Sufficient Grace..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Sufficient Grace

Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

I thought the Christian life was going to be easier than this. Have these words ever entered your mind? Sometimes we come into the family of God thinking that our heavenly Father will fix all our problems and devote Himself to our happiness and comfort. However, that is not the reality portrayed in Scripture. Paul was a man whom the Lord used greatly, and yet his life was anything but easy.

In fact, at one point, the apostle thought his pain was too much to bear, and he begged God to remove it. There’s nothing wrong with asking the Lord to relieve our suffering, but what should our response be if He doesn’t? Paul probably had no idea that His experience would find its way into the Bible, to comfort and guide believers throughout the ages. The promise God gave him applies to us as well: “My grace is sufficient for you” (v. 9).

God’s grace could be defined as His provision for us at the point of our need. The problem is that sometimes it doesn’t seem as if the Lord truly is meeting our need. But He frequently sees deficiencies, outcomes, and complications that we don’t. His goals for us involve spiritual growth, the development of Christlike character, and strong faith. And trials play a vital role in achieving these.

The important issue is how we respond. If all you want is relief, you could descend into anger and doubt. But if your desire is to become the person God wants you to be, you’ll see each trial as an opportunity for Christ to display His character and strength in you.

Plans..... Craig Denison

 

Plans

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

Trust is something we are not created to give away lightly. We value trust like we value our own lives, constantly scrutinizing others to see if they're worthy of our trust. But still we are made to do life with help. We are made to place our trust in that which will provide us with more life, joy, and peace. I pray that this week you and I will discover how trustworthy our heavenly Father is. I pray that we will willingly hand over control of our lives to a capable, loving, and near God. And I pray we will experience the abundant life that can only come through placing our trust in a God who gives up everything for relationship with us.

Scripture:“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

Devotional:

Our plans are one of the areas of life in which it can be most difficult to trust God. So often we look within ourselves to discover desires and ambitions and form plans based solely on our understanding and limited perspective. We place the weight of planning our lives squarely on our own shoulders and settle for a life filled with pressure and failure. Our heavenly Father is speaking over his children his great desire to guide us. He longs to share his wonderful plans with us that will satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts and help us store up bountiful treasure in heaven with him.

James 4:13-15 illustrates the necessity of looking to God for our plans:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Why do we look to ourselves when we “do not know what tomorrow will bring”? Why do look to our own will when our heavenly Father longs to share his perfect will with us? For some of us, we simply don’t know that God wants to reveal his plans to us. So many believers are living without the  revelation of all that’s available to them through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Know today God’s heart for you. Romans 12:2 commands, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” You can discern the will of God. You can know his plans for you. He is a good Father who longs to shepherd you into the greater things of this life.

For others of us that know God wants to share his plans with us, we fail to look for or follow his leadership because somewhere in our hearts we doubt that he will truly give us the best life. We look at the lives of other believers and decide we’ll have more fun if we go our own way. So often, we as Christians have not exhibited to others a lifestyle of being fully satisfied in God and his plans. We exhibit a lukewarm faith where we neither experience the fullness of God or what the world has to offer. And as a result, our lives are lived without passion, joy, or abundance in any form.

The truth of God’s heart for you and me today is that he has perfect, pleasing plans for us that he longs to reveal. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” God longs to make straight the paths laid before you. He longs to guide you into greater and greater things in every season. He knows what lies ahead of you. He knows opportunities and roadblocks that are coming your way. And he is the Good Shepherd who will lead you into the fullness of life available to you this side of heaven. May you trust your loving heavenly Father with your plans and experience his leadership in every decision you face today.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the availability and fruit of trusting God with your plans.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

2. What keeps you from trusting God with your plans? Why do you look to yourself to plan your own way?

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” James 4:13-15

3. Lay your plans before your Good Shepherd and ask him for his plans. Look to his plans for your work, family, and relationships. Ask him how he has plans to satisfy the desires of your heart for joy, passion, and purpose.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” Psalm 138:8

God is more concerned about the state of your heart than the work of your hands. Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Of course God cares about what you do. But before he longs for you to accomplish his plans for you, he simply wants you to know his love. You serve a God who cares about your emotions, thoughts, perspectives, and sense of worth. More than he wants you to do something, he wants you to be something. He longs for your life to be a reflection of his overwhelming love and goodness. He longs for your life to be a declaration of his grace and nearness. Look to God for your satisfaction and follow the desires he places in your heart. May the work of your hands and the state of your heart be centered on the goodness of your loving, powerful, and near heavenly Father. 

Extended Reading: Romans 12

The Struggle To See Jesus in Our Situation..... LYSA TERKEURST

November 15, 2021

The Struggle To See Jesus in Our Situation
LYSA TERKEURST

Lee en español

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

I didn’t want to say it. I didn’t want to feel it. I didn’t want to be struggling with it. Yet I know it’s impossible to fix problems I refuse to admit I have.

“I’m not sure the Lord is really with me.”

I was in a season where I’d been doing church for a long time. But I kept having this suspicion that other Christians had a more direct line to God than I had.

Things just seemed to work out for them. They kept gratitude journals and had plenty to write on those pages every day. And when we would study the Bible together, they had incredible revelations that they’d express by saying, “These verses really spoke to my heart … The Lord just showed me something amazing …” Or, “I see His hand moving so powerfully in my life right now.”

I would hear their confidence and want to quietly pack up my notes and Bible — which didn’t have nearly the amount of highlight marks in it as theirs did — and just go home. What was I missing?

Sometimes I would feel a rush of assurance and comfort when standing with my hands raised in a crowd electric with praise songs. Or I had a rare moment when something big happened and I could declare, “Wow, look what the Lord did!” But I wasn’t like those other girls at Bible study. And I was too afraid to admit my uncertainty to anyone or ask questions.

I just kept quiet. And I just tried to have the same unwavering spiritual confidence that everyone else had about their situation. All the while, internally, I couldn’t shake this nagging thought that if Jesus really cares about me, why does He seem to stay hidden from me? And if Jesus really wants a relationship with me, why can’t I see Him, hear Him and get to know Him? I mean, if a human relationship was this mysterious, I’d assume the person was ghosting me, rejecting me and giving me the not-so-subtle hint to move on.

Then I remembered some relationship advice I’d heard: If people want to improve their connections with friends and family, they need to communicate their desires more clearly.

Maybe that’s what I needed to do with Jesus. So I wrote in my journal three desires I had for my relationship with Jesus:

1. I want to see You.
2. I want to hear You.
3. I want to know You. 

At first, this felt so odd and strange. After all, I knew I wouldn’t likely physically see or hear Jesus. But what my heart was crying out for was to see evidence of His reality in my life. I truly wanted to experience His presence and walk in the assurance that He saw me, heard me and wanted to know me.

Then I read the words of Matthew 5:8 — “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” This verse doesn’t say only a perfect person will see God. No, the pure in heart … the one who really wants to pursue God … will see Him.

I kept journaling about this and then one day decided to turn that list into a prayer I would pray each day. And eventually I added, “I want to follow hard after You every day so before my feet hit the floor, I say ‘yes’ to You.” I decided, after praying that prayer each day, that I would start looking for Him with greater intentionality throughout my day. I would tune in to my own life experiences and start living with expectation of this prayer being answered.

It’s now been over 20 years since I started praying this prayer.

And I’m different because of learning to practice the presence of Jesus and experiencing Him daily. It has been an intentional, daily pursuit of Him. Looking for Him in unexpected places. Through the good. Through the not-so-good. And everything in between.

I still think about that doubt that haunted me in my early days of following Christ: “I’m not sure the Lord is really with me.” I can’t say that doubt doesn’t ever creep back in my mind. But what has dramatically changed is that it doesn’t send me spiraling into panic and hopelessness now. I’m not afraid doubt is a sign that my faith is weak. Quite the opposite. I now see it as an invitation to start looking for the Lord with even more intentionality.

Dear Lord, my greatest desire is to know You more and to see You in every part of my situation. Today, I say “yes” to You and declare my trust in Your plan for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

3 Psalms to Read When You Can’t Sleep..... By Christina Patterson

 3 Psalms to Read When You Can’t Sleep

By Christina Patterson

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. - Psalm 4:8 NIV

Some nights I'm left looking at my ceiling or my iPhone wondering why I can't seem to go to sleep. I have, however, found ways to help myself relax, making it easier to fall asleep. One of which is to read the Bible, specifically the Psalms. The beautiful poetry of the Psalms mixed with the power of God's Word almost always puts my nerves to rest so I can get some shuteye.

If you’re like me and sometimes need help getting to sleep, I want to share with you my favorite psalms to read to help me surrender to rest:

1. Psalm 116

Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. - Psalm 116:7 NIV

Psalm 116:7 is a Psalm I memorized almost 10 years ago. It is my first go-to scripture to say over and over to myself on a sleepless night. I say it slow to really think about the words. I'm reminded that my soul can rest, because the Lord is good and I have so much evidence of His goodness in my life. I then start to think about all the good the Lord is going and has done for me. This scripture reminds me that God is with me and that gives me a peace that relaxes my mind, body and soul.

