Psalm 112, a devotion from yesterday.
The words of David review what a Man is like, who delights in doing things Gods Way.

I have said this before…Be careful not to chafe at authority for It will always be present in your life. Delight in it.
Proper authority gives you an understanding of the landscape. It gives you boundaries.

Who among us would not think the Authority present in Gods Way …
Is correct, Holy and worth following.
If a man cannot agree with that…will construct his own god.

Settle your heart in the ways of God.

Establish your heart in the life described in Psalm 112.

Read it.

What in this psalm is not to be desired ?

Terry
March 19, 2015

Someone once asked the question,”What in your life would be evidence of your Christianity?”

Think about that.

In your life currently….what would be the evidence of your Christianity?

Church attendance? Giving money to charities? Being in a “small” group?

All of these could be attributes of a Christ-follower. They could also be evidence of a person who does not have a large number of friends, needs tax deductions or likes Choir music.

You know those are not elements of salvation.

They indicate preference and can be acts which believers carry out.

If you stood before a judge tomorrow…
What have you done lately that would give him the evidence to convict you of being a Christian?

Merely looking different than the world does not qualify.
Hitler had a mustache different than most and it has become a “Logo” item.
Ghandi gave up a law practice, fasted profusely…wore clothes like Christ….but said he did not believe in Him.
Billy Graham is not the best preacher who ever lived. There have been better orators.

Yet, its the subject he talks about. The consistency of his messages which give rise to his belief.

What does the world expect from you?
What are the words coming from your mouth?
What are the meditations of your heart…which eventually become your words and actions?

It’s living out Matthew 5.
It’s living out Romans 8.
The fulfillment of it would be having Galatians 5 become reality in your daily walk.

Walk, talk, think and live as JESUS did.

The Word tells us how.
His Spirit within us will leads us into the “how”.

That’s evidence to get that judge to convict you.

Terry
March 17, 2015

I have had the privilege and extreme blessing of being able to stay at some of the best resorts in our country.

The past few days I have been honored to be at what many rankings call “the best resort in the
US”….Pelican Hill.

It is my favorite resort. It’s beyond great.

Sitting in the massive jacuzzi in the Men’s Spa, I looked at detailed Italian architecture, marble and stone. Outside the patio of my room one can see the Pacific Ocean.

The entire facility is extravagant, beautifully detailed.

As I looked around and walked in all this beauty, the thought arose in my mind that this was all developed by someone to whom God had given great gifts, wisdom and ability.

But God did not make and build this place.

Michael Jordan has sons in whom he gifted his DNA and probably instilled in them great insights about how to play basketball.

None of them are Michael Jordan.

Michael gave them gifts….but they are not him.

What God has intended for us is far beyond the beauty of the best resorts.

Heaven is not and will not be build by men to whom God gifted great talent and ability.

Heaven is and will be build by GOD HIMSELF.

Isaiah 64:4 and I Corinthians 2:9 state what my takeaway says.

The beauty you see in the best place you have ever seen or visited is trash compared to what God has prepared and has in store for those who believe in Him, accept His Son, and give their lives to Him.

The best and eternal resort Destination.

Terry
March 10, 2015

Today’s devotional was about gossip and the promotion of it.

There are two takeaways in my mind.

Knowing something negative about someone can happen because of friendship, communication or personal experience.
Knowing something about someone, however does not privilege you to make it part of your conversation with others.

Some people desire to seem “in the know” by spreading gossip, and you know in your mind and heart what gossip is.

STOP IT

Stop that acidity at the point of knowledge in your mind. Stop it before it spreads past you. You do not have to “get it out”.

One more thing…when you hear it…

STOP IT.

I once heard one of my closest friends speak something negative they heard from another source about someone we both knew and liked. My friend spoke it without malice….just repeated what had been said.

I knew it to be false.

Without attacking my close friend, I spoke up and with emphasis told my friend that what he had heard and just spoke was incorrect.

Even if it’s spoken without malice or negative intent…do not let it go beyond that point.

Stand up, speak up and defend.

STOP IT

Terry
March 3, 2015

For many years I would take three bounces, look and concentrate on reaching the back of the front rim, get the feel right on the leather, bend my knees and release the ball properly.

Repetition can create success. I do know that repetition creates memory.

When one includes precision with repeated physical movements, muscle memory occurs.

Muscle memory allows one to stand behind a stripe, concentrate and perform successfully when hundreds, maybe a few thousand people scream.

This same type of memory can create efficiency in our Spirit as well.

Reading the Scriptures repeatedly, dwelling on the words. approaching our Lord in prayer, with pursuit and diligence….creates a spiritual muscle and the memory to give you the ability to STAND, endure and get through circumstances which can buffet you.

Use Scripture to confront all circumstances, whether good or bad, for The Word should be put to work not only in dire straits, but also when full sails and a prompting wind are moving you forward.

Put your practice time in.

Terry
March 2, 2015

Have a friend who has moved here and has been trying to sell a house for years, and recently did.

I have another friend who has moved from here and is making decisions on
buying a house in that new city.

Both sides of a similar decision. Buying and Selling. Coming and Going.

Life leads us to see people come into our lives….while others leave our circle and go on to new ones.

In my life I have done a good bit of coming and going.

I believe God can use us if from cradle to grave we never changed locations.

To a greater extent, I believe God purposes to move us into new and plowable ground to enrich not only us but those from whom He intends us to touch.
And, He does intend us to touch.

He stretches us in these changing locations. He allows us to meet new people and grow from that contact….and He uses us to be influential in the growth of those people we come to know.

Changing causes us to walk out into water that is over our head and that floats us up to where our feet do not touch bottom.

If we stayed in one place too long our feet can get rooted in sameness, comfort and predictability.

God has it for us to be growing. He is conforming us into The Image of His Son. That confirmation cannot be realized if the conformee is cemented into a rigid and antiquated existence.

As CS Lewis said….”He means to redo the whole structure”.

Allow God to move you to new locations. While it may not be a new city or a new residence….it can be a level of life you never knew you were capable of.

As my friends who are buying and selling – buy what God is conforming you to and sell that new message to the world you live in.

Terry
February 27, 2015