April 30, 2010, John 18

KEY VERSE:

"Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

(John 18:11)
CENTRAL TRUTH:

Jesus is willing to receive all that the Father gives him.

LET GOD TAKE CONTROL ? . . . SURRENDER ?

As an alpha male, the thought of surrendering seemed weak and pathetic. Only losers surrender. . . . Right? We live in a society that preaches bigger, stronger, faster . . . . There is no second place – rather, he's just the first place loser. Win at all cost. . . . Right? This is how I was wired at a very early age. I knew nothing different and thought if you did not agree with this thinking then something was wrong with you.

God has a knack for rewiring His children. He takes events in our lives and uses them to shape us. God used my son as a way of molding Cindy and I into the people He wanted us to be. After watching our son deal with surgery, chemo and radiation for 2 ½ years, we realized that we were not in control. The death of our son was a major turning point in my life. I thought that I was in control of my life. I had the world by the tail. God showed us that we were not in control and that His will would be accomplished. God began opening our eyes to Him. We began surrendering to His will instead of our own.

It was when God got us to the lowest point in our lives that He could finally use us. He began allowing Cindy and I to take our experiences and lessons to minister to others. He molded us into what we were put on Earth to do. Much like Jesus was telling Peter to put away his sword in John 18:11, He was asking me to surrender and allow His plan to unfold. We must trust God to work out His plan.

Jay’s Hope, God’s appointed ministry for us, has served over 400 families. Had Cindy and I had our way and our son survived cancer, Jay’s Hope would probably not exist. Had Peter has his way in the Garden, Jesus would not have gone to the cross, and God’s plan would have been thwarted.

Surrendering to God’s will is a sign of strength not weakness. Jesus demonstrated this on the cross. Jesus freely and willingly surrendered to God’s will and in doing so revealed God’s love for the world.

April 29, 2010, John 17

Key Verses:

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth."

(John 17: 1-3 )

Central Truth:

The only assurance into the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ. To know him is to thank him, love him, trust him, and obey him.

SAVED AT LAST ! 

As a young child my family was long time members of a prominent church here in Macon, Georgia. Soon after turning 8 years old, my Father told me, "Son, it is time for you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior." Of course I said, “yes sir,” just as many in the family had done before me. A couple of weeks later, on a Sunday morning, I was dunked in the Church Baptism pool and was "saved." Everyone in the family was happy, and we celebrated because I was now “good” with the Lord and now had a place reserved for me in Heaven.

As I got older, I was a good son for the most part, didn’t cause my parents much trouble, did OK in school, and moved into early manhood not rocking any boats. At the early age of 19, I married a wonderful girl, my childhood sweetheart and soul mate today, Connie. Time flew by as Connie and I had two wonderful children, Stephanie and Travis. I loved my life . . . . Life was good! I had a great family, great job, great home, great friends, and a lot of great toys to enjoy. I was a good person, I took good care of my family, I was good to other people, I respected my elders, and I paid my taxes on time . . . all the things that "good" people do. I even took my family to church . . . occasionally. Well, you could always count on us to be there Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. I knew that I was good with the Lord. After all, I was baptized at 8 years old and just look how "good" I had been. I believed that God saves a place in Heaven for "good people" like me, and if needed, God would be there for me. I thought I had everything under control.

Little did I know at that time, I was not "good" with God. The truth was that I only knew of God, I did not know God. To know God is to have a personal relationship with God, loving him, obeying him, and trusting him. I spent most of my life living in the dark and running from God. I was not aware of or living by the verse, John 12:25: "Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life will keep it for eternity." The way that I interpret this verse is, if I live a life of selfish desire and self-pleasure, I will not be rewarded with a life in Heaven. But if I love and follow Christ and I am willing to sacrifice the selfish pleasures that made me love my earthly life, I will be rewarded with eternal life in Heaven.

Pastor Jerry a few weeks ago preached a sermon about running from God, running to God, and running with God. A point made by Pastor that I could identify with was when he said, "You can run from God, but eventually you are going to run into God." At 58 years old I ran into God. It was a humbling yet an amazing life changing experience. I finally understood that God is the truth and the light. I experienced the immeasurable forgiveness and love of our Lord. It had been 50 years since my earthly Father spoke to me about accepting Jesus Christ. This time, my Heavenly Father spoke to my heart saying, "Son, it is time for you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior." Of course I said “yes sir.” A couple of weeks later, on a Sunday morning, Connie, my daughter Stephanie, my son in-law Grant, and I, in a three foot deep portable swimming pool in the parking lot of Woodstock High School openly and publicly expressed our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior by being Baptized. It will remain the most glorious moment of my life. Only by the Grace of God could I have been delivered from the darkness and thrust into His light of eternal life.

April 28th, 2007 John 16

Key Verse:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

(John 16:33 - New International Version)
Central Truth:

EVERYONE OVERCOME
There sure does seem to be a lot of suffering and sacrificing lately. The economy. The natural disasters happening across the world. The daily little "BIG" things that seem to ruin our days. When everything seems so big, it's easy to quickly become defeated.

However, once again we must look at the cross and what Christ did for us. Here in this passage, Christ says...."But take heart! I have overcome the world." He has conquered sin and death and nothing has a hold on Him. He is Victorious! But how can we take heart? How can we be comforted in knowing that?

