September 1, 2000                 Mt 5:1
One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them.

Images are powerful.   When I sit before the Father and read the Word of God I sense the master teaching me.  Jesus the master teacher lives in my heart.  When I read His Word He instructs me in the way I should go.

September 2, 2000    Mt 5:3
“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.

Christ brings rivers of blessing into my life.  I am always in the presence of the Lord.  I am a sinner saved by grace.  My way is always tainted by my human nature.  His way is always underlined by His perfection.  On bent knee victory is mine.  Without Him I can do nothing.

September 3, 2000     Mt 5:4
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

My sinfulness causes me pain.  I am sometimes overcome with remorse for foolish words or harsh actions.  Out of my sorrow and grief I discover the heart and hand of God.  He blesses me in my recognition of my sin.  His comfort cures my sorrow.  My gratitude for His saving grace is an encouragement for my soul.

September 4, 2000    Mt 5:5
God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.

The world feels the superior authority of truth, purity, justice, kindness, love, and faith.  When I understand this I am blessed.  My first responsibility is to God.  To quietly submit to His Word, submit to Him in prayer and to obediently serve Him.  When this mindset controls me I am blessed.  There is wonderful joy and blessing when I let God be God and act like His beloved child.

September 5, 2000     Mt 5:6
God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.

The world destroys.  My God creates.  All around me is evil and injustice.  I strive to help, to encourage and to be just in all my dealings.  Spiritual good is found in Jesus.  He is our righteousness.  When I hunger and thirst for justice, I find it here and now in Christ.

September 6, 2000    Mt 5:7
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

The merciful are never the wisest.  They are seldom the richest.  Yet out of the mouth of God comes His promise of blessing that flows from mercy.  My prayer is that when I have an advantage that I will be merciful.  Just as the Lord is merciful to me.

September 7, 2000    Mt 5:8
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

True Christianity lives in my heart.  Out of my heart come the direction and the intent for all that I do.  Doing my own thing, going my own way sets me up for an impure heart.  My focus, my surrender controls my relationship with Jesus.  Only Jesus cleanses hearts.  My heart must be pure.  My heart will govern my life.  God will use a pure heart.  Jesus is willing to cleanse my heart.

September 8, 2000    Mt 5:9
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

We are first pure before God and then we are peaceable before men.  This cuts me to the quick.  My life sometimes is embittered and embattled.  On occasion my heart boils and my actions towards others are unkind.   O Lord forgive me and bless me with peace.

September 9, 2000     Mt 5:10
God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

My sin persecutes me much more than my righteousness.  My tendency is to drift away from the proclamation of the Gospel.  I keep a quick list of reasons. The truth is that I simply lose focus and rest on what has been.  We will be criticized and persecuted when we proclaim Jesus as Lord.  Help me Father to proclaim Jesus as Lord at every opportunity.

September 10, 2000    Mt 5:11-12
“God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers.   Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.

The Holy Spirit will personally intervene in my spirit when I am under persecution for proclaiming the Gospel.  Jesus states this as a fact.  I can fashion my life and my witness around this promise from my Father.  When I am proclaiming Jesus I am doing work assigned by the Father to me.  He will not forget my actions.  He will reward them now and later.

September 11, 2000    Mt 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

Loneliness is a depressing experience.  I have struggled with it much of my life.  I have found that acting like a child of God dispels my loneliness.  When I am spending time with Him I experience His presence.   When I am caring for others I experience His presence.  I have a responsibility to others.  I am just passing through, not staying.  If I deny this responsibility the world will grind me down and ignore me.

September 12, 2000    Mt 5:14-16
You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

What I do reflects on God.  He shines through me.  The light is not mine; it is evidence of God’s control of me.  No light, no control; bright light, total control.  This is not a difficult theological concept.

September 13, 2000    Mt 5:17
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.

God’s Word speaks of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.  It is God’s message to me about His activity in the world.  The Word reveals Christ.  Christ is the Word.

September 14, 2000     Mt 5:18
I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s law will remain until its purpose is achieved.

The Lord will not forget me.  His will is to preserve even the minutest points of the law.  He died for me and He will not forget me.  My God is concerned about me.

September 15, 2000     Mt 5:19
So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Purity, devotion, time with God, caring for others, these things are considered unimportant in modern day America.  We extol the virtues of personal freedom and self-expression and condone murdering babies.   Those that trust and follow God are ridiculed.  This will last only a short time.

September 16, 2000     Mt 5:20
“But I warn you – unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!

In the midst of living life my way, I enumerate for God all that I am doing for Him.  But Jesus questions me deep within my soul.  He asks me if I love Him?  If you love me you will take care of the hurting, provide for the weak, and be kind to those that hate me.   Lord help me remember that love is an activity not a state of mind.

September 17, 2000     Mt 5:21-22
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

The worst sin is the one I don’t do.  Jesus says the worst sin is the one I do.  I may look to you like I am an upstanding Christian but God knows my thoughts.   If I don’t guard my thoughts they will poison my heart.  A poisoned heart hurts God’s children.

September 18, 2000    Mt 5:23-24
“So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

I cannot love God if I hate my brother.  My actions towards others are an indicator of my relationship with the Lord.  Jesus changes me from the inside out.  When Christ is in control I love His creation.  When I am in control I cannot get along with His creation.

September 19, 2000    Mt 5:25-26
Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. I assure you that you won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.

My world seems so personal.   It is full of things I want and things I do.   The real world is impersonal.  People hurt and people die every day.  I must consider reality when I am dealing with others.  Humility and kindness will carry me many miles.  Hardheartedness will only cause grief.  Life is real.  Jesus really does love me.  Tomorrow is in His hands.

September 20, 2000    Mt 5:27-28
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

This is a word of caution for fathers and sons.  Our sin always begins in our heart.  The things we do today that grieve the Lord, we thought about yesterday.  A life of purity begins with the things that we think about and look at.

September 21, 2000    Mt 5:29-30
So if your eye – even if it is your good eye – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your hand – even if it is your stronger hand – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Accountability for sin is hard.  I am always blaming my wife, my children, my employer, my friends or my childhood for the evil I do.  The truth is that no matter what I say or think, I am responsible for my sin.  Holy Spirit help me to have a pure heart and clean hands.  Guide me to focus my actions on Jesus.

September 22, 2000    Psalm 100:2
Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.

I am called to worship.  It is an opportunity for me to rejoice in the providence of the Lord in my life.  It is a charge to joyfully recount in my heart the precious moments with the Lord.  In the worship experience, God is the audience and I am onstage.  The Lord encourages me to think of the future.  What a wonderful eternity lies ahead.  Great is the Lord.  He is worthy of all my praise.

September 23, 2000    Mt 5:33-34
“Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’  But I say, don’t make any vows!

My children when disciplined would proclaim I promise I will never do that again.  The Father cautions me to be careful about my promises.  When I sin, I can come to him for forgiveness and He will forgive.   I cannot say what I will or won’t do in the future because I am human.  God is eternal and He can and will keep his promises.

September 24, 2000    Mt 5:38-42
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.’  But I say, don’t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

I have an ego bigger than Texas.  When someone mistreats me I always proudly respond with justified anger.  Jesus says I should be careful how I respond to mistreatment.  Kindness and forgiveness are acts of a conqueror.  I am more than a conqueror in Christ.

September 25, 2000    Mt 5:43-45
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too.

My dad was not a good man.  I prayed for him most of the time until he died.  It hurt to pray for him.  The things he did destroyed or injured the lives of a dozen people that trusted him.  This is what Jesus is talking about.  We are to pray for those that hurt us.  Christ is calling us to pray for the forgiveness of those that are responsible for the hurt and pain that we will carry with us all the days of our life.

September 26, 2000    Mt 5:46-48
If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

I am a sinner saved by grace.  My tendency to sin must never stop me from seeking to become Christ like.  I strive to be like Him.  I fail, repent, regroup and try again to grow in Christ likeness.  Then one day I will stand before Him.  Perfect and complete He will say well done my good and faithful servant perfect in Christ.

September 27, 2000             Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

God is true.  He is not waiting on me to form the universe.  His truth is not dependent on my belief.  My relationship is formed by my faith that God is true.  That faith changes everything in my life.  No longer am I alone, by faith He is with me.  No longer are life’s obstacles destructive, by faith they are formed into something useful in my life.  I am complete in Christ.

September 28, 2000             Hebrews 11:4
It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. God accepted Abel’s offering to show that he was a righteous man. And although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us because of his faith.

Attitude is everything.  When I see God’s love and resources I am different.  I am not at the mercy of the world.  God is in me.  Christ uses me to take the message of salvation to the world.  I am a world changer.

September 29, 2000             Hebrews 11:6
So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

I love the Lord.  I love my neighbor.   When I am under the Lord’s direction I am different.  Separate from the world, serving the world.  Faith in God equips me for usefulness in His family.

September 30, 2000             Hebrews 11:7
It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before. By his faith he condemned the rest of the world and was made right in God’s sight.

Rejection is a normal reaction by the world.  Service is a normal reaction for God’s children.  When I am a new creature in Christ, rejection does not hamper my service.  God is real.   His reality shepherds me through the pain and heartache of criticism and disdain.  I do what the Lord says.

August 1, 2000                 2Th 3:5
May the Lord bring you into an ever-deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.

I sought a deeper understanding of God’s love.  He spoke to me when my heart was broken.  I could feel His love.  He loved me through His broken heart.  He calls me to love with a broken heart.

August 2, 2000                 1Ti 1:5
The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith.

My life is composed of experiences.  I contain all of the experiences that I have gone through.  I don’t like some of the things I have experienced.  God has often used those unwanted events to help me grow as His child.  My love grows out of His love for me.

August 3, 2000                 Isa 2:22
Stop putting your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. How can they be of help to anyone?

My big stumbling block is entrusting my future to man.  Education, hard work, commitment and loyalty to the things that are outlined by society are sure fire ways to succeed.  One day I will die.   That date is unknown to me but known to God.   My future is in his hands.  Help me Lord to do all my planning with you first.

August 4, 2000                 2Ch 13:10
“But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not abandoned him. Only the descendants of Aaron serve the LORD as priests, and the Levites alone may help them in their work.

I must live by the Lord’s standards if I am going to represent Him.  There is a standard of Holiness that the Lord God has commanded.  I am not free to do what feels good.  I am called to do what is right.  My challenge is always to do the next right thing.

August 5, 2000                 Mt 25:44-45
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ And he will answer, ‘I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

Everyone wants to feel important.  The Lord says that my job is to make sure that I respond to everyone as if they are as important as I am.  People need love.   Everyone I meet is worthy of my love.

August 6, 2000                 Ps 5:2
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I will never pray to anyone but you.

I am learning that a healthy awareness of my own vulnerability to life is important.  Rising early to greet the Lord enables me to claim the peace I will need for the days activities.  Seeking His strength prepares me to face the unknown with strength.  My God is in control.  I can relax because He is in charge.

August 7, 2000                 Heb 6:10
For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do.

God’s eye is always on me.  He never forgets what I have done or what I need.  I can face disappointment and failure with the sure confidence that the Lord will remember me.

August 8, 2000                 Heb 10:24
Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.

Every person I meet needs an encouraging word.  The Lord is teaching me not to be fooled by their status.  Most people are hurting from the weariness of life.  I can encourage them by being the Lord’s agent of encouragement.

August 9, 2000                 Heb 13:1-2
Continue to love each other with true Christian love.  Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.

God has called me to care for the people I come into contact with.  It would be nice to care for movie stars or the rich and famous.  Providentially the Lord has called me to reach out to co-workers, family, friends and all of those I come into contact with.  I must bloom where I am planted not dream about another flowerbed.

August 10, 2000                 Heb 13:5
Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.”

My worry is so often related to money.  Will I have enough for this and enough for that?  Now in my fifties, after never having missed a payment or gone without, I still worry about money.  Satan has an inside track on me.  I can believe in the miracle of healing but worry about paying the light bill.  Never means never.  Help me Lord to trust you with this month’s money worries.

August 11, 2000                 Jas 2:5
Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?

I want to be rich in faith but I don’t want to be poor.  Sometimes I am not willing to go to the school that teaches certain spiritual gifts.  What I really want to do Lord is be what you want me to be.   Help me to be me.

August 12, 2000                 Jas 2:8
Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord’s royal command found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

I am always checking what I am doing to make sure it is moral.  I guard my speech even to the point of making sure I ask the Lord to help me watch what I say.   I am meticulous in coming before the Lord every day.  I must confess that my self-righteousness often creates in me a hard heart toward sinners.  Lord plow up the hard ground of my heart so that I will love as you love.

August 13, 2000                 Jas 2:12
So whenever you speak, or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that set you free.

My good deeds today don’t offset being snappy or grouchy towards my wife or children.  I must constantly check my frustration at the door before I enter my home.  Everyone I deal with is due civility and kindness.

August 14, 2000                 1Pe 1:8
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

I love Jesus though I have not seen Him.  My relationship is through the eye of faith.  He has walked through the valley of the shadow of death with me.  He has carried me through dark days and endless nights.  My heart has been warmed by His care and concern.  My Lord is here for me.

August 15, 2000                 1Pe 1:22
Now you can have sincere love for each other as brothers and sisters because you were cleansed from your sins when you accepted the truth of the Good News. So see to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts.

I can love you because I am loved.  Your worthiness is based upon our relationship with the Father through the Son.  I am His, He is mine and we are brothers and sisters.  The love of God binds us together.

August 16, 2000                 1Pe 2:17
Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king.

Every time I criticize a brother or sister in Christ I have three fingers of condemnation pointing back at me.   I must forgive because I am forgiven.   I must not judge for I am not wise enough to know all the circumstances of the situation.  I must love because I am loved.

August 17, 2000                 1Pe 4:8
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

My possessions, power or status mean nothing in eternity.  I will spend eternity with people.  People count.   When I am caring for people I am making an eternal investment.

August 18, 2000                 1Pe 5:14
Greet each other in Christian love. Peace be to all of you who are in Christ.

I want peace.  When I am lying awake at 3 a.m. peace clears my mind so that I can go back to sleep.  When I face impossible situations peace enables me to deal with the issues clearly.  When I fail peace paves the road to recovery.  When I succeed peace reminds me to be humble.  Peace is a genuine blessing from the Father that equips me to live life in the now.

August 19, 2000     1 Pe 2:11
Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here.  So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls.

This is not my home.   Neither my work nor my play is eternal.   People are the only eternal things that I know.  I must watch carefully how I live so that I don’t get things turned upside down.  New cars, the top job, higher pay, fancy vacations, or world renowned venues are not eternal.  I must carefully watch what I focus my life on so that my soul will be focused on eternal things.

August 20, 2000     2Ch 14:11
Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, “O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!”

You are not alone.  You were bought with a price.  God will take care of you.  You are the apple of His eye.  Be encouraged and be blessed, the Lord of all creation is focusing His love and attention on you.  Whatever you are facing God will be there to help you.

August 21, 2000     1 Pe 5:6
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in His good time He will honor you.

The bad things that happen in my life the Lord can use for good.  My responsibility is to bend my knee in the presence of the almighty God of the universe and trust Him.  Humble submission will permit the Lord to bless me with his love and guidance.  Self-will separates me from the Lord. Humility unites me with the Father.  Lord give me the wisdom to bend the knee to you in all things.   Not my will but thy will.

August 22, 2000     Ps 7:9
End the wickedness of the ungodly, but help all those who obey you. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.

When I am crying out against the wicked my heart accuses me of my own sin against God.  My deepest yearning as I plea for help is, Lord cleanse me.  My cries for help results in God calling me to go to the wicked and plead with them to come to the Him.

August 23, 2000     Ps 9:12
For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore those who cry to him for help.

Help me Lord today.  I spend too much time worrying about tomorrow.  I need help this moment for this problem.  My life always gets confused and overwhelmed when I recount my strength.  Lord help me, a weak servant that gets off course so easily.  I need the Lord right now.

August 24, 2000     Isa 1:17
Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows

Sin defiles my soul.   It affects every aspect of the way that I live.  Part of my response to God for saving me is to diligently learn to do good.  I am not living my daily Christian life for the world to watch.  I am on mission for the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am to become His arms and feet.  I am to encourage as He encourages.  I may be the only Jesus that many lost people ever see.

August 25, 2000     Isa 8:17
I will wait for the LORD to help us, though he has turned away from the people of Israel. My only hope is in him.

Many that name the name of Christ ignore the true and living God.  They do it by their priorities, their lifestyle, their selfishness and their denial of His power in their lives.  The result is that God ignores them and their lives give no evidence of the activity of the risen Lord.   I am basing my life, my hope on Jesus.   He saved me.  He helps me.  He disciplines me.   I know Him.  Time with Jesus is time well spent.

August 26, 2000     Isa 43:22
“But, my dear people, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me!

My God is not a God of just the big things.  He is Lord of all.   His concern touches everything that I think and do.  Nothing in my life is outside the purview of the Father.  I am His child and He is Lord of my life.

August 27, 2000    Mr 9:24
The father instantly replied, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!”

Lord please help me as I struggle with unbelief in my life.  Every time I express my confidence in you, unbelief beats at my door.  Time screams it won’t happen.  The day pushes me to try things my way.  But Lord help me in the persistence of my unbelief to simple trust in you.  At the appointed time I will see your victory.

August 28, 2000     Isa 59:16
He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his mighty power and justice.

I bend the knee before a Holy God.  I recognize that He is talking about me.  How often I stand quietly before the oppressed.  Evil has its way.   How Lord, can I stand against the oppressor?   Without you Lord I would utterly fail.   Praise the Lord for the salvation that He brings in Jesus.  Not because of my work but because of His love.

August 29, 2000     Pr 3:27
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.

My neighbor deserves my best.  Not because of his goodness but because of God’s love.  My value is in Jesus.  As a younger brother, I am called to care for people.  All people.  Any people.

August 30, 2000     Da 9:18
“O my God, listen to me and hear my request. Open your eyes and see our wretchedness. See how your city lies in ruins – for everyone knows that it is yours. We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.

My God helps me because He wants to.  The Lord loves me.   I have accepted that love by bending the knee before Him and asking Jesus to forgive me of my sin and come into my heart and save me.   I am saved from eternal wandering.  I am no longer dead in my sin, my Father has brought me into His family.

August 31, 2000    Lu 6:42
How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

My heart gets cold so quick.  When I condemn my brother of his sin, at the same time I am concealing a greater sin in my own heart.  The worst sins are always the sins that I don’t do.  Jesus says that my sin is the worst sin that I can do.  I am called to deal with my life and recognize the evil in my heart.  Otherwise I will become a member of the religious crowd that focuses their lives on the things they don’t do and never recognize the evil they do.  Help me Lord.

July 1, 2000                Ps 48:9
O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.

Lord, when I am in church please help me to focus on you.  Help me Father to set aside the cares and worries of this world.  Call me into your presence.  Instill in me an awareness of your activity in my life.

July 2, 2000                 Lu 14:26
“If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

I am called to a life of focus and sacrifice.  Christ is not waiting for me to make him a second choice in a mult-option life.   Christ is first of all or not at all.  Love the Lord.

July 3, 2000                 Lu 15:20
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Our children have a will of their own.  Even though I have not succeeded as a parent, I can wait.  I can pray.  One day as I am praying I will be able to look down the road and see that precious child of mine returning home.  God has a plan.   My part is to pray that God’s plan will be done.

July 4, 2000                 Lu 16:13
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

There are not fence sitters in the kingdom of God.  I must take my stand and live accordingly.  Lord, help me to see that the way I live is a reflection of the type of relationship that I am developing with you.  Too often I let myself be fooled into thinking that I am not in control of how I respond to the evils of this world.  The real reason I am overrun by the world is because I am not letting you control my life.

July 5, 2000                 Lu 20:46
“Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets.

Father forgive me for the times I respond to life situations as a religious hypocrite.  I know that you love people most.  Help me to love people the way you do.  Help me to put people ahead of self.

July 6, 2000                 Joh 1:14
So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.

Lord, I want to be like Jesus.  Give me the growth experiences that will help me to be more like Him.  Even though He was God, He denied Himself and did your will.   I am just a simple man, help me to deny myself and do your will.  Not my will Lord but your will.

July 7, 2000                 Lu 7:47
I tell you, her sins – and they are many – have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

How easily I forget the day I was saved.  I was dead in my trespasses and sin with a clear view of eternal punishment, Christ forgave me.  I had nothing and no one and then suddenly I had everything.  I can remember those first few days, the sweet fellowship with Jesus and the gentle peace that I felt to the depths of my soul.  Let’s do it again Lord.  I want to go back to that day and never forget that every day can be just like that first day.  Jesus loves me this I know.

July 8, 2000                 Lu 10:27
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

God chose me before the foundation of the world.  He chose that I be a part of His family and represent him on earth at this point in space and time.  God chose you before the foundation of the world.  He appointed you to be His representative on earth at this point in space and time.   God chose each one of us to be his and provided that we could enter His family by faith in Jesus Christ.  My responsibility and your responsibility is to think of and act towards each person the way that God has acted towards us.  Love them.

July 9, 2000                 Ps 100:5
For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

I love my children.  I am disappointed with them at times but I still love them.   How wonderful that we have a loving father who loves each one of us.  Thru thick and thin He is faithful and loving.  This comforts me when I bend before my Father in confession and receive His forgiveness.

July 10, 2000               Ps 86:5
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask your aid.

Sometimes my pain is so great all I can do is cry out to the Lord and ask Him to help me.  He has.  He does.  He will.  I am not required to meet some formulaic requisite to receive God’s help.  When help is needed I am often not able to do anything but cry out.

July 11, 2000               Lu 11:42
“But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.

I consider myself a religious person.  Maybe even what you might call a religious leader.  The only people Jesus criticized were religious leaders.  This causes me to evaluate how I look at others and how I handle myself.  The question I ask myself when confronting others about morality and righteousness is how would God deal with me if I had done this.  My charge is to never lower the standard but always lift up the person.

July 12, 2000               Ps 86:15
But you, O Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love and truth.

I still get aggravated with the way other folks drive.  It can be very irritating, even maddening.  Biblical truth is timeless.  There were no cars when this verse was written.  In the heart of the Lord, He knew that I would need reminding about his actions toward me so that I could survive driving on today’s highways.  Timeless truth cures momentary lapses in judgment.

