Verse of the Day - Genesis 18:10-12

[God said,] "…your wife Sarah will have a son." Now Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent nearby. And since Abraham and Sarah were both very old, and Sarah was long past the age of having children, she laughed silently to herself. "How could a worn-out woman like me have a baby?"…. ~ Genesis 18:10-12 (NLT)

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I have a question: How do we know what God's promises are? I mean, God doesn't talk to us the way He spoke to Abram or Moses. So how do we know that He promises us anything?

God's word is His talking to us, that's how. The Bible is loud and clear. But you'll never know what He promises you and me if you don't read it. You will never know how faithful He was to men and women of the Bible until you crack open the pages and dig in. God's faithful and true character is written all over His word, so that you will know Him, and desire to trust Him with your life.

So, as I go through this life, I know this, as a Christ follower...

~ He loves me (John 3:16)

~ He will never leave me or turn His back on me (Hebrews 13:5)

~ I have His Holy Spirit to lead and counsel me (John 14:26)

~ He is preparing a place in heaven for me to be with Him (John 14:6)

And, by the way, if you're looking for promises of health, wealth and prosperity, you will probably be disappointed in God. He doesn't promise a life of ease, free from disappointments or hardships. In fact, He promises that, as His followers, that's exactly what we will face. Wow--care to change your mind about who you serve?

See, it's not about us, it's about Him. All glory and power and praise and honor belong to the triune God! If we focus on what God promises to do for us on this earth, we miss the mark. All of what we have and what we are is pointed back to the Lord God Almighty!

Okay, so get into God's word. See what He's made of, and the things that He does promise His children, and the things He doesn't promise. Read how God was faithful way back when to all that He promised. Trust Him for all you have now and in the future, knowing that what He provides for you is out of His love for you and for His purpose and pleasure. Make your own promise to God, to live a life of loving service to Him, in His honor and for His glory.

Making and keeping promises reveals a heart of commitment. God has continually shown His heart of commitment to those who love Him. So - are we reciprocal? Do we demonstrate our commitment to Him? Do we keep our promise to love and trust Him, to walk with Him, to serve Him?

As you read of God's commitment in His word, let's evaluate our commitment to Him. Relationship is a two-way street.

(I realize that I have jumped all over the board today, like a checkerboard player gone mad. Oh well, thoughts don't always flow cohesively at 5am. :-)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Proverbs 24:21

My children, you must respect the LORD and the king, and you must not make friends with anyone who rebels against either of them. ~ Proverbs 24:21 (CEV)

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Verse 22 speaks to why we need to be careful who we associate with...

21 My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,
22 for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king? ~ Psalm 24:21-22 (NLT)

Those in authority over us are accountable for justice and order in this world. Wrongs don't go unpunished; therefore, keep your nose clean and avoid getting stung -- that's pretty basic. But what about your friends and associates? Collusion seems to love company!

...when you're riding around in a car with Frank and Billy, and they want to have some "fun" and see if they can rob a liquor store?

...when you're having lunch with co-workers and one of them shares an idea on how to skim some company money off the top without getting caught?

And what about the more insidious rebellion against God's laws? Beware when your friends and associates think they are above them...

...when you're having lunch with friends, and they start gossiping and slandering so-and-so...

...when a neighbor flirts with you at a party, even though they know you're married...

You might never do alot of unscrupulous things, but for the fact that you follow others who are doing it. And they might not do those unlawful things if others didn't rally around them in their rebellion and sin. Peer pressure and gang mentality aren't just for youth...adults are just as susceptible.

Wisdom says stay clear from people who don't follow the law, because you could get caught in the crossfire if you're with them, either by actual participation on your part, or by being guilty by association. It's just bad life business to hang around with people who don't fear the Lord and respect authority.

Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
~ 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

Choose your comrades wisely, basing your friendship decisions on their character and heart, not their money or flattery or schemes. Usually people who are trying to draw you into bad behavior are just using you. You're not their friend -- you're their pawn. And when the chips are down and you've been run over by a steamroller because of your participation, 10-to-1 you won't find your "friends" anywhere in sight. Hello-- you just got burned...and you may be left holding the bag for a long time, maybe a lifetime. Consequences have a way of lingering like that, don't they?

A friend loves at all times... ~ Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

Jesus is our number one friend, and He will never steer us wrong. And His Holy Spirit always prompts us in the right direction...

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! ~ Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

When your earthly friends line up with Jesus, you are definitely in good company. And I pray that you can find true friendship in this life, friends who love and care about you, who would not lead you astray or cause you to stumble, who love God and point you to Him.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Psalm 25:7

Forget each wrong I did when I was young. Show how truly kind you are and remember me. ~ Psalm 25:7 (CEV)

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Boy, do we do dumb things when we're little, huh? I've got a ton of memories of dumb things, wrong things I did that gave me trouble or caused me pain (sometimes on my backside!) Trouble is, seems like we sometimes keep doing dumb things, even as adults! Duh?!? Will we ever learn?

Life is a journey, and face it -- we don't always follow the right path. And in our human understanding of our divine Father, we can worry that our sins will be held against us. After all, that's often how people are...always bringing up our past mistakes...so, that is our natural reference point. And that's how we are, bringing up to ourselves those missteps and wayward choices over and over, replaying them in our mind like a bad "B" movie. When our idiocy and shame are brought before us by ourselves or others, I think perhaps we mentally stand before the throne of God again and again, hanging our heads and hoping against hope that God isn't as mindful of all our junk as people are. Please, God, remember ME, not my stupidity...those things aren't who I am deep down...or at least that's not who I want to be.

David's 25th psalm is a beautiful portrait of a contrite heart, one who recognizes his fallen ways and who desires and trusts the Lord's guidance in all he does. I encourage you to read it, and let David's attitude penetrate your heart. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2025;&version=72;

And praise be to God! He is not like us -- His divine heart is able to forgive and not hold against us the misdeeds of our flesh, for those who love Him and cling to Him for forgiveness!

He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. ~Psalm 103:10-13

If you struggle with unforgiveness of yourself or feel the weight of guilt from others because of foolish choices in the past, please know that you have a God who is bigger than all of that, who only desires that you come to Him with a humble heart, ready and willing to be changed into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. He knows you'll fall along the way, but when your desire is to know Him and be like Him in holiness and righteousness, you can know that He always has open arms for you.

"East To West"

Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me
You're holding on to me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other
~ East to West, by Casting Crowns

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Psalm 91:1-2

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
~ Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)

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When I read this verse, the first thing that came to mind was, this is a choice!

We tend to run around, doin' our thing, out of the protection of God's umbrella. We get busy and don't think of Him or converse with Him in prayer. We get frantic and worry over difficult circumstances and bad news, but God is sometimes our "last resort". If God is a five-star hotel, why do we keep hanging out at the KOA campground with the not-so-good restrooms and all the bugs?!?

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty...

Who doesn't want rest in this crazy, mixed up world? It is a churning vat of chaos and unrest! God says, Be near Me...cling to Me...look to Me for your protection, your provision. I am wherever you are and whenever you need Me. Come to Me first and stay..."dwell", don't just do a fly-by! Live with Me where I am, by the power of My Spirit. Then you will experience true rest. Then you will experience Me.

How close do you have to be to someone to be in their shadow?

Make the choice today and every day to dwell--live--in God's nearness, and know the divine rest He gives those who are in His shadow.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Romans 12:13

When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. ~ Romans 12:13 (NLT)

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What ever happened to the pineapple, that symbol of hospitality?!?

Hospitality may be a dying art, I don't know. I do know that we sure like to protect our privacy and our stuff, and we can be hesitant to share, to invite, to include others into our lives. Why is it that the three-foot bubble is so well-protected? How high are the fences that surround us? And how much do we miss when we keep people at a distance?

If Jesus lives in us, then it is Him who lives and not us (Galatians 2:20). He welcomed people, He ate with them, He walked with them, He included them in conversation. True--He didn't have a home to invite others to, but if He had, it would've been a packed house every night! :-) Simply put, He spent time with people, out of His love for them. So, as His children and ones who have died to self, we need to do what Jesus did.

Not only that, but the joy of friendships that are established when we lay down our self-defenses and our selfish isolation should not be missed! That is the body of Christ in working harmony! How about hosting a small group Bible study in your home? You'll be amazed at the community that is developed with your selfless hospitality! Or how about considering even a small financial commitment to a missionary you know? These are love offerings of worship to your God Who deserves all of our thanks and praise, and it helps you remember that all you have has been given to you by God for His good purposes and pleasure.

People,
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world
We're children needing other children
And yet letting our grown-up pride
Hide all the need inside
Acting more like children than children...
~ from the song, People (from the movie, "Funny Girl")

People do need people . . . you need them, and they need you. So burst the three-foot bubble and build a swinging gate in the fence of your life, letting others in, and being involved in the lives of others! Friendship and fulfillment in God's kingdom are the rewards for being the hospitality arm of God.

God loves community -- so let's be about giving, loving, and caring. May He bless you as you pass the pineapple! :-)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Galatians 2:20

I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

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One of my aunts passed away yesterday morning, and I was preoccupied with sending family emails and a fair measure of sadness this morning. VOTD just didn't take the same priority for me; therefore, I will allow God's Word alone speak to you today.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Matthew 25:23

[Jesus says,] "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" ~ Matthew 25:23 (NIV)

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I think most kids want to please their parents. To see the smiles and hear the "good job, honey!" I remember, when I was little, making a collage for my mom out of junk I'd found on the ground. Pieces of glass, flowers, flip tops, popsicle sticks, etc. I glued them all onto a rather large piece of paper, and then carefully brought it to my mom. I just wanted to make her happy! I'm sure she stifled a chuckle when she saw the "beautiful" artwork I'd made for her out of a bunch of junk, but I know...I know it pleased her mother heart still. How do I know? Because I, too, am a mom, and what our kids do for us out of love is one of the most touching things in all the world.

Don't you think God feels that way, too, about His children?

A life lived in love with God that manifests itself in obeying his Word and serving others on His behalf is a life "well done". When we give our best to the Lord, even if it seems like a collage of collected junk to us, He is so pleased...He sees where our hearts are and where our efforts are placed, and it makes His Daddy heart happy!

I also remember the time, as a kid, when I was throwing rocks across the street with my friend, and one time a car was coming by. My friend said, "throw it!" and so I threw it over the car. Well, I tried to throw it over the car. Instead, I hit the windshield! The car came to a screeching halt, and who was driving? My piano teacher's husband from down the street! I was mortified, and scared to death, and ran in the house, crying like a banshee! Mr. Teresi did come back to the house and talked to my parents, and boy what a sad, little girl I was. My parents were not happy with me, and I felt awful. Temporarily, their pleasure in me was gone, and our relationship had a barrier. Because of me -- I had messed up.

We don't always get it right, either, in our Christ-following walk. Sometimes we think we can throw rocks without causing damage in this life, and when we hurt someone, we must fess up to our Father God. It is a humbling experience to know that we're fallen children who time and again make poor choices in this life. But God is such a good Daddy -- He loves us still. He often allows us to feel the sting of consequences for our missteps, because a good dad disciplines the kids he loves, but He never leaves us or turns His back on us, His children.

How much better is it to see the smile on a parent's face when presenting them with a love collage, than to see the frown on their face as you drop the rock out of your hand and try to say you didn't mean to hit the car passing by...

Live to love your God through obedience to His ways and service to His kingdom. That way, you won't need to fear His rebuke -- you'll be looking for His smile!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Philippians 2:3-4

Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. ~ Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)

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I saw a vanity license plate the other day, on a big four-wheeled truck that read, "N2RTOYS". At first, I didn't get it. N2RTOYS? N..2..R...ohhhhh...into our toys! There was nothing more on the vehicle, except a small sticker on the back window, a picture of an all-terrain vehicle with a caption that said, "Got dirt?" And I thought about what this license plate said about the owner. Into recreation and pleasure, BIG-TIME. All about the toys and how they make me happy. The term hedonism came to mind, a mindset or mentality (even a religion of sorts) of living life for personal pleasure that I learned years ago while studying church history. All about the fun. All about my fun.

Selfish living simply goes against the grain of God and His kingdom, doesn't it? Jesus was God in the flesh, and He was the personification--the epitome--of selflessness. He was God's Exhibit A...no other exhibits needed to show us how to live a godly life. And yet, we fight against this desire to serve ourselves, to think of ourselves first and only, to get what we want and to exalt ourselves as #1, stepping on other when necessary. It's a dog-eat-dog world, and we so often just growl and bark like the rest of the pack as we grapple for first position.

Only God can change us on the inside, so that we understand our position with Him and with our fellow human beings. Only He can help us understand what our role and purpose is in God's kingdom. Selflessness is radical to the unbelieving world. It's nonsense! Who thinks of others above themselves? Are you crazy?!? That'll never get you anywhere in this life! And they may be right. But for the believer in Jesus Christ, this life is not just horizontal...it's vertical. It's 4th dimension. It's out of this world.

So be radical. Ask God to turn your heart and mind upside down, and live a selfless life. God will use you in a mighty way to show the secular world what He really looks like...what He's really all about.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - John 15:15

[Jesus says,] "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." ~ John 15:15 (NIV)

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It doesn't take too long in this world to figure out that not everyone is your friend. When you're little, you ask your "friend" to hold your ice cream cone while you go to the bathroom. Come back? No friend, no ice cream cone. When you're a teenager, you share with a "friend" that you like this person, but you swear them to secrecy. At school? Somehow, everyone knows you like so-and-so and yet your "friend" claims innocence.

Friend? Who knew that was another word for backstabber?

Yes, I sound cynical, and no, that's not the story of my life, really. Although, I have been "had" by friends, as you probably have also. Good friends can be hard to come by. Not that you can't find people who are nice and all...it's just that finding people that have your best interests at heart are a rare breed. They might have other peoples' best interest at heart and be good friends with someone else. But you want to find those that are good to and with you. True friendship.

With a true friend you can share the deep things of your heart, to be honest and bare your soul, without risking embarrassment, ridicule or abandonment. Yet, not everyone can be trusted with that kind of openness. And so, because of being burned in the past, some just refuse to let anyone into their life. Better to isolate than risk the pain of a bad friend, right? Like the old saying goes, 'Fool me once--shame on you. Fool me twice--shame on me!'

I believe God created us for friendship, first with Him and then with others. But in our efforts to insulate ourselves from past hurts or perceived rejection, we keep people out, including God. I'm good...I don't need anyone. Funny, I think in Jesus' humanity, He needed His friends, don't you?

He shared Himself with his friends, so they would know Him. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. (John 15:15, NLT) He wanted to be known and loved, just as we, deep down, want to be known and loved.

He wanted His friends to remember Him, because He knew He was leaving them and knew how easy 'out of sight, out of mind' really can be. He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” (Luke 22:19, NLT) We, too, long to have a lasting impact on our friends, so that they will not forget us through distance or death.

He needed the strength of his inner circle when He struggled with the cup of God's wrath in the Garden of Gethsemane. “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38, NLT) We need to know that we have friends who will hang in there with us when we go through our valleys of the shadow of death...divorce, cancer, grief.

Jesus, in all his humanity, wanted friendship...wanted closeness with people He loved and trusted. He wants that with us today. And for those who have trusted Him to be who He says He is -- God come to earth for our sins -- we are those trusted friends. One day, our friendship with Jesus will be unveiled, and we shall finally see Him...our dearly devoted, loving and faithful Friend, Jesus...face to face...eye to eye...hand to hand...smile to smile!

This Easter, I hope you celebrate your friendship with Jesus Christ -- because He is alive and well!

Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song with these words:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”

And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.
~ Revelation 5:6-14 (NLT)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Ecclesiastes 10:10

Since a dull ax requires great strength, sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.
~ Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NLT)

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I love my car mechanic! I mean, they are a great bunch of people, honest, hard-working, treat women fairly, never do repairs unnecessarily. I recommend them to anyone who needs car repair. There's just one thing that doesn't make sense: they don't use a computer! Yeah, they had one, but when it crashed, the owner, who's older and soon to retire, just never replaced it. So work orders are written out by hand, and the hard copies with keys are all over the counter in piles, trying to keep the "to do's" from the "been done's" and the "has appointments" from the "walk in's". One mechanic walks in and says, "Where're the keys to the Explorer?" And then begins the hunt on the counter. They're so good at what they do, I just sit in the waiting room thinking, Gee, they could be so much more efficient...less headaches trying to keep things straight, if they would just get a computer!

Some people simply are not comfortable with new technology. And some allow the effects of time and wear to go unremedied, and simply become less effective or ineffective...like a dull ax. Ever tried cutting a tomato with a dull knife?...And how many keep living with a dull knife, even though they know it would make things so much easier in the kitchen to just sharpen it? It seems a bother to pull out the sharpener, so we fight the tomato instead. It should be a big DUH, but we seem to fight against a little maintenance and upkeep/upgrading. Why is that?

I think the reason is that we get lulled into mediocrity. A dull knife works okay, cuts most things...and so we just live with it. But we forget how great it is when it cuts well! We run around tired all the time but are able to function okay...and so we just keep staying up late and not eating right. But we forget what it's like to be in top physical health! Mediocrity runs rampant in our lives and we end up working harder, not smarter. Why to we allow ourselves to be duped into sub-standard health and habits?

Maybe because we lose sight of a vision. We run around doing tasks, and forget to see long-range, the big picture. If we're just worker bees, we're not in charge of the hive. So away we buzz, back and forth, back and forth, lulled by our own buzzing into routine, without vision for the broader scope. We need to become a hive manager, understanding what works well and making sure maintenance is done on our tools and equipment so that we're working smarter, not harder. It's simply a matter of perspective.

And is our spiritual walk any different than our physical walk? Are we lulled into a mediocre walk with the Lord, stuck in a rut with no vitality, just doing the same thing week after week, with no sharpening of our spiritual blades? If so, it's no wonder alot of unchurched people think Christians look sour, like they drank vinegar. We need to sharpen our axes, so we can be vibrant in our walk with God and be effective in our work for Him!

So, how do we do that? One way is to allow God to sharpen our hearts and minds by being willing to file down the nicks on our blades. Sharpening can cause sparks and be painful, but it is necessary if we're going to have a good cutting edge. Getting rid of the roughness of bitterness, fearfulness, and selfishness can and will make us one sharp tool, ready and able to be used in a mighty way for God. And our relationship with Him will take much less effort and with greater joyous freedom when we allow Him to grind away the imperfections we've allowed to mar our blade for so long.

Work smarter, not harder. And help God help you. Give Him freedom to take your blade...your heart and mind...to the grinder, and get rid of the things that keep you from being a vibrant believer in Jesus, and a servant for His Kingdom!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Luke 15:8-9

[Jesus says,] "Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. ...And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me....'"~ Luke 15:8-9 (NIV)

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The old saying goes, Find a penny, pick it up...all the day you have good luck! But kids today will say, "but only if it's heads up!" My daughter likes to say cynically, "Mom -- find a penny, pick it up...all the day -- you have a penny." Both of these responses seem to say, it's only a penny, why bother? And it's true...it's only one cent. But I always say, if you find a hundred of these, you have a dollar! That gives pause to some. :-)

The point is, a penny really is pretty insignificant. We throw them away in wishing wells and give them away because they bother us....just too much bulk in our pockets or wallets. Insignificant in the grand scheme of hundreds and thousands of dollars we make and spend in a given day, month or year. So what does it matter if you drop one down a grate in the sidewalk? Not even a consideration to go after it. There's more where that came from, right? I mean, it's only a penny...

Some might think that God looks at them as just a penny. Nothing special, nothing worth going after, nothing worth saving. Throwaway. Disposable. Insignificant. But let me tell you something. On God's sidewalk, every penny is significant. Heads up, or heads down -- it doesn't matter. Every single coin He's created is of ultimate value to Him! So valuable, in fact, that He sent His Son Jesus, who's sacrifice and resurrection we joyously celebrate this weekend, to pay our penalty for sin, to pave the way as the firstborn of the resurrection of the dead! FOR YOU -- a mere penny. FOR ME -- a mere penny. But to God, we are like gold next to His heart.

Revel in the love God has for you. Cherish the sweet sacrifice Jesus gave out of His love for you. He longs to hold you, His treasure, close to His heart. Give yourself as an offering to the Master Coin Collector. You are priceless in His eyes and worth dying for to have for Himself!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Proverbs 16:9

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

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When you decide to take a trip, you scout out websites and brochures, checking out various destinations, talking to friends and family....where should we go for vacation this year? What looks fun? After consulting the budget and the calendar, you decide: I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND! (Okay, I just had to say that...if Superbowl winners can get paid to say it, I can just say it for free! :-)

But then there are the details. Fly, drive, or take a train? Eat out or try to ice-chest it? Rent an RV or hotel it? Go see Cousin Fredrick who can talk the ear off a rock, or bypass that podunk town and have peace? Details, details, details. Hopefully, someone thinks of the details because, otherwise, you may be in for a very rough trip...

Mom: Okay, honey, the car's all packed and the kids are ready!