Well, I can't help but think about a couple of other verses:

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

"I came so that you may have life and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

"[F]or everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." (1John 5:4 )

"For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

You see, by the blood of Christ, and through His testimony, we too can overcome. Nothing is impossible for our God. So, read these below and see if you fit:

-I was consumed by my sin, but God helped me overcome
-I was afraid to share my faith, but God helped me overcome
-I was depressed and discouraged, but God helped me overcome
-I was quick to anger, but God helped me overcome
-I had a problem with fidelity, but God helped me overcome
-I had doubts of God's existence, but God helped me overcome
-I had addictions, but God helped me overcome

So what are you struggling with today? What giant are you facing that seems too large? REMEMBER what Christ said......"take heart." In other words.....with a soft whisper...."It's gonna be O.K. WE'RE gonna do this."

April 27, 2010, John 15

Key Verses:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you . . . . Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. They will do all of this to you because of me, for they have rejected the One who sent me. But I will send an Advocate- the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of ministry.”

(John 15:18-21, 26)
Central Truth:
In the midst of persecution, hatred and rejection, Jesus offers us hope.
TAKE A STAND

In 2008, I represented young mothers of Georgia at the National Convention for American Mothers in Lincoln, Nebraska. American Mothers is an inter-faith, non-profit organization whose mission is “to strengthening the moral and spiritual foundation of the family and the home.” At first I was a little skeptical about the whole “inter-faith” thingy, but after reading their mission statement, I thought there would be nothing to worry about.

Oh, how I was so wrong.

After arriving in the great state of Nebraska, it didn’t take long for me to realize that my Savior and I were in the minority. Let’s just say, they aren’t kidding when they say they are an “inter-faith” organization. One of our projects for the week was to shoot an American Mothers Public Service Announcement. The purpose of the PSA was to promote American Mothers and to offer words of wisdom and encouragement to mothers across America. About 20 mothers gathered for the shoot and our instructions were to share an encouraging word or our personal motto as a young mother. One by one, I listened to the other mothers as I awaited my turn. One mom said, “Value yourself.” Another one said, “Find time for yourself.” When it was my turn, I shared my life verse, my motherhood motto: “You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Phil 4:13).” All of a sudden, I heard, “Cut tape!” And the PSA came to a screeching halt.

The moms and the production team began debating whether I should be allowed to say “Christ” or change the verse and just say “God.” Someone said that we may offend someone, another one said it was discrimination, and another one said we needed to be politically correct. While the great debate was going on, I stood silently and prayed for God’s guidance. My faith had never been challenged in this way, and I wanted to do what was right no matter what the consequences. A decision was made without ever asking my opinion, and the consensus was that I should change it. Once again, the tape began to roll and the camera zoomed in on me. With my heart racing, I stood tall and repeated, “You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength!” This time, no one said a word, and the PSA shoot continued. I believe they realized that I was not budging. Afterwards, another mom came up to me and thanked me for not giving in. She was also a Christian but admitted that she was scared to stand on the truth. I told her that I was scared too, but I trusted that God would send help.

Jesus warns us of persecution, rejection and hatred. But, with His warning, He also offers hope. He promises to send the Spirit of Truth to give us strength to endure the evil of this world and to help us to take a stand for truth.

All we have to do is ask.

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

April 26, 2010, John 14

Key verse:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”

(John 14:6)
Central Truth:

Jesus is the way to God. He is our salvation. We are free; we are saved, because of Him.

LIVING UNDER THE LAW

I once worked for a wonderful doctor whose family was Jewish. He and his wife were very faithful to the Jewish customs and laws. They went to Temple on Saturdays. They sent their children to Jewish schools. They ate only kosher foods. They did everything the way that they were taught to by their parents. They were a very sweet family. But they were not without problems. The doctor’s wife suffered from schizophrenia and severe depression. She had to be hospitalized several times to help with her condition. Even with all of the best that medicine had to offer her it just wasn’t enough and ultimately she committed suicide. It was a very difficult time for the family as you can imagine.

One of the worst things that I remember about that time is that they could not find a Jewish funeral home to conduct the traditional Jewish funeral and burial. You see, Jews live under the law, and they felt that suicide is an unforgivable sin. The Jewish funeral homes found no reason to carry on with a ceremony that they felt was useless because, in their eyes, her fate was already sealed.

I remember feeling outraged. Didn’t they understand that she was ill and not in her right mind? It wasn’t as if she was capable of understanding the difference between right and wrong with her severe mental condition. But, I was missing the point. If you live under the law there are no exceptions. And they live under the law.

I am extremely grateful to Jesus Christ, my savior, for His forgiveness - forgiveness that I don’t deserve. He came to die for my sins. I am free of the law and am secure in my eternity. It makes me want to dance and sing because I AM FREE! I want everyone to have that. I want everyone to be secure and know that they are loved by their heavenly Father and that Jesus has prepared the way for us.

Still, I’m not entirely off the hook. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) As a Christ follower, I’m held to a high standard. I have to do my best to follow His commands all the time. I have to ask forgiveness and truly repent when I sin. But, there is no such thing as an unforgivable sin for me. I am saved. Forever.

My prayer is that as a church body we would constantly be aware of those around us and their situations. Invest in their lives and invite them to come with you to church. Build a foundation of friendship with them. Be a model of God’s love for them and share the gospel so they can be free too. Love God and love people. Those are His greatest commandments.

April 23, 1010, John 13

Key Verse:

Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"

(John 13:38)

Central Truth:

The choices we make, both publicly and privately, tell us who or what we worship and are willing to die for.

WILL YOU? . . . REALLY?
“I feel kind of sick. My stomach is tightening up and my arms feel heavy. I can tell that I’m breathing hard. And I think I might be starting to sweat. It’s hard to tell though, because the room is spinning. Everything is blurry.

I wipe my eyes and try to focus. What just happened?

We were all eating and Jesus got up and washed . . .

Jesus.

He’s sitting there looking at me. What did He just say? Think, think.

That’s right. Jesus was saying He was leaving. Where was He going again? I don’t know. Anyway, He was saying that we weren’t allowed to come with Him. What kind of sense does that make?!?! We’ve followed him for this long, and we’ve done everything He’s asked us to do . . . whether it made sense or not! And now, now we can’t go with Him anymore? That’s just stupid. I mean, if I had to I would die for him! And that’s when He said…

No way. That ain’t happening. He has been everything to me since the day He called me and my brother off our boat. I’ve gone everywhere with Him. I’ve seen His miracles! Thousands of people have seen us together. I even told Him that I know He is the Son of God! What makes Him think that after all this that I would just up and disown Him?

I can’t believe he just said that. Will I die for you? Of course I would Jesus. At least . . . I think so. Oh man, there’s that sick feeling again . . . .”

Most of you know how the rest of the story goes. Peter has given his life to Jesus. And when the pressure was on, when there really was a chance that knowing Jesus might cost Peter something, what did he do? He backed down and walked away like he didn’t have a clue who Jesus was. He chose to publicly denounce his attachment to the Savior of the Universe.

Now, the question comes to you: Would you die for Jesus? Or would you disown Him?

Simple question, right? You might want to think about it for a minute before you answer. When you…
• stay up and check out those websites (you know the one’s I’m talking about) after your wife heads off to bed
• don’t put the correct numbers on your tax return
• have flirty conversations with that guy at the store that just always seems to listen and pay attention to everything you have to say . . . way better than your husband does
• allow your work, possessions, or kids’ extracurricular activities to run your life . . . .

What are you saying about what you attach yourself to? When you and I do these things, are we dying for Jesus? Really?

We all worship something or someone. And there are many choices. We can lay down our lives at the altar of food, sex, money or work, just to name a few. The choices we make, both publicly and privately, tell us who or what we worship and are willing to die for.

Will I die for you Jesus? Absolutely. At least I…um…oh wait, I think I’m starting to feel sick . . .

April 22, 2010, John 12

Key Verse:

"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal."

(John 12:25 )

Central Truth:

Make sure you're living your life for the right reason.

WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR ?

As we all know, life is full of choices. We can either live our life for God, or we can live for the other "gods" that surround us everyday like the amount of money we make, our career, the type of car we drive, or the home we live in. All of these things place a great deal of pressure on us because society looks at these as a measuring stick for how we stack up to others.

God doesn't care about these other "gods," but we let these things weigh on our hearts. We worry about what other people think of us and try to prove that we do "measure up." We are often consumed with these things and fail to live the life that God intended for us. God wants us to worship Him through everything by putting Him first in all that we do.

How we live our life on Earth will determine how we live for eternity. Focus on what really matters. Keep in mind that the best is yet to come.

April 21, 2010, John 11

Key verse:

"Jesus wept."

John 11:35

Central truth:

Jesus has walked in our shoes, felt all of our pain, and faced our temptations.

HE HAS BEEN THERE

John 11:35 is not only the shortest verse in the Bible, but it is also one that reaffirms that Jesus was human and experienced sorrow and pain as we all do. Now in this particular case, it is difficult to discern whether He wept because of the pain his friends, Mary and Martha, were experiencing over the loss of their brother Lazarus or if He wept because of the crowd's and Mary and Martha's persistent unbelief or if He wept because He too had lost a friend. Either way, it shows His compassion for His fellow man.

Being a teacher of medical students, I hear many patient encounters with multiple questions from patients and the student’s responses. My pet peeve is when a student tells a patient that they know how they feel when they have absolutely no idea what that patient and their family are going through. A patient once told me that this discredits the most competent and compassionate of physicians. How do they know how I feel if they have not been walking in my shoes?! We have all been guilty of this at some point in our life. I tell the students to tell the patient that they can only imagine how they feel and that they are so sorry that they are going through this ordeal and to ask what they can do to help. The neat thing is that this opens a beautiful opportunity to witness to the patient. You can tell the patient and their family that someone truly has been there and share Jesus Christ with them. Believe it or not, most are quite receptive and open to the conversation. Pretty cool! We are put in this situation a lot in our everyday life when dealing with friends, family and colleagues. This can happen in any situation when someone you know is hurting. Try to take advantage of this window of opportunity to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

We have an awesome, mighty Lord and He has been there and He knows how we feel. Jesus was tempted by Satan, betrayed and denied by friends, mocked by His own, distrusted by the Church, condemned by the worldly government, and sacrificed for us. Wow! Mark Schultz shares this beautifully in his song, “I have been there.” I love the chorus of this song:

Oh, I have been there
I know what fear...pain...sorrow is all about
Yes, I have been there
And I am standing with you now
I have been there
And I came to build a bridge
Oh so this road could lead you home
This road could lead you home
Oh I have been there
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ2jDUGcOsk (can this be made live so the reader can connect to this site)

Take a moment, close your eyes, listen to Mark’s song, and know that the Lord Jesus Christ has been there for you and will continue to be there for you no matter what.

Prayer: Lord please help me to remember that you are always here with me and that there is nothing that I will go through here on Earth that you have not already been through and personally experienced. Please remind me to share this comfort with others who are hurting and need a true friend. Amen.

April 20, 2010, John 10

Key Verse:

"A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But, I came so that you may have life and have it to the full."

(John 10:10)

Central Truth:

God so loved the world that He sent us a Hero. Our Rescuer and Redeemer is Christ Jesus.

GOD SENT US A HERO

One night, when I was putting the girls in the bed, my oldest daughter asked me why Jesus came to save us. I know; pretty deep question for a 5 year old, right? So here is how I answered:

When I was growing up, I had a neighbor who was a bully. This kid was mean and horrible. Every day he would take a jar of jelly outside and put some of it on the sidewalk. He would then wait until a large number of ants would come out of their hill and cover the jelly. Once all of the ants were out of their ant hill, he would take his big wheel and run all over the ants and crush them. I began to have compassion for these ants, and it made me feel bad when the bully would do this. Each day I would yell at the ants telling them to go back to their homes and stay away from the jelly. I warned them repeatedly that it was just a trick to get them out. But they never listened. No matter how hard I tried, the ants just wouldn't listen to me. But one day, God turned me into an ant. I immediately went outside to the ants and told them what the bully was doing and that they were in danger. To my surprise, they understood me perfectly. I was able to communicate with them because I was one of them. From that day forward, I was able to save a lot of ants from the jelly and the bully.

You see, Satan is putting jelly and other things in your life right now to steal your joy, kill your witness, and destroy your life. But the good news is is that God sent us a hero. He sent someone who could communicate with us . . . walk among us . . . save us. Jesus came to rescue us from the "bully" so to speak. He came so that we would not be destroyed, but that we would have life. Do you know Him? Has He rescued you?

*Story illustration was taken from a message I heard spoken by Doug Fields. But every night, I use it to share the gospel with my kids. They seem to understand and love the story.

April 19, 2010, John 9

Key Verse:

“[T]his happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

(John 9:3)

Central Truth:

God uses obedience as an opportunity to work in our lives.


GIVE THEM COOKIES

A blind man sits at the city gate and begs, unable to work or provide for himself. Then he meets Jesus. The disciples are looking for someone to blame for his blindness. Jesus, however, proclaims he was born blind for God to have an opportunity to work in his life. I love this about Jesus. While we sit back and question why? God is cracking his knuckles and getting ready to do his thang. The “why?” is always about His Glory. God wants to show up and show off. Don’t you love it when God shows off in your life?

The ways that God chooses to show off are sometimes weird. I know; I’ve heard the whole “God works in mysterious ways” cliché all my life. It tends to feel cheesy, fake, or like something you say when you don’t know what else to say. God uses the things in our lives that we can’t do for ourselves to create opportunities to display His work. The man could not heal himself, but upon obeying Jesus, his life was forever changed.

God is given glory throughout history for bringing sight to this man. This man’s only claim was that Jesus told him to go and wash, so he went. Simple. Sometimes we continue doing things the same way or the way we think it should be done, only to limit the opportunities that God has to work in our lives. We hold on so tightly to what we know, think, or want that God cannot show off the way He desires. The man obeyed, and his story is still being used to glorify our Savior thousands of years later.

God doesn’t always do what we expect or want Him to do. He often asks us to do something out of the ordinary. He once told me to bring cookies,Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookies, to a ragged group of late night partiers who lived in the apartment above us. They just woke up our three year old! It didn’t make sense, nor did I want to bring them cookies. What would happen if I did? It turned out that I just needed to learn how to obey so God could use me to glorify Himself.

Obedience is very scary. We know God can, but the question is will He? If I obey Him, will He show up? You’ll never know, if you don’t give him the chance.

April 16, John 8

Key Verse:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

(John 8:12)

Central Truth:

When we follow Jesus, the true light, we can see how to live.

IS YOUR LIGHT SHINING?

My Bible notes tell me that in John 8:12, Jesus was speaking in the part of the temple where the offerings were put and where candles burned to symbolize the fire that led the people of Israel through the desert (Exodus 13:21, 22). In this context, Jesus calls himself the light of the world. The fire represented God’s presence, protection, and guidance. Jesus brings the same. He brings light.

This verse makes me think about a time when I was a little girl. I was so scared of the dark. I would turn off my light and run and take a flying leap onto my bed. I was afraid that “something” under my dark bed would reach out and grab me. My little girl, Madelyn is now afraid of the dark. My husband, John, actually taught her how to reach around the wall of a room to turn the light on. She finds it very difficult to step into a dark room. It is this way with sin. We let “something”-- like sin, reach out and grab us in the DARK. But we should walk in the LIGHT and live boldly for Jesus.

Think a moment about crime. Many crimes happen in the dark of the night. It seems less likely that you may get caught doing something wrong in the dark. Darkness tends to cover things, like sin, from being seen. Light exposes the truth.

Are you walking in light or darkness? Can you clearly see your path, or do find yourself stumbling along with uncertainty and confusion? The Bible tells us in John 1:4, 5 that “The light shines in darkness, but the darkness has not understood.” This means that the darkness of sin and evil cannot cover up God’s light. Jesus is the creator of light. In His light, I believe we can see ourselves for we really are - sin and all. When we follow Jesus, the true light, we can avoid living aimlessly and sinfully.

Let Jesus be your ray of light today. Let Him remove the darkness of sin. If you already live for Jesus, how bright are you shining His light? Shine His light like bright sunshine proclaiming His love and message. You may touch someone with that light today. I believe that Jesus wants us to shine for Him like a blazing torch—not a little light from the song, “This Little Light of Mine.” He doesn’t want us to wander around in the dark feeling scared and insecure. The way may not always be easy, but the destination of freedom and peace is certain.

April 15, 2010, John 7

Key Verse:

"Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people."

(John 7:12)

Central Truth:

We always must base our faith and actions on Jesus and the Bible.

FALSE TEACHING

In John 7, Jesus and his brothers are in Galilee. His brothers were preparing to go to Judea for the week-long Feast of Tabernacles, which was a significant Jewish celebration of the autumn harvest and of God's past and present blessings of the land. Jesus did not go to the Feast with his brothers, but he did eventually attend. While his arrival and his later departure were secretive, he did teach from the temple courts halfway through the celebration. His attendance and teaching at the Feast created a tense environment. The Jewish authorities wanted him dead, and there was an increasing polarization among the citizens between those who felt Jesus was the Messiah and those who thought he was a false prophet. Even discussing Jesus in public was dangerous because of how the Jewish leaders might react.

As we read of how the Jewish authorities grappled with how to address Jesus' teachings and influence, it is easy to view these heads of state as evil. However, it can be argued that they were simply fulfilling one of their most important responsibilities, which was to ensure that their citizens were not led astray in their relationship with God. Anyone who did so, in their opinion, was subject to punishment by death. They had a true sense of urgency in opposing false teaching.

It is crystal clear with the immense popularity of some questionable evangelists, television ministries, and extreme religious sects that millions of people yearn for a spiritual connection. I am amused by some of today's personalities, like the preacher in Tennessee with the Blood of Jesus Anointing Oil or the lady on the Trinity Broadcasting Network with purple hair and more karats on her body than Elizabeth Taylor. Should I really be amused though? We aren't like the Jewish people. We have no governmental agency that monitors religious teachings. So how do we point people in the direction of Christ? It's through us, the body of Christ on Earth who believe that Jesus, as explained to us through the Bible, is the one and only truth.

We at Piedmont probably can't do a thing about people like the purple-hair lady, but we can always have Jesus and the Bible as our spiritual foundation individually and as a church. Any other way would be considered false teaching.

April 14, 2010, John 6

Key Verse:

But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."

(John 6:20)

Central Truth:

God NEVER makes us face the storm alone.

THE SAME BOAT

Strong winds are blowing and the waters are growing increasingly rough. The disciples are out on the sea in the dark, feeling alone because Jesus had not joined them yet. As the storm grew, so did their fear. Suddenly they saw Jesus walking toward the boat ON THE WATER!!!! Then (the Bible says in v.19) they were terrified. Well, Duh...

Waters were parted multiple times for God's servants. God parted the Red Sea for Moses. He parted the Jordan River 3 different times: once for Joshua, once for Elija, and once for Elisha. But in all of these cases the waters were parted so that those who crossed would walk between the parted water where men normally walk... ON THE GROUND! Jesus does not need to part the waters to walk where mortals walk. He is the ruler of land and sea, and He simply walks out on the water in the midst of the storm and says to His disciples, "It is I; do not be afraid." He did not wait for the storm to calm naturally before He joined them. He didn't even calm the storm himself and then go out to meet them. He went to them in the middle of the storm so they would know that they were not alone.

I've always heard that the more things change the more they stay the same, and it is so true. Whether we are on the Sea of Galilee, waiting on the results of that much needed job, or watching someone we love fight for their life... we are all in the same boat. We all know that storms are inevitable, and even though sometimes they seem like more than we can handle, we know that we are not alone. Still, from time to time, we are all frightened like the disciples and cry out in fear. However, if we close our eyes and still our hearts and our minds, we just may be able to block out the howling winds and the crashing waves and hear the most frequent command in the Bible..."Do not be afraid."

April 13, 2010, John 5

Key Verse: 

Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”

(John 5:8)

Key Concept:

Life does not have to be this hard, really.

GET UP!

Do you ever read your Bible and really pay attention to how Jesus responds?
First lets look at Jesus. Growing up I always saw Jesus as angelic, lamb-like and probably glowing. Jesus was a carpenter. Do you know any? They are strong, sturdy folks. Try swinging a hammer a few hours. It's tough. He walked from place to place. Do you think he was clean, white and glowing? Probably not. He was probably dusty, sweaty and rugged.

Now that you can picture Jesus as a fit, rugged guy and probably not really clean; look at the scene in the first eight verses.

Jesus approaches a man who has been an invalid for 38 years, He has compassion for the man . . . . Follow me here . . . . He asks a simple question: “Do you want to get well?”

What does the invalid do? He makes excuses and whines about his daily struggles and how others mistreat him. At this point, I see Jesus is getting a little angry with the guy. Read verse 8. Jesus just says, “GET UP!” Some versions have an exclamation point, others do not.

Jesus, exhausted with our excuses, cuts to the chase and tells the man to "get up" and go! The invalid, at this point, is probably frightened and follows the instructions. (Finally.) He does not even ask who cured him; he just goes.

Read on to see how the teachers try to pick Jesus apart for helping the man on the Sabbath and are subsequently admonished by Jesus. (They bring a BB gun to a tank fight.)

The point to take away today is to stop making life so difficult. Jesus says “Here I am, Love Me, I will take care of the rest.” We say, “But what about . . . , and that person has done this to me . . . , if I . . . then they will . . . .” No excuses. Just listen to Jesus and GET UP!

April 12, John 4

Key Verse:

"Jesus answered,"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"

(John 4:13-14)

Central Truth:

Jesus Christ is King, not an add-on.

EXCHANGE OR ADD-ON?

I am captivated by the conversation that Jesus has with this woman. What Jesus was offering and what she wanted from him were two different things. Jesus was offering her a type of "living" water (spiritual forgiveness and the Spirit that comes with it) that would give her a relationship with God. What she wanted from Jesus was something to make her life easier ("living" water that would mean she wouldn't have to come fetch water from the well anymore.) Jesus was offering an exchange, and she was just wanting an add-on.

This type of interaction with God happens all the time. Jesus offers each of us a relationship with Him in which we die. That is what Christianity is...an invitation to die. To die to our agenda, our rights, our opinions, our judgements and to live seeking his agenda, his opinion, and his desire for our life. The daily Christian life is about learning to be less of me and more of Him. However, we have turned Christianity into something else. We want to add Jesus and the forgiveness He offers to our life to make our life better. We want to run our lives, live for our comfort, and add Jesus to supply peace and assurance to make it all good. We, like the woman, want modern Christianity to be more of an "add-on" than an "exchange."

Jesus didn't go to the cross and die a brutal death to be a life add-on for you and me. He died to offer us forgiveness so that He could be King of our lives. He is not satisfied in influencing your belief system and morality. He longs to be King of your heart, because He is King of the World. He wants to have the final say in everything from how you treat people to how you spend/give your money. He will not be satisfied with anything less than being King. Christianity is not as much about living with Jesus in your heart as it is battling yourself to ensure that Jesus remains king of your heart.

Today, think about who Jesus really is to you. What role does He functionally serve in your everyday life? Are you fighting to keep Him as King, or are you satisfied in making Him your spiritual add-on?

April 9, 2010, John 3

Key Verse:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(John 3:16)

Central Truth:

What a gift . . . . Everlasting life!


JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE

Finally, we get a chapter in the Bible that is so very familiar to us and, more specifically, has the most familiar verse to many people. In fact, this chapter contains the very first Bible verse we ever learned and memorized. Do you remember learning this Bible verse as a small child? What meaning did it have for you when you were 8 or 9 years old? 14 or 15 years old? College? Young married couple? What about when you had your first child?

When we were blessed with our first child, this verse took on a whole new meaning for us. It was not just that we were promised everlasting life, but that our children would have everlasting life with us. It was now our duty as parents to do whatever it takes to feed our children’s spirits on the road to their everlasting life. It is not a job to be taken lightly, and there are many bumps along the way. But, if we do our best to lay a Christian foundation, it will never fail our children when they hit those bumps. Then the last verse in this chapter is something they will never have to face. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.” (John 3:36)

No one ever said everlasting life was easy, but it is quite simple. We pray that today you find the “simpleness” in obtaining everlasting life. Just imagine how many missionaries utter the simple words of John 3:16 and how many lives have been forever changed hearing, understanding, and believing this verse. It has the simple message that God loved the world so much He gave His Son. It is as simple as love: loving Jesus with all your heart.

April 8, 2010, John 2

Key Verse:

To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”

(John 2:16)

Central Truth:

You can’t earn it. You can’t buy it. It’s a Gift.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

Jesus didn’t seem to get angry often. So when He stops what He’s doing to braid a whip… um, yeah- this has my attention! Whatever set Him off, I want to make sure I don’t ever do THAT!! Ok, I understand that we need to respect God’s house. This seems simple enough. And I don’t think Jesus has anything against business itself. So what, exactly, was so offensive?

Ever pay six bucks for a coke at a college football game? They don’t allow you to bring your own, so they exploit that. They can pretty much charge whatever they want. But that’s ok, that’s capitalism. If you don’t like the price, either don’t buy the coke or don’t go to the game. You have a choice. But what if someone did that at Church? What if someone made obstacles to your connection with God, then charged you a high price to get around them?

One problem with the market in the Temple was exploitation. People had to travel from far away to worship at the Temple. Then, they were supposed to sacrifice a pure, clean animal to God. But what if you got there and your pigeon had developed pink-eye or maybe a weird spot on its wing? You give the pigeon-guy your bird, and he says “Whoops! Sorry dude, your pigeon’s no good. No time to run home and get another one, so I guess you’ll have to buy one of my pure pigeons. That’ll be six bucks.” Sound familiar sports fans?

The good news for us, since we are now under the new law of love and grace, is that our pigeons don’t have to be perfect anymore. This rocks. This means I am justified in the sight of God, even though I’m imperfect.Jesus paid the price already. By accepting Christ as your Savior, you receive justification as a gift- and there’s nothing you could EVER do to earn it. Nothing. So why do we run around struggling to meet quotas of good deeds, like Boy Scouts earning merit badges? Why do we worry and fret about whether we are performing Christianity good enough? “Am I giving as much money as that guy? Have I accumulated enough volunteer hours this month to buy God’s approval for another thirty days?” It sounds silly, but it is SO easy to slip into that mindset without realizing it.

You can’t earn it. But the more you realize how much God loves you, how much of His acceptance, mercy and grace you have already received- then the more you will WANT to take risks, move out of your comfort zone, and give your life to God. Not because you have to. Not because you feel obligated and pressured to keep pace with the Christian next-door. But -because you love Him so much - you truly WANT to bring glory and honor to the One who set you free.

April 7, 2010, John 1

Key Verse:

He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

(John 1:8)

Central Truth:

God's light surrounds us each and every day.


A few weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting both my son and daughter for a Dad day at school. The kids sang songs and gave us gifts, and the teachers worked very hard to show how the kids appreciated us. I could look over and see my son with a big smile on his face, just excited that I was there. My daughter would just come up and hug me and tell me how much she loved me.

My oldest son gets in the car each morning on the way to school, and we talk about what sport he's playing, what his friends are doing, or the test that he may have coming up. He's getting a little older now, so he always says "I love you" before he opens the door to get out. (Wouldn't want others to hear it or anything . . . .) But I know that he enjoys our conversation time, and I think he misses it as much as I do if I don't get to take him to school one morning.

My wife and I have been blessed with three beautiful, healthy children. We have jobs, a loving supportive marriage, a roof over our heads, and food on the table. Life doesn't always go our way, but we are thankful for what we have.

God shines his light on people in so many different ways. Listed above are some of the ways that I see his light in my life every day. It may not be anything bigger than the smile that one of my children flashes to me every now and then, but I take it as His way of letting me know that He is there. Now it's up to me to share His love.

John was given a big purpose. John was to spread the word about a Jesus that he had never seen and sell people on the fact that He was coming soon and they had better prepare. He knew that Jesus was the Savior. He had an unbelievable faith in his mission, even though God didn't promise him worldly fame or wealth if he would go out and preach His word. God didn't promise him an easy life, but John knew that he would have eternal life. John knew that he couldn't save people, but that Jesus could. He knew that he wasn't the light, but he had to describe the light. He had to make others be able to see the light in a dark world.

So many times we take for granted the blessings that we have and how God has shined His light in our lives. We forget about those little things that give us hope in a cruel world. We don't share with others how God loves us in so many little ways each day. We seek for God to do big miracles, and we don't give Him the credit that He deserves for the little things.

I have seen God's light in my life, and I know that someday He will come back to take me to an eternal life with Him. Am I any different than John? Were we not both put here with the purpose of sharing God's Word and His love with all of those around us? Didn't we both know that we was coming?

I challenge you today to look at how God's light has shined in your life and share that with someone.

April 6, 2010, Luke 24

Key Verse:

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures.

(Luke 24:450

Central Truth: 

When we are reading God's word, we need to pray for the Holy Spirit to open our minds and reveal to us what God wants us to know and learn.

Woohoo...IS THAT YOU?

I hope after you read this chapter you just went, "WOW!" There is nothing more powerful than reading about the actual day that the Resurrection is revealed. I would be remiss if I did not have a little "revival" right now. So excuse me while I channel my inner Gaither. We worship an amazing, awesome, holy, honest, loving, pure, true, real, healing, protecting, serving, providing, authentic, LIVING, REDEEMED SAVIOR!!! Can I get an AMEN??? God's promise was fulfilled, and while I take the time daily to thank him for that, I also stop and think about how I know for sure that it is true.

In this chapter, we enter right as the women discover that Jesus is missing from His tomb. As they go and tell others, it mentions that they all wonder what happened. Next, we follow two BELIEVERS traveling by foot on the road to Emmaus. Jesus himself comes up and begins walking along side these men. He talks to them and asks them what is wrong. They hang their heads they tell Him the story of the Crucifixion and how the third day is here and how bummed they are because they thought Jesus was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Ok, now, this is what I am talking about...if I was Jesus (insert laugh) I would be waving my hands, jumping up and down, dancing a little jig, like... "Hello people, woohoo, it is ME!!!!!" Well, that is not exactly how it goes down. Jesus tells them how foolish they are for not believing the prophets that have spoken. He continues on with them and even joins them in their home for dinner. It is there that they realize who He is.

It goes on in the chapter to Jesus revealing himself to his disciples in Jerusalem. Again, they do not believe He is the risen Christ. Once again, I would start doing some funky tricks like disappearing and coming back real quick to get their attention. But what does He say? "It is written...." He again takes them back to scripture. I mean, He is right there and could have chosen so many other ways to convince them, but He simply tells them to go to their scriptures and remember the words of the prophets sent by God.

How many times do we go to other sources to find answers in a time of search or need? Don't get me wrong, Christian counselors, friends, pastors, books, etc. are all crucial and necessary. BUT, if that is all we are utilizing and we are not including scripture and prayer as the first part of the recipe, then we are missing the mark. This chapter confirms this truth over and over.

God has provided us everything we need right between two leather bound covers. We need to pray, as He instructed, for the Holy Spirit to open our minds and reveal to us what God wants us to know and learn in the moment. So my challenge to you is to put God's word first in your search for answers - or even in your times of praise. There is SO MUCH POWER in speaking praise to God straight from His own word. Try it . . . . I mean really try it. What better way to glorify our Father than speaking aloud His word?

If you are part of this journey everyday, then you have already taken the first step. So, I leave us with an awesome scripture of praise. Please join me in praising our redeemed savior today! "All honor and praise be to You, my God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light" (1 Timothy 6:15).

April 5, 2010, Luke 23

Key Verse: 

"Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

(Luke 23:34)
Central Truth:

God's intense & unconditional love for us is unfathomable! As our Creator, He desires our fellowship more than anything else. He has been pleading for "it" for 5,000 years!
"WE JUST DON'T GET IT!"

Don't beat yourself up too much. Adam and Eve, who were only left alone in the Garden for 30 minutes(?), "botched it" and very few people have gotten it right since! What I mean is, very few people have truly captured our Father's love, forgiveness, and the fulfilled life of fellowship with Him as He intended. Just spend some time reading the Old and New Testaments about all of the "godly" men and women who endured hardship and defeats because they "didn't get it!"

K.I.S.S. :

1.) God created everything in Heaven and on Earth, including man & woman for His purpose, pleasure, glory and fellowship! Yes, we were created for His FELLOWSHIP! Period. "Do we get, that?"

2.) We were created in His/Their likeness, including a "will" to make decisions; good/bad, right/wrong, healthy/unhealthy, for God/against God, etc. There's the hitch!

3.) God loves us, you & me . . . every human ever born, Again, He created us & His love for us is incomprehensible and unconditional. Didn't they know/believe "that"? Don't we know/believe "that" . . . ? We have 5,000 years of history and testimonies to prove it! We're STILL trying to "get it"!

