generally people who do not like to reconcile.

If they were willing to reconcile, that would make them a giver, but most takers don’t like giving.

What can transform a taker into a giver?

Only the Gospel can.

In your home church, would you say you do more taking or giving?

Givers who truly give have an inclination to give freely, frequently and sacrificially.

Takers… are people who are generally out for number one.

They care little if at all about anyone else’s well being.

True Gospel giving takes a special kind of person.

Maybe that’s why Jesus said… “give, and it will given unto you.”

Givers get joy by giving, whereas takers only get happiness by getting