Many know facts about Jesus. Though all are loved and welcome few know Jesus as their Saviour.  Soldiers and betrayers approached Him in the Garden of Gethsemane as He was about to be betrayed, beaten, and crucified the next day.Slowly read and reflect on what follows.____________________Jesus asked a deep brooding question, “Whom do you seek?”John 18:7A short time later Jesus was taken in chains to meet with Pontius Pilot, the Roman Governor. He asks Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Perhaps Pilot too felt the hole in his heart and was curious enough perhaps to move from curious to a devoted follower.How about you? Curious? Aware of a deep unfilled longing in your heart? What, or who are you looking for? Are you weary?  The One you seek has come for you.Jesus is the One you have been searching for.____________________Imagine  If your spouse or child had inoperable brain cancer what lengths would you go to find a cure? Would you consider unorthodox treatment not recommended by Western medicine? Would you travel the world to find a doctor who has found success with a new medication?This is the story with all of us. We all have a terminal disease called “humanity.” Only One can rescue us from the abyss of the unknown.Action If you knew you would die today would you be certain of what lies ahead for you? You can have the assurance of heaven. The Bible tells us is available to all who come to believe in Jesus and accept Him as their Saviour. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  John 1:12Ask Jesus Will you be my Lord and Saviour? I believe You are the One.Begin attending a church. Tell someone you have become a follower of Jesus. Drop me a note at budlamb@infaith.org or give me a call at 831-566-4131____________________ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISEJesus is crucified on a hill in between two thieves who, I imagine, were screaming with pain, asking for mercy, and watching how Jesus responded to the slander of bystanders.  How Jesus carried Himself spoke to the heart of one of the thieves.Slowly read and reflect on what follows…__________Two others, criminals, were led out to be executed with him at a place called “The Skull.” There all three were crucified—Jesus on the center cross, and the two criminals on either side.And the soldiers gambled for his clothing, throwing dice for each piece.  The crowd watched. And the Jewish leaders laughed and scoffed. “He was so good at helping others,” they said, “let’s see him save himself if he is really God’s Chosen One, the Messiah.”The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink—of sour wine.  And they called to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself !”A signboard was nailed to the cross above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”But the other criminal protested. “Don’t you even fear God when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done one thing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”And Jesus replied, Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise. Luke 23:32-43 (TLB)__________ Imagine  See yourself as one of the two thieves watching Jesus as life oozes out of you.  What regrets would haunt you?  Do you identify with either of them?  The one that taunts Jesus to do something…or the one who asks Jesus to remember him...Action  Take a moment to thank Jesus for His grace to the thief, recognizing that same grace is extended to you now.Ask Jesus  Where am I experiencing the consequences of my own bad decisions?  How would You speak into my pain?  Let me experience Your kindness the way you replied to the second thief’s awareness of who You are.  Show me Your kingdom -- the place of Your rule and authority in my life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jesus’ longest day. His life was draining out of Him. His breathing was hard and heavy. He pushed up with His feet nailed to the cross in order to simply take another breath. Distraught family and friends looked on with horror, grief, and confusion, wondering How much longer can Jesus live?__________That afternoon, the whole earth was covered with darkness for three hours, from noon until three o’clock.About three o’clock, Jesus shouted, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for Elijah.  One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine and put it on a stick and held it up to him to drink.  But the rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see whether Elijah will come and save him.” Matthew 27:45 TLBThe light from the sun was gone—and suddenly the thick veil hanging in the Temple split apart. Luke 23:45When Jesus had tasted it, he said, It is finished, and bowed his head and dismissed his spirit. John 19: 30Then Jesus shouted, Father, I commit my spirit to you, and with those words, he died.When the captain of the Roman military unit handling the executions saw what had happened, he was stricken with awe before God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”And when the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw that Jesus was dead, they went home in deep sorrow.  