4.) In spite of God's unwavering desire to have close and loving fellowship with His creation (man & woman), they/we exercise their/our "will" by choosing other objects for their/our affection and adoration. I think I read somewhere that sin is NOT the "use" of that which is bad, but the "MISUSE" of that which is good. Remember, God created everything for His purpose, pleasure, glory, etc . . . . Just a thought, but what if our motive each day was to "use" the blessings and challenges God provides to promote closer fellowship with Him . . . ??? How do I "get that"?

5.) Because of His nature and His unwavering, unconditional love, God provides 3,000 years of endless methods of sacrifices for rebellious man to regain intimate fellowship with God their Father. So, what's next? What else could God possibly do to capture the hardened and wayward heart of His lost children?

6.) Our loving Father, "Abba God," offers the ultimate and most outrageous sacrifice for a stubborn and sinful mankind that never did "get it"! Can you imagine the conversation? God: "Jesus, my Son, you and I have been witnessing and laboring over man and woman for 3,000 years. I am not satisfied with My relationship with them. Their hearts are cold and hardened toward Me. There is only one way I can think of that will change the heart of my most precious Creation and give me what I want most of all - a close and intimate love relationship with every man and woman, which of course I have created!" I can't imagine how the Father felt when He saw the look on His Son's face knowing fully what He was asking of Him! Jesus "got it," oh so clearly!

7.) "A Father after His own 'kids' heart"! Bottom line, God has been so intentional about His relationship with us that He asked and let His only Son come to earth, live a perfect life for 33 years - performing miracles, showing compassion, love and forgiveness to a perpetual generation of sinners, transgressors, and haters of God - and then finally endure the most humiliating and torturous death conceivable. Oh, and how does He respond while He's breathing His last breath? "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing."

8.) Please tell me that "we get it, now!" How can we not respond to God, our Father, our Creator that, for 5,000 years has been pursuing a "love" relationship with us? Talk about, "passion with a purpose" . . . . There it is!

9.)"WE GOT IT," now "GIVE IT!"

April 2 - Luke 22

KEY VERSE: 

On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."

(Luke 22:40)

CENTRAL TRUTH: 

Prayer changes things!!

DO YOU PRAY EVERYDAY ?

The first time I read this chapter it brought back memories from my childhood. My family and I were in a passion play called “He Touched Me” at our church. It was a very powerful play based on the last days Jesus was on earth. We did it every year starting about six weeks before Easter with standing-room-only crowds that came by bus from all over Georgia. It was so real to me. So when I read Luke 22, I could see Jesus at the last supper, Judas betraying Jesus, and the disciples with Jesus praying on the Mount. I can still remember our pastor, who played Jesus, saying “pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Jesus actually says this to his disciples twice in this chapter, which really grabbed my attention because prayer is very big part of our daily life.

Bedtime prayers are done by Wes, and my kids will not go upstairs without him going and praying with them. I sometimes come in for goodnight kisses, and my children will be praying with each other or to themselves. There is nothing more rewarding than hearing your son praying with his younger sister or listening to your children praying for their friends and family.

I pray with the kids on the way to school, usually the same place on Catherine Drive (the back road in to Tattnall). If you see me swerving, I could have accidentally closed my eyes in prayer. (Really, if we are having a car study session or if I possibly take a cell call, my kids are quick to remind me to pray.) We are definitely not prepared for our day without a prayer, even if it is just a quick "shout out" to tell Jesus thanks for the beautiful day and that we love Him. I cannot imagine making through a day without prayer because I see daily what it is doing in my family’s life.

I challenge each of you to pray every day. You will soon see how prayer changes things.

April 1, 2010, Luke 21

Key Verse:

For they all (the rich) gave out of their abundance (their Surplus); but she has contributed out of her lack and her want, putting in all that she had on which to live.

(Luke 21:4)

Central Truth:

God wants us to give sacrificially.

IS IT YOU OR A TIP IN THE JAR?

The beginning of this text has a small life lesson, and it can be easy to gloss over as you think you completely understand it. I know. That’s what I did when I first read it.

Jesus sees the elites coming in and giving their offerings to the temple, and I’m sure their offerings varied in amounts. Some were proud of the way their coins sounded as they caused the buckets to ring. Others just tossed it in, not really thinking of the significance of their gift. Then there was this poor widow, who had thoroughly thought about what she was able to offer. She probably had some doubts as to the wisdom of dropping so much in, considering she was really pressed financially to afford the necessities like food and clothing.

You see, the rich were giving out of their surplus. It was not a sacrifice. It was safe. It was comfortable, and it felt good. For the widow, it was none of those things. It was a huge sacrifice. She was looking at possibly going hungry because she gave so much. It was risky. She might have been unable to pay her taxes the next time the collector came by. It was scary to give what she did, and I bet she walked into the temple a little nervous knowing she had possibly given away her food for tomorrow.

God wants us to be “all in” when we give. I don’t think that means he wants us to sell our house and give the proceeds to the poor. He has provided that house for me (and you) to use. But he does want us to give in a way that is sacrificial. What better way can He show his faithfulness to us than when we rely heavily on him. Whether it is time, finances, or abilities, our giving should be done whole-heartedly. In racing we call it WOT. It means “wide open throttle.” Do you do “church” or do you do church “WOT”? I bet, if you’re doing church “WOT,” God is revealing his character to you in new ways all the time. If you are going through life wondering if God will give you one of those "Ah Ha!" moments, try opening up the throttle.