2. Psalm 4:8

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. - Psalm 4:8 NIV

After a super busy day you would think the only thing my body would want to do is quickly fall asleep. Nope! I've realized a busy day usually leads to more difficulties falling asleep. My mind races with everything that happened that day and what might happen tomorrow.

What will happen tomorrow?

What will happen next year?

What if something bad happens to me? My husband? My children?

There is nothing worse than trying to fall asleep on anxious thoughts. It's during these times I love to pull out Psalm 4. It always reminds me God is in control, He is my protection, and I can trust Him. Now that's some truth I can sleep on.

3. Psalm 91

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. - Psalm 91:1,5,11

During the day, I'm not thinking about scary thoughts. But as soon as I hit the pillow they all want to attack. And fear is the enemy of sleep. Which is why I absolutely adore Psalm 91. I've only listed a few verse from the Psalm above but, if you have time, or find yourself losing sleep due to fear, I highly suggest you read this Psalm in its entirety. It reminds me God will not only protect me, but He will defend me as well. Psalm 91 reveals that my fearful thoughts don't even come close to the power my God has to overcome them.

I have yet to face a battle that the Lord has not addressed in His Word. This includes my struggle to fall asleep some nights. It is the Word of God that helps me to let go of the worries of this world and grasp how trustworthy our God is. And leaning on His truths, even on sleepless nights, feels like God Himself is rocking me to sleep. So the next time you have trouble falling asleep go ahead and give these Psalms a try. It is my prayer that the truth of God's word produces a peace in your soul that leads to many nights of good sweet sleep.

Living Your Thanksgiving..... by Laura MacCorkle

 Living Your Thanksgiving

by Laura MacCorkle

Make a glad sound to the Lord, all the earth. Give worship to the Lord with joy; come before him with a song. Be certain that the Lord is God; it is he who has made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep to whom he gives food. Come into his doors with joy, and into his house with praise; give him honour, blessing his name. For the Lord is good, and his mercy is never-ending; his faith is unchanging through all generations. - Psalms 100, The Bible in Basic English

When I was younger, Thanksgiving was pretty much just another holiday—a day when I got to eat a whole lot of good food and nibble on all the sugary stuff I wanted.

In fact, one year it only took me, my sister, two forks and about 30 minutes to finish off the rest of the pecan pie, while everyone else was either glued to the football game or snoring in a recliner. We had no regrets, and I’m pretty sure we’d do it again.

But besides being a holiday when I had permission to indulge, Thanksgiving was also a word my grandfather always incorporated at the end of his prayers: "And with thanksgiving, in Jesus' name, Amen." I always wondered why he used a word that made me think of cornucopias and construction-paper turkeys; but he had the Th.D. in our family, and I did not. So I knew he must have had a good reason.

Years later, I think I now understand. In that one word, he was saying "Thank You for giving." You, being God. From my grandfather's example, I see that thanksgiving was more than a one-day family gathering. It was and is a way of living, a daily act of expressing gratitude to our Maker who first gave to us.

At this time of year, I sit and think about when I last thanked God for giving me anything—let alone his son, Jesus Christ. I'm ashamed to admit that I don't remember. But I know that I want to make such gratefulness as prominent as the giant turkey on the table and see thanksgiving become a way of life.

There's no better thanksgiving wisdom than that found in God's Word, specifically The Old One-Hundredth (Psalm 100). If you open your Bible and take a look at this passage, you'll see a notation under the heading: "A psalm. For giving thanks."

Following that, there are many directives listed that can help us live our Thanksgiving . . .

1. Make a glad sound to the Lord

2. Give worship to the Lord with joy

3. Come before him with a song

4. Be certain that the Lord is God

5. Come into his doors with joy, and into his house with praise

6. [Remember] for the Lord is good... his mercy is never-ending... his faith is unchanging

Reflect on Psalm 100 today, and ask the Lord how he can help you really live out Thanksgiving each day of the year.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Your celebration with friends or loved ones is probably already planned by this point. But here is your Thanksgiving Day challenge: take time to “live your Thanksgiving” and call or visit someone who is alone or having a hard time (for whatever reason) on this holiday.

Further Reading:

Psalm 107:1, NIV
Psalm 150, NIV
Ephesians 2:8, NIV

A Prayer When You Need Hope..... By Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer When You Need Hope

By Betsy de Cruz

“We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” – Romans 5:2

When my daughter left for college halfway across the country, the Christmas holidays gave me something to look forward to. Of all the parenting stages, I loved the teen and young adult years most, so the hope that I’d see my daughter again at Christmas lightened the grief I felt over her absence at home.

You may be walking through a challenge more difficult than sending a child to college. In times of trial, having something to look forward to brings comfort. As Christians, we have the privilege of praying for God to intervene, and we can anticipate that He will respond. However, when we don’t yet see the answer to our prayers, sometimes we struggle to keep hoping in God’s goodness. 

Whether we’re dealing with illness, unemployment, or loss, we quickly lose faith when we focus on the difficult side of our circumstances. Hope is a key ingredient to living joyfully, but how can we live as people of hope in a fallen world where trouble seems to abound?

In the opening verses of Romans 5, Paul reminds us that in Christ, God redeems our suffering to produce perseverance, character, and hope. The hope we have in Christ goes beyond optimism or the confidence of a good outcome in today’s trial.

In Christ, we can look forward to everlasting life as cherished children of God and a secure future in His kingdom. The Scriptures point us to the fact that Jesus will come again and take us to the eternal place He has prepared for us in His Father’s house.

Of course, we have hope in the promises of God for the here and now. We can trust Him to work good through our circumstances. But even when we don’t receive the answer to our prayer in the way we expect, we have hope in the promise of eternal life.

Just as the thought of seeing my daughter at Christmas bolstered my spirit as I grieved her absence at home, the hope of seeing Jesus one day strengthens our spirits as we encounter trials in this life. 

Today, let’s lift our eyes to heaven and look at life from God’s perspective. Jesus will return, and we can rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Let’s pray:

Lord, make me a person of hope. When I pass through times of trial, renew my sense of your presence, and help me remember I always have hope because you are with me. Thank you for pouring your love into my heart through your Holy Spirit. Remind me of the hopeful future awaiting me, not only because I can trust your intervention in the here and now, but also because I can look forward to your glorious return. 

Thank you for the gift of eternal life. Help me remember: No matter what happens today, Jesus already died for me, and I have passed from spiritual death to everlasting life. I will be with you forever.

Lord, when I see only heartbreak, tragedy, and division in the news, give me your perspective on the world. Give me eyes to see that you continue to rule over your creation and faith to trust that you continue to work out your purposes for your glory. Use me to shine your light for people around me.

Lord, make me a person of hope. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

THE JOY OF THANKS-LIVING..... Pastor Jeff Schreve

 THE JOY OF THANKS-LIVING

Pastor Jeff Schreve

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

We've arrived at the best time of the year – the Thanksgiving/Christmas season. I just love being with family and friends… enjoying great food, great fellowship, and great football (Go Longhorns!).

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we tend to focus on our blessings and giving thanks for God’s goodness. While that is certainly a good thing, it is not the best thing. The best thing is to turn Thanksgiving into Thanks-living. Regardless of the day or the situation, God wants us to be thankful. Why is that?

1.  Thanks-living lets God know you have confidence in Him, no matter how deep the problems or how dire the circumstances. Thanks is faith turned inside out.

2.  Thanks-living changes your countenance and disposition. Instead of being down and discouraged, spreading gloom and despair everywhere you go, you begin to radiate the joy of the Lord. The best witnesses for Christ are those who are facing life’s trials with a song of thanksgiving on their lips.

3.  Thanks-living opens the door for God to work. God hates it when we grumble and gripe... but He loves it when we praise and give thanks. As we begin to live a life of thankfulness to God, He begins to work, even through the toughest trials and tests of faith. Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison… and they sang a hymn of praise to the Lord. And when they finished singing, the Lord sent a jailhouse rock, and the prison doors were opened. You mark it down: God does miracles on our behalf when we choose to thank Him and praise Him, even in the deepest, darkest pit.

Let me challenge you as I challenge myself.  Discipline yourself to give thanks in everything.  Thank Him for the mountains … and thank Him for the valleys.  He is worthy of all your thanks and praise.

A Prayer You May Need to Pray

Dear God, I hate to say it, but I have been guilty of grumbling and griping about all my problems and trials. I have failed to be thankful and to remember that You are at work in my life, even through all the troubles. Please forgive me, God. I want to be a person who keeps my eyes on You and praises You, no matter what may come my way. So, thank you God for these blessings (name them) and these challenges (name them). I know You are in control of all things. I know You love me and work all things together for my good. I choose to trust You, Lord. Teach me to be a “praiser” who always finds the good... and not a complainer who always finds the bad. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve