He Knows What Is In Me

Scripture John 2:25 He did not need human testimony about them, for he knew what was in them.


Observation: What is it about me that I need proof that I can see, feel and taste, where is my faith when I read that Jesus does not need to be told about me because he already knows me?

Application: I am drawn this morning to buying a car. When I go and buy a car, I never buy "sight unseen" because I want to know the history, who owned it, was it ever wrecked, does it leak any fluids, what do the brakes look like--I want to know all those things. When I read this morning that "he knew what was in them" it is almost scarey to think he knows what is in me. He talked with the Smaritian woman--he knew what was in her; he talked with the royal official and knew what was in him; he cleaned the temple of the those who made it a market place--he knew them too; he knew Nicodemus also; and he knows me too.
Still Jesus gave his life and was raised the third day so that I may have life and he did that knowing me.
Prayer: I pray today that my witness might bring someone to know that Jesus knows them too and still offers life eternal to all who believe and come to know him. Love Stephen

Yieldedness: I yield to Jesus who knows me.

Patience--A Godly Virtue

Scripture: 2 Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Observation: I am glad I read my Bible this moring so that I could be reminded of God's patience.
Application: Even though I understand (I think) that judgment will come upon the world, I am glad that I can know of God's patience and of God not wanting anyone to perish.
As I have raised five children and lived through life dealing with people in one way or the other along the way, I have learned patience or maybe it is that I have acquired patience. Things that use to really upset me don't have that control over me anymore and I thank God for that change in my life. I still stand in awe however at the patience of God as I watch the world go by and the people in it act as they do (myself included). God's love for me and the world is stronger that I could ever imagine and God's patience--well much more mature than mine will ever be.
Prayer: I pray today that as I live life I would acquire and be able to practice patience as a mainstay in my life. LOve Stephen
Yieldedness: I yield my willingness to jump to conclusions and act with out thinking and I seek to be patient as God is patient with me.

What Do I See in the Mirror?

Scripture: James 1: 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Observation: I read my Bible and study God's Word for my life, but if I am just a reader and not a doer, then what am I?

Application: Knowledge is of little use if I don't put it to good use. When I look in the mirror what do I see? Do I see the image of God or do I see what the world wants me to see, which is myself. I believe I read and study to keep from seeing myself so much and so that I can be transformed into more of the image of God.

I believe that transformation happens when I become a doer of the Word and I practice my faith. I read the focus verse today--James 1: 22 --and I immediately thought of Matthew 25, which the church uses to underpend ministry all the time. Then James writes an explanaiton of faith at work in taking care of the widows and orphans and controling my tongue among other things.

So what do I see when I look in the mirror? Do I see a mere reader and listener of the Word or do I see a doer of the Word? I hope each day to see a little more Jesus and a little less me.
Prayer: Lord keep me humble and remind me to follow you in all that I say and do, help me be a doer and not just a listener. Thanks for loving me, Stephen
Yieldedness: I yield to being a doer and not just a listener of the Word.

Constistancy Is Important

Scripture: Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.


Observation: I am glad the Lord is constistant.

Application: One of the problems in the world today is thing change so fast. One example is computers. I go and purchase a new one and by the time I get it home it has become obsolete---there is simply no way to keep up with technology. Operating systems are another example, I don't how many MS has improved over the years (well sometimes improvements are made sometimes not). Well, I am glad that Christ is the same and never changes.

In this world of constant changes there needs to be a constant--Jesus is just that. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and I am glad that constant is in my life.
Prayer: Lord, I am glad you are in my life and I am glad you came to save me. I pray that somehow you can use my witness to help others come to know you. Thanks for loving me, Stephen

Yieldedness: I will do my best to dwell on the constance of Jesus in my life.

A Life Of Grace

As I begin today I am remembering that faithful day that so many lost their lives in service of this great country that we live in and I take this opportunity to honor them and thank God for them.  It makes me angry when some blames this country for all the ills of the world.  I give thanks to God for the men and women who have served in the military in the past and I give thanks for the men and women that serve today.  I also pray for God's strength to be with the families that are left behind and those who have lost loved ones in this service.  May God bless them and May God bless this great country.

Scripture: Colossians 4: 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.


Observation: My daddy use to say that if you couldn't say something good about someone don't say anything at all.

Application: I can also say to this part of my journal today that my dad was a very quiet man, as I remember him. I never heard him talk politics, but I know he read and listened and he voted. I never heard my dad discuss religion in a negative way, by which I mean he judged how and where other worshiped, but I know that he read his Bible and studied commentary and I am sure he prayed a lot. I know that because he raised five children, which by experience, requires a lot of prayer. My dad was also faithful to his beliefs and to the church he was a part of and he did all he could to resist evil.

I have learned through life and from I have observed and what I have taught that it is important to include grace in all that I say and do. I know that when things don't go my way and anger over something is included in the mix, somtimes grace gets pushed aside. That is part of my imperfection.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that grace would be in my every thought and answer; also, that grace would be in my every action. Help me reach that goal in my life. Love Stephen

Yieldedness: I yield to the presence of God's grace in life and in my being and may I pass it on.

Grace, Grace, Marvelous Grace

Scripture: Ephesians 4: 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Observation: That little word grace gets tossed around a lot by folks like me and I have to remind myself once in awhile of what grace means. It is a gift from God that is unmerited or not deserved by me.

Application: I am reminded daily that I am a sinner and that I fall short of the grace of God. If I were trying to earn it or buy it, I couldn't because God has loved me first and sought to bring me close and transform me into God's image and God has shed God's grace on me. That is pretty amazing.

Prayer: LOrd, my prayer today is for those who are doing all they can to work out their salvation with fear and trembling--I pray that we all remember the grace that you have given us through Jesus. Thanks for loving me, Stephen

Yieldedness: Help me not toss grace around without remembering its impact and its meaning and from where grace comes.