Darkness

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 NIV

This verse is perfect for today. It's Halloween! The night of spooks and frights. The night of dark spells and magic. In the name of fun we dress up our houses and ourselves to celebrate darkness. If we're not careful, we stay in the darkness where it's scary, frightening, and it seems there is no way out. Even Christians find themselves in darkness once in a while.

But in this verse Jesus himself promises that He is the light, and if we believe in Him we will walk in the light with him. We don't have to be afraid. We don't have to worry.

Expel the darkness with God's love and forgiveness.

Praise

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 NIV

This is David's song of praise after God delivered him from Saul. David praised God during the trial and then praised him after. David knew God's promise of deliverance would see him through but he praised him anyway.

It's hard to praise God when we are going through trials. Sometimes we even get mad and refuse to ask him for anything.  But God comes through anyway. He answered prayers for me that I never even prayed. He takes care of the little things so we can handle each day that comes.

Let's take a lesson from David and praise God always, even when it's hard.

Proof

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10 NIV

Lawyers and auditors say it best: if it isn't documented, it didn't happen. Gone are the days when people made pacts with one another with just a handshake. Today if something goes wrong, if you didn't document it you have plausible deniability and can get away with selective memory. It's a shame that honesty and integrity are not as common anymore, where a man's word meant something and on his honor and that of his family's honor, it would be kept.

God doesn't need paperwork to remember you. I like the way this verse starts out - that God is not unjust. It insinuates that unjust people will conveniently forget when you helped if it doesn't benefit them at the time. But God is just and right and true. His word is infallible and stands forever - written or not. God's promise is a forever promise. He will not forget you. He will not bring up past troubles to have the upper hand. He will not use your weaknesses against you. He loves you. And because He loved you so much as to send His Son for a sacrifice for you, I'd say His word is what I'll listen to.

Optics

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15 NIV

The Proverbs are full of wisdom and insight into the difference between the wicked and foolish and the Godly and wise. The starke contrasts expertly woven by the writer make it easy to see that the ways of the wicked really will be their downfall.

In this age of instant news, social media, and people's Tweets making headlines, it's easy to hide foolish nonsense among all the noise. Our job as Christians is to hear what God has to say and despise the ways of the foolish even if it appears right. How do they say it these days? We need to make sure the "optics" are true once we peel away the layers.

Haunted houses

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 NIV

With Halloween almost here I'm thinking about haunted houses. Not that I want to go in one, but that I like the idea of them. I'm thinking about the way you feel when you are in the house. It's dark. You don't know who or what is around. And you jump at everything.  You are cautious and possibly frightened. Then, you come out at the end. It's light and the scary part is over.

That's what I thought of when I read this verse. Being separated from God is like being in a haunted house. It's dark, scary, and maybe even dangerous. But with God, we are safe. We walk with others and have safety in numbers...our brothers and sisters in Christ who help us along the way.

So leave the haunted houses for Halloween. Walk in the word of God.

He has Overcome

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

This is a familiar verse for Christians young and old. It may be one of the first verses memorized in Sunday school. It promises you will have trouble. God never said come to me all ye who are rich and happy. He said come to those who are weary because He knows we are only human.

But today this verse speaks victory to me and I just want to praise Him. Please join me.

Thank you Lord for giving me this word this morning when you knew I would need it for the day.  Thank you for taking care if my need before I even asked or knew I needed it. Thank you for the small victory I had today and for bringing me through the rest. Thank you for your promise to be here when I need you and showing me your love never fails. There is more to us than this flesh and we should not turn away from you and what you have taught to avoid earthly troubles. Thank you for providing the strength to face those everyday.

Cry for Mercy

I love the Lord , for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.  Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalms 116:1-2 NIV

There is a song to this verse that is beautifully scored for a wonderful way to worship the Lord. As Christians, we often think we should be immune to human emotions. This verse very clearly proves we are not. We have times when we cry out in pain, stress, fear and despair. It can be overwhelming because we also believe if we show fear or stress that it is a sign of weakness.

But over and over again, God's word tells us to give Him our weakness, our fear, our distress. Cry out to him. And this verse is the promise that when we do, He will hear our cry. He loves us and longs to be that safe haven for us.

We must then believe that He will see us through.

Hunger and Thirst

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35 NIV

Most of us have been hungry or thirsty at one time, although I imagine our hunger and thirst are minor inconveniences compared to those who are truly impoverished. And we have all experienced that hunger that has nothing to do with food but with a drive to want to do more, accomplish great things.

I have also experienced a hunger where I longed for relief from trouble or for something I couldn't have. The Bible doesn't promise days without struggle, sorrow, and strife. God's promises transcend everyday struggles, not to keep us from experiencing them, but to keep us from staying in them.

This verse says those who believe will never be hungry, be thirsty. It doesn't promise we won't ever feel that way, but promises we won't stay that way. Praise God!

And that promise is one I can hold onto each day.

Our Fortress

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 59:16 NIV

David wrote this psalm while Saul was lying in wait to kill him. I'd say that's trouble. We all have trouble. We all go through times of distress.

But we know, as David knew, that God would be his fortress during those times. It is God's grace and mercy and love that will see us through.

We must have faith. We must, in times of trial, remember to praise Him. I needed this reminder today. Thank you Lord.

Freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV

Freedom. We long for it, we fight for it, we demand it. We struggle every day to be free. It's time to stop! Christ has set us free and it was through His grace. We don't have to fight for it any longer.

But there is something that burdens us all and prevents us from fully enjoying our freedom. It may be a job or a relationship, but it keeps us from being truly free. Stand firm in your faith so you are not burdened by it any longer. Let God set you free by taking your yoke for you as he promised.

Be free and be strong.

God's Promise

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for Godʼs wrath remains on them. John 3:36 NIV

This is part of God's promise of eternal life. We have that hope if we believe in His son and accept Him as our savior. But God makes it very clear in this verse what happens when we reject Jesus. We will not see heaven. We will suffer for eternity.

Everyone has suffering in this life. Rich or poor, famous or unknown...we have all known sadness and sorrow. But we have a hope of an eternity with our savior if we just believe.

Believe today. Live in faith always.

Equality

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10 NIV

I have to admit that this verse stumps me a bit. Not the do good to all people part, but the exclusivity of doing good to other believers. Taken out of context it appears to favor believers above others. In our teachings of God's love we stress that God sees all men the same. But we also know that God does have His favorites whom He blessed above others for their faithfulness.

I also believe this verse is talking about showing God's love to all, especially to other believers so that we don't lead them astray. If we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ poorly, how much less well will we treat those who are not believers. What we must not do is pick and choose who we do good for because one day, the beggar and the rich man will both stand before the king and be judged on just one thing: whether or not they believe.

Who can save us

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NIV

What a powerful verse this is. During this election season we have politicians from all parties promising change, to make things better, to save America. This one simple verse makes it very clear: there is no one on this planet who can save us.

Only God can save us and change our hearts. When that change happens, we can positively affect those around us. But even then we cannot save them. We can however lead them to He who can, and that is what we are called to do.

Pray for our leaders that they may understand they cannot save us but they can lead us to the Savior, if only they are brave enough to do so.

Borrowing Trouble

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV

This verse has several readings, at least two that I can see: 1) that we shouldn't worry; or 2) that today is bad enough. There is a saying about not borrowing trouble because it will find you. I believe that stems from this verse.

I'm sure if I cross referenced this I'd find many places in the Bible where God tells us not to worry for one reason or another, but mostly because He has it all under control. I also believe He wants us grounded in what we are doing at the moment because He knows that tomorrow is not promised. If we are always worrying about something that has yet to happen, we miss the blessings happening around us every day.

So no need to worry. Take it all to him in prayer and lay that worry at His feet.

Consider the Source

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.  Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:5-6 NIV

I thought all day about what this verse is saying to me. I think in simple terms it means that when hearing words of rebuke or praise, you need to consider the source. Words of rebuke from a fellow Christian, someone you trust, are better than words of praise from an enemy. We all like to hear that we've done a good job, that were great at what we do. But if the source can't be trusted, those words are just lies to get you to follow them where you should not go.

But those we love and trust can point out where we might improve and can give us honest feedback to help us see ourselves how we really are. Those words can be trusted.

So be careful in your words and consider the source.

Infallible

"As for God, his way is perfect; the Lord's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him." Psalm 18:30 NIV

This election year is not unlike other elections. Each side is finding and exploiting the wrongs of the other. It is human nature to find flaws in others to make us feel better or more important. There is such a thing as Godly correction when a brother or sister in Christ gently counsels us on where we might be straying. It's quite another thing though that most people do: belittle others to point the blame somewhere else. We all know people who do this; we may be one of them or we may have had it done to us.

But God's word is 'flawless'. I love this use of the word in the NIV. There's not much in our world, if anything, that is flawless, perfect, without blemish in any way. Only God's word. That means you can trust it, that it will never lead you astray, it will never correct you just to belittle you, and it will shield you from harm. It is truly a wonderful feeling to know you are safe in His word.

It's Not About Me

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:16 NIV

I read this verse to my husband this morning on the ride to work. Intrigued, I read the verses around it. It talked about a wisdom that doesn't come from God. A wisdom that is self serving and malicious in its intent. When we arrived to work, some information came in that would really be a boon for me if I wanted. I called my husband in to chat it through and we laid out some possible roads. One of them was using the information for only my benefit...that wisdom not of God for malicious intent. We both knew that wasn't the answer. God had spoken the answer before we even needed it. Isn't that just like Him? He knew we would need that wisdom from Him and He sent it by His word.

He is faithful. The more we get in His word, the better we hear what He has to say. I think I will start reading a daily verse in the car every morning on our commute. What better way to spend time in the word together.

Flesh and Blood

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 NIV

When I meet someone new, one of the first things they learn about me is that I teach Jazzercise and martial arts. It's a big piece of who I am and is definitely on my list of hobbies. Thus I spend a lot of time exercising.  I go to great lengths to stay healthy. Lately I've had some issues that keep me from being "100%" as they say so of course I worry that cancer may be trying to sneak in. So I try to control stress and eat right, etc because I want to be active late in life and for as long as I can be.

But I know that one day this heart will fail me. It's not to be feared. Why? Because God has promised that He is our help forever. When this life is over we will rest forever in Him. This is His promise to us. And while we are here, God breathes life into our hearts to keep us going on the road He has prepared.

So when you feel beaten down and tired, God's word can pull you back up and renew you yet again.

Living Water

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38 NIV

With fall having taken hold, it is easy to forget the hot summer days when we longed for cool breezes and even cooler water. Just imagine a river, clear and cool, rushing over the rocks, eager to get to its destination, cleansing and bringing life as it goes. Sound good?

That's what Jesus said you are if you believe His word and live in Him. You will have these cleansing, life giving waters flowing through you to others as you go to your next destination in life. Imagine being that cool water bringing relief to those suffering around you. That's what this verse means for me. I want to be like that.