Penurious (Matthew 6.19-21)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is "penurious.” I read a great book some years ago about the rat race of life. Sometimes it seems that we are just trying to keep up, keep our heads above the water. However, at the same time that I read the book, I had been a Christian, and community leader for a number of years. I realized that of course we need to be productive in society, but if we do not have a relationship with God then it pretty much does not mean anything.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~Matt 6:19-21

My question is: where do you find your riches in life? One of my mentors used to often say, and still does, that we must add value to others each day if we want to make it worth anything. My prayer is that each of us searches the depths of our souls and find what drives us. I made it a point very early on to make sure to do my best at all times and, in every situation, to put God and his plan first. That is not always easy.  Because at the end of life, no matter how many material possessions we have, it is all penurious without the love and fellowship of God and his people.

Praying for you,

MO

Empyreal (John 3.13)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “empyreal.”  I think one of the most fascinating parts of being a Christian is knowing that some day we will be in Heaven with God and the rest of those who believed in this lifetime.  There a ton of shows and movies that give portrayals of what it will be like, or of people who have experienced Heaven in one way or another. But the reality of it all is that our Savior is unique in the fact that he has both ascended and descended from the place we will one day be.

“No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” ~Jn 3:13

My question is: are you ready for the richness that God has in store for you and me? I know that's a little bit of a rhetorical question, because each of us has so much more to do in this lifetime. My prayer is that you keep the important matters important, and those that are not as important where they need to be. Keep your eyes focused on Heaven, knowing that Jesus has called you to be a part of that community following this lifetime. And then that which at one time seemed empyreal, will then become reality.

Praying for you,

MO

Panglossian (1 Corinthians 15.1-23)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “Panglossian.” The Apostle Paul had a pretty rough time individually after he was changed on that road to Damascus.  We see in today’s passage that he understood the responsibility put on him as an ambassador for JC, knowing his past life.  His belief and trust in God was very focused, and Paul realized that others should share in his passion; but to do so they would have to first put their faith in Christ and his ultimate return.

My friends, I want you to remember the message that I preached and that you believed and trusted. You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don’t, your faith was all for nothing.” ~1 Cor 15:1-2

My question is:  are you putting your faith in JC, both on a daily basis as well as hope for eternity? Living a Christian life is not about having an absurd Panglossian belief that Jesus might return.  It is having true faith in the fact that our optimism is healthy and real, knowing the God will do what it says in the scriptures. My prayer is that you take a moment to reassure yourself about the promise in which you believe. Allow God to strengthen your belief and resolve, both for this life and in the next.

Praying for you,

MO

Indemnify (Matthew 5.17-18)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “indemnify.”  A main theme of the bible is that God’s people need his love and grace to live, both now and eternity.  I love reading the OT and the NT because when put together they make such a great story. When JC comes onto the scene, he is a pretty controversial person. And when peeps accuse him of trying to abolish the law, he reminds them that he is the one who was sent to fulfill it.

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished…” ~Matt 5:17-18

My question is: what does it mean for you to have Jesus as a part of your daily life?  We often move through our days and forget to acknowledge our belief in Jesus as our Savior. Not that we want to forget, it’s just that sometimes we allow our minds to wander. Yet it is always comforting to know that God never stops working to fulfill his plan. Take some time today to remember that you are never far from God’s mind. My prayer is that God meets you where you are, as he always does, and helps you to realize that he is working to fulfill his plan, and that you are an important part of it.

Praying for you,

MO

Frenetic (Job 9:1-13)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “frenetic.”  I really enjoyed reading the book of Job. In it we see that this man followed got pretty intensely, and dealt with temptation and anguish.  A lot of the stuff that was happening was not under his control.  So, during this whole ordeal he talks to different people and is trying to figure out why bad things are happening.  At one point, Job senses his inadequacy after being told that he should be feeling a certain way about what he was going through.  In the following verses show how much Job did trust God, and understood His power.

He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.” ~Job 9:8-9

My question is: what kind of power do you give God in your life we see that Job struggled in his relationship with his Lord, just as each of us do.  We do know, however, that Job did understand that God was not a God of confusion, one who was frenetic, but instead realized that there was a plan even when he did not understand it in part, or as a whole.  My prayer is that you understand that God does perform miracles daily, most of which are unseen.  Just the fact that you and I have the ability to have a relationship with God is reason enough to believe that although sometimes we cannot see or even perceive Him in our midst, he is at work.  Take some time today to thank God for working in your life and being the powerful God that he is.

Praying for you,

MO

Nostomania (2 Corinthians 12:1-12)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “nostomania.”  Have you ever been homesick? I remember a time when some of my friends and I were out in Israel for school. It was about this time of year, Thanksgiving. There is something about the holidays that make up miss what is most familiar, when we are away from what we call home.  Well, Paul used to talk about the journey in terms of wanting to be home.  and, home for him was Heaven.  He knew that God had good stuff in store.

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.  And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.  I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.” ~2 Cor 12:2-5

My question is: what are your thoughts concerning your homelife… you know, stuff like upbringing, good memories, the tough time? My prayer is that you realize this morning that God has called you home to be with him one day.  Although we are on this earth for a short time, it is eternity that we can look forward to. It’s good to return home every once in a while, get rid of that homesick nostomania.  Remember to celebrate your family this week. Remember the ones who love and care for you.  Maybe even take a moment to let others know why you are thankful for them.

Praying for you,

MO

Rufescent (Matthew 19:1-22)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “rufescent.”  Have you ever been embarrassed in a situation? I know that is kind of a rhetorical question. Of course, we all have.  Well, one of the reoccurring themes in the New Testament is the Pharisees trying to catch Jesus in a lie, or worse yet, something to condemn himself in front of all of his followers.  We all know that he is God, but what comes along with that sometimes is a lack of spiritual understanding, as we are all in need of growth.

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. ~Matt 19:21-22

My question is: what the things that are most important to you? I know that sometimes we put stuff in front of our spiritual growth.  My prayer is that each of you takes moment to evaluate all of the important items of your life, and make sure that God is a part of those growth areas.  Each of you has a ton of blessings from the Lord, we just need to capitalize on all of the stuff that God puts in front of us.  That way we will never have a sheepish and rufescent, or reddish, shade of embarrassment on our faces.

Praying for you,

MO