Meanwhile, Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him down from Galilee, stood in the distance watching. Luke 23:46 - 49 When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, one of Jesus’ followers, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, placed it in his own new rock-hewn tomb, and rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting nearby watching. Matthew 27:57-61 __________Imagine You have followed Jesus in the crowd up the hill, watched Him drop the cross then climb onto it as they nailed Him to it. Hear the ring of the hammer on the nails as the people grow silent. What runs through your mind?Ask Jesus Help me whisper Father, I commit my spirit to you each time I find myself exhausted and at wit's end.Action As I close my eyes, help me meditate on the truth that I will never be separated from God again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The day Jesus was crucified and died may have ended with a long dark sleepless night for His disciples.  That first Easter was greeted by the dawn of a new age.__________Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone was rolled aside from the entrance.Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.That evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors, in fear of the Jewish leaders, when suddenly Jesus was standing there among them! After greeting them, he showed them his hands and side. And how wonderful was their joy as they saw their Lord!He spoke to them again and said, As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. Then he breathed on them and told them, Receive the Holy Spirit.  John 20:1, 18-22 (TLB)He told his disciples, I have been given all authority in heaven and earth.  Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this—that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”  Matthew 28:18__________Imagine  Can you imagine the shock and confusion that rocked Jesus’ disciples when Jesus walked into the room?  Action  How would you respond?Ask Jesus  How would you have me continue on with Your mission Jesus?  What “next step” do you want me to take? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Breathe Meditation for the week.  Written and produced to help you know, love, and enjoy God, to follow Him with your heart, and to love like Jesus. For the next six weeks, we will look at what the Bible says about how we can weather headwinds and hardship.  Jesus will teach us how we too can be overcomers!Jesus tells us that “in the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 AMPYears ago I was sitting in a recovery meeting reciting the Serenity Prayer with 60 or 70 other men and women, who like me, were confronting the stiff headwind of recovery.The phrases “...accepting hardship as a pathway to peace” and “taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is” stopped me dead in my tracks.Out loud to myself, I said “I DON’T WANT HARDSHIP!!!  I WANT IT EASY.”You see, I, like many – if not most – of us don’t like hardship.   We want to avoid it altogether, or at least to get out of it as quickly as possible.  And, we don’t want to take this broken world as it is…  We want to fix people, places, and things.A headwind can come out of the north with a bitter cold brought on by holding on to some addicting habit that sucks the warmth from your soul. Or out of the east like hope staggering to rise like Lazarus from the dead, years of chronic pain, or becoming more and more familiar with grief as we grow older. The fast west wind of youth when you are stalled or drifting in your faith or your career, your fidelity, or putting out into deep water learning to stay close to Jesus. Headwinds racing out of the south can be a form of God calling us up and out – a burning bush experience, a Goliath standing in the way of duty, a betrayal, or even a self-inflicted wound. Yet it is the Headwinds that help us soar.They are the lift facet of the Holy Spirit. Headwinds develop holy resistance that forms the muscles of a spiritual endurance runner, the Force that forges endurance. It is a friend, not a foe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Breathe Meditation for the week.  Written and produced to help you know, love, and enjoy God, to follow Him with your heart, and to love like Jesus. For six weeks we are looking at what the Bible says about how we can weather headwinds and hardship.  In this episode, we are learning from Peter and how he was able to weather wind and waves…A fierce storm attacked the disciples made their way across the lake. About 3 am Jesus came to them walking on water in the middle of a fierce stormPeter, the impulsive one, called to Jesus, “Lord if it is you, tell me to come to you by walking on water.”  Jesus replied, “All right, come.”Peter jumped out of the boat and, eyes fixed on Jesus, walked toward Jesus!Peter heard the wind saw the waves became afraid and began to sink. Peter then eyes locked on Jesus cried out “ Jesus, save me!”  Jesus reached out and steadied Peter and they both git back into the boat.   Matthew 14:28-32 paraphrasePerhaps you have been walking on water with Jesus with your taxes, or your spouse just had a stroke, or an unforeseen issue with your car, kids, or marriage and you too hear the wind, see the waves, and are beginning to sink!Notice Peter’s response. “Jesus save me!”Yes, we too can begin to sink, to try harder, to scramble back into the comfort of the boat and it’s illusion of perfect safety.How can we avoid headwinds & hardship?  We can’t.How can we stop sinking?Refocus on looking at the situation and fixing our eyes on Jesus.