What time is it?

What time is it?
Just woke up, fumbling for the phone.(phone? whatever happened to clocks...)

What time is it?
Oh, man, I'm late. 
I was so caught up in this (insert your distraction here), I lost track of time.

What time is it?
I'm supposed to meet someone.
What time did Jesus say he was stopping back?

2 Peter 3:8-18

8-9 Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

10 But when the Day of God’s Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.

11-13 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

=====================

Lord,
Guide me to live on Your time, not mine.
And guide and keep me from being late.
For heaven, that is.
Glory to the Master, now and forever!  Yes!
Amen.
=====================

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

My fellow (Christian) citizen...

Paul had some choice words for the Christians living (and being actively persecuted) under Roman rule.  And they're not the words you'd expect to hear.

They're also not the words you'll hear on talk radio, news programs or even from some churches...

Romans 13:1-7

To Be a Responsible Citizen

13 1-3 Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.

3-5 Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.

6-7 That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.

=====================

Lord,
All things are under your authority.
ALL things.
Next time I start complaining about my taxes, government, community, police, etc...remind me.
All things are under your authority.
ALL things.
And to be thankful that it is so.
Amen.
=====================

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Change, change, change

Are you trying to change something about yourself or your life?

It's not easy.
But it can be made easier in one way.
Start where you are.

The most successful "change programs" start where you are.
What you spend.  What you eat.  What you do for exercise.
And then gradually help you develop better habits.

After a few days/weeks/months - you look back and see that you've changed.

As a Christian - we are called to be different, changed.
To change our ways.
Ways that we (if we're honest) are really fond of.
And not so eager to change.

It's not easy.
But it can be made easier in one way.
Start where you are.

Paul shares this advice with us in Romans 12:1-2.

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

BONUS: If you want some quotable "words to live by" as a Christian - check out verses 9 through 21 in Romans 12.

=====================

Lord,
Help me take my everyday life - my sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking-around life - and live it for You.
Change me visibly and permanently.
Outwardly - just as you've already done for me inwardly with your saving grace.
Amen.
=====================

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Sloppy Living

(Guest devotion from my brother Chris)

Sloppy Living 

It won't come as a shocking revelation when I tell you that sloppy living has become the norm in our society and our world.  Traditional ideals and belief systems are seen as old fashioned, closed minded and judgmental.  Belief in moral absolutes is considered intolerant.  Live it up, enjoy the moment, do what feels good.  These are the modern day mantras.  Tales of Sodom and Gomorrah and the sin that ran rampant there used to turn my stomach; now this level of depravity is on parade everywhere, 24/7.  It's on TV and radio, in print, on the internet and in the words and actions of the world around us.  Has the world gotten worse?  Are we just hearing/seeing it more readily than before?  This is open to debate, but one thing is clear.  Sloppy living has plunked itself down front and center and doesn't appear to be going anywhere.  

God addresses sloppy living through Peter in 1 Peter 1:17. "You call out to God for help and He helps - He's a good Father that way.  But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living."

The world WILL continue to get worse, to embrace the darkness and sin and the devil, but this is NOT an excuse to lower our guard and loosen our standards.  This is a challenge that we must be up to.  Just as our parents would reward us when we made wise choices and hold us accountable when we did not, our Father in Heaven has also set clear expectations for us.  Sloppy living will not be tolerated.  We are called to serve.  We are called to live lives that set an example and lead others to the ONLY path to salvation from eternal torment.   Our words matter.  Our choices matter.  Our actions matter.  The world is watching and we need to show them the OPPOSITE of sloppy living.  We need to show them an alternative that leads them to ask "How can I have that?"

Dear Father, I know what is right, but choose what is wrong.  I know the power that my actions and words carry but so often say and do the things that I know are wrong.  Come to me now and in my moments of weakness every day between now and my last breath on this earth to help strengthen me, bolster me and make me fit for the battle ahead.  Precious Lord, I am nothing without you.  

Amen.

Adrift @ Sea

(Guest devotion from my brother Chris)

Adrift @ Sea

A lifelong boat and ocean enthusiast and a Naval Architect by training, Stephen Callahan had designed and built his boat, the Napoleon Solo, by hand.  He had sailed countless hours in races and competitions around the globe.  He designed and built boats for others, taught boat design and lived aboard boats of all kinds.  By nearly anyone’s measure, Mr. Callahan was an expert who had earned the right to be considered a competent and gifted pilot of the small/single passenger sea vehicles he loved so deeply. 

Yet all of these things aren’t what make Mr. Callahan famous.  His fame comes from a turn of events that caused him to be alone, adrift @ sea, for 76 days in the spring of 1982.  Following the sinking of his ship and armed with only a handful of items he’d rescued from his vessel, the Napoleon Solo, he floated alone on a life raft, using his extensive knowledge and experience to survive against all odds.   I do not know if Mr. Callahan is a man of faith, but can speculate based on a quote of his, describing the star filled night sky as “A view of Heaven from a seat in hell”.  What I do know is that our God works miracles, and in my opinion, Mr. Callahan’s survival story is one of them.

Our scriptural reference today is from James 1:5-8 which reads “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father.  He loves to help.  You’ll get His help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.  Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.  People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves.  Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.”

 Mr. Callahan survived because he relied fully on the things he knew to be true.  Chaos, panic and absent minded worry were going to get him nowhere.  Instead, he developed a routine that he followed daily; exercise, navigation, prioritizing problems, making repairs, fishing for sustenance, improving systems and building up food and water stocks to weather any unforeseen emergencies that might arise. 

What God is telling us in the section of James that we read today is that we too must rely fully on what we know to be true, but not our earthly knowledge; the truth of Jesus and his complete and full forgiveness of our sins which purchased our salvation.  But it’s not as easy as just believing.  We need to build a daily habit of exercising our faith, navigating the challenges of life, prioritizing our problems, repairing the holes in our life as we identify them, taking care of our earthly and spiritual needs, improving what we can and planning for a future with Christ in Heaven.  This foundation will serve to support us when tough times come.  This specifically is what James speaks to today.  When troubles come, pray!  When you’re lost, pray!   When you’re sad, angry, confused, lonely etc… pray!  

But don’t JUST pray; Pray without worry.  Pray with diligent focus and confidence.  Don’t worry about your God’s ability to fulfill the prayer. 

In life, we will spend time adrift @ sea.  The wind whipped seas will toss us about.  We will feel as though our circumstances are out of control, and we hope this time is figurative and not literal, but the words of James, and the example of Mr. Callahan, serve to remind us that our God will never fail us.  Our anchor is the unshakable God.   In this we confidently pray.

=====================
God,
I'll drift away from You and your Word.
It's not a maybe - it's a for sure thing. 
I do it all the time.
But blow your foghorn and bring my compass back onto the true course.
Your ways, Your Way.
Amen.
=====================

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Yes! YES! YESSSS!

Yes!
Not a non-commital, half-hearted, yes.

But a fist-pumping, bicep-flexing YES!
YESSS!

You know the feeling.
When it all comes together.
Everything works out right.

It's an instant day-brightener, an attitude-adjuster, a "the sun is shining now" moment.

YES!

In this world I tend to get cynical and beaten down.
YES moments are special things.
And the most special one is my YES with Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22
Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.

May your day be peppered with YES moments today!

=====================
God,
You line my day with YES moments - only some of which I notice.
Bring them to my attention in your creation and the people you fill my life with.
Thank you for making me right with you through Jesus.
Yes, yes - so shall it be!
Amen.
=====================

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Draw me a picture!

Draw me a picture!

I'm a visual learner - and so when I have to read a bunch of words or listen to someone on a conference call talk about something for...ever...

I just don't get it.

Draw me a picture.  Or let me draw a picture of what you're talking about and let me know if it is right.  And then I'll "get it".

That's why I enjoyed reading 1 Corinthians 15 today - because Paul is talking about me.
I'm the skeptic who asks - what does my "resurrection body" look like?  
Wait.  What?  How does this work?  

And in the use of word pictures and metaphor - God paints me a vivid picture of "what will I look like in heaven"?

1 Corinthians 15:35-41

35-38 Some skeptic is sure to ask, “Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture. What does this ‘resurrection body’ look like?” If you look at this question closely, you realize how absurd it is. There are no diagrams for this kind of thing. We do have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a “dead” seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don’t look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different.

39-41 You will notice that the variety of bodies is stunning. Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies—humans, animals, birds, fish—each unprecedented in its form. You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies—sun, moon, stars—all these varieties of beauty and brightness. And we’re only looking at pre-resurrection “seeds”—who can imagine what the resurrection “plants” will be like!

=====================
God,
Thank you for painting the picture of my resurrection through your Word.
I can't know or imagine what it will really be like - but you have guaranteed it will be AWESOME!
Help me plant more seeds for You.
Amen.
=====================
Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?