Our Heavenly Home..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Our Heavenly Home

Dr. Charles Stanley

Revelation 21:22-27

As enjoyable as traveling may be, most of us would admit to having a sense of security and delight upon arriving back home. There's just something comforting about opening the door, seeing familiar things, and feeling we're where we belong.

The apostle John was given a vision that included glimpses inside our future home, the new Jerusalem. You may be surprised to know that some things from our old abode will be missing. But what replaces them will be infinitely better.

For one thing, there were no church buildings in John's vision, "for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Rev. 21:22). No longer will denominations divide up the body of Christ. Nor will the sun or moon shine on the city in that day, "for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb" (v. 23). Imagine--no need for electricity, flashlights, or candles.

One other difference is that the city gates will always be open. Since sin will not be a factor, locks will be unnecessary in our heavenly home. Death and decay will also be absent. In fact, nothing impure will ever enter that future residence--utter holiness will characterize the heavenly place, and suffering will be a thing of the past. What we have to look forward to is the abundant life in Christ, pure and unmarred.

Think about the comfortable feeling you have as you open your front door. That's but a hint of what we'll feel some day on arriving at the place our Father has lovingly and personally prepared for us in heaven. We will finally--and permanently--be "at home" in a way that defies description.

The Blessings of Our Father..... Craig Denison

 The Blessings of Our Father

Craig Denison

As children of the Most High God, we have been granted access to unconditional, tangible, and perfect love. All we need we have in relationship with our Father in heaven. He longs to reveal himself to us as a loving, real Father. He longs for us to live in the fullness of restored relationship with him. He longs for us to experience his vast and limitless affections. May we grow in our understanding and experience of God as our good and loving Father this week as we look at what it is to be his child.

Scripture:“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” >James 1:17

Devotional:

Our Father loves to bless his children. All that we have has been given to us because our Father loves us unconditionally. In Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus says,

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” The world will try to tell you that God plays favorites. It will look at the life of one and compare it to another as if it were every person’s destiny to be the wealthiest and most successful person in the world’s eyes. God blesses us in far greater ways than worldly success and wealth. He is concerned with that which is eternal and will actually produce the abundant life your heart truly desires. And while provision in this world is most definitely important and God promises to provide every thing we need physically, he has not promised to make you a success in the eyes of the world. He has only promised that if you follow him he will guide you to the best possible life filled with the fullness of relationship with him, purpose, and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3).

If we truly take stock of our lives compared to what we deserve, we will begin to better see the incredible blessings given to us by our loving heavenly Father. Allow God to guide you away from the pursuit of that which is fleeting so that you might be filled with greater depths of joy at the abundance of eternal life and blessings which are yours in Christ Jesus.

Take time today to reflect on the blessings you’ve been given by your Father. Allow him to shift your pursuits away from earthly wealth and success toward that which will actually satisfy you for all of eternity. May you be filled with joy and thanksgiving in light of the wonderful gifts you’ve been given by your good and loving Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Reflect on the blessings you’ve been given by your heavenly Father. Take time to really think about all that your God has done for you.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” >Ephesians 1:3-4

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” >James 1:17

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11

2. Ask the Lord to help you shift your pursuit away from earthly wealth and success that you might receive to greater measure the joy and blessings he longs to give you. In what ways have you been pursuing the things of the world over the things of God? What worldly pursuit has captured your attention and is guiding you away from the abundant life God longs to provide for you?

3. Take time to receive the love of your heavenly Father and rest in his presence. Often it takes spending time in God’s loving presence to have our perspectives and pursuits shift. Communion with our Father changes everything.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” >Jeremiah 29:13

“And he said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” >Exodus 33:14

When we allow God to free us from pursuing worldly success and pleasing others, we experience to greater depths the joy of relational living. When relationship with our Father is our chief goal and sole desire, we position ourselves to live joyfully and satisfied in every season and circumstance. May you follow the Lord’s leadership into a life of greater joy and peace. And may your eyes be opened to the wealth of blessings given you by your loving, near, and good Father.

Extended Reading: Matthew 6

The Best Is Yet To Come..... ANITHA ABRAHAM

 The Best Is Yet To Come

ANITHA ABRAHAM

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” Joel 2:28 (NIV)

This month, I celebrate a big birthday. Like, a really big one. There’s something about these milestone years that inspires you to take inventory of your life.

For me, it starts with the obvious fact that I am getting older. I look in the mirror and notice a few more wrinkles and an extra gray hair … or two.

But there’s more: Did that kid just call me “ma’am”? What was the name of the person I just met? Why did my eye doctor use the word “bifocals” in our conversation? Everyone holds their phone out five feet away, right?

Despite falling into the “older and wiser” category, I realize that the wiser part is debatable. In the past, I didn’t always make the best choices, and unfortunately, I still don’t get things right. I still struggle with insecurities. I still catch myself comparing and complaining when I know I should just be content.

Looking back was enlightening, so I started also looking ahead to my future. I wrote down my goals and mapped out my path to get there … all with the realization that even the best-laid plans are not guaranteed.

Thankfully, Scripture provides much reassurance, including the book of Joel. While the prophetic message was directed to the children of Israel, we can see the heart of God for all of His people. God says, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you” (Joel 2:25, NIV, emphasis added).

For many of us, this is a familiar passage of Scripture. We often focus on the beginning of the verse, but the last five words are also key: “… that I sent among you.” Israel was no stranger to hardships. But in this case, their challenges weren’t the result of big, bad Egypt or the giant Philistines.

This time, God was punishing them for their disobedience. To a society who depended on their crops for food and livelihood, the plague of locusts was certainly devastating. Israel had brought this on themselves.

Unfortunately, I can relate. I know all too well that some of my “locust” seasons weren’t caused by anyone but me. I was reaping the consequences of the seeds I had sown.

While God disciplined Israel for their repeated sins, this same God also favored them because of His great grace. As we keep reading the passage, God promises to give His people what they don’t deserve, too. They will have abundance. They will happily praise Him. They will never be put to shame. (Joel 2:26-27)

Just when you think you couldn’t ask for more, God declares, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions” (Joel 2:28).

Logically, it seems dreaming is for the young, but that’s not how it is presented here. Joel 2:28 gives this birthday girl some hope. Even when the grays are sprouting and the eyes are squinting, I can still dream about what is to come. The God we serve is able to form our latter years into our greater years.

My trip down memory lane recounted some painful experiences. However, it also reminded me of this unchanging truth: God is faithful. He will fulfill every purpose He has for my life and yours.

Our past — restored.

Our present — satisfied.

And our future? Dream away.

Dear heavenly Father, I am so thankful my life is in Your hands. Thank You for every lesson I’ve learned along the way. I can walk in freedom from the mistakes of my past and move forward with hope for my future. Help me to bring You glory in it all. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Growing to Look Like Jesus..... By Kathy Howard

 Growing to Look Like Jesus

By Kathy Howard

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” ( 2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

You may be familiar with the passage in Paul’s letter to the Christians in Galatia that lists the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” - ( Galatians 5:22-23)

In Galatians 5:22, the word “fruit” is translated from the Greek word karpos. According to Mounces Complete Expository Dictionary, karpos refers to the natural product of a living thing. Primarily used to describe the literal physical product of trees, vines, and crops, karpos is also used metaphorically to refer to the natural product of a spiritual being. Paul used karpos to help us understand the natural product of the Holy Spirit, who lives inside every believer. The fruit of the Spirit then is produced by the Spirit, not by the Christian.

Obviously, an individual cannot display the “fruit of the Spirit” unless the Spirit is present in that person’s life. The Bible tells us that when a person places his or her faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, God provides and guarantees their salvation by placing His Spirit within them ( Titus 3:4-7 and Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit takes up residence or “indwells” every person who has a saving relationship with Jesus. If you are a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit living within you ( Romans 8:9-11).

Yet, like physical fruit needs time to grow, the fruit of the Spirit will not ripen in our lives overnight. Like a successful gardener must battle against weeds and disease to enjoy the sweet fruit they desire, we must constantly work to rid our lives of the “weeds” of our sinful natures that want to choke out the work of the Spirit.

The great news is, the Holy Spirit gives us the power we need to reject those sinful desires and yield our wills to what the Spirit wants in our lives. We can say “no” to sin and accept the “way out” God faithfully provides ( 1 Corinthians 10:13) by following the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Then, as we give the Spirit more and more control of our lives, He begins to do in and through us what only He can do. The Spirit’s endgame – His primary goal - is to shape us and grow us to look like Jesus.

From the moment of salvation until the end of our lives on this earth, the Holy Spirit works to transform our nature and character to reflect Christ’s. Since God’s goal for all His children is for us to be like Jesus ( Romans 8:29), the Holy Spirit constantly works to rid our lives of the “acts of the sinful nature” ( Gal 5:19) and display His fruit instead. Therefore, the presence of the “fruit of the Spirit” is evidence that our character is becoming more like Christ’s.

What is True Spirituality? by Alex Crain

 What is True Spirituality?

by Alex Crain

"When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate." - Genesis 3:6 NASB

It seems clear to me that the root of all human sin is unbelief. Doubt. I've heard people argue that the most basic sin is pride, and well, I suppose that's somewhere lurking on the other side of the coin. But if we start at the beginning of the Bible, the Genesis 3 account shows that Eve first doubted God. That was her sin. After her unbelief came the outward act of disobedience.

Francis Schaeffer, commenting on this, said: "By her doubting she called God a liar. Eve doubted… mankind in revolt doubts God" (chapter seven, True Spirituality).

On the contrary, the person who is at peace with God does not doubt Him. Rather, he/she trusts God. Schaeffer says this is the simplest way to describe true spirituality: it is believing God.

But it is more than just believing God at one isolated point in life. It is believing God and having ongoing belief in Him. There must be moment-by-moment personal communion with Him.

God created us to be relational, not mechanical. Healthy relationships depend on good communication. But communication is an always-in-flux, moment-by-moment kind of thing. That is why all our mechanical efforts at the Christian life fail. It's not about reading a set number of chapters of the Bible each day. It's not about praying for so long.

No. What is needed first, and what inspires trust is, throughout the day, seeing before us the most basic teachings of the Bible:

God exists and He is personal.

God is holy and sin will be judged, but Christ's atonement removes the guilt of sinners.

We are saved from condemnation by the finished work of Christ, and we are brought into a proper relationship with God in a personal way.

We are joined to Christ spiritually.

We can enjoy communication with the Creator on the basis of what Christ has done. (1 John 1:5)

These truths don't change, regardless of how I feel at any given moment.

The rediscovery of believing God and these truths moment-by-moment is what lifted Francis Schaeffer out of a long, dark season and re-energized his life.

In our lives, what generally causes us to distrust Christ and run elsewhere is that we often think that we have a better way. We think that, somehow, God really doesn't have our best interests at heart. Like Eve, we think that God is withholding something good from us.

Intersecting Faith & Life: The rediscovery of believing God and these truths moment-by-moment is what lifted Francis Schaeffer out of a long, dark season and re-energized his life. If you've come to see that God doesn't deserve our suspicion, seek His aid to maintain this moment-by-moment walk of faith with Him.

For Further Study: Isaiah 30:15 "Thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.'"

For more, read Romans 6:1 and 1 John 1:5

A Prayer for an Undivided Heart When Things Fall Apart...... By: Meg Bucher

 A Prayer for an Undivided Heart When Things Fall Apart 

By: Meg Bucher

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” - Psalm 86:11

When my plans fall to shreds, first comes anger. Then disappointment. Unrest. Then all of the possible solutions to try and make things right. Why is this my go-to reaction when my plans fall apart?

David wrote Psalm 86 when he was facing tough circumstances. Plans didn’t go the way he wanted them to, either. I’m inspired by the way he chose to praise God in times of uncertainty. Through the whys?, David believed in the power of worship. He reminded Himself of the unchanging character of God and poured his heart out to Him honesty and wholly.

When we drain our frustrations onto the feet of God, He is faithful, compassionate, and full of mercy. He is forgiving when we’ve sunk our own battleship, and reliable when we are defenseless.

Let’s pray now for an undivided heart that relies on God, not our own plans.

Father,

Give us undivided hearts, that we may rely on your faithfulness. Let us break the pattern of running on the hamster wheel full of anxious thoughts and man-made solutions, and lift our arms, voices, and eyes fully to you in full surrender and praise. You are in control, even when our world is unraveling. Your plans for us are good, and cannot be thwarted.

We were never promised this world would be easy on us, yet we are still shocked by its depravity and injustice. Soothe our wounds, Lord. Save us, Lord Jesus, from ourselves, and our own toxic thought spirals. Develop in us a pattern of turning to you first, every day, so that when our plans are shredded, we default to praise.