July 13, 2000              Lu 11:43
“How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone as you walk through the markets!

Many people struggle with low self-esteem.  I know that I do.   Low self-esteem pushes us to do odd things.   It sometimes causes us to want recognition whether it is warranted or not.  Some people that deal with the invisible Lord as a vocation need recognition from people.  They have not developed their relationship with the Lord.   Jesus loves me, this I know.  I know it by His Word, by the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart and by the testimony of His work in my life.

July 14, 2000               Ps 89:2
Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

God is bigger than any of my problems.  My problems will only last a lifetime.  God is eternal.   God’s love and faithfulness is forever.   I can sing and rejoice.  The Lord is good and His mercy is everlasting.  Praise the Lord.

July 15, 2000               Joh 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

The eternal Lord came into my world and destroyed sin.  He is my savior from all of the forces that seek to destroy me.  Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all that is with me.

July 16, 2000               Joh 14:21
Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them.”

God alone knows the future.  I am charged with the responsibility of preparing for what will come soon.  When I live by God’s standard, my life will be different.  I will love those that I am in the world with.  I will care for the weak and downtrodden.  I will seek justice for the helpless.  God knows what will happen.  I must trust Him with my future.  Lord help me to do this day by day.

July 17, 2000 Ps 89:14
Your throne is founded on two strong pillars – righteousness and justice. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

Whatever problem I face, God is able.  He is strong enough to save me.  He is equipped to deal with all my sin.  My weakness is not a surprise to Him.  My unfaithfulness does not diminish His strength.  God’s power, majesty, and ability is founded upon Himself.  God is able.

July 18, 2000               Joh 8:42
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.

My actions reveal who I am.  Any surprise that people are suffering as they are in America.   If I conduct my life under the authority and power of God, I am His child.  If I choose to go my own way I will suffer the consequences.

July 19, 2000               Ps 89:28
I will love him and be kind to him forever; my covenant with him will never end.

Jesus was not an afterthought of our wonderful God.  Jesus was God.   I can be confident that as I live my life, Jesus will provide all of the resources that I need to live my life as a child of God.   I am a child of God, brother to the incarnate Word and heir of eternity.

July 20, 2000               Ps 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

I am reminded that I must make time to be with the Lord.  Daily I must come before Him and quietly seek His guidance.  I can expect to receive grace, comfort, wisdom, mercy and His gentle involvement in my life.  When I ignore these daily times with Him, His involvement in my life is not so gently at times as He gets my attention.

July 21, 2000              Joh 8:44
For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Hatred of the truth, lying, and evil intent always aligns us with evil.  We cannot separate our attitudes from our actions.  If what we do is evil then we are being evil.  If we love God we will do the right thing.

July 22, 2000              Ps 91:14
The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.

God watches over us in time of great stress and fear.  He is a trustworthy Father.    When I am knee deep in life, I stop and ask the Lord to help me.  I believe the Lord.  He will rescue me.  The Father loves me so much that He never takes His eyes off of me.

July 23, 2000              Joh 12:25
Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

I am constantly battling my ego.  Inside of me there is a drive to be successful, to be recognized, and to have my way.  God has a purpose for my life.  He wants to have His way with me.  I am the only one that can surrender my way to His way.  If I do surrender than I win.  If I do not surrender then I lose.  God has first place or no place.

July 24, 2000              Ps 94:18
I cried out, “I’m slipping!” and your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me.

I am overwhelmed by God’s love.  Just the mention of need and my Lord responds.  Whenever I am down and out I know that my redeemer lives because He lives and resides in me.  He changes me from the inside out.  He comforts me in times of trouble.  My God meets my need.

July 25, 2000              Joh 13:1
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love.

I have a hard time comprehending the depth of the love of Christ.  He knew He would be betrayed and yet He still washed the Disciples feet.  I am a difficult person.  My defensiveness is often offensive.  I am asking the Lord to give me the wisdom and strength that I need to change the way I react to others.

July 26, 2000              Ps 97:10
You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.

I can’t ignore God’s commands and love Him.  I cannot live like Satan and claim to be a Saint.  When I look at my life, all that I do must square with God’s Word or it is not of God.  All of us are special but no one has a “free day of sin” card!

July 27, 2000               Joh 13:1
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love.

I am totally overwhelmed by God’s act of love.  He died for me.  He knows the sins I have committed and the sins I will commit and He died for me.  The question that nags at my soul is am I living for Him?  He died and I am called to live.  Help me Lord to become more like you.

July 28, 2000               Ps 98:3
He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The whole earth has seen the salvation of our God.

The birth of Christ validates God’s love for me.  In His mercy He saw my need and sent a savior.  I was in great need of a savior and Christ made me a child of God.  No longer on the outside I am a child of the King and a member of His household.  His eye is always on me therefore I too can cry out Father as I face the daily grind of life.

July 29, 2000               Joh 13:34
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

Loving others was required in Leviticus 19:18.  The new requirement was to love as Jesus loved.  Lord give me the willingness to spend time each day searching the Scriptures to discover what you think about everything in my life.  Then Lord help me to take that information from my mind and put it in my heart so that I will change the way I act.

July 30, 2000               Joh 13:35
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

I am discovering that people are a lot more concerned about how I act than what I think.  My doctrine may be pure but if my life or lifestyle is worldly I will turn many away from Jesus.

July 31, 2000               Joh 14:15
“If you love me, obey my commandments.

By faith I ask the Holy Spirit to give me the power to live like Jesus.  When I search the Word of God the Holy Spirit tells me what the Lord expects of me.  Obedience is an essential element of my relationship with the Lord.   If I do not obey, I will not grow in Christ.

June 1, 2000                Eph 5:25-26
And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s word.

How should I love my wife?   I must be willing to sacrifice my life for her.  In addition to being willing to die for my wife, I must be willing to live with my wife.  She must be first in my life.  Next to Jesus, my wife comes first.  The way that I show her that I am living for her is to make sure that everything I do is as though I were doing it for myself.  Loving my wife is the way I demonstrate how deeply I love the Lord.

June 2, 2000                Php 4:1
Dear brothers and sisters, I love you and long to see you, for you are my joy and the reward for my work. So please stay true to the Lord, my dear friends.

I find that it is easier for me to relate to machinery than it is to people.  Machinery is predictable and fixable.  People are different.  They are difficult to understand and impossible to fix.  But Christ came for people.  He was concerned that each one of us know Him and through Him have forgiveness for our sin.   Help me Lord to love people.

June 3, 2000                1Th 3:6
Now Timothy has just returned, bringing the good news that your faith and love are as strong as ever. He reports that you remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you.

Friends come into my life as a blessing from the Lord.  When pain and anguish come, my friends are the first to offer comfort and encouragement.  The Lord is good and perfect.  The friends that he sends me always seem to minister to me at the right time.   One must first be a friend to have friends.

June 4, 2000                Ps 33:18
But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.

Thank you Lord for watching over me.  In the midst of good and bad it is a blessing and encouragement to know that you watch over me.  When I am tempted to sin I am reminded that you are watching over me and it gives me strength.  In victory it helps me to keep my feet on the ground to know that you are watching over me.

June 5, 2000                Eph 6:23
May God give you peace, dear brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strife and discord are conquered by the peace of God.  God’s peace makes me grateful when I am overwrought and misdirected by the chaos of life.  His peace calms my fears and gives me renewed strength.

June 6, 2000                Eph 6:24
May God’s grace be upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

My home and my church are difficult places to live the Christian life.  Family members and church members know I am human.  So many times my real self comes through.  God’s grace ministers to my heart and enables me to be the kind of person that God created me to be.  Thank the Lord for his wonderful grace.

June 7, 2000                Ps 33:22
Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.

I am not hoping in a strong dollar.  My life does not revolve around a strong stock market.  I am totally sold out to live my life based on the unfailing love of the Lord.  He loves me and has my best good at heart.

June 8, 2000                Php 1:8
God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

I have friends scattered around the world.  I miss Rick and his family on mission in West Africa.  I miss Greg and his family who minister in Israel.  I miss Doc who now lives in Texas.  And the list is lengthy.  Some of my friends have moved to other states, some I’ve moved away from but all Christian brothers.   One day we will be together in eternity.   But for now, I really miss them from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you Father for these wonderful friends.  Please bless them while we are apart.

June 9, 2000                Php 1:9
I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.

I pray for a long list of people each day.  I pray that friends will be protected and blessed.  I pray that the Lord will bless those that are not friends.  I pray for the lost people that I know that God would save them.  Everyone needs prayer.  Put each person you know on your prayer list.

June 10, 2000              Php 1:16
They preach because they love me, for they know the Lord brought me here to defend the Good News.

The Lord uses people.   He is so faithful in using me.  I am often amazed when he takes my feeble work and blesses it.  I am weak but he is strong.  He wants me to be faithful in serving Him.

June 11, 2000              Ps 37:37
Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace.

I am cautioned by the Lord to be patient in well doing.  At the proper time He will bless my work and me.  God has a timetable.  My job is not to determine His timetable but instead I am to do His work.

June 12, 2000              Php 2:1
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic?

I minister for the Lord.   I am required to remember that God is the audience.  I work for Him and always in His sight.  I care for others not because they have been kind to me but because Christ gave His life for me.  I am under orders and well equipped to serve where the Lord puts me.

June 13, 2000              Php 2:29
Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and be sure to honor people like him.

I always fail when I try to judge others.  God calls me to love people not judge them.  My heart is unruly.   God’s love controls my heart.

June 14, 2000              Eph 5:28
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife.

I love my wife.  The longer we are together the more my love grows.  She ministers to me when I am down.  She rejoices with me in victory.  Over and over she encourages me to serve the Lord.  I think that I have the best wife in the world.  She is perfect for me.

June 15, 2000              Ps 31:23
Love the LORD, all you faithful ones! For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes all who are arrogant.

I always get in trouble when I get ahead of God.  The situation looked so simple.  The timetable was moving so slow.  I tried to hasten the work and everything fell apart.  Immediately I went before the Lord and cried out for help.  Only when I refuse to bend the knee does disaster strike.

June 16, 2000              Col 1:3-4
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard that you trust in Christ Jesus and that you love all of God’s people.

Christ Jesus is my only hope.  He alone is the way of salvation.  In Christ we pray for others.  In Christ we minister to others.  Without Jesus I can do nothing.

June 17, 2000              Col 1:7-8
Epaphras, our much-loved co-worker, was the one who brought you the Good News.  He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us in your place.  He is the one who told us about the great love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

People count.  When I forget the people that are actively involved in my life the Holy Spirit will nudge me to remembrance.  When I love Jesus, I love people.

June 18, 2000              Col 2:2
My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ himself.

I like secrets.  I want to be first on the list when things are told.  I know a secret.  Jesus is God’s everything.  Now you know it too.  Anything in my life that needs fixing Jesus is able.  All of the power and resources of God are available to me in Jesus Christ.

June 19, 2000              Ps 59:17
O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.

Experience is a harsh taskmaster.   I have had close acquaintances that for one reason or another became former friends.  They no longer have the kind feelings for me that they once had.  The tragedy is that I am probably the cause of their change of allegiance.  When I sin against the Lord, He still loves me.  I can go to him in repentance and still be loved and encouraged.  But there are times when I go to Him without realizing my need for repentance and His love does not fail.  God loves me because I am his child.

June 20, 2000              Col 3:14
And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.

I fail miserably at many things but I can love.  My love releases peace in my heart and puts grace in control of my life.  Love can mend my broken heart.

June 21, 2000              Col 3:19
And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly.

I have aged to the point where I am finally beginning to realize the tremendous value of my wife.  Her value far exceeds her weight in diamonds.  I am training my self to measure my responses with a realization of her value and contribution to my life.  My wife is the key to most of the success that I experience.

June 22, 2000              Ps 40:10
I have not kept this good news hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

I learned a long time ago that if I kept my eyes focused on Jesus and developed a close relationship with him I would be a good witness.  When I tell folks about Jesus I am simply telling them about what I am experiencing.  If you are having a hard time witnessing, go back to Jesus and ask Him to let you experience Him in your daily life.  When you do, witnessing will become second nature.  Tell folks about your best friend.

June 23, 2000              Eph 6:10
A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power.

Satan is seeking to devour me.   I know it.  I experience it.  The power of God rescues me.  Everyday when I wake up, my immediate prayer is Lord help me today.

June 24, 2000              Ps 36:7
How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.

My background is such that I have a habit of measuring everything.  I seek to think and express myself in evaluative ways.  God’s love is immeasurable.  It is enough to encourage me in my failure.  It seeks me when I am in despair.  It never fails.   I belong to Him.

June 25, 2000              Ps 36:1
Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.  They have no fear of God to restrain them.

I have discovered that my heart will lead me into sin.  It is deeply inclined towards self gratification and self fulfillment.  Self so easily rules my heart.  But the Lord faithfully touches me when I am going my own way and reminds me that He is in charge.  He quiets the whispers in my heart and redirects my path.  Thank you Lord for holding onto me.

June 26, 2000              1Th 3:12
And may the Lord make your love grow and overflow to each other and to everyone else, just as our love overflows toward you.

My love grows day by day.  Things that I once ignored, the Lord is bringing to my heart.   Weeping for the lost is making an entrance in my life.  Hurting for the helpless is a new experience.  Love is an action that when shared grows and grows.

June 27, 2000              1Th 4:9
But I don’t need to write to you about the Christian love that should be shown among God’s people. For God himself has taught you to love one another.

I cannot deny the example of love that Jesus taught.  He loved those that hated him.  He forgave the Romans who crucified Him.  He prayed for the religious who vilified him.  Help me Lord to grow in Christ.

June 28, 2000              1Th 4:11-12
This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before.  As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs.

I must be faithful on a daily basis to do everything I do as unto the Lord.  I am accountable for my skills and my gifts and must seek to use them to the fullest for the Lord.

June 29, 2000              Ps 31:15-16
My future is in your hands.  Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.  Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, save me.

Have you ever struggled with waiting on God?  That seems to be another of my greatest weaknesses.  God knows my needs.  He is aware of my difficulties.  He has a plan.   Help me Lord to not only say I believe this but to work this out in my life.

June 30, 2000              Ps 32:10
Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.

God will work out His blessings, plans and good things in my life.  If I will bend the knee of control to him I will experience His loving hand on my life.  If I do not bend the knee to the Lord, I will experience the frustration of life that all pagans experience.  God is in control.   I need to let Him have control of me.

May 1, 2000                1Ti 1:14
Oh, how kind and gracious the Lord was! He filled me completely with faith and the love of Christ Jesus.

One night at a revival the preacher said that I had as much of Christ as I wanted.  That changed me.  It put me on notice that the Lord was available for me.  I realized that Christ was willing to spend as much time with me as I wanted.  The depth of my relationship with Christ was a result of the time that I spent with Him.

May 2, 2000                1Ti 6:10
For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

I am concerned about the benchmarks I let creep into my life.  What is it that makes me do what I do?  Is it my love for Christ or a passion for money?  When all I do revolves around money, I must take careful steps to change what I am doing.  I found in my own life once that even my tithing became an issue for it was a point of pride and complaint.  Lord look what I have done now you should respond in the way that I want.  Money can indeed be a root of evil when it gains control of my life.

May 3, 2000                1Ti 6:11
But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

That’s right.  Run from evil.  I promise you that every time I walk, crawl or saunter from evil it defeats me.  Be assured that you cannot stand in the presence of evil.   Run.

May 4, 2000                Ps 33:18
But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.

I believe that the Lord will watch over and care for me.  Whatever the result, the Lord is faithful.  Every time I respond to life based on the faithfulness of the Lord, another particle of ignorance is stamped out of my life.  God is good, all the time.

May 5, 2000                Ps 40:10
I have not kept this good news hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

I experience real joy and excitement in the Lord when I share with others what He is doing in my life.  My feelings tend to be fairly moody and more often than not express themselves in negative ways.  When I realize my feelings are taking center stage and request that He intercede, He does.   My feelings change.  The confusion or hurt or pain stops.  I must tell you that the Lord is faithful to me in helping me to deal with my every day life.

May 6, 2000                Ps 45:1
My heart overflows with a beautiful thought! I will recite a lovely poem to the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

I love the Lord with every fiber of my being.  He is worthy of my total focus and the very best of my thoughts.  He wants to spend time with me and I am committing myself this day to increase the amount of time I spend with the wondrous Lord God.  Christ the King is a glorious king that is trustworthy and true.   Praise the name of the Lord.  Blessing and honor and mercy and grace belong to Him.

May 7, 2000                Ps 57:10
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

There have been dark nights at hospitals when I clung to this passage.  Several nights by a phone waiting to hear of or from a loved one this verse spoke to my heart.   I have found in all of my ways that the Lord has been loving and faithful to me.  And by faith I am confident that this will last through out eternity.

May 8, 2000                Ps 59:10
In his unfailing love, my God will come and help me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.

In my heart of hearts He said that He would never leave me alone.  This was important to me.  As a child loneliness was my constant companion.  I was different and weak.  The Lord assured me that He was on my side and that I would never be lonely again.  I had but to recognize His constant presence and He would deal with my enemy loneliness.  That is one enemy I no longer fear.

May 9, 2000                2Ti 1:13
Hold on to the pattern of right teaching you learned from me. And remember to live in the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.

Have you ever held on so tight that the blood threatened to burst out of your fingers?  Have you been challenged so maliciously by the evil one that you literally had to hold on to keep from getting lost in sin?  Many people have.  Holding on helped me to come back.  When I got back I found out that what I had held on to was holding on to me.

May 10, 2000              2Ti 2:22
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

I am responsible for the friends that I choose.  My friends have a terrific impact on the way I respond to the issues of life.  In my own life I find that my friends often come to my rescue when I am facing life’s greatest trials.  If I didn’t have friends like that I would be in trouble.  Thank you Lord for my friends.  They are a blessing from you.

May 11, 2000              Mt 22:39
A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Have you ever struggled with caring for an unlikable neighbor?  I have.  It is a deep, heart-wrenching struggle.  I want to comply with God’s requirement.  I want to do right.  But then the unlikable one does something even more detestable.  Help me Lord to put my beliefs into action.

May 12, 2000              Lu 6:27
“But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.

I have a hard, hard time actualizing this command in my life.  I turn to the Lord for the strength I need to make myself do this.  Every time I face an enemy with love I have to go back to the Lord Jesus for strength.   I cannot love my enemy without the intervention of God’s grace in my heart.

May 13, 2000              1Jo 4:7
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

I know I am saved because of my love for others.  Love is a choice.   I choose to love others.  Love is an action.  I treat others with respect and kindness.  By this I know that I am saved for the Lord Jesus Christ has changed the way that I act towards those that He died for.

May 14, 2000              1Jo 4:8
But anyone who does not love does not know God – for God is love.

Casting stones is never fruitful.   Love removes fear and hate from our lives.   If you are ruled by fear and hate for people, then you are not controlled by love.  If you are not controlled by love, you do not belong to the Lord.  If you do not belong to the Lord, you are dead in your trespasses and sin and Satan is your father.

May 15, 2000              Ps 40:16
But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!”

Praise is a powerful part of worship of the Lord.  Praising God helps me to keep my perspective on who God is and who I am.  The Lord is worthy of all my praise and honor.  His glory is beyond my ability to comprehend.  Praise empowers me in my worship of the Lord Jesus who died for me that I might have life.

May 16, 2000              Ps 42:8
Through each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

I am drenched in the love of God.   The Lord has singled me out for His blessing and concern.  He has singled you out too.  Do not forget that the love of God is adequate for anything that you will face today.  His love for you is renewed each day.

May 17, 2000              Ps 44:26
Rise up! Come and help us! Save us because of your unfailing love.

Oh boy.  I need your help today Lord.  The trouble comes without warning.  The failure seizes me by the throat.  Hurry and save me.

May 18, 2000              1Th 5:8
But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

My defeat comes when I am not thinking clearly.   I let the events of the day overwhelm my conversations with the Lord.  I get stampeded into action.  Do it now.  Solve it this way.  It’s so easy I won’t bother God with this.  But, when defeat looms I draw near to God.   The Lord renews my mind.  Why oh why Lord do I stray so quickly to my own way?   Help me to keep my focus on you.

May 19, 2000              1Th 5:13
Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.

Criticism may be proper in many professions but when it spills over into my personal life, it is wrong.  See everything.  Overlook a lot.  Criticize a little.  This mindset enables me to take others to the throne of God instead of to the hardness of my heart.

May 20, 2000              Ps 45:7
You love what is right and hate what is wrong. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

The Lord Jesus guides me to focus on what is right.   The Holy Spirit touches my heart when my way veers from the proper direction.   Christ is my focus.  I am his focus.  We each become the pride and joy of Jesus as we live our life in Him.

May 21, 2000              Ps 48:9
O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.

How many times have I blown it?  Maybe a million times?  The question at the point of failure is will he forgive me this time?   His answer is always yes, His love never fails.  I fail but He doesn’t.

May 22, 2000              2Ti 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

I am God’s property.  The Lord owns the title deed to my life.  Christ died that I might have an abundant life.  Satan seeks to kill, steal and destroy.  In Christ I am victorious.  Live the Life.

May 23, 2000              2Ti 1:9
It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began – to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus.

God would that no one be lost.  This spurs me to evangelism.  I must tell everyone about Jesus.  He saved me.  I want them to know.  He forgives me.  I want to tell everyone.  He enables me to be what I always wanted to be.  Praise the Lord that I am saved and you should be too.

May 24, 2000              2Ti 3:2
For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

I have cautioned my heart on this verse.  Who are the ungrateful scoffers?  Shouldn’t I be careful in my depiction of others that I not stand like the Pharisee in condemnation?  It is pitiful that society as a whole seems to fit this description.  Help me to pray Lord for the lost.  Help me to cry for those dead in their trespasses and sin.  Forgive me Lord when my life resembles a pagan life instead of a Godly life.

May 25, 2000              Tit 3:4
But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love.

I was dead in my sin and He set me free.  Often I think about my life and how different it would have been if the Lord had not come.   He was searching for me and found me and gave me life.  The richness of his mercy and grace increases exponentially as I walk with Him.  My troubles sideline me for a moment but then God shows me kindness and love and life resumes.

May 26, 2000              Jas 1:12
God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

My testing generally comes from my own poor preparation for battle.  The spiritual war is swirling all around me and I act as though I didn’t have a care in the world.  Help me this day Lord to watch and pray.  Encourage me to always be girded for battle.

May 27, 2000              Ps 33:22
Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.

Failure is feared more than death.  But God’s love never fails.  Whatever I do, wherever I am, God’s love does not fail.   In failure He brings victory.  In success He provides assurance.  God’s love does not fail.  When all else around me is falling apart, God’s love stands firm.  I am His and He is mine.  God’s love does not fail.

May 28, 2000              Ps 36:7
How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.

In the darkest hour of the darkest day, God’s love is comforting and encouraging.  All of us have had that kind of experience.  When we ask Him, He will respond.  His response is love and protection.  God is faithful, righteous and just.  His love is greater than all my hurts.

May 29, 2000              Ps 36:10
Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts.

Jesus is the living water of life.  His love is what I am so desperately in need of all the time.  In the hour of my need His love is there.  When I am not thinking about Him, He is thinking about me.  His love reaches into my life and gives me a platform for living.  His love is the gift of abundant life.

May 30, 2000              Ps 37:37
Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace.

What each one of us needs with out exception is peace.   Peace is that comforting agent that encourages me to live an abundant life.   Loneliness breeds desperation.  Peace instills confidence.  Peace enables me to sit quietly through the storms of life with confidence and assurance that God is in control.  I am not alone.

May 31, 2000              2Th 1:3
Dear brothers and sisters, we always thank God for you, as is right, for we are thankful that your faith is flourishing and you are all growing in love for each other.

God is thinking about you this very moment.  I am sharing my concern for you with the Father.  I am asking Him to touch you with love and grace.  He has placed you in this world as His co-worker.  What has he called you to do?  You can do it.  Be busy about the master’s work.

April 1, 2000 Ps 31:23
Love the LORD, all you faithful ones! For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes all who are arrogant.

I don’t often think of myself as a faithful one.  It is difficult for me to evaluate my thoughts, actions and emotions over the course of a day and get a sense of rightness or wrongness.  I am always prejudiced in my favor.  God sees all things and knows my sin better than I do.  He too is prejudiced in my favor because of Jesus.  Father I want to be faithful.  Forgive me when I am not and restore me when I drift away.

April 2, 2000 Ps 26:3
For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.

The previous day had been a washout and the night came all too quickly.  In my morning devotional, I was reassured of His love by Him as I asked for forgiveness.   God’s love never fails.  When I am weak, He is strong.  I can trust the Lord when all else about me fails.

April 3, 2000  Mt 10:37
If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.

This is a difficult requirement.  I can see my parents and appreciate the specific things they do for me.  I see my children and have a love for them deeper than they will ever know.   Lord help me to grow in my trust for you so that I see all of the wonderful things that you do for me and know them in my inner being.   This will enable me to develop the kind of love that places you first.

April 4, 2000  2Pe 2:13
Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They revel in deceitfulness while they feast with you.

I always think of others when I think of double mindedness.  An accusatory finger points at that evil person.  Recently in my holiest moment I noticed that when I pointed my index finger at another person, there were three fingers pointing back at me.  My own duplicity and evil had found me out.  Lord forgive me in my moments of double mindedness.

April 5, 2000 1Jo 3:18
Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.

The standard response by a clerk when I go into a retail store is “how can I help you?”  Father, help me to grow in Christ likeness so that when I meet people in need my response will be “how can I help you.”

April 6, 2000 1Jo 3:16
We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.

My family is really difficulty to deal with.  Some of them are Christians but they are very immature Christians and tend to be very self-centered.   I am grateful they are saved and really would fight to the death for them.  My difficulty is getting along with them.  It is very troubling for me to consider their desires ahead of mine.  Help me Lord to be willing to live with my family and not demand my rights.

April 7, 2000  Mt 19:19
Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

Time is a priceless commodity.   We only have so much of it.  I am just now beginning to realize that Jesus is saying that I must make time to think about, to care for and to spend time with my parents and my neighbor.  God loves people most of all.

April 8, 2000  Mt 22:37
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

Stop signs and speed limits irk me.   I have developed the California stop habit and push my speed to utter most limits of societal acceptability.  I am discovering that the Lord is not calling me to develop an ability to live my way to the very limits of acceptability but to surrender myself to him.  For me this is a daily, lifelong challenge.

April 9, 2000  Mr 10:21
Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. “You lack only one thing,” he told him. “Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

What I do with my life is the evidence of my love for Jesus.  I struggle with anger and low self esteem a lot.  When I let His love conquer my anger and heal my low self esteem, it is evidence that I have given up all things and am following Him.  Help me Lord not to protect old habits and foolish ways.

April 10, 2000  Ps 31:16
Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, save me.

Every breath I take is evidence of God’s love for me.  When I kneel before Him I am declaring my love for Him.  The difference is I am only making a declaration and God is making a statement of fact.  God cannot lie.  Unfortunately I can.  Help me Lord to think of you as you are and not as I am.  Help me to look beyond what I can see, feel and touch and by faith grab hold of your promises.

April 11, 2000  Ps 31:7
I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.

I am hurting about a lifelong problem.  This problem is seldom far from me.  It always inserts itself in my thoughts in times of trouble.  Oh Lord, remember me in my despair and send a sense of joy to heal my hurt.  He always heals me because He constantly loves me.

April 12, 2000  Ps 25:7
Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth; look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O LORD.

Lord, when will I grow up?  Even now, I do things that shock me at the immaturity of the act.  I am so easily upset.  Oh Father, help me to grow up.  Put a watch over my heart that I might not sin against you.

April 13, 2000  Mt 23:6
And how they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the most prominent seats in the synagogue!

Confession time.  I am guilty.   I want to be lauded for my humility.  Singled out for my kindness.  Uplifted for my sacrifice.  I am a sinner of the highest order for in my piety I seek exaltation of myself.

April 14, 2000  Mark 12:30-31
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’  The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

One day I will see God’s grace.  No not an emotion but a person, the Lord Jesus Christ.  His grace enables me approach God the Father.  The grace given me by the Lord Jesus Christ enables me to have the kind of relationship with God that my sin works against.

April 15, 2000  Ps 25:10
The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all those who keep his covenant and obey his decrees.

Do you ever have those philosophical days where you scrutinize yourself?  When I do I have a bad day.  I just cannot measure up.  Oh I can fool you but I can’t fool me.  Then, in prayer as I cry and plead with the Lord, Jesus reminds me that I never measured up.   He measures up for me.  Praise God for He is worthy of praise.

April 16, 2000  Ps 32:10
Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.

I always question my faith when I am suffering.  How, why, for what reason and on I go.  If I were is a choice phrase.  What happened?  Then the Lord patiently reminds me that   life is a journey of pain for everyone.  His promises are true but life will attack them with full force.  My relationship with Him is a relationship of faith.  Faith in Jesus equips me to survive in this life and stand in the experience of failure and sorrow and pain.

April 17, 2000  1Jo 2:15
Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you.

What does this mean?  Can I not like a spring day?  What about the joy of travel or loving my job?  Must I reject everything around me, pack up and trudge out to a deserted area?  Lord Jesus I struggle with this.  My answers change some times but the question is still there every time I read 1 John.  Help me Lord to answer this question honestly and rightly by the way I live.

April 18, 2000  Mark 12:33
And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbors as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”

I know the right things to do.  Two problems.  Sometimes in my rebellion I just don’t want to do the right thing.  Other times through laziness or self-centeredness I foolishly do the wrong thing.  Both are sins.   Father I repent of my sinful ways today.   Help me to change.

April 19, 2000  Lu 6:35
“Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked.

I find in my life that the way I act puts me in the camp of the enemies of God.   My position is saved by my action is of the world.  Lord forgive me when I act like your enemy.  Bring me back into your loving presence.

April 20, 2000  1Jo 2:5
But those who obey God’s word really do love him. That is the way to know whether or not we live in him.

Have you ever called anyone a hypocrite?  Jesus did.  It is heart breaking that he called those that claimed to be intensely committed to God hypocrites.  That causes me to look at myself.  Am I who claim to be an intense follower of God a hypocrite?  Am I obeying God’s Word?  If I am not obeying, no matter how intense my proclamation, I really am a hypocrite.  Help me Lord to life my life in obedience to you.

April 21, 2000  Ps 40:11
LORD, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. My only hope is in your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Some days I get out of bed on the wrong side.  I feel it and know in my morning devotional time.  I’m hurried and insensitive to the movement of the Lord.  Before the day is over I am crying out, Lord please guide me.   In the midst of my confusion Christ encourages me and guides me through the trial or tribulation that the day holds.

April 22, 2000  1Jo 3:17
But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help – how can God’s love be in that person?

I am my brother’s keeper.  I cannot ignore a person in need.  My sin and guilt was so great and Christ died for me.  His love compels me to help others.  His love calls me to see the need around me and do something about it.

April 23, 2000  1Jo 3:14
If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

How do I talk about this?  I cannot judge another person as to their salvation.  Maybe this simple definition of one who is alive is a reassurance for me in my daily walk.  God’s Word gives me a clear word on the reality of my faith.  I am because He is.  My love evidences my life.

April 24, 2000  Ps 26:8
I love your sanctuary, LORD, the place where your glory shines.

Lord thank you for reminding me of your precious presence.  Help me Father to remember to complain to you in private and praise you in public.  Encourage me Lord to prepare for public worship.  And Father when I come to your sanctuary help me to see you.

April 25, 2000  1Jo 2:7
Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment – to love one another – is the same message you heard before.

I am called to express my love through self-sacrifice and service.  My faith is real when it reaches beyond my friends and touches my enemies and persecutors.  My growing relationship with the Lord will result in growing relationships with others.

April 26, 2000  1Jo 3:11
This is the message we have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

He died for me.   When he met the soldiers on the Mt. of Olives he did it for me.  He endured the ignominy and persecution for me.  He was battered and bruised for me.  His pain was my gain.  He died for me.   And when He said “Father forgive them” He meant me.  Thank you Jesus for saving me.

April 27, 2000  1Jo 3:23
And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

My faith is an action.  When I am His I become yours.  I serve Jesus by serving you.  I love Jesus by loving you.

April 28, 2000  Ps 59:16
But as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety in the day of distress.

The pain is so great the power seems far away.  Only when I force myself will I say it and then I shout, the Lord is good and worthy of my praise.  In the midst of destruction I will trust thee.  When my power is gone I know He is strong.  Praise the name of the Lord.

April 29, 2000  Ps 57:3
He will send help from heaven to save me, rescuing me from those who are out to get me. My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

There is a lot going on in the spiritual realm.  The Father does not tell us a great deal about it.  I think that He doesn’t because my mind is so tiny and my thinking is so shallow.  I believe.  He reminds me of His personal help coming to me and I accept it.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

April 30, 2000  Ps 33:5
He loves whatever is just and good, and his unfailing love fills the earth.

There is nothing I can do that is hidden from God.   Help me to conquer my private sins that I keep hidden from view and turn to again and again.  Search me and cleanse me from all my sin and put me on the everlasting way.  Confession heals me of my unrighteousness.  God is faithful to renew my fellowship with Him.

March 1, 2000                 2Pe 1:7
Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.

The folks I come into contact with are the folks God calls me to love.  I am not to conjure up an emotion of love for folks I can’t see, my charge is to treat the people I am with like God treats me.  Love my neighbor.

March 2, 2000                 Lu 6:32
“Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that!

It is a difficult task to love the unlovely.  Especially when they mistreat us.  God’s love is committed love that reaches across our actions and responds to our need.  We need to respond to the needs of those around us.

March 3, 2000                 Jos 23:11
So be very careful to love the LORD your God.

If I love the Lord, I will obey Him.  Obedience is more important than sacrifice.

March 4, 2000                 De 7:12
“If you listen to these regulations and obey them faithfully, the LORD your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he solemnly promised your ancestors.

We are accountable for the way that we act.  There is God’s way and our way.  We make the choice.

March 5, 2000                 Job 10:12
You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.

Our relationship with the Lord is a daily relationship.  We choose to have all of God that we want.  My daily choices either bring me closer to the Lord or move me further away.

March 6, 2000                Ps 5:7
Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; with deepest awe I will worship at your Temple.

God is our most faithful friend.  No matter how bad life gets or how wrong we are we can still pray.  He will hear us.  He will listen to our pleas.  The Lord is our friend.

March 7, 2000    Ps 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Protect them, so all who love your name may be filled with joy.

Sometimes things happen that really get me down.  I don’t seem to be able to find the right solution or dispose of the heavy feeling.  I turn to the Lord and ask Him to help me refocus my cares and concerns from my inadequacy to His loving strength.  Often within minutes the power of God reaches deep within my soul to comfort me.  His love fills me with peace and joy.

March 8, 2000    1Jo 4:11
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.

I want to have friends.  Life gets quicker as I get older.  I find old friendships getting left behind.  Not on purpose just the hurry of life.  Three months pass, then six months and I haven’t spoken to my dear friend.  Then suddenly it’s a year, then two.  I have fond memories of life long ago now overrun by cares and woe.  Time passes too fast.  I live under the tyranny of the urgent.  But God calls me to care for my friends.  Care enough to discipline my time.  Care enough to get rid of the junk and focus on the joy of friendships.

March 9, 2000                 Ex 20:6
But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.

I know a family that has 10 generations of preachers.  They have the same problems I do but they seem to have a deep love for each other and all around them.  I want to build my life in such a way that the Lord will lavish his love on my family for 10 generations.  God tells me in His Word that when I obey Him I am expressing my love for Him.

March 10, 2000    1Jo 4:10
This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Do you ever think about doing something extra good so that God will be favorable to your needs?  I must confess that I sometimes mistakenly do this.  When I do, Jesus reminds me that the Father already loves me more than I can comprehend.  God wants the very best for my life.  The Father is always ready to help me if I will just let Him.

March 11, 2000                 Ex 34:6
He passed in front of Moses and said, “I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness.

I hide my sin from God.  I smile and do my thing all the while knowing that there is an un-confessed sin in my closet.  My thinking is that the Lord doesn’t want to talk about that sin.  God can’t help me with that sin.  The Father knows all things and expects me to bring all of my sin to Him for forgiveness.  He awaits my willingness to confess.  I have all of God that I want.

March 12, 2000    1Jo 3:10
So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the Devil. Anyone who does not obey God’s commands and does not love other Christians does not belong to God.

Too many people want to live a dual life.  At work, play and home they do what they must to survive.   At church they act like God’s child.   Ever wonder why when things get rough at church so many people act so awful?  Does it surprise you that at your church so few people tithe?  It’s because they belong to their father, Satan and they were only acting at church.

March 13, 2000 Ps 17:7
Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. You save with your strength those who seek refuge from their enemies.

I need your help Lord.  I really need your help.  Things just don’t work out like they should.  When I should keep my mouth shut, I talk.  When I want to help, I get my feelings hurt.  Help me to stand in the moment of spiritual attack.  Give me courage to be the person you created me to be.  Father I believe, help my unbelief.

March 14, 2000    1Jo 4:12
No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.

The best way to prove your love for the Lord is real is to love everyone you come into contact with.  This is how you will know you are becoming more Christ-like, if you are beginning to love others, especially the un-loveable.

March 15, 2000                 De 10:18
He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.

I can minister to Jesus when I help the helpless.  The helpless include widows, orphans, unborn children, the mothers of unborn children, the aged, the poor, those in prison and the homeless.

March 16, 2000                 Nu 14:19
Please pardon the sins of this people because of your magnificent, unfailing love, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”

My sin burns a hole in my heart.  I ache at the way that I sin against a loving Father.  My lifestyle, even though carefully developed falls far short of glorifying Him.   His love for me is greater than my sin.   His watch care over me is more thorough than my own care.  Thank you Father for your far-reaching forgiveness.

March 17, 2000    Ps 18:1
I love you, LORD; you are my strength.

Lord you are my rock, my fortress, my shield, my stronghold and my salvation.   There is no other but you.  When I consider your love and care and I can truly confess that you are my strength and without you I can do nothing.

March 18, 2000                 De 6:5
And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

Lord I want to make everyday of my life a day that is focused on you.  Help me Father to flee from sin.  Help me Lord to be obedient in all things.  Then Lord I will be the kind of child that will love You with all my heart, soul and strength.

March 19, 2000                 1Jo 4:18
Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us.

Yes, there are times when I fear the Lord.  His Word reminds me that He loves me.  I bow in confession and ask Him to show me His love.  As I meditate on His wondrous love for me, He gently quiets my heart and removes my fear.

March 20, 2000                 De 7:9
Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands.

So often when good things happen to me I rejoice and immediately forget the Lord.   My focus becomes me.  I set about developing how I will enjoy the good things.  Good things change so quickly.  In the midst of the change I suddenly realize that I have forgotten the Lord.   Help me Father to mature to the point where I will not forget about you even for a moment.

March 21, 2000    1Jo 4:17
And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world.

Do you ever think about what will happen when you die?  I do.  As I get older I think about it more often.  Death is a reality.   I try to comprehend the things that the Word of God says about what happens when we die.  All I really understand is that we will go to be with God because of what Jesus has done.   A lot of other things I don’t understand but I know this, I am safe in Christ.  He is my salvation.

March 22, 2000    Ps 36:5
Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Jesus loves me, this I know.  I know it because His Word says it.  I know it because the Holy Spirit bears testimony to His love for me.  One day I will know it first hand for I will stand before God’s precious love, the Lord Jesus Christ.  That will be a glorious day.

March 23, 2000    Ps 23:6
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

A non-Christian friend asked me how I knew that God was concerned about my life.  I told him that it was because of my faith in God’s Word and my own experience.  Jesus said that He was concerned about my daily life, and the quality of my decisions.  I believe that.  As a result of His promise, I ask Him about everything I do.  He has changed me from the inside out.  My life is different and Jesus is the reason.

March 24, 2000    1Jo 4:16
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

I know God’s love because I have felt it in times of trial and tribulation.   I know God’s love because I have felt it when I went to Him for forgiveness from a sin.  Every time I experience God’s love I know Him better.  His love equips me to love you.

March 25, 2000    Mt 5:43-44
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.  But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

Jesus presents a new paradigm here.  Love my enemy is a hard saying.  I am thinking of an enemy this very moment.  Lord help me to change and love my enemy.

March 26, 2000    Mark 12:38-39
Here are some of the other things he taught them at this time: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces.   And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets.

My name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.  I want to please the Father.  Help me Father to take my eyes off the things of this world and keep them on you.  I know that I must be corrected at times, Lord Jesus correct me.  I need your strength to deal with my pitiful ego.

March 27, 2000 Mt 5:46
If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

Lord, I recognize that my righteousness is as filthy rags.  Enable me not to focus on the evil of others but to be sensitive to and aware of the evil in me.  Make me a usable vessel.  Instruct me in your ways so that I will lead a life pleasing to you.  Remind me again and again that how I act with those around me is an indication of how I really feel about you.

March 28, 2000    Ps 25:6
Remember, O LORD, your unfailing love and compassion, which you have shown from long ages past.

I really struggle with the pressure of the moment.  In a trice I can go from gentle to irate.  Why, I ask myself over and over as I go to the Father and the individual for forgiveness.  The Father knew all my sins from forever and yet He loves me with a deep and abiding love that always seeks my best good.  One of my big problems is that I always want my way.  Because of my limited intelligence I don’t know what is best for me and in the rush of the moment seek to get my best by anger.  Love conquers my anger.

March 29, 2000    Mt 6:5
“And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get.

Father help me to be as transparent with my praying as you are with your loving.   Use me to encourage others and ask you to help them.  Beyond that Lord stop me from ever praying for show.

March 30, 2000    Mt 24:12
Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

Everywhere I look I see the pervasiveness of sin.  Satan is in his element in the world today.  As I study history, today isn’t much different than it was in Jesus’ day.   His love was real.  It focused on the needy and they killed Him.  I want to be more like Christ.  Father, help me to prepare for the animosity and anger of the world.  Keep my heart hot for Christ.

March 31, 2000    Mt 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

This verse says to me that God is interested in the way I deal with my money.  I believe this and twenty-five years ago my wife and I committed to Jesus to tithe our money.  This was a hard task.  Quite frankly it has been hard every year but we have not veered from that commitment.  I discovered twenty five years ago that if I couldn’t be trustworthy with what I had how could I expect the Lord to trust me with what He had.

2/1/00            Proverbs11:2
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Love for God and love for sin cannot coexist.  Pride is foolishness and flies in the face of God.  We are so limited and pride declares that we are unlimited.   Pride is a lie.  The Lord will personally move against a person that is full of pride.

2/2/00            Proverbs 11:3
Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.

Deceit and dishonesty create a life of destruction.  That kind of person sows seeds of discord and disharmony everywhere they go.  They will not miss their reward.  Their end will be self-destruction.  God’s Word is true.  His values never change.

2/3/00          Proverbs 11:4
Riches won’t help on the Day of Judgment, but right living is a safeguard against death.

There is a day coming when the Lord will pour out His wrath upon the evil.   On that day God will settle accounts with all people.  There is no amount of money that can buy a person’s way out of the judgment.  The only solution is the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2/4/00          Proverbs 11:6
The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

When we ask Christ to forgive us of our sin, come into our hearts and save us, we are saved.  We have become a member of the family of God.  Our response to God with the recognition that the Lord has provided a way has indeed provided a way for us.   Jesus rescues us from our sin against God and unites us with the Father.  We have bent the knee to victory.

2/5/00           Proverbs 11:12 -13
It is foolish to belittle a neighbor; a person with good sense remains silent.   A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

Satan is the accuser of the brethren.  He is a scandalmonger and talebearer.  If I belittle my neighbor, gossip or lie, I am acting like Satan.  If I do this regularly, whose child am I?

2/6/00          Proverbs 11:14
Without wise leadership, a nation falls; with many counselors, there is safety.

Wealth is not always a blessing.  Sometimes wealth is a test.  Will I take of the widows and orphans?  Will I protect the innocent and helpless?  What will I do with my wealth?

2/7/00          Proverbs 11:17
Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.

Peace comes to the peaceful.  Help is given to the helpful.  The daily actions we take and the way that we see others is simply a reflection of the way we see ourselves.  Be careful the evil you pursue for you will be the one that is overrun.

2/8/00          Proverbs 11:18-19
Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. Godly people find life; evil people find death.

We will reap what we sow.  Our lives are made up of what we do.  If I follow my own ideas and yearnings, the result will be a wasted life.  If I seek God’s way and strive to know Him the result will be Godly life.

2/9/00          Proverbs 11:20
The LORD hates people with twisted hearts, but he delights in those who have integrity.

God’s all seeing eye is upon us.  How does the Lord evaluate your life?  Are the secret thoughts you think embarrassing?  Are the hidden things you do abominable to the Lord?  God knows what you are thinking and what you are doing.

2/10/00          Proverbs 11:24-25
It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything. The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

God is no man’s debtor.  As you grow in Christ-likeness you will discover that you cannot out give God.  Generosity is the seed we sow for a prosperous life.

2/11/00          Proverbs 11:27
If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!

You do not have to stray far to destroy your life.  Evil is all around us.  My prayer at this stage of my life is “Lord don’t let me mess up now.”   Satan is seeking whom he might devour.

2/12/00          Proverbs 12:1
To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.

Growth doesn’t come easily.  Failure is often involved in significant steps of maturity.  The Lord uses others to help us regain our balance when we fail.  Listen carefully when a friend gives advice.  It may be from the Lord.

2/13/00          Proverbs 12:11
Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time.

Work hard.  Love all.  Be careful.  Look both ways when you cross the street.  Simple edicts that if ignored can cause one great grief.  Our lives are built one day at a time.

2/14/00            Proverbs 12:15 -16
Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others. A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

When you get angry remember that you are acting like a fool.  Establish a process where you can regain your composure.  Be calm.  Think clearly.  Be wise.

2/15/00          Proverbs 12:18
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

God cares for you.  You can be confident that the Father will guide you with wisdom to help when a friend is hurting. Sometimes a comforting touch is all that is needed.  Other times you will need to pray carefully for what the Lord would have you say.  .

2/16/00          Proverbs 12:19
Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.

Lies carry the seeds of their own destruction.  What seems for the moment to be a safe refuge is a perilous trap.   Tell the truth.  Tell the truth first then you won’t have to face the music later.   The Word of the Lord is truth and always trustworthy.  As a servant of the Lord we also should be truthful.

2/17/00          Proverbs 12:20
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

God always takes a long-range view.  He knows what the end will be.  Unless we commit ourselves to the things of God, we will suffer from a short-range view.  Think with eternity as your yardstick.

2/18/00          Proverbs 12: 22
The LORD hates those who don’t keep their word, but he delights in those who do.

I don’t want to be an enemy of the Lord.  When I fail to keep my word, I am hurting my friend but destroying myself.

2/19/00          Proverbs 12:23
Wise people don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their folly.

Loud talk is the label of a fool.  Cursing and big boasts are the trademark of one doomed to disappointment.  Wisdom is peaceful and gentle.  What’s that you were saying?

2/20/00               Gen 22:2
“Take your son, your only son – yes, Isaac, whom you love so much – and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will point out to you.”

You and you alone are responsible for your condition.  When you look at what you are doing today you can get a good idea of what tomorrow will be like.  Abraham’s journey to Moriah was the culmination of a long walk of obedience to the Lord.   His response was fashioned years before by his daily growing faith in the Father.

2/21/00               Gen 29:18
Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.”

Our most important goals and desires are worth working for.  Has the Lord put someone or something on your heart?  If He has, work for them.  If there is someone you have been praying for 5, 10, 15 or more years, keep at.   Never give up on them.  The Lord didn’t give up on you.

2/22/00              Proverbs 13:3
Those who control their tongue will have a long life; a quick retort can ruin everything.

Count to ten when you are tempted to respond in anger.  You never have to apologize for what you don’t say.

2/23/00              Deuteronomy 7:12
“If you listen to these regulations and obey them faithfully, the LORD your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he solemnly promised your ancestors.

Read God’s Word.  You are responsible for the way you act.  Fortify your heart and your life with wisdom from God’s Word.  The hour of temptation arrives without warning.  Be prepared.

2/24/00               1Ki 8:23
He prayed, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven or earth. You keep your promises and show unfailing love to all who obey you and are eager to do your will.

God has grafted us into His covenant family.  In Christ we have all of the blessings that the Lord has promised.   Rejoice in the Lord.  As His child you are blessed beyond comprehension.  Pray that the Lord will expand your understanding of His deep love for you.

2/25/00               1Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

The more we think about what God has done, the more we can appreciate the miracles that He has worked in our own lives.  It is a miracle everyday when we wake up.  The breath of life is precious and beyond compare.  Thank the Lord today for all of the wonderful gifts He has given you.

2/26/00               Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires you to fear him, to live according to his will, to love and worship him with all your heart and soul, and to obey the Lord’s commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own good.

Respect, follow, love, worship and obey the Lord.  When you do this you will be surrounded by His love and peace.  Life can be a lot simpler than we make it.  Trust the Lord.

2/27/00               Leviticus 19:18
“Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

We need to see ourselves the way God sees us.  He sent His son to die that we might have life.  What greater act of love could there be?  What greater worth could we have?

2/28/00               Ps 6:4
Return, O LORD, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love.

People count with the Lord.  God wants us to think about each other the way He does.  When we review our wealth, we should remember that people are the assets of God’s portfolio.  What’s in your portfolio?

2/29/00               Ps 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

Evil and suffering seem to go unchecked.  Sometimes we are tempted to think that the Lord is slow about responding.  God’s love does not fail.  Your faith is safe with Him.

1/01/00              Proverbs 1:7
Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

People count.  We need to listen to others.  Wisdom and learning do not begin and end with us.  You may know a lot of what is written in books and be leading an empty life.  Listen.  The words you hear may be from the Lord.

1/02/00             Proverbs 1:8 -9
Listen to what your father teaches you. Don’t neglect your mother’s teaching. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and clothe you with honor.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Actions imbed themselves in our heart.  Our parents teach us by the way that they live.  Be careful what you despise.  Learn from those that love you.

1/03/99             Proverbs 1:10
My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Sin is fun for a season but makes our appetites our masters.   Be careful who you follow and what you do.   Bad choices and inattention let bad habits gain a strong control over our lives.  Sin is always deadly and is constantly seeking to be our master.

1/04/00 Proverbs 2:2-5
Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Christ comes to those that seek Him. You and I must set aside the time and devotion in our daily life to be with the Lord. If we are too busy for God, we will seldom hear His voice. If we are too distracted by the world we will never develop a sense of the eternal. Choose it or lose it.

1/05/00 Proverbs 2:6-7

For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Am I who I say I am? When I profess Christ as Lord and Savior of my life am I permitting Him to be Lord and Savior? God is not concerned with what we have. The Father is concerned about who we are. If I am the Lords, everything I say and do will be affected by Him. If I am controlled by me, then everything I say and do will be tainted by sin and failure.

1/06/00 Proverbs 2:11
Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Do the next right thing. When this is the watchword of my life, God will be honored. If my life is focused on honoring the Lord, wisdom will be the result. Our relationship with the Father is not a mystery. We reap what we sow.

1/07/00 Proverbs 2:20-22
Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. For only the upright will live in the land, and those who have integrity will remain in it. But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be destroyed. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

The seeds of destruction have been sown in our land. The fruit of Godless living is all around us. If you find yourself overwhelmed by life, look at the way you are living. Are you following the god of this world, Satan or are you following the Lord of All, Jesus Christ. You choose. Be careful that you don’t lose by making the wrong choice.

1/08/00 Proverbs 3:3 -4
Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Loyalty and kindness both involve actions as well as attitudes. When we are loyal we act responsibly. When we are kind, we insure justice for the powerless. Our actions are a measure of the strength of our heart. A heart that is strong in the Lord deals with others in a Godly manner. People count.

1/09/001 Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Go to God for good decisions. Don’t think that you won’t like what the Lord says. He is interested in your best good. Decisions made without the Lord’s involvement exclude God from your life.

1/10/00 Proverbs 3:7-8
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil. Then you will gain renewed health and vitality. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

We feel eternal and live with a deep seated awareness of our frailty. We must learn to lean on the wisdom of God. No matter what the current situation looks like we can trust the Lord. He deals with us with loving kindness and understanding. He knows what is best for us. He will not direct us to do anything that would destroy our future.

1/11/00 Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with the finest wine. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

When are you the most alert? Mark out time for God then. What do you do that is superb? Invite God to use that gift as He sees fit. You are what God created you to be. You have what God gives you. Give the best you have to Him.

1/12/00             Proverbs 3:11-12
My child, don’t ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

We are not here by ourselves.  Our Father in heaven is carefully scrutinizing our coming in and going out.  We are responsible for what we say and what we do with our hands and feet.  The Lord will quickly discipline us when we stray from the right way.  We need to be quick to recognize Fatherly discipline.  It will keep us from a multitude of sin.

1/13/00             Proverbs 3:21-26
My child, don’t lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them, for they fill you with life and bring you honor and respect. They keep you safe on your way and keep your feet from stumbling. You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams.  You need not be afraid of disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Pray hard, and work hard.  Our close relationship with the Father should spur us to be faithful, diligent servants.  Laziness is ungodly.  The Father encourages careful living.

1/14/00             Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Be careful how you live.  Think about the needs of those around you.  Be as quick to give good as you are to receive good.

1/15/00             Proverbs 3:31-32
Do not envy violent people; don’t copy their ways. Such wicked people are an abomination to the LORD, but he offers his friendship to the godly. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Peace is a gift from God.  When God is involved, peace reigns.  When we are in charge, chaos is the motif.  A warring spirit is a sure sign that we need to get before the Father and pray for peace in our heart.

1/16/00             Proverbs 3:34
The LORD mocks at mockers, but he shows favor to the humble. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Humility is a difficult trait for hardhearted, judgmental mankind to develop.  We recognize our limitations but live as if we  were all knowing.   We pontificate in the most outrageous ways, listing outcomes that seldom come true and fearing events that will never happen.   Our lives should be governed with the realization of “as the Lord wills.”  Humility is a trait that is developed by focusing our lives on God.  The almighty, loving, all powerful Father who knows all things and can do all things.  He is in control.   I will never be in charge.

1/17/00             Proverbs 4:23 –27
Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

You are responsible for what your hands do.  Where your feet walk is under your control.  Guard your mouth for your sharp wit is a veritable cancer that can destroy others.  Our job is to connect our relationship with the Father so that it controls our actions.

1/18/00             Proverbs 5:21-23
For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his incredible folly.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Evil habits are hard to break.  Only by the power of God can we change our lives from darkness to light.  Pray hard.  Pay attention to how you act.  God knows everything you do.  You can fool me but you can’t fool the Father.

1/19/00             Proverbs 6:6-8
Take a lesson from the ants.  Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.   Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Prepare for each day. Evil is active and seeking you.  Put on the full armor of God and be busy about the Lord’s work.  What is His work you say?  Caring for His creation.  You are a co-laborer together with the Lord.

1/20/00             Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD hates – no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.   Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

This is straightforward.  Are you practicing any of these things?  If you are, you are sinning and the Lord hates it.  Stop it.  Do better.

1/21/00             Proverbs 6:20-23
My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s teaching. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck.   Wherever you walk, their counsel can lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up in the morning, they will advise you. For these commands and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you. The correction of discipline is the way to life.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Do not turn a deaf ear to good advice.  Life is hard enough when we do the right things.  Be careful what you do and remember what your parents say.   Our heavenly parent is very concerned about us everyday.  Listen.

1/22/00             Proverbs 6:30-33
Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving. But if he is caught, he will be fined seven times as much as he stole, even if it means selling everything in his house to pay it back. But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul. Wounds and constant disgrace are his lot. His shame will never be erased. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

God’s Word gives us clear direction for living.  When we violate His law, we will reap the consequences of our sin.  Be sure that your sin will find you out.  God’s law seeks to protect us from stupidity and foolishness.

1/23/00             Proverbs 9:7-8
Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get a smart retort. Anyone who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother rebuking mockers; they will only hate you. But the wise, when rebuked, will love you all the more.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

I am too quick with a retort when criticized.  Sometimes I can profit from insightful criticism.  I need to listen and think when others offer their view.   The Lord will give me insight as to the appropriate response if I will ask Him.  Sometimes, a response is not necessary.

1/24/00             Proverbs 9:10-12
Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Wisdom means “practical discernment.”  When we are wise we are able to make good decisions in difficult circumstances.  Whenever I need to make a good decision I can ask the Father for His direction to guide my actions.

1/25/00             Proverbs 10:2
Ill-gotten gain has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Feelings get us into trouble.  They are transitory in nature and are always changing.  However, the Lord gives us principles to live by.  They help us to establish long-range behavior that is based on our best good and not subject to the whim of the moment.  Right living creates a foundation for eternal happiness.

1/26/00             Proverbs 10:3
The LORD will not let the godly starve to death, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

The life of the person who seeks God is better than the life of the person that is controlled by wickedness.  You have one life to live.  Choose whom you follow carefully.

1/27/00             Proverbs 10:5
A wise youth works hard all summer; a youth who sleeps away the hour of opportunity brings shame.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

A wasted life is built upon wasted minutes.  Be attentive to what you are doing with your life.  Watching TV three or four hours every day will result in a life that is easily overrun in the time of trial and tribulation.  Be careful how you spend your minutes.

1/28/00             Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Forgive, listen, care, help, and understand.  You are a representative of the Lord.  Deal with others the way the Lord deals with you.

1/29/00             Proverbs 10:16
The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.   Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Look at how you spend your money.  Are you investing in eternal things?  Have you thought through your use of the resources that the Lord has given you?  We can make a difference in our life by how we spend our money.

1/30/00             Proverbs 10:17
People who accept correction are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore it will lead others astray. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

We can acquire wisdom by asking the Lord.  Sometimes that wisdom is in the form of another person sent to help us grow.  Listen carefully to those Godly mentors in your life and it will save you much pain and disappointment.

1/31/00            Proverbs 11:1
The LORD hates cheating, but he delights in honesty.   Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

“The Lord hates” is a strong statement.  I must submit myself to His scrutiny and understand that when I cheat anyone I am doing something that God hates.  That sends cold chills up my spine.

December 1 John 1: 1-5
In the beginning, the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

You exist because God made you. The creative Christ was at work before the foundations of the world exercising His sovereignty by creating you. You are a work of the master. Your life is of great value to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. You are not alone. You do not have to stumble through the darkness of life. Jesus offers you the light you need for a meaningful, abundant life. Choose Christ.

December 2 John 1:10-13
But although the world was made through him, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. But to all, who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Our spiritual rebirth comes by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a new birth from within. We are given a new heart that changes the way we act. It also puts us in the Family of God. We are now His children and as such are under his constant care. God cares for you.

December 3 John 1:14
So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Jesus is one of a kind. In Christ we see God. Jesus acts like the Father. Jesus did what the Father instructed Him to do. When we pattern our lives after Jesus, we will act like God acts.

December 4 John 1:16-17
We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Moses delivered cold stone tablets, the law. Fully human, fully divine, Christ was the fulfillment of the law in the flesh. The presence and nature of God was revealed in the humanity of Jesus. His divine love was expressed in the divinity of Jesus. Christ is God’s everything.

December 5 John 1:18
No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who himself is God, is near to the Father’s heart; he has told us about him. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

In Christ, we could see and touch the Father. No one else could do this for us. The hidden is revealed. No longer do myths or fables bind us, but now we can see God as He is. Jesus is Lord.

December 6 Hebrews 1:1-2
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

God has spoken to us through Christ. No longer does He use visions, prophecies, dreams or other means. He reveals Himself in Jesus and speaks to us through the risen Lord Jesus Christ. God loves you. He died for you. He lives for you. You are safe in His care. He will not forget you.

December 7 Hebrews 1:3
The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Jesus is God. That is why folks get upset when we talk about the Christ. He is the God who spoke in the Old Testament. He is the God who instituted the Church, which is His bride. Jesus is the full revelation of God. He is the only way to the Father. Christ is the complete expression of God in human form.

December 8 Colossians 1: 15-17
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we see and the things we can’t see—kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him. He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Christ is the glue that makes it all work. Those that ignore Him benefit from Him. Those that serve Him benefit because of Him. Then, one day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord of all. Praise the Lord.

December 9 John 14:6
Jesus told him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one can come to the Father except through Me.” Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

The eternal has offered direction to the creation. This is not a cafeteria type question with a multitude of options. It is a serious, significant directive offered to you and me by the Creator. Are we interested?

December 10 Deuteronomy 18:15
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like [Moses] from among you, and you must listen to that prophet. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Jesus Christ came to earth as a part of the eternal plan of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Jesus has always been the way that the Lord God planned to provide for you and me. Maybe sometimes we forget that the Lord has always known who we are and where we will be. This is Mike Clay reminding you that Jesus loves you.

December 11 Isaiah 7:14
All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and call him name “Immanuel”—”God is with us.”  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

A virgin named Mary conceived and bore a son, Immanuel, the Christ. Isaiah foretold his coming. He came.

December 12 Galatians 4:4-5
But when the right time came, God sent his son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

We have all the rights of a biological child in the family of God. We share with Jesus all of the resources made available by the Father to His children. You can ask the Father for anything you need and be confident that He will hear and He will provide.

December 13 Matthew 2:3-6
Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law. “Where did the prophets say the Messiah would be born?” he asked them.
“In Bethlehem,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you, who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’” Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

In Bethlehem Christ came as one with no power and yet He had all the power of God. He willingly surrendered the visible to the invisible. We have the same access to the Father. We can have all the power we need for daily living. Don’t be mislead by appearances. The things you see are passing away.

December 14 Luke 1:26-28
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

The Lord is with you. Live your life so that your light might shine. You have not been forgotten.

December 15 Luke 1:30-33
“Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!” Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

December 16 Luke 1:46-49
And Mary responded: “Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call be blessed. For he, the Mighty One, is holy and he has done great things for me.”  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

The Lord is a champion of the poor, the despised and the oppressed. The Father is concerned about the plight of the down and out. He charges us to care for those that are in need. Next time you see a poor person, remember that you are looking at someone that the Lord is thinking about at that very moment.

December 17 Matthew 1:18-21
Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiance’, being a just man, decided to break off the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly. As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said,” do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

What would your response have been? Right. Faith believes that God is active in our lives. We have a Father that cares for our best good. We have a sovereign that is not surprised at any event that happens in our lives. He knows the depth of our sin and has forgiven all of it. Our response should be, yes Lord I believe, help my unbelief.

December 18 Luke 1:68-70
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited his people and redeemed them. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Before a watching world the promises of God came to life. He did it then and He will do it now. Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it will be opened unto you.

December 19 Luke 1:76-79
And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

God chooses to work through frail humans. Never underestimate what God can do. He made us and He can work through us. Be about the Father’s work.

December 20 Luke 2:1-5
NOW in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

The pagan world thinks it is in charge. God’s activity is always in charge. When you become a part of the family of God, you become a part of God’s activity in the world. He knows what you can and cannot do. God will use you.

December 21 Luke2:1-7
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. All returned to their own towns to register for the census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancee, who was obviously pregnant by this time.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.  Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

God stepped into our world like the poorest among us. He lived a perfect life and died for us so that we would no longer be poor. In Christ we are rich. In Christ we are victorious. Have a joyous time celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ brings courage to fearful lives. We can trust Him and put our complete dependence upon Him

December 22 Luke 2:8-11
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside of the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the City of David!” Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Too often we think of happiness as an emotion. Emotions are easily changed. The coming of the Messiah assures our happiness. It is no longer an emotion. In Christ our happiness is a guarantee. You can bet your life on it.

December 23 Luke 2:11-14
“The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the City of David. And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Peace is here. Christ is our peace. When we go to others, we are emissaries of peace. Be a peacemaker. When you serve Christ you will be.

December 24 Luke 2:16-19
The shepherds ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a manger. Then the shepherd told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

We serve an astonishing God. The Lord has annointed us to serve Him. He didn’t choose angels, or super-humans, He choose us. Just so that we would know we could do it, He came in the form of a human. He came as a commoner in a family of common folk. He demonstrated the power of God by His daily surrender. He lived a perfect life by using the same resources that we have available to us. We matter to God. His plan to use us to share the Gospel doesn’t have a backup plan.

December 25 Isaiah 9:6
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this! Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

He is our hope. He delivers us from darkness to light. No longer slaves to sin, we are free in Christ. Jesus is God’s everything.

December 26 Luke 2:28-32
Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God, saying: ” Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel.”   Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Can you see what I see? Christ is born, crucified and risen. He is alive. His life changes my life. No longer enslaved to sin. Now I am free to be what He created me to be. Bless the name of the Lord.

December 27 Isaiah 11: 1-5
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new branch bearing the fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will never judge by appearance, false evidence, or hearsay. He will defend the poor and the exploited. He will rule against the wicked and destroy them with the breath of his mouth. He will be clothed with fairness and truth. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

We cry for justice but do we give it? We want our needs met but are we concerned about meeting the needs of the poor and exploited? Jesus meets needs. When we come to Christ we learn to care for others. Growing in Christ-likeness results in being concerned about the needs of those around us. God loves people most of all.

December 28 Matthew 11:28

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Are you loaded down with sin? Is depression or oppression taking over your life? Jesus forgives sin. Jesus frees us from bondage. Start where you are. Ask Christ to make you whole. The journey begins and lasts for an eternity. You will never be an outsider again.

December 29 John 16:33
(Jesus said), “I have told you all of this so that you might have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

You will face many problems but never alone. You will lose many battles but the war is already won. Jesus brings victory to every life. Jesus makes each one of us count.

December 30 Matthew 24:4-6, 13-14
Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Messiah.” They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won’t follow immediately…. Those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come.” Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News.

Jesus is coming back. If you are here when He does He will not forget you. Put away your worry, you can trust the Lord.

December 31 Matthew 24: 45-47
Who is a faithful, sensible servant, to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family? If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. Hi, I’m Mike Clay with Today’s Good News. Take care of the Lord’s people. Do the work that Christ has assigned you. None of us know what Y2K will do. But, we know what God can do.