“Jesus, save me!” affirms that He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are fixed on Him. (Isaiah 26:3)Jesus is growing us up.At every age and stage, God seeks to develop ever-increasing situational trust in us. Lean into the lesson of the Wind and WavesGrow an intimate moment-to-moment reliance and awareness that in the boat or on the water you are not alone, He is always near, He will help with just a whisper.Do not be surprised that later today Jesus invites you to get out of the boat onto the water with Him.  It could be when you get a letter from the IRS or Social Security Administration saying they are making changes to your account.  It could mean death comes to the door of another close friend.  It could be at night when fears are racing.PrayLord, Jesus Christ, I don’t like headwinds or hardship.   I want to avoid them altogether, or at least to stop sinking as quickly as possible.  Help me learn to simply cry out. “Jesus, save me!” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Breathe Meditation for the week.  Written and produced to help you know, love, and enjoy God, to follow Him with your heart, and to love like Jesus. For the next six weeks, we will look at what the Bible says about how we can weather headwinds and hardship.  Jesus will teach us how we too can be overcomers!One of our spiritual ancestors, Elijah, found himself in deep trouble and had to run for his life.He ran himself into exhaustion until he came to a cave where he stayed for 40 days. Sometimes we need to Sit & ListenSit & listen isn’t what Elijah had been doing and yet when he became ready to really hear from God, it was sitting not running that was the hot ticket.  Listen to what the Bible says…The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.And after the fire came a gentle whisper.When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13 TLBSit & ListenIt’s so counter to how we want to respond.  If you’re like me or Elijah we want to run from it, avoid it, or pretend it’s not there.Sometimes we need to listen to the wind rather than fix the problem.Perhaps, after sitting with it for an hour, a day, a season - holding the situation in a sacred space of calm sitting with God we can begin to whisper, “God, what would You have me do (if anything)?”PrayerIn many ways, I’m a runner Lord - from my problems, consequences, from You and the last thing I’m comfortable doing is sitting and listening to You!  Yet, it seems my way rarely really fixes things.  Help me slow down, sit, and listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Breathe Meditation for the week.  Written and produced to help you know, love, and enjoy God, to follow Him with your heart, and to love like Jesus.For six episodes we are looking at what the Bible says about how we can weather unavoidable headwinds and hardship. In this episode, we learn about deep water.It’s not uncommon that Jesus invites us to put out into the deep water and let our nets down for a catch of fish.  Luke 5:4b paraphrasePeter and his friends got blanked the night before.  Jesus knows where the fish are.  Testing their patience, He asks them to go out again, to deep water, and let the heavy nets out again.What is Jesus asking you to go out again to do?If it’s not fish what is it?  It may be unfinished promises or projects, poorly executed promises, half-hearted commitments to family, friends, or co-workers.Listen to that tap on your shoulder -- that one thing that nags and lingers whispering “unfinished” in your heart.Name it and then ask, “Jesus, what would you have me do?”What work is involved in the depths of deep water?It may involve detoxing from old habits, untangling the mess by slowing down or declaring a season of study, meditation, or service.What are your modern-day heavy nets?Most likely these are the nuts and bolts of your life.  Perhaps it’s your morning private time with God, time with your wife and kids?  Maybe it’s following through on the pace of your life, health, or finances?For a few days, take these three questions to God.  Ask Him to help you answer them. Only God, your best friend, sees the pickle you are in and can help you.  Sit with Him as you pray, listen, and take notes.You must stay close to Jesus.Listen deeply every morning, afternoon, and evening.  Remember, He not only knows the depths you are navigating and the weight of the burdens you are carrying…  But He also knows where the fish are.PrayerWhere else can I go God but to you?  Some things are going well for me while in other areas I am drifting or playing in the shallow end of the pool.  I am willing to go out again, into deep water, and do the heavy net work so long as You go with me.  Thank You!  Amen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Breathe Meditation for the week.  Written and produced to help you know, love, and enjoy God, to follow Him with your heart, and to love like Jesus.For six episodes we are looking at what the Bible says about how we can weather unavoidable headwinds and hardship.In this episode, we learn the greatest things are always hedged about by the hardest things.Over forty years ago I underlined this verse in my well-worn Bible.…the hill country shall be yours.  For though it is a forest you shall clear it, and to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron and though they are strong.  Joshua 17:18  NASBThis is what I call my “life verse”: a Bible verse that has become prophetic, encouraging, and inspiring.With almost every setback, betrayal, or self-inflicted gunshot wound God has guided me with this verse.It points me to follow Jesus with my heart and to adopt His ways come hell or high water.The hill country speaks of headwinds and hardships I’ve encountered and continue to strive against.  They are heavily defended and resistant yet, the verse inspires hope.In my old worn copy of Streams in the Desert are these words inspired by Joshua 17:18.The greatest things are always hedged about the hardest things, and we too shall find mountains and forests and chariots of iron…The very hardships that you are enduring in your life today are given by the Master for the explicit purpose of enabling you to win your crown.Do not wait for some ideal situation, some romantic difficulty, some far-away emergency; but rise to meet the actual conditions which the providence of God has placed around you today.Your crown of glory lies embedded in the very heart of these things - those hardships and trials that are pressing you this very hour, week, and month of your life.Go with God.  He goes with you!PrayerThank You, God, that hardship need not be something to avoid at all costs, but an opportunity to grow in my devotion and follow-through as a follower of Jesus.  You are with me always! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the Breathe Meditation for the week.  Written and produced to help you know love, and enjoy God, follow Him with your heart, and love like Jesus.This concludes six episodes looking at what the Bible says about how we can weather unavoidable headwinds and hardship.In this final episode, we will explore how headwinds and hardship test our faith.Without headwinds, our faith is untested.Why is that?We need to learn to wait.We have a need for endurance. Sharp sudden hardship is easily endured. When it drags on in its long and weary way year after monotonous year, returning day after day with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength. Streams in the DesertIt is IN the wind where endurance tests and proves our faith.  These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it. 1 Peter 1:7 TLBIt is with the eyes of faith that we come to know that God causes all things to work together for the good to those who love God.  Romans 8:28 TLBHeadwinds and hardship:…stretch us by taking us out of our comfort zone.…make us limber as we learn to go with the flow. …expand our reach when we step out by faith.…increases our capacity to endure.Why is faith so important? It is the certainty that Who we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.Without faith it is impossible to know love and enjoy God, to follow Him with your heart, and to love like Jesus. Hebrews 11:6 paraphraseLean into the headwind you are facing today.PrayWhat small steps of faith have You planned for me today Lord?  Help me with eyes of faith to recognize them.  With the feet of faith that I would take that first step and another and another.  With faith in my heart trusting You precede me I go into this day.  Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are all doing our best to live as best we can - and each of us is fighting great battles and needs someone to pray for us.Paul, the writer of the book of Ephesians, sends this letter to his friends.  He writes to remind them of what is true about following Jesus’ Way and inspire them to take their faith seriously.Begin your day with a simple prayer for those you love…I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!  Ephesians 1:18-19  The MessagePrayWho needs you to pray as Paul prayed for his friends? Thank God, by name, for your kids, spouse, and friends.  Ask God to bless their……body with health, purity, and stamina.…labor with wisdom and favor at work or school.…emotional life with joy, health, and healing.…social life with growing friendships, fidelity in marriage, and courageous parenting.…spiritual life with a breakthrough in knowing You today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing to you, followers of Jesus, the Apostle Paul reminds us what’s true…It wasn’t long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant way of life.  Ephesians 2:1Today, through your faith in Jesus, you’ve been gifted with a fresh new life.  Ephesians 2:8No longer an alien, orphan, or stranger - but a true irrevocable child of God - loved beyond measure with no strings attached.  Ephesians 2:13Imagine!Take it in!Soak in it.The truth about you - a beloved child of God on whom His favor rests.Choose today to live out of what is true about you - no longer an alien, orphan, or stranger - extend the grace given you by God to all you meet today.Reflect…you were formerly far off and have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  Ephesians 2:13PrayGod, today, help me live out of what is true about me (and You).  To be as kind, patient, and quick to forgive others, as You are with me! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Ephesians 3:20 NIVThis verse invites regular Jesus-following people to dream big, pray long, and step out of the comfortable and into the unknown of advancing the Gospel.Did you get that?Now speaks of the time following Jesus’ resurrection when the rule of payback was replaced by the rule of love.  Payback speaks of rule-keeping and we call rule-keeping the Old Covenant.  The rule of love –  what Jesus taught and lived – calls us to turn the other cheek and extend forgiveness quickly.  This is called the New Covenant and governs the way everything works in this world and beyond.Note the writer is honoring God as he points us to the source of our ability to advance.  It is God’s mighty power not our own.Truly, this verse invites us -- perhaps compels or challenges us – to step out of the comfortable, as did Jesus.Step into advancing this now that governs our lives by dreaming big into your family relationships, or praying long about next steps, or stepping out of a casual relationship with God and going for it.The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.  2 Chronicles 16:9a NLTYour Maker is inviting you to join Him.ReflectHow will you respond to this invitation?PrayOur Father, who is in heaven, I want to honor Your Name, and so I pray that Your Kingdom will come, and that Your will be done in my life as I advance into this day with You. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Apostle Paul referred to himself as a prisoner of the Lord.  He reminds us with forceful language to step out into the unknown of each day and treat others like Jesus would reflect His goodness to everyone, to forgive and not judge, to rebuke lewd thoughts, and live an integrated life where who you are in private mirrors who you are in public - to expand Jesus’ Kingdom.  Ephesians 4:1 paraphraseJesus looked up before He stepped out.The miracles of raising Lazarus from the dead, turning a few loaves and fishes into a feast for thousands, and His “near the end of His life” prayer in John 17 were all preceded by Jesus looking up.He looked up to remind Himself of the truth - that He truly was God’s Son, that the source of His ability emanated from the Father, and that the Spirit filled Him and resourced Him to do what he was about to do.We need to look up.People are watching to see if we are authentic.The heavens are watching.All the while, demons whisper, lilt, and tempt with getting even when put down, responding to a harsh accusation, or doing the wrong thing.Yes.  I need to look up out because in the moment I often take the low road.  Inviting You into the situation by pausing and looking up I become attuned to Your wisdom.Begin today to acquire the habit Jesus employed -- look up -- to God, Shepherd, and Guardian of your soul.ReflectWhat unguarded moments will you encounter today?  How will you respond?PrayO God, help me learn to pause and look up before I put my foot in my mouth today.  Amen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sooner or later it’s time to take out the trash.Perhaps for you today is trash day.Paul, put it this way…Let there be no sex sin, impurity, or greed among you…no dirty stories, foul talk, coarse jokes - this is the kind of trash that can accumulate in your soul.  Ephesians 5:3-4 paraphraseThis is a short list of the garbage you may find in your soul right now.Some are obvious.  Most are subtle…with allure, drift, forbidden fruit, and BAM we find ourselves deceived.A few verses later Paul writes  with the passion and urgency of a train hammering down the rails:  “WAKE UP!”Brother, crawl out of the cave and step into the light!Get back to following Jesus with your heart, mind, body, and soul.ReflectIf we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9 (NIV)PrayCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bible tells us to put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  Ephesians 6:11 NASBWhat ground have you lost, dream have you given up on, habit or character defect have you been feeding into?What stands in the way of the best of you, as a man, spouse, follower of Jesus!Where do you need to take a stand?To get it back you’ll have to fight for it. You don’t fight alone. Remember, every day Jesus sends us out saying, Go.  I am sending you out and I am going with you. Luke 10:3Eleazar was one of David’s Mighty Men. He stood his ground in the middle of the field, and the Lord blessed him with a great victory. 2 Samuel 23:10I love this guy Eleazar. He was fighting for his life, his king, and his family. He stood his ground. With a sword in his hand, he stood his ground and advanced on his enemy. Legend has it that he fought so long and so hard that by the end of the battle, his sword was welded to his hand.You are that man. You are Eleazar in your marriage, family, and circle of influence in the world. No one can take your place.God trains our hands for battle and gives us armor and a weapon we’re expected to use.The battle is not against your wife, your family, or any other person.The battle is against the spiritual forces of darkness.Resist with prayer the urge to cut and run.Fight hard and fight long.Take a stand. Some fights are over in a few minutes while some persist with us like a siege. Call it out. Become prepared for a long one. Organize a strategy. Invite a spiritual friend to stand with you. Declare and take a stand for what you will fight for this year.In the middle of the field, you will not be alone.Resist.Fight hard.Take a stand.You can do this. Go fight for what’s important.ReflectWhat stands in the way of the best of you, as a man, spouse, follower of Jesus!Where do you need to take a stand?Pray Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many of Jesus’ followers listened with rapt attention to His simple teachings found in Matthew 5-7; if someone slaps you on the cheek, turn to him the other - don’t retaliate, love your enemy, be generous, go out of your way to help the undeserving, keep your wedding vows, seek the Kingdom.They listened but after a while, said to themselves, This is too hard to live like that!  They went on professing to be followers of Jesus, but in their hearts and practice, they were swimming in the shallow end of the pool. Jesus turned to His disciples asking, Do you want to go away too?  Simon Peter answered, Where else would we go? You are the only One. God can be depended upon; He wants us to be as decided, reliable, and stable.God is looking for men on whom He can put the weight of all His love and faithful promises.Today, you may hear Jesus calling you to step out, as my friend Jesse calls it, into a new level of obedience.ReflectI went past the field of a sluggard,past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;thorns had come up everywhere,the ground was covered with weeds,and the stone wall was in ruins.I applied my heart to what I observedand learned a lesson from what I saw:A little sleep, a little slumber,a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thiefand scarcity like an armed man.~ Proverbs 24:30-34 NIVPrayAgain. I hear You knocking. I choose Your way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

…You led Your people through the wilderness…Psalm 68:7The pillar of smoke by day and fire by night guided our spiritual ancestors through the wilderness.  We read in Exodus chapters 13 and 14 it was a symbol of God’s presence. When the pillar of smoke or fire moved the people moved.As it slowed so too did they.When it stopped they stopped.  I imagine they learned to wait and listen.How fast did the pillar move?  I doubt it raced across the wilderness and waited for hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children to catch up.Most likely it moved at a pedestrian pace.Emmanuel, through this Advent season, leads us through this present wilderness.Go slow this Christmas and savor the moments.Let every heart prepare Him room.The Messiah, Jesus, the Savior of the world is coming, again.ReflectLight a candle tonight and read Matthew chapters 1 and 2.PrayI see Your smoke moving across this present wilderness and I am taking small steps of faith.  Come, Lord Jesus, come!    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unopened gifts are often tucked behind the tree, undiscovered at the back of the mailbox, or arrive a few days or weeks after the Christmas morning frenzy.The ultimate gift of Jesus’ life delivers four gifts that often go unopened.Peace with GodSince we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in Jesus Christ, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Romans 5:1 NLTNo more running or hiding.  God isn’t out to spank you or abandon you or withhold his love from you.  He offers a fresh start with no regrets.  Are you willing to accept the gift of Jesus, as payment for all your poor choices?Peace of GodJesus tells us, I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don't be troubled or afraid.  John 14:27 NLTThe peace of God is within you in the person of the Holy Spirit and fills us with hope, courage, and wisdom.Have you misplaced this gift?Begin again your journey of following Jesus.  Peace with SelfAnd the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NASBNo more self-loathing or self-sabotage.  No more acting out because you feel bad about being bad.  Jesus' peace brings truth into our hearts and minds and sets us free.Peace with Others...as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Romans 12:18 CSBAs we experience Jesus extending peace to ourselves we begin to offer it freely to others.  Freely we received -- freely we give.  As best we can we choose forgiveness, not payback, as did Jesus.ReflectWhich of these have you not yet opened?  Have you opened it before and stashed it away in the closet?PrayAs You came the first Christmas as baby Jesus, I choose You now as the kind, just, the forgiving man Jesus.  I’m opening all of these gifts, God, as I open or reopen my heart to You. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1Set this year up as your best year ever by making the decision to begin with one word.  One word over the year can keep you focused.One word over the year will keep you moving when you want to quit.With one word over the year, God will meet you where you are, walk with you every day, and help you finish strong.Choose a word that fires you up, speaks to your soul, and inspires you to get out of the little boat you are in and walk on water with Jesus.Talk to God about your life, invite Him in to inspire you to love and good deeds.  You can do this if you take a step of faith.  Nothing happens without simple steps of faith repeated.Finding a word is as simple as making a list, looking at it for a few days, adding a word, deleting a word if it’s not right, and asking God to inspire you with a word.Here are a few words from last year from a few of my friends:ListenCourageGuaranteePurposeDedicationFocusSeekTrustYou will know you’ve selected the right word if it feels a bit risky. It may not juice anybody else up and that doesn’t matter -- if it does you, then you’re set. I wear my word stamped onto a key made by the good people at The Giving Keys, an inspiring “pay it forward” company. It is a constant reminder that God is changing my heart and walking with me. So take a small step of faith - listen to God and pick a word - it begins a new beginning and that’s how God began - by choosing a Word.Next week we will dig into a simple plan. Pray 2021 was a rough one for me. The idea that 2022 could be my best ever seems ridiculous. I’ve heard that with God all things are possible. So, I trust You will guide me as I begin my year with You. Thank You.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.