Peace Out! – 2 Corinthians 13:11

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace;  and the God of Love and Peace will be with you.
– 2 Corinthians 13:11

Peace Out!
Rejoice!
Restore your relationships!
Comfort one another!
Agree with one another!
Live in Peace!
     THEN...God, who IS Love and Peace, will be with you.

Pretty heady stuff eh?  Can you wrap your mind around this one?  The ball is in your court – whatcha gonna do with it?  You gonna run with it or are you gonna sit around waiting for God to make you feel like being a lovable and peaceful Christian?   If that's the case I hope you have a good set of lungs because you're gonna be holding your breath for-a-long-time!  

God wants us to take the initiative and show the world that we are different – that we talk differently, we drive differently, we live differently, and we react differently – not because we are being made to, but because we choose to.  We have to make a conscious effort to rejoice in the face of tough situations like when we receive a bad Dr's report, or a job loss, or to show love and compassion to those who oppose us.  We must choose to speak life into situations that by all outward appearances seem to be hopeless, and we must live peaceably and be examples of calm in the midst of our trials so that our neighbors and coworkers, and anyone else observing us will be drawn to the light of Christ that dwells within us.

As we do this . . . as we make the choice to rejoice in the life that we have, and as we demonstrate peace, and love, and kindness, and we learn to live full and contented lives (despite our circumstances), we will experience God's love and peace which will enable us to go even deeper in our relationship with Him.  In turn, this will allow us to be even more effective in bringing peace and love and joy to those who don't know Christ.  It is a continuous cycle that as Christians, we should be constantly working in and towards.  

I have been trying to apply this in my own life and I can tell you that I have never felt more at peace with who I am and my walk in Christ.  I am, on a daily basis, getting a better understanding of the depth of God's love and the sweet taste and aroma of His peace in my life, and I actually feel physically better because of it.  Oh, I still have arthritis, and I still have all the aches and pains that go with that, but the stress just isn't there as much.  I wish I could say it isn't there at all, but I am still learning how to make the right choices in celebrating my life as Christ intended, and I know that everyday, I will get a little bit better at living in peace.

Won't you join me in making a lifestyle change?  Make the choice to be a peacemaker and watch your life change for the better.  I challenge you to give up something that you feel is rightfully and justifiably yours in order to bring peace to the situation.  For example, have you been at odds with someone over a debt that is owed?  Forgive the debt and then apologize for any ill-feelings that may have come about because of the debt.  Are you angry with someone for hurting your feelings?  Go to them and apologize for being angry at them (chances are they aren't even aware you've been angry).  Do you have a family member that you haven't talked to in a long time because of something that happened years ago?  Call them today and tell them you love them.  Then watch as God moves in your life – and theirs.  Send me a note with your story . . . I'd love to hear how God has restored your relationships because you made the choice to be a peacemaker!

Prayer
Father I thank You for the revelation of my role in living in peace and rejoicing in my life.  For too long I was expecting You to bring peace in my life but I wasn't willing to do my part.  I see now that I must make the choice to live as a peacemaker in order for Your grace and peace to be active in my life.  I pray that as I continue living my life according to Your Word, others will be drawn to Your peace, which surpasses all earthly understanding.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

What is Your Reason? – 2 Samuel 7: 22

22 "For this reason You are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 
– 2 Samuel 7: 22

What is Your Reason?
From where I started to where I am today is miles and miles apart.  I have the saving grace of Jesus to thank for that, and yet I know that sometimes I don't show Him enough gratitude for delivering me from my old life – with all the rusty chains that held me down, and the one-way ticket to hell.  I was a mess, and I know that a lot of you have the same kind of story.  Kind of a "rags to riches" tale that speaks of God's Grace and unending Forgiveness.

After I was saved, I used to envy those people who grew up in Christian homes, and I would wish that I could go back and live my tumultuous childhood all over again, but this time with a "Godly" family.  I thought it would have been an easier life.  But as I grew in the knowledge of God's Grace, I soon realized that all of that baggage; all of the hurt; the innocence that was taken from me, and all of the years that were lost due to drugs and partying, only proved the greatness of His Love for me.  He, in all of His glory and wisdom, spoke my name one day, and I found myself giving my life to Him – the greatest day of my life.

I still think it is a very special thing to be able to grow up in a good Christian home, and I'm glad for my son that I was able to offer that to him, but I no longer wish I had grown up differently.  I am who I am because of what I was when He reached down and saved me – and for that, I am eternally grateful!

What is your reason for proclaiming God's greatness?  Has it been a while since you told Him how much you appreciate all He's done for you?  Take some extra time today to reflect on the grace He's shown you, and proclaim Him and His awesome plan for your life.  Really talk to our Lord, and share from your heart how much you appreciate ALL that He has given you through your salvation.

Prayer
Lord, You are a mighty and a great God.  I have seen Your power and I have felt Your compassion as I have grown up in You these past 20 years.  I want to thank You for protecting me as I was growing up.  You held my hand and even carried me through all of the evil that the enemy tried to destroy me with.  You restored me and You have given me gifts beyond what I could even ask or think.  You are MY God and I will love You with my whole heart – all the days of my life!

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

Hope and Encouragement

7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us;

8  we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed ; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

9  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 

11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
– 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (English Standard Version)

Hope and Encouragement
It's only just barely Wednesday and already, this has been a long and tiring week – at least it has felt that way to me!  The rainy weather has my old friend arthritis playing havoc on my body, and work has been crazy, and even though I got them done last night, the stresses of having to get the taxes done has taken its toll, and the fact that I've been neglecting my school work and the semester looms ahead has me all stressed out, and-on-and-on, etc., etc., (now would be a good time for someone to play me a hauntingly sad song on the violin).  Add not feeling well and having no energy to the mix, and all I wanted to do today was crawl back into bed and sleep until weekend.  I know I can't do that though (sigh), . . . and so I press on.

How about you?  Has your week been as crazy, and tiring, and stressful as mine?  We all have different things that we are going through, and we are all affected in many different ways.  We can choose to give in to the pains, and the pressures, and the stresses, and use them as an excuse to escape from the world, but I think the Lord would rather we remember His Word that says, ALL of this happens "...so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies." 

He does not, and He will not, give us more than we can handle (even though it may seem too much when we are in the moment), but He wants us to continually look to Him for our strength – our energy – our peace – our rest – our healing, and our delivery.  Christ IN us can do anything!  He will be our champion when we feel like we can't do one . . . more . . . thing.

He will be our smile and He will be our joy when we are so distraught, and sick, and tired, and stressed, and it seems like life has no meaning.  He will carry us when we feel like we are too weak to move.  He is so that we can be!  So let's look to Him today! Let's cry out to Jesus with eyes and arms and spirits lifted up! Let's show Jesus that we believe what He says and we are willing and ready to receive the life that only He can give us. 

Because according to God's Word to us, we may be afflicted in every way – but we will NOT be crushed. We may be perplexed about our situations – but if we look to Him we will NOT be driven to despair. We will be persecuted by the world – but because He is our Lord we will NOT be forsaken. We may, from time-to-time be struck down – but because of His shed blood, we will NOT be destroyed. 

He is our Deliverer, and He is our Redeemer, and He is our Portion! 

Thank You Jesus!

Prayer
Lord, I am so tired.  I have had a tough week and I need You right now.  I need You to help me to do the things I need to get through my day.  I know that in You I can do it all, and so I am asking You to be my strength and my energy today.  I need You to carry me a few steps so that I can get the momentum from Your love and joy.  Just a jump-start Lord – that's all I need right now, then I can carry You with me throughout the rest of my day. Thank You Lord – You are always there for me, and You never neglect me.  I love You.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

Reach Up! – 2 Corinthians 1:8

9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
– 2 Corinthians 1:8

Reach Up!
When I was a kid, my brothers and my friends and I would all gather in front of my house and we would sit on the curb on summer evenings and we would play the "cut" game.  We would all take turns "cutting each other down" to see who could come up with the funniest "cut" line.  It was ALWAYS funny when someone else was the target (not so much when it was my turn), so when it was my friend Alex' turn, someone came up with this line in reference to how short he was (and he was VERY short):  Alex is so short - he has to look UP to see DOWN!

For some reason, that line has always stayed with me and it came to my mind again when I was doing my devotion time this morning and I read this scripture.  In order to have to look up to see down, a person would have to be at a real low point – I mean rock bottom – having to look THROUGH themselves in order to see themselves. I picture it as someone who has been slammed down so hard that the force has jammed their top side down past their bottom side, and now they are inverted by the shear power of the slam.

Ever felt that way?  I have.  What did you do when it happened?  Did you wallow around in the muck of your own self pity like I used to do?  I was a champion at it – oh, poor me . . . I might as well not even exist because nobody loves me . . . wah, wah, wah – whine, whine, whine – boo-hoo, boo-hoo!

So what changed for me?  One day, when I was in a particularly low-low-low spot (I had to get a step ladder so that I could climb to a place where I could look up to see down), I noticed that despite my best efforts to convince them otherwise, nobody would climb down to join me in my pity party.  So instead of trying to see down, I decided to look up to see up.  I decided to cry out to Jesus.  You know what?  He reached down and He pulled me out of my despair.  He changed my heart and He changed my mind.  He changed the way I looked at my situations.

Notice that I didn't say He changed my situations.  We are ALWAYS going to have situations.  We are always going to face adversity and we will ALL always have to go through our trials.  He changed my attitude and my outlook when I am facing those situations, and adversities, and trials.  He let me know that when my world comes crashing down around me and I am feeling pressed down to a point where I feel as if I've been handed a death sentence, all I have to do is look up – and reach out – and call on Him.  He raises dead people up, and He can, and will reach down to you, and He will be your portion in time of need.

He is Jesus!  He is the risen King!  He is Lord, and He loves you so very much!  So next time you are feeling your world crashing in around you, look up to see Jesus – HE IS ALL YOU NEED!

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for always being there when I call Your name.  Thank You for being the one constant in my life, and for showing me the way to overcome my trials.  I pray for my brothers and sisters who are going through adversity right now.  I ask Lord, that You would put an urgency in their heart to look up.  Compel them to reach out and take hold of Your hand.  Show them that they can move up out of despair, and into the abundance of Your wonderful blessing. 

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard