Category: Devotionals

“Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.” Job 37:14

The book of Job centers on a man who has lost everything… his home, his livelihood, and his children. In despair, Job wishes he had never been born and questions God’s reasoning in it all. In the 37^th chapter of this book, Elihu is asking Job how he can take issue with God, and admonishes him to remember who God is by taking time to think about all the things God has done. Elihu urges Job to calm down and reflect upon the works of God seen in nature, things that man cannot explain or control.

These works are described as “wondrous.” According to several online dictionaries, the word “wondrous” is defined as “inspiring a feeling of delight; that is to be marveled at; astounding, or amazing.” Sometimes we need to take a step back and allow time to reverently ponder the “wondrous works of God.”

Consider these.

1. One tiny cell replicates itself and then begins to differentiate in its duplication to eventually form a human being with different organ systems that work perfectly together for a lifetime.
2. Planet Earth revolves around the sun at the perfect distance to sustain life. A little bit more one way or the other in its orbit would alter the planet’s ability to support any type of living organism.
3. Plant life was designed to produce oxygen as a waste product, which humans and animals need to live. Meanwhile, humans and animals produce carbon dioxide as a waste product, and that is a key part of the photosynthetic process of plants.
4. God created newborn baby kangaroos (the size of a grain of rice to a jelly bean) with the instinct to crawl up its mother’s abdomen and into a huge pouch to locate the spot from which it can attach itself and obtain nourishment to continue its development.
5. When our skin is damaged, it can mend itself, often without leaving any trace of the injury. It also helps regulate body temperature, releases waste products, acts as a barrier to harmful things, protects against UV radiation, produces vitamin D, and allows us to evaluate our environment through sensations such as heat, pressure, and pain.
6. Nitrogen is a necessary component for life that is found in our atmosphere (78%), but it is in an unusable form. Through precipitation, nitrogen is converted to a form than can be used by plants, and thus life continues.
7. Everything in our body gets time to rest, even if it’s just for a small amount of time. Everything that is, except the heart. Once the heart begins beating, it continues nonstop. It can be overworked and abused, but it continues beating on the average of 72 times a minutes throughout a person’s lifetime. No other muscle can do this.
8. Waves of energy travel through the air, hit a tiny flap of tissue in your head, transmits those vibrations through bone and fluid to a tiny piece of nervous tissue that takes it to your brain which interprets that as sound.

These works of God are often taken for granted or attributed to an evolutionary accident. It’s time to look at these and many more for what they actually are – wondrous works of God!

Perhaps we should all take Elihu’s advice to Job.

There’s the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me.

There’s the wonder of springtime and harvest,
The sky, the stars, and the sun;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is a wonder that’s just begun.

O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me

(from “The Wonder of It All” by George Beverly Shea)

“And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.” Luke 5:26

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What wondrous works come to your mind when you think of God?

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5

When it comes to love, actions always speak louder than words. Maybe that’s why Valentine’s Day finds our loved ones showered with flowers, candy, and cards. We are showing our love for someone by our actions.

A little more than 2,000 years ago, God put His words of love into action by sending His Son, Jesus to become our Saviour. It is because of this great love that we are “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13) when we will be united with the Lord forever.

The hope we cling to as Christians will never cause us to be ashamed. Why? Because we known that God does indeed love us! His love is decreed throughout the Bible, and its foundation is sure! God’s love penetrates our hearts and souls, and we know without a doubt that we are the object of His divine love. Perhaps the most famous Bible verse, John 3:16, affirms this love for us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Not only did He sacrifice His beloved Son, Jesus, but He did so while we were still His enemy. Romans 5:8 tells us “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Even knowing how depraved we would be, how sinful we would live, the Bible also says in Jeremiah 31:3 that “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” God has loved us forever and will continue to do so!

Additionally, God wanted us to have no misconceptions about the extent of His love, so He gave us His Holy Spirit to confirm this great love for us through the illumination of the Scriptures, which testify to the enormity of His love for us. Here are a few verses that manifest the love of God.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” Ephesians 2:4-5

Whether you receive a remembrance of love from someone or not on this Valentine’s Day, you do have a gift from God to remind you of His great love for you. It’s the Bible, God’s Holy Word. Still not convinced? Open it up and go to the concordance. Look up the word “love,” then read those verses. When you are finished, there will be no doubt that God loves you! Happy Valentine’s Day!

In letters of crimson, God wrote His love
On a hillside so long, long ago
For you and for me, Jesus died
And love’s greatest story was told

I love you, I love you
That’s what Calvary said
I love you, I love you
I love you, written in red

(from “Written in Red” by Gordon Jensen)

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37

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Is God your valentine? If so, how have you shown your love for Him?

“And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.” Micah 1:4

Providence Canyon is known as Georgia’s “little Grand Canyon’ because of its colorful layers of sandstone and clay. With sixteen canyons total, it is a beautiful geological formation in southern Georgia. When I visited this site, I was struck by how much it reminded me of Arizona’s Grand Canyon.

The world-view scientific consensus is that the Grand Canyon began to be carved by the Colorado River about 5 million years ago, give or take a few hundred thousand years. One would assume that Providence Canyon also took a long time to form, but that’s not the case.

According to the Georgia Department of Education, “In the late 1800s people cleared the land of trees to farm the area. They took no measures to avoid soil erosion, so the small gullies from heavy rains continued to form and get deeper. By the 1850s these trenches were up to three feet deep causing a path for the water to continue to erode the soils during each heavy rain.” Apparently, we have Providence Canyon as a result of poor farming techniques.

It clearly doesn’t take millions of years to form a canyon, and while it may have taken more than 200 years for the Grand Canyon to form, there isn’t a compelling argument to insist that it’s formation took as long as traditionally believed. It is more believable that a worldwide flood 6,000 years ago carved Arizona’s famous landmark as waters receded, especially when you look at the short history of Providence Canyon’s formation.

“The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.” Nahum 1:5

This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.

(from “This is My Father’s World” by Maltbie D. Babcock)

“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.” Job 38:4

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Never underestimate our Creator!

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4

I am constantly amazed by what God does for me. Not that I doubt what He can do, it’s just that sometimes I forget how much He loves me (above and beyond saving me from my sins – as if that’s not enough!), and He actually loves to do things for me as undeserving as I am.

I love to write, and today’s blog has to do with how the Lord unexpectedly blessed me in regards to writing my latest novel. Having finished the manuscript, it was time to design a cover for the book. A few months ago, I had been sent a picture of a beautiful painting of the crucifixion. It would be perfect for my book cover! After a little bit of research, I located the artist and asked how much it would be to use his work on the cover of my book. The cost was too much for me, so I put Plan B into action. I decided to ask my granddaughter, Ryanna, if she would consider drawing the cover for me. I knew she loved to draw, and I already had several of her illustrations on display in my home.

Happily, she took the challenge and produced exactly what I wanted! It did, however, have many similarities to the original painting, and I was concerned about copyright infringement. After one email to the artist, he gave me permission (at no cost!) to use both his painting and Ryanna’s drawing any way I wanted! I was stunned in disbelief. It was incomprehensible to me that a famous artist would be “moved by the Lord” to meet my need (his words). God blessed me in a way I had never expected! Ephesians 3:20-21 states “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

It was more than I could have ever asked for… in fact, it truly was more than I asked for because I had never taken this matter to the Lord in prayer. I never considered asking him to intervene because I thought that it was too small a thing with which to bother God, but Ephesians 3:20 says that God is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…!”  He truly did bless me above all that I thought could be possible for my cover design!

When I shared this with my daughter, she reminded me that God delights in giving His children the desires of their hearts even when they don’t ask Him for it. It’s hard to admit how forgetful I am at times in my relationship with God. I forget He really does cares about the little things. I forget He loves me as a father loves his child (Matthew 7:11) and how important I am to Him. “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)

I had forgotten that God cares about even the smallest things in our lives. I Peter 1:5 states “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” This verse doesn’t tell me to cast only the big things in my life; it says to cast all things upon Him. Shamefully, I asked Him to forgive me for forgetting to pray about this, and I know He forgave me without hesitation. What amazing love He has for me… and you!

Today, I am once again humbled by God’s goodness to me. I continue to be awed by what He’s done for me… how He answered a prayer I never uttered, and how He blessed me beyond anything I could have imagined. I cannot understand the love He has for me, but I am so very glad He loves me as He does!

Oh, how He loves you and me
Oh, how He loves you and me
He gave his life
What more could He give
Oh, how He loves you
Oh, how He loves me
Oh, how He loves you and me

(from “Oh, How He Loves You and Me” by Kurt Kaiser)

“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39

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God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. – Augustine

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

Today everything around me became a winter wonderland! The snow began to fall mid-morning, and I watched in wonder as the flakes grew larger, and their whiteness began to envelop everything. When I went outside, it was so quiet; there was an all-encompassing serenity everywhere as the snow continued to silently fall. Soon everything was blanketed in white, and then unexpectedly, the birds came out! Their songs were the only thing I could hear as they fluttered around my bird feeder.

This was a beautiful picture of the forgiveness of sin. Upon accepting Jesus’ atoning work on the cross, our sins are forgiven forever. God removes them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12), and He remembers them no more (Hebrews 8;12). We become “whiter than snow” because of His righteousness. And then, when the Holy Spirit of God illuminates our understanding and we realize who we now are in Christ, we burst forth in song as we rejoice in our salvation!

There’s within my heart a melody;
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
“Fear not, I am with you, peace, be still,”
In all of life’s ebb and flow.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know,
Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.

(from “He Keeps Me Singing” by Luther B. Bridgers)

“The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.” Isaiah 14:7

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Thank you Lord for saving my soul!

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

The other day, someone asked me where I lived. I knew they were not asking for my street address, but rather a generalization with regard to where we were at the moment. I explained I lived “out in the country,” north of where we were.

I don’t usually give much thought to where I live physically. I just know I love it! Being in the country allows me to wake up to birds singing, to listen to the wind in the trees, and to see an occasional deer, opossum, or fox in the woods near my house. Similarly, I’ve never really thought about where I live spiritually. I don’t mean the church I attend, but rather, where does my heart live spiritually? There are really only three possible answers. I either live in the past, the present, or the future.

The past is the largest part of my life if you were to count it in years. Reminiscing about certain events, like birthdays, graduations, or holidays, can really bring a smile to my heart. I remember gloriously happy days when I was a newlywed. I easily recall the blessings of raising my children. Moving into my first home was another highlight as was buying my first car. I loved being in high school and hanging out with my friends. I think we all believed we could do anything in those days!

I also remember the day I accepted Christ as my Saviour. It was the best day of my life! I was so excited, and as a 12-year-old, my mission was to share Christ with everyone. It was challenging to share Him with my mother, but Fridays was always our day to spend special time together, and that is when we had our best talks about God. It took years before my mom finally was free of her Shintoist past and became a child of God. I still remember that day as if it were yesterday!

However, I should not focus my entire being on my yesterdays. The Bible says, “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” (Ecclesiastes 7:10) Living in the past can be quite joyful, but it can also be detrimental to my well-being. If I remember a time when I had a better job, better health, more money in my bank account, or less weight on this body, it can cause me to focus on the ‘if onlys’ and ruin my today! Comparing what was to what is can be disheartening! Dwelling in the “I remember when…” times can be nonproductive and a bad testimony to others. The Bible says in Isaiah 43:18 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”

Living in the past can be emotionally painful as it can also remind me of my former sins. When these thoughts consume me, guilt and shame resurface, and I become an ineffective witness for Christ. I forget that I have been forgiven. Psalm 103:12 states, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” God doesn’t revisit my past sins, and neither should I, but when I live in the past, I forget that He has forgiven my sins and will “remember them no more” (Hebrews 10:17). I soon become enveloped by the “old me,” and my life is deprived of the joy of my salvation! The only way to escape the past is to remember that “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).

If not in the past, then perhaps living in the future is the better choice. First of all, there is no sin there to haunt me. I am looking ahead at a clean slate, so to speak. But there is worry. Short-term worries can be overwhelming. “Will I have enough money to buy new tires for my car?” “Is this lump a sign of cancer?” “Will I remember the words of this song when I sing it in church?” Long-term worries are equally as concerning. “Will I have enough money to sustain myself through retirement?” “Will I be healthy enough to take care of myself, or will I become a burden to my family?” “Will so-and-so ever get saved?” The Bible tells me “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself…” Matthew 6:34.

Clearly, the third option is the best. Living in the here and now. I cannot control tomorrow, nor can I erase the past. I can only impact today. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth,” records Proverbs 27:1. There are a plethora of things in my life today that need my attention. God tells me to focus on the tasks at hand in Proverbs 16:3. “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” If I spend all my time wishing I could change things of the past or worrying about things in the future, I completely miss the opportunities of today! Matthew 6:25 reminds me to “…Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”

It is important for me to listen to God today! Hebrews 3:7 says, “Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice…” It doesn’t say ‘yesterday’ or ‘tomorrow.’ The verse says ‘today’! And then, the Scripture goes on to say, “While it is said, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” (Hebrews 3:15)

The past is gone, and tomorrow will take care of itself. I need to be living in the present. Why? Because God has work for me to do, and today is the day that I must do it! He’ll let me know about tomorrow when it comes, and when it does, it will again be ‘today’! I don’t need to worry about it. God’s got it covered!

I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day
I don’t borrow from its sunshine for its skies may turn to gray
I don’t worry o’er the future for I know what Jesus said
And today I’ll walk beside Him for He knows what is ahead
Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand

(from “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Ira Stanphill)

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

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Never let yesterday use up too much of today. – Will Rogers

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” Mark 4:37

Rain! Rain! Rain! This morning I awoke to pounding rain, lightning, and thunder, accompanied by tornado and flash flood warnings! Yikes! It was still dark, and even with the occasional flashes of light to illuminate the sky, I wondered how I would ever see a funnel cloud approaching! While I like thunderstorms, I am not a fan of flash floods or tornadoes, so I kept an eye on the weather reports.

Sometimes troubles come into our lives, and they are just like storms. They can be scary just like a tornado warning, even to the point where you desperately seek refuge from them. Many years ago, I experienced a health crisis in my life. I definitely was overwhelmed, scared, and needed reassurance that all would be fine. It was hard to believe things would eventually be back to normal, but I had the support of my family and dearest friends to encourage me . However, now when I look back, I can see from whom I drew my greatest support.

God was and is always with me. Once I became a Christian, I became a recipient of all of God’s promises, including this one. Psalm 46:1 records that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” and He has shown Himself faithful to this promise throughout the Bible.

• God was there when the Israelites had no way to escape the Egyptian army.
  • “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” Exodus 14:21
• God was there when Daniel was thrown into a den of lions.
  • “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25
• God was there to help the disciples on the Sea of Galilee during a violent storm.
  • “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39
• God was there when Peter was in prison.
  • “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.” Acts 12:11

To know that I will always be held firmly in the hand of God is what reassures me in times of trouble. There is nothing that can happen that my God cannot handle. The Bible tells me “…with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Because of this assurance, I can say, like the Psalmist, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise
They don’t worry me, for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God
He walks with me and naught of earth shall harm me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God

(from “Sheltered in the Arms of God” by Dottie Rambo)

“For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat…” Isaiah 25:4

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The God of the storm is also the God of the rainbow!

“Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:” Psalm 148:8

Just a few days ago, we received conflicting weather reports from two very well-known forecasters. One predicted six more weeks of winter, and the other insisted that spring was just around the corner! Of course, I am referring to Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil and Georgia’s own General Beauregard Lee, two of the most famous groundhog meteorologists in our nation.

Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, something he doesn’t do very often. He has only been correct 39% of the time, according to StormFax Almanac, so you may not want to stow your winter coats just yet. On the other hand, Gen. Lee did see his shadow, and as a result predicted six more weeks of winter. According to Politifact, the General has a 60% accuracy rate in his predictions, so maybe the cold is here to stay a bit longer. It seems the only thing predictable about the weather is its unpredictability!

I’m so glad the Word of God is not like the weather! When it comes to dependability, there is nothing that can compare to the Bible. There is nothing in the Bible that is questionable; nothing that is conflicting; nothing that leaves any doubt. It definitely is the “solid rock upon which I stand”! Here are a few verses that explain why I love and trust the Bible.

• “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalm 119:160
• “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Psalm 33:4
• “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17
• “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16
• “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7

Not only are the words of Scripture true, but I have the best teacher to help me understand them… God’s Holy Spirit! It only makes sense to have the actual author explain His work, so that is who God gave us to illuminate His Word. Here are a few verses that explain the work of the Holy Spirit.

• “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26
• “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13
• “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10

With the words of truth and the Spirit of truth, there can be absolutely no doubt as to the truth of God’s Word!

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
‘Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.

The Bible stands tho’ the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands!

(from “The Bible Stands” by Haldor Lillenas)

“Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalm 119:140

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One sweet day, I’ll be living on the mountain underneath a cloudless sky! Heaven’s weather will be absolutely perfect! I hope to see you there!

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” Colossians 3:12

I am one of “the elect of God,” which means that I am the object of God’s grace and mercy. I have been set apart for eternal life in heaven. I am a child of God!

How did this happen? For me, it happened in 1968. The Bible told me that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because of the sin in my life, originally imputed to me through Adam and Eve’s sin, I could not measure up to God’s perfect standard of holiness. Romans 6:23 records the penalty of sin. “For the wages of sin is death…” Although physical death did begin when sin entered the world, this verse really refers to a spiritual death. I could not have fellowship with God because of my sin, and therefore I was condemned to an eternity without Him.

However, the last part of Romans 6:23 offered me hope. “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God’s only Son, Jesus, came to earth and sacrificed His life on a cross, shedding His precious blood to atone for my sins (and yours!). When I chose to believe in Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross and accept Him as my Lord and Saviour, my relationship with God was restored, and I was assured I had eternal life in heaven forever. It was at that moment that I became one of God’s elect. I became a person who was now chosen by God to receive all the benefits associated with being His child! From that time forward, I was a new creation in Christ Jesus!

As a new creation in Christ, God now views me as “holy” through my identification with His Son. I will never be holy like God, but because of Jesus, my sins have been forgiven and forgotten (Psalm 103:12), and I am able to stand before a just and holy God, presentable to Him because of my relationship with His Son.

In addtion to being holy in God’s sight, I am also His beloved. The Bible has so many verses that profess God’s love for me. Two of my favorites are Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee,” and John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is truly wonderful to know that God loves me just as I am, and He will love me forever!!

Knowing God loves me as He does makes me want to align my life to His will and way. Titus 2:11-12 states, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Colossians 3:12 gives me a few more specifics about how my life should be now that I am beloved of God.

First, I should have “bowels of mercies.” During the 1600s, when the KJV was written, people often referred to the bowels as the seat of one’s emotions (“gut-wrenching,” isn’t it?). This phrase actually means that I should be “moved with compassion” for others. Compassion is being concerned about the sufferings of others, which is reinforced by Galatians 6:2. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

In addition to being compassionate, I should be kind to others. Ephesians 4:32 reiterates this. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Kindness involves a number of things, including forgiveness and understanding.

I should also demonstrate humility. Not only should I not be prideful in my own self, but more importantly, I should have a deep sense of my own unworthiness in the sight of God. Without Him, I am nothing. It is only through Him that I am lifted up! “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10.

As one of God’s elect, I should also have a temperament that is gentle and mild, void of uncontrolled outbursts of anger. I should not be easily provoked or irritated, but rather I should have a meek and gentle spirit that forbears under difficult circumstances. God promises that He will lead and teach those who are meek in spirit (Psalm 25:9).

Lastly, I should be longsuffering, which goes hand-in-hand with meekness. Patience helps me endure all circumstances, good or bad. Ephesians 4:2 states, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” Patience with others is one way I can manifest God’s love because His love is longsuffering (1 Corinthians 13:4). As my faith grows, I learn more patience (James 1:3), and I become more Christ-like in my spiritual life, which then gives more credibility to my witness for Him.

There are many more characteristics enumerated in Scripture that I need to incorporate into my life, but this is a great start!

Be like Jesus – this my song,
In the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus, all day long,
I would be like Jesus.

(from “I Would Be Like Jesus” by James Rowe)

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13

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It’s important to remember that I may be the only Jesus that some people will ever see. I need to represent Him accurately to the world.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

I love my church. It has been a church for more than 185 years. It has a rich heritage founded on the Word of God, and it has been pastored by men who loved the Lord more than anything else in their lives. One of its ministries is a Christian school where children from pre-K to 12^th grade can learn academics along with the Bible. My family and friends attend this church, and together with them, I serve the Lord in several ministries. I cannot imagine my church not being there, and I cannot imagine not being a part of it.

Do you love your church like I love mine? What would you say if someone told you that your church was in danger of closing in the next year? It could happen! This Sunday I heard some startling statistics. Only 10% of independent fundamental churches are growing, and only 10% are maintaining. That means 80% are at risk for closing in the next year! Why? Because believers are not being proactive in regards to protecting their church because most don’t believe closure could happen to them.

Is there a way that we can help move our churches to be in the 10% that are growing? Here is what I learned this Sunday in the first day of our annual missions conference.

In order to grow our churches, we must…

1. Pray for our pastor.
2. Pray for the protection of our church.
3. Have a passion for lost souls.

First, we have to pray for our pastor. The Bible reminds us to “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” (Hebrews 13:7) Churches without a shepherd are like sheep without a fence. They will wander to their doom without someone to care for them. When a church loses its pastor, who is the shepherd of the local church, the body of believers, like sheep, have no one to lead them. (1 Peter 5:2-3) Without the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, men, women, families, teens begin to wander from their faith and eventually leave the church. As more leave, the church eventually will be unable to sustain itself, and it will close.

Praying for the pastor strengthens him, encourages him, and empowers him in his service to God. I do not know all that a pastor does, but I do know it’s a 24/7 job. My pastor preaches, teaches, counsels, takes phone calls at all hours, visits the sick in hospitals, visits homes in the neighborhood, works when needed at the Christian school, mentors young men who have been called to preach, and manages the affairs of the church. There is undoubtedly so much more that he does in his work, and I have no doubt he is a man who needs to be enveloped with the prayers of his “flock” continually. In addition, we must also remember to pray for our associate and youth pastors as well.

Second, we have to pray for the protection of our church. These days many churches have security teams due to the violence that is so prevalent in today’s world. It is difficult to go more than a few days without hearing of gun violence in a public place. Most of us think it won’t happen to us, but that is exactly what others whom we read about thought as well. Praying for God to surround His people with divine protection is prudent (Luke 11:21). But while we are protecting ourselves against possible outside intruders, we often forget about the destructive forces that can be within our churches.

Gossip, cliques, or “roasting the pastor” over Sunday lunch can be just as deadly to a church as an intruder with a gun. Likewise, inappropriate music, disrespectful dress, or ungodly activities can be an insidious invader that can result in the complete disintegration of the church. We cannot drop our guard; our worship must be Christ-centered in every aspect! The Bible tell us that we should abstain from the very appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), and that we should be separate from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17). When no difference can be seen between us and the culture in which we live, our church is dying.

Thirdly, we must have a passion for the souls of men. If we do not care about evangelism, missions, or Sunday school, it shows that we do not care about the eternal lives of people. Remember, everyone has eternal life. The difference is where you spend it. Those who have accepted the free gift of salvation from God reside in heaven forever. Those who reject Christ and his forgiveness will spend eternity in hell. If we don’t care about that, we have lost the essence of the church, and it will die. Without a focus on evangelism in our community through visitation programs and missions, our church will fade away.

Sharing the gospel with those that live around us and those that are beyond our immediate surroundings is the work to which Christ has called us. The Bible says in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” If we do not embrace that, we are helping tear down His church brick by brick.

I challenge you (and myself) with these questions.

1. When was the last time you prayed for your pastor?

• “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

2. When was the last time you prayed for your church or involved yourself in its ministries?

• “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17

3. When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone who needed to know that Jesus loved them and sacrificed his own life so that he or she could have forgiveness of their sins and eternal life in heaven with God forever?

• “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” John 20:21

If we do not keep these three things foremost in our hearts and practice them in our lives, our churches have the potential of being part of the 80% that could close their doors in the next twelve months. If you love the Lord and His church, pray for your pastor, your church’s safety, and those who are lost and need Jesus. Then go out and make a difference for Christ!

The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
She is His new creation by water and the Word:
From heav’n He came and sought her to be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.

(from “The Church’s One Foundation” by S. J. Slone)

“And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.” Acts 16:5

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“Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.” – John Bunyan