Dad: Uh, honey, we're not taking the car...

Mom: What? But, I thought you said...

Dad: Dear, Sweetie, Lambie-kins - please tell me you booked the flight...

Mom: Me? Why would I do that? I thought we were taking the car!

Sis: Uh, okay, so does Fluffy stay in the car, or what?

Bro': I'm hungry, when're we gonna eat...?


Details are vital for any venture or adventure. Sure, spontaneity is nice...sometimes...but some basics steps need to be formulated, or it's just a big mess!

Praise God, He's in the midst of our details! When we plot our course, we can either forget the details, or procrastinate in making decisions about the details, for fear of making mistakes. I'm so glad that God cares about us, where we're going and how we're gonna get there. When we seek His will and His ways, we can trust that He will guide us through the details.

So you've plotted your life course, maybe with God's help, maybe not. And as you travel, sometimes the path looks very foggy, and you can hardly see two feet in front of yourself. Or you're sailing along on that freeway of life at 75+ mph, and all of a sudden, you wonder...what did that last sign say? Did I just miss my exit? Don't fear...the Lord determines your steps. Even if you run ahead of the Lord and misstep, He is able to pick you up, turn you toward the right path, and get you back on your way.

God has given us life, and in this life, there are many wonderful paths to ponder and explore! Dream big, my friends, dream big! Keep God in the midst of your planning, and then take His hand and trust Him to determine your steps. Whether you're speaking of ministry or career or family or recreation, God can make your journey an ADVENTURE! So make some plans, and see where God leads you!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it." ~ Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

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Standing at the crossroads...

Do you sometimes feel like Dorothy with the Scarecrow?

Dorothy: Now which way do we go?

Scarecrow: Pardon me, this way is a very nice way.

Dorothy: Who said that?

[Toto barks at scarecrow]

Dorothy: Don't be silly, Toto. Scarecrows don't talk.

Scarecrow: [points other way] It's pleasant down that way, too.

Dorothy: That's funny. Wasn't he pointing the other way?

Scarecrow: [points both ways] Of course, some people do go both ways.

Sometimes we're in a hurry, sometimes we're distracted, sometimes we just don't feel like listening. But I believe God speaks to us all the time. And when we're talking about whether it's God talking or some worldly influence, it's not so much about what that "voice" sounds like, so much as the content. Does the "voice" sound like the Word? Do they line up?

In some cases, the line is clear, as in the case of being honest and kind to others, or in who we worship. But some of the harder things to discern are when you are at the crossroads of decision in accepting a new position, or choosing a mate. You can't open the Bible to Romans or Ephesians or Psalms and get a clear answer. For these crossroads, you must listen to God's spirit, number one. How you do that is a bit of a mystery. I know that, through diligent seeking Him in prayer, God can make things known to our heart and mind that seem unmistakably marked with God's fingerprint. Inner peace (or the lack thereof) speak quite loudly to me when making decisions that have no clear cut answer. God is really good at that, if you are willing to listen.

And even if you take the Scarecrow's advice and "go both ways", which may leave you feeling very confused and in a tough spot with negative consequences in your lap, don't despair. God is the master of turning our not-so-good crossroads decisions for the good. He wastes nothing. So, please don't beat yourself up over decisions you've made in the past. Think of how God has worked in the midst of that, of how you were changed even though it didn't seem to work out very well. Our life experiences are a complex weaving of the good, the bad and the ugly...but we do not always see the right side of the tapestry called our lives. Yet God is the artist -- He doesn't worry about what our life picture looks like on the backside. He sees the transformation of different colored threads and textures that are creating the masterpiece called you.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Msg)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Proverbs 25:2

It is God's privilege to conceal things and the king's privilege to discover them. ~ Proverbs 25:2(NLT)

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The idea of looking for buried treasure just fascinates me -- don't know why. I would LOVE to have a metal detector! Beeeep....buzzz.....beeeeep....as it sweeps over the surface of the earth. I can't explain it but it charges my spirit to think I could find something really cool! I occasionally thought I'd like to be an archaeologist some day--same principle. Finding something that's hidden. It's just FUN! Just watch the kids this Easter weekend, scrambling to find the hidden eggs. Fun for them, and fun for you who have hidden them!

So the Word says that it is God's privilege in concealing things. Perhaps He even takes pleasure, I don't know. I do know that mankind has, since the beginning of time, been uncovering hidden treasure in all the sciences, allowing us to discover what God already knows. There is learned discipline in the digging, appreciation in the finding, satisfaction in the utilizing.

(Tangent time: God has His reasons for keeping knowledge hidden for as long as He does...His ways are mysterious and unfathomable. Yet they are perfect. But do you wonder, even question with a bit of accusation, about why God would wait so long to allow us to uncover the mystery/cure for, say, cancer? or AIDS? If God were to reveal the answers to these mysteries sooner, so many people might be saved. Again, He is God and I am not. Yet, I am so grateful for all that He has allowed man to uncover. Childhood diseases are almost a thing of the past now! Vaccinations have almost eradicated killers of children from eras gone by. Even though the research hospitals continue to seek out the knowledge of many illusive cures, we are very blessed by God's revelations in medicine, even now!)

You know how easy it is to be ungrateful when things are handed to us, right? Kids get entirely spoiled when everything is done for them, when everything is paid for without them lifting a finger, right? They usually don't appreciate what they don't have to work for. Perhaps we are the same way, and God knows it. If everything in life were handed to us...knowledge and understanding, the ability to forgive and love...without the digging and scratching and searching, would we value these God attributes in our lives as we should? Would we use them to help others as we should? Or would we simply sit on our proverbial couch and watch the world go by on our TV screen, untouched and unaffected by all that we've been given?

"You will seek me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." ~ Jeremiah 29:13

God says, I'm not handing Myself to you on a silver platter unless you really want me. Are we really hungry for God, for His truths, for knowledge and understanding? Or are we content with the Easter eggs of God that sit on the grass in plain sight, not really willing or desirous to dig into God's word and His Spirit to know the deep, hidden things of God?

There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. ~ Hebrews 5:11-15

The Lord is good and right; he points sinners to the right way. He shows those who are humble how to do right, and he teaches them his ways...
Are there those who respect the Lord? He will point them to the best way...
The Lord tells his secrets to those who respect him; he tells them about his agreement.
~ Psalm 25:8-9, 12, 14

Sounds to me like God is looking for people who are humble and hungry, contrite and committed...people that know themselves full-well in all their fallenness, and want to know Him full-well in all His holiness.

So, which God eggs are you after -- those in plain sight or those tucked in the flower pot? To what lengths are you willing to go to uncover what He has concealed?

May God bless you as you search for spiritual treasures!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Psalm 139:14

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous -- and how well I know it. ~ Psalm 139:14 (NLT)

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You know, the human body itself is one of the easiest exhibits for intelligent design that I know of! I am constantly amazed whenever I watch a medical documentary. Just ponder how the human eye works, or the circulatory system, not to mention the brain! It's all very incredible, and our God designed it. He is amazingly complex, isn't He?

And then there is you. And me. On top of the fascinating complexities of our physical anatomy, God created "us". Our individual personalities, our likes/dislikes, our limitations, our abilities. God designed our personhood uniquely! And yet...we often don't like what we see in the mirror, do we? We sometimes wonder what in the world God was thinking when He made us. We have personal expectations that we don't live up to, we don't look like a supermodel, we stumble and fall in our walk with the Lord again and again. We are our own worst critic, aren't we?

What can we do to fully embrace the whole person that God made us to be? Where is the contentment in who we are?

Years ago I started (but never got very far) a book by Robert S. McGee, entitled The Search for Significance. I just picked it up today to offer a few quotes, and I think I will commit to reading it through. Very insightful regarding our misdirected attempts at gaining a positive self-worth, and I highly recommend it (actually, Billy Graham is quoted on the cover, saying this book 'should be read by every Christian.') Here are the first two paragraphs from the introduction...

"When Christ told His disciples, You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32), He was referring not only to an intellectual assent to the truth, but also to the application of truth in the most basic issues of life: our goals, our motives, and our sense of self-worth. Unfortunately, many of us give only lip-service to the powerful truths of the Scriptures without allowing them to affect the basis of our self-esteem in a radical way. Instead, we continue to seek our security and purpose from worldly sources: personal success, status, beauty, wealth, and the approval of others. These rewards may fulfill us for a short time, but they soon lead us to a sense of urgency to succeed and be approved again.

To meet these compelling needs, we drive ourselves to achieve, doing virtually anything to make people happy with us, and spend countless hours and dollars trying to look "just right." Often, we avoid situations and people where the risks of failure and rejection are high. It's a rat race that can't be won by simply running faster. We need to get off of this hopeless treadmill, and learn to apply the foundational truths that can motivate us to live for Christ rather than for the approval of other people."

God says, I made you and I love you. Isn't that enough for you? We must hang our heads and confess to Him that it isn't enough. That we have a hard time loving ourselves just because He loves us. That we seek the world for love and favor just like the Israelites sought after other gods (throughout the Old Testament), just like Gomer sought after other men after Hosea married her (book of Hosea) [which God used as a living example of how His people rejected Him].

I used to not like who I was, I think mostly because a significant person in my life did not like who I was. I then assumed that view of myself for myself. God has done a mighty work in my life in the last 10 years, so that I can embrace who I am, even if it doesn't fit the mould that society embraces. Even if it doesn't fit the mould that churchianity embraces. I am me, and I am good with me, because God is good with me. I am real and authentic before Him, not trying be what I'm not nor covering up what I am. That is extraordinary freedom, my friends! And I hope you can know that kind of freedom also with the loving God who created you.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Colosians 1:17

He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.
~ Colossians 1:17 (NLT)

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Sometimes I think we forget the chain of command on this earth. Okay, see...you and me? We're the humans --- Created. Finite. Limited. Dependent. And God? Yeah -- He's the Creator. Infinite. Limitless. Independent. We're born into this world by God's hand and design, and yet, somehow, we grow up to be these little adult humans who think we stand apart from Him. Like we own the joint...

We don't own the joint, and it's a good thing, 'cuz we'd mess it up in short order. In fact, we've tried and we have. This world is a mess because humanity has sought to strike out on its own and be its own boss. To run its own joint. To be captain of its own ship. Look around us...our establishment is in disrepair and bankrupt, and our ship has run aground.

Our world runs heavily on spiritual anarchy -- no ultimate God authority, only individual authority. If it works for me, I'm good with that. If what you do and believe works for you, that's cool. No one's in charge here, so it really doesn't matter. All paths, one God...one path to many gods....hey, it's all good --amen and pass the mantra! Anarchy is a state of confusion, chaos and disorder. Would that be an accurate portrayal of the spiritual condition of this world?

(I did a quick web search to find out how many religions there are in the world. Sources vary, but how's this for statistics? (22) major religions that comprise approximately 98% of the world's population....upward of 4,200 world religions all tolled)

We're in religious and spiritual chaos. Everyone's searching and finding something. If they don't find something that fits them, they make up a religion to suit their needs, their style. Truth is relative...pick a god or a path out of a hat, it doesn't really matter. And the Creator God mourns for humanity, for its mortal anarchy.

That's why God instituted the plan of a Savior before the creation of the world. He knew we would walk away from His hand, His face, into the depravity of sin and self. He knew we would lie and kill and steal anything we could if given the opportunity. He knew that we would ultimately realize we're limited and in need of some Higher Being, and yet make wood and stone idols to worship instead of Him. He knew all of this...and yet still the Son said, "I'll go. I'll take the body of a man and walk the earth like them. I'll submit to their hatred and suffer immense pain, unto death, to pay for their spiritual crimes. Yes, Father, I'll go. Because I love them just as you do..."

This plan, this path is the one true path. THIS God is the one true God -- The Creator God, who truly does hold all things together. So many are in the dark and don't know it...or if they do know it, they seem content to stumble around kicking their shins on every piece of spiritual furniture, never even thinking there is a light switch.

Trying to argue with people about what truth is seems often to be a futile experience. There are those who are truly gifted in the area of apologetics and evangelism (e.g. Ravi Zacharias http://www.rzim.org/ , Ray Comfort http://www.wayofthemaster.com/), and we can learn alot from them in being able to defend what we believe about Jesus Christ. But arguing puts people in a negative emotional state, and I believe that even if we speak truth in our arguments, they're not hearing truth -- they're just hearing our negative emotion. Like when we yell at our kids to clean their room or take out the trash...they often don't hear the task needing to be done, only the yelling, which either puts them on the defensive or crushes their spirit -- either way, the room probably doesn't get cleaned and the trash doesn't get dumped, without even more yelling and more tears...see what I mean about negative emotions getting in the way?

I pray you know the truth about the One True God of the Bible, that you have accepted His Son Jesus Christ as your salvation for your sins, and that you live in such a way (justice, mercy, love, truth) that speaks volumes to others that negative arguments can't touch.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Amos 5:23

[God says,] "Away with your hymns of praise! They are only noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry." ~ Amos 5:23 (NLT)

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I love the Old Testament! Alot of people think it's boring (e.g. Leviticus) or irrelevant (e.g. Numbers)...I've read about Noah and Jonah and David a million times...and what's up with all those prophets of doom? What does that have to do with me? I'll just read the New Testament, because Jesus is "the reason for the season", and I can learn so much from the apostles' writings...

Please don't miss out on hearing from God's heart in the Old Testament, from getting your arms around God's big picture! There is so much He has shared with us through people like Moses, David, Solomon and the prophets..."You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). Are we willing to seek God in the vast sea of the Old Testament?

God "keeps it real" in these verses from Amos. It brings to mind the first chapter of Isaiah...

"The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?" says the LORD. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."
~ Isaiah 1:11-17

Wow -- God is not playin'! He calls people out on their religious show, which belies their heart. He says, Where is your justice? Where is your mercy? You treat people like dirt, and then sing a song of praise to Me? I'm disgusted by it all!

God says (in Jeremiah 9:23-24) if you really know Me, you know that I'm all about exercising kindness and justice and righteousness on the earth...THIS gives Me pleasure -- THIS is what makes Me happy. You are putting the fluffy icing of your outward worship on a rotten cake full of maggots. Don't you think I can see inside your heart?

You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them. You don't want burnt offerings.The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin. ~ Psalm 51:16-17 (NCV)

God is very clear in His word (both Old and New Testament) what He's about...justice, mercy, love, truth. And Jesus brought it up-close-and-personal in ways that were tangible. He loved people...He accepted them, embraced them, defended them. He challenged their sin, but He loved them...

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum? When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” ~ Matthew 9:10-13 (NLT)

We really need to check ourselves, my friends. What we do in the name of God...our weekly corporate worship, our daily religious habits such as listening to Christian music, making sure we pray and read our Bible...can mask or overshadow our wicked and selfish heart toward others.

If we're just putting on a show, God's left the building. He doesn't want religious rhetoric...He wants radically real, relational children who do what He does.

So, as Jesus said, go learn what this means:
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Luke 16:11

[Jesus says,] "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"
~ Luke 16:11 (NIV)

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I was just talking yesterday to a friend about stewardship --being a good steward of my time on the job. It's not because my boss is looking over my shoulder to see if I'm on a personal call or sending personal emails...it's because God is watching. And it's not like I envision Him looking down on me, saying, You shouldn't be doing that. I just sense it in my spirit that I need to be honorable toward my employer who is paying me to do my job...not to chit-chat with my friends. God's Holy Spirit works within me to steer me, to prompt me to do the right thing.

I was also convicted recently about spending too much money eating out. Simple enough -- I have a girl in college, and I talk alot about the financial sacrifices that it's costing me. And yet, because I had been so lazy not to go to the grocery store and stock my kitchen properly, I was eating at the hospital cafeteria . . . twice a day! Talk about overspending! I rationalized it for a long time. But God was talking to me. Poor stewardship.

Although these kinds of things don't touch on how I use my time and money toward God's endeavors, I think they are linked. When I allow God to mould me to His thinking and His patterns for living, my mind is more centered on Him. I spend more time praying and thinking about what's important to His Kingdom. When a financial need arises in the church body...someones car broke down, or they're laid up from surgery and need some meals brought in...I could have resources available to help out, if I've been wise in the way I manage my money. If I stay focused on work while I'm at work, then my stress level is lessened and I'm more available to participate in Kingdom things after work, instead of coming home and crashing on the couch from mental exhaustion when this project or that deadline gets delayed.

It's a mindset thing. Are we living for us, or God? How we use our time, talents, finances, even our mental energies is an indicator of what takes precedence in our lives.

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ~ Jesus, in Luke 9:23-24 (NLT)

I think it is possible to abandon oneself and live for God, all the way. Money? It's just money. Time? A new day rolls around every 24 hours. We are given so much by God! Doesn't He deserve to be honored with how we use those resources? Jesus never taught us to be selfish, interested only in what's good for "me". He Himself wrote the manual on selflessness. Look at what He did for you and for me...

...He was all about the Kingdom.

How about you?

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Joel 3:14

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. ~ Joel 3:14 (NIV)

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From EnduringWord.com's commentary on this passage, Joel 3:14-17:

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel. “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, and no aliens shall ever pass through her again.”

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! Joel looks out upon the Valley of Jehoshaphat at the Battle of Armageddon, and sees multitudes facing their eternal fate - truly, it is a valley of decision, and those who fight against the Lord and His Messiah are in the wrong place in the valley of decision, ultimately fulfilled at the Battle of Armageddon.

The idea of the “Valley of Decision” has been used in countless evangelistic meetings to show people that they stand in the “Valley of Decision,” and must decide for or against Jesus. Joel’s context is exactly the opposite. Man does indeed stand in the valley of decision, but it is God who does the deciding, not man. It is a valley of judgment - and we should decide for Jesus right now so we never stand in this valley of decision.

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My pastor gave a great message last Sunday on the Via Dolorosa (the "way of suffering" that Christ walked to Golgotha)....one of the points he made that he felt God was trying to show us is that judgment is coming. Jesus said:

"As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" ~ Luke 26:26-31

Some seem to live as if there is no day of judgment for this earth, like life will just keep on flowing until they die and then...poof!...nothing. I beg to differ. And so does God.

People say, "If God is a God of love, why does He send people to hell?" They haven't read the book...they just don't understand that He never sends anyone to hell...they go there willingly, on their own. Adam was the first, infusing in our spiritual DNA the sin that separates us from God...we are fallen, and our actions condemn us daily. God's holy law demands justice for sin...that payment is death. God's holiness demands righteousness in His presence...that requires spiritual cleansing. God's love demands a solution to our desperate, dire condition...that requires a Savior. Jesus is the final solution. And genuine faith in Him is the decision of all decisions for us.

" God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” ~ John 3:17-21

We don't like to talk much about God's judgment, but it is real. And people need to hear about Jesus and His love, so they have an opportunity to choose...to be by the Lord's side, or stand with the multitudes in the valley of decision on that "great day".

I challenge all of us to be ready and willing to give a witness for the Lord...today and every day. Someone in your path is ripe for the harvest...and the Lord will use you to be an agent for the gospel. Be glad to be in His service! You have the good news of Jesus Christ -- be bold and be glad!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - James 3:17

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. ~ James 3:17 (NLT)

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
wis·dom /[wiz-duh m] –noun
1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.


In this fuller passage, James contrasts the actions of the fool to the actions of the wise, and it's not a silly "fool", as in a court jester. Much darker...self-serving, unloving, with evil intent...

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
~ James 3:13-16 (NLT)

Academically, we can know alot about what's true and right. Lots of people study law...and end up being convicted for serious crimes. Knowledge by itself doesn't help them do the right thing. Wisdom must be applied to act on knowledge.

Wisdom...knowing the right thing and doing it. James says that if we say we're wise and say we know God's ways, prove it! Live so that it shows -- be gentle, peace-loving, forgiving.
Don't live foolishly by using your tongue to set people on fire, working to destroy other people who do it better than you do, clamoring for the spotlight no matter who you crush in the process. God says, That is foolish and evil, and doesn't have anything to do with who I am, or what My children need to be about.

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians comes to mind...

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

True love and pure wisdom can only come from God. He is the source of all that is holy and true and right. We need to fall at His feet every day and seek His wisdom, and not rely on what we think we should be doing, but rather testing our thoughts and ways against His thoughts and ways...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
~ Proverbs 3:5-7 (NLT)

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the Holy Spirit within you as your ultimate travel companion and supreme counselor. He will let you know what's wise and what's foolish. Don't change the channel when He tells you what you don't want to hear -- you are being conformed into the likeness of God's Son, and being a witness of the power of God to change a life! You are a walking billboard for the gospel of Jesus Christ...transformed from death to life, from darkness to light, from foolishness to wisdom.

The contrasts are stark, and we need to stand out like a sore thumb when it comes to God's ways, His love and wisdom -- let people see what our God is like, in all His magnificence, by how we live.

(I also encourage you to read the book of Proverbs for more spotlights on wise and foolish living...I guarantee you will see yourself in those words of wisdom more than you'd probably like...I know, because I have, and we're all in the same boat. Let God shed light on your life and commit to Him to seek change through His Holy Spirit.)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 Kings 19:12-13

And 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....
~ 1 Kings 19:12-13(NIV)

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We think big is better, huh? People flock to megachurches, travel to large conferences, listen to internationally-known charismatic speakers, buy the #1 Christian best-selling books....big, BIGGER, BIGGEST. good, BETTER, BEST. And is there anything wrong with these ministries and teaching tools? No. But is this the only way God speaks? No, again.

How about the little devotional you picked up in Bible Study? Or the song you heard on the radio while flipping dials? Or the genuine smile from a stranger who held the elevator door when you needed help? Does God speak in the little things, in the quiet things? Yes...a resounding yes!

If we take off the blinders and look for God, we will find Him...EVERYWHERE!

* He is talking to us...encouraging us, counseling us, loving us.

* He is acting on our behalf...moving mountains, breaking down barriers, defeating our enemies.

* He is testing and building our faith...challenging us to trust in Him and not our own devices, to know what we believe and stand on those beliefs, to lay down our lives for Him who loves us and gave Himself for us.

Do we have our eyes and ears open to Him, or are we fixed on only the big and the bold? Do we hear His whisper?

Don't put God in a box and possibly miss what He's trying to tell you...you never know how God will speak, where He will manifest Himself. That's the wonder of God! Look and listen -- find God where He's at, not where you think He should be.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Psalm 42:11

Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again -- my Savior and my God! ~ Psalm 42:11 (NLT)

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Discouragement and depression are very powerful forces in our lives, that can literally sap the life out of our spirits. Circumstances get difficult and ugly, and we lose sight of many things...who we are, where we're headed, Who's our strength. And the downward spiral feeds on itself, doesn't it?

When we take our eyes off of God and His sovereignty and power, all we're left with is worrying about life under our own power. And since there are so many things we have no control over in terms of what others do or don't do, we end up with disappointment, defeat, and despair.

But God says, Hey, what about Me? Did you forget about my role in all of this?

God is in the midst of your circumstances, even if you can't feel Him or see Him. He is there, waiting for you to take His hand. Things in life may get extremely difficult, but if Jesus is your Savior, then God is your Father. He is the Almighty...and you are His child. And He never lets go of your hand.

(And I'm not a doctor, but I do know that clinical depression is real. Please seek counsel from a physician if you think you may be affected by this. God can work through this means, as well.)

Daily give Him the honor He is due, recognizing His position, His power. We are powerless, but He is all-powerful! Trust Him to give you joy in the midst of the tough stuff, to fight in your defense, to divinely control the things you can't.

Don't let the downward spiral of depression send you spinning into a hole. Remember the Lord, lift your eyes to Him, and trust Him...completely.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - John 3:3

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." ~ John 3:3 (NIV)

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Most know John 3:16, but how many know the setting behind it? Today's verse is also well-known and comes from the same setting.

I just love to watch Jesus in action when He dialogues with people! He spoke in spiritual colors, leaving most in the dust fingerpainting in earthly black and white. Yet, He never left an opportunity unseized to draw people to the eternal, even when they were quizzically saying, "Huh?" I wonder if He thought, Gee I can't wait til they get the Holy Spirit, so they can get a clue, so they can really "get me"...

Being spiritually reborn. Hard to get your arms around, sometimes...like watching mind-bending films, like The Matrix or The Lake House. Bend your mind around the idea that, although we walk around this earth, doing all our stuff, we are part of the legion of the walking dead...the undead...without Jesus. Dead? Are you kidding? Look at me! I'm a high-paid executive of a Fortune 500 company, I have a wife and 3 great kids, we take great vacations, and my retirement is lookin' pretty sweet right now. What are you talking about...dead?

Like I said, we fingerpaint in horizontal black and white, while Jesus tries to reorient our thinking by masterpiecing with vertical color. He says, "Check this out. All your living is useless unless your spirit is born of My Spirit. Adam's sin left you holding a dead bag. Wake up and realize that what you think is life is really death wrapped in a blanket, called you. You need Me, to give you REAL LIFE, not this charade you call life. And I want you to LIVE!"

So, there you have it. The color of spiritual life on the backdrop of our black and white spiritual death. And Jesus says, "Choose life..."

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ~ Jesus in John 3:14-16 (NLT)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Matthew 28:19-20

[Jesus says,] "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." ~ Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

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I confess that it took me a long time in my walk as a believer in Jesus to get off my keester and do something about this "Great Commission". I remember my early adult years...so much energy spent just trying to live the Christian life...trying to make it in a difficult marriage....trying to change my then-husband through the pounding of the Word. Wow. Very internally-focused, as if this was all there was to being a Christian. Me and my family. And the church -- well, that's where other people hear about God. Me, I've got my own stuff to manage.

I think maybe some churches also have this mindset....we've got our little thing going here, with our potlucks and our Bible studies and our bazaars. We're good with just each other and that's enough....

But God got my attention a few years ago regarding this gap in my walk with Him. It happened while I was the pianist for a FAITH evangelism conference at my church. I sat there at the piano and listened to one of our soft-spoken church members tell her story about becoming a part of this evangelism training program. And God spoke to my heart right then and let me know that I was not stepping up to the plate. And so I picked up the bat and eyed the outfield...

I'm very thankful that that training program was in place at my church. I went through it and the subsequent program. I was nervous at first, but the Holy Spirit was doing a work within me. I eventually became a leader and trained others. It's been a few years now, and I am a very different person with a different vision for God's kingdom, because I stepped out in faith and obeyed His call -- His great commission.

Implosion, or explosion. Which one describes your Christian walk?

I challenge you today to search your heart and seek the Lord regarding your call to make disciples...your call to teach others about Jesus. As believers in Him, we're all called...and we're all able. So pick up the bat and get in the game, because every run counts for eternity.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Jeremiah 6:16

This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
~ Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

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I read a young reader's edition of Pilgrim's Progress (John Bunyan, 1678) when I was young. I think the metaphoric imagery style really spoke to my writer soul, though it lay dormant for many years. (just paused to find it on the internet...the complete text accessible on-line! http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bunyan/pilgrim.toc.html) (this is going to cause me to re-read this book, now that I'm grown...I'm rather excited, actually!)

The protagonist in the story is named Christian, who reads in his "book" what awaits him and the rest of the world...destruction...and he desperately wants to find a way out...

"I saw also that he looked this way, and that way, as if he would run; yet he stood still because (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a man named Evangelist coming to him, and he asked, “Wherefore dost thou cry?”

When the Evangelist tells him which direction to take (follow the light and knock on the gate), he proceeds, but is pursued by a couple of neighbors, Obstinate and Pliable, the former of whom attempts to force him back home, but the latter goes with him. As they walk along, they end up in the Slough of Despond, and Pliable gets frustrated and goes home. Christian is left alone in the slough but gets rescued by a man named Help. And so the journey goes...

Now, turn back to Jeremiah 6...

Flee for safety, people of Benjamin! Flee from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa! Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem! For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction. (verse 1)

To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. (verse 10)

Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them," says the LORD. (verse 15)

This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls...
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' (verse 16)

When Christian tried to tell his family about his distress over reading in his book all that was and would be for the earth, they thought he was crazy and "would not walk in it". And so he journeyed alone.

There comes a time in a person's life when they are forced to look upon their fallen, shattered existence, without hope and without help. When God breaks into their conscience and speaks, He says, Look my way and choose life. Ask Me which way to go. I am the Light of the world...knock on my gate and you will enter.

Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. ~ Psalm 118:19-21 (NIV)

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ Jesus, in John 10:9-10 (NIV)

Everyone has to stand at the crossroads and see which way to go. Only God has the answer, the plan. His name is Jesus. He is "the way, the truth and the life...no one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6).

If you are struggling to walk this path alone, or are still at the crossroads, I urge you to seek after the One who gave His life so that you could walk in His righteousness...so you could walk the path of life.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - John 15:5

[Jesus says,] "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." ~ John 15:5 (NKJV)

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
a·bide /əˈbaɪd/ Pronunciation Key - [uh-bahyd] verb, a·bode or a·bid·ed, a·bid·ing.
–verb (used without object)

1. to remain; continue; stay: Abide with me.
2. to have one's abode; dwell; reside: to abide in a small Scottish village.
3. to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.; last.

I think of abiding with Christ as I go through this life. We talk together....we walk together. And in eternity I will abide with Him, living in my eternal home with my Savior.

But what does it really me to abide in Jesus? To Live in Him? The "He in me" part seems understandable -- we talk about Jesus coming into our hearts, taking control, being our strength. But the "me in Him"? As a believer in Jesus, what does that really mean? That I live in His heart, too? That's kind of a wow thought, isn't it?

The bottom line is that we have to stay connected. And it's us who makes that decision. No, not THE decision you made when you decided your sinful life was ready for a God change. I mean the daily decision to be plugged into the Source of your everything...your everything that really matters, your everything that has true substance. Disconnecting from Jesus is like the astronaut that disengages from the spacecraft during a space walk...flying out in space with no source of oxygen, with no way to steer, with no direction, heading out to dangerous parts unknown.

Fairly easy to disconnect, though, isn't it? Easy to think our own thoughts, and not let His thoughts be central, which leads us to act in accordance with our fallen nature. All I can say is that abiding in the Lord is a job for the vigilant. With continual prayer. With consuming His Word. With meditating on Him.

It's not the Lord who steps away, who breaks the bond...He is rock steady, He is faithful, He is committed. May we make it our priority to maintain that connection, to draw our spiritual lifeblood from the True Vine, so that we bear good fruit...fruit that will last.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Psalm 1:1-2

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. ~ Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT)

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God's ways are the ways of peace and joy, and we understand that by reading His Word and getting to know Him. But we often allow the world to turn our head and get distracted, don't we? Just too many other attractive ideas and thoughts out there to sway our decisions...talk shows, magazines, TV, well-meaning friends. But if they are not centered on God, they are faulty and will short-circuit your walk in this life.

Falling in love with God's word is a beautiful thing. I challenge you to take the time to make that happen. Pick up your Bible and read for the pleasure of reading. You don't have to have your 10-lb concordance by your side. You don't have to get out any devotional books. Just read the book about God. See what He's about. Learn to love His heart. Embrace His holiness, His wisdom, His love.

I was talking to some friends about audio Bibles, because many of them are audio learners, and spend alot of time commuting in their cars. What an excellent way to absorb God's word! Please don't think there's any one way to take it in. Maybe for you, it's downloading to your iPod and listening while you exercise! Or subscribe to automatic emails that send you verses. But immersing ourselves in God's word is vital to fellowshiping with Him, to loving Him, to serving Him. Spend time during the day thinking about even just one verse that has come your way that day. What does it say about the character of God? or man's character? How should it impact me? What's my role?

Let His words roll around in that head of yours. While you commute, while you stand in line at the grocery store, while you do dishes or mow the lawn. Put God and His word on the top shelf of your mind and go there often...He deserves that position in your life. And you will know the joy and peace that all the other distractions of life cannot fulfill.

Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in Your eyes, O Lord, my Rock and the One Who saves me. ~ Psalm 19:14 (NLV)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Romans 12:12

Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. ~ Romans 12:12 (NLT, 1st Edition)

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(chuckle)....Paul...what a guy, huh? Romans 12...here he goes again with the rapid-fire, "feel like I need to get this all out without taking a breath" advice for Christian living. Actually, I love this chapter. :-)

This little verse is wedged between a whole treasure chest full of helps to steer us toward being a living sacrifice to God, as mentioned in verses 1 and 2. I urge you to read this chapter (this link is the NLT 2nd Edition version)...
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2012&version=51

And so, in the midst of serving the Lord by living on His behalf ---by being kind and hospitable, never lazy, loving people from your heart and rejecting hate-- Paul says rejoice in your confident hope...be patient in trouble...and keep on praying. As if to say, "don't forget where we're headed...hang in there...and seek the Lord for your strength when the going gets tough."

Living a sacrificial life to God is not for wimps. It is painstaking at times, going against our sinful nature (Romans 7). But it is truly a life of joy and peace, of fulfillment and significance. When we are willing to lay our lives down for the sake of the Lord and pick up our cross daily (Luke 9:23), putting others before ourselves (Philippians 2:3), and keeping God's big agenda in view (Matthew 5:14-16), we can change the world by God's power and love...one person at a time, one day at a time.

Choose this day to live for Him, in joyful hope, with patience and prayer. May God bless you richly as you seek to be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NLT, 1st Edition)

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This verse follows Paul's finals words at the end of his first letter to the church at Thessalonica. He closes with a rather rapid-fire list of practical Christian living applications...

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:12-19 (NLT, 2nd Edition)

If I was sitting in the Thessalonian church while this letter was being read, about this time, I'd be thinking, Gee, Paul, do you want me to walk on water, too? How do you expect me to do all of these righteous things? You know my past -- you led me to the Lord out of a hard life. I'm still trying to let go of my guilt, let alone "be patient with everyone". "Always be joyful?" C'mon, Paul, get real! I'm only human, you know...

Maybe Paul could see the faces of the believers in this church. Maybe he knew what was going on in the minds of those called out of darkness in this city, because he doesn't leave them hanging with just a lot of do's and don'ts. He gives them hope...

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful. ~1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24

So many people fail to understand the Christian life. They think they could never be a goodie-goodie....too hard to do! And they're right! Apart from God, we can do no good. But with the power of the Lord within us, we are able to be different, to be changed. Deeply, from the inside. Deep enough to tackle the thoughts and attitudes that spring from whatever's inside a person's heart. All the do's and don'ts are simply a reminder, or yardstick, of what a godly heart looks like.

God is faithful. If He gave you faith to believe in His Son, Jesus, He will transform you into Christ's image for His glory. It doesn't happen overnight, but if you desire righteousness and allow Him free reign in your heart and mind, you will see the change. No, you can't do these godly things on your own, so don't try. Seek the Lord and watch Him make the change. And then watch out, because people will notice that you are different, and they may ask why. Will you be ready to tell them where your hope and light come from? (psst...don't worry, the Lord will give you the strength for that, too! :-)

Love